Sep 8, 2014; New York, NY, USA; New York Mets third baseman David Wright (5) hits a double against the Colorado Rockies during the eighth inning of a game at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
#1 – David Wright
David Wright’s shoulder worries me. Will it be better in 2015? Last season was a fairly awful one for Wright as he hit .269/.324/.374 with a low eight home runs even after the Mets moved in the fences. Well, the Mets moved in the fences again this offseason because apparently that’s one of their plans to boost offense since signing real free agents with upside isn’t really in the plans, and by all reports Wright’s shoulder is on the mend from a left rotator cuff contusion that he suffered through last year.
I’m a believer.
Wright, when healthy, is the best third baseman in the NL and in the conversation for MLB best. Wright will go down as the best third baseman in Mets history, and I believe this is the year he takes his team back to the postseason. He’s not the same 20/20 threat he was in his early 20s, but he’ll be in the 15/15 range, and he’s solid defensively, which he’ll have to be if the Mets insist Wilmer Flores is the answer at short.
I think Steamer’s projections are low here, but I can see the .275/.324/.374 with 16 home runs as being reasonable. He’ll be 32 and he’s coming off a significant injury. If you want to argue that Rendon is better, you have a legitimate argument given the circumstances. There’s too much history with Wright, too many seasons of great baseball for me to say his decline will be fast and ugly. He’ll be back.