Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
The New York Mets appear to be ramping up efforts to make a trade for a bat, as they dangle starters Dillon Gee and Jon Niese in front of any team that wants them. Rumors indicate that the Mets have had preliminary talks with the Milwaukee Brewers, which may be one of few teams willing to make a trade at this point in the season. One of Milwaukee’s players being linked with the Mets is third baseman Aramis Ramirez.
At first glance, Ramirez looks like just what the Mets need. He’s an established, veteran hitter with power that can fill in at third base during David Wright’s open-ended absence. In the event that Wright doesn’t make it back or suffers a setback after he does return, acquiring Ramirez would leave the Mets covered at third base. However, the Mets trading for Ramirez would be nothing more than a mirage to make them think their offensive problems would be solved.
Ramirez may be a veteran hitter, but in his final big league season, he is a shadow of his former self. He’s hit seven home runs this season, which would make him fourth on the Mets in that category, but he’s hit a dismal .213, which isn’t much better than New York’s current third base stopgap, Eric Campbell. Ramirez providing some power without hitting for a high average is not worth what the Mets would give up in a trade, not to mention the cost of his salary for the remainder of the season.
Perhaps more importantly, Ramirez does not have the defensive versatility that the Mets need with the injuries to Wright and Daniel Murphy. If Wright were to come back, the Mets would have no spot for Ramirez, who would essentially play the same pinch-hitting role as John Mayberry is currently filling. What the Mets need is a player who can fill in at third base and also play other positions, whether they be in the infield or the outfield, and Ramirez does not fit that description.
To be fair, the Mets need to kick the tires on Ramirez, as they can’t leave any stone unturned as they search for offensive help. But considering the age, cost and diminishing skill set of Ramirez, there’s no way the Mets should move forward in trade talks to acquire him. They do need a bat, but they need to look elsewhere.
Bryan Zarpentine is a New York Mets writer at www.RantSports.com. Like him on Facebook, follow him on twitter @BZarp and add him on Google.
