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Former member of the New York Yankees, Curtis Granderson, is drawing interest from multiple teams including the New York Mets, Chicago White Sox, and the Seattle Mariners. Granderson is coming off a 2013 that saw him only play in 61 games due to injury.
He is a career .261 hitter with 217 home runs, a .828 OPS, 80 triples, and 122 stolen bases over 10 seasons with Detroit and New York. However, in the confines of the new Yankee stadium, Granderson has hit 40+ home runs twice in four years but watched his average plummet to a career low of .229 in 2013.
The New York Mets appear to be the front runners to land Granderson which should be considered a quality sign for the Mets fan base. Over the past few seasons the Mets have been forced into a financial coma that they might finally be able to emerge from. They have been very shrewd in free agency over the last few years and a multi-year deal to Granderson would be the first large addition since, dare I say, Jason Bay. Bay just might go down as one of the worst contract signings in Mets history which can be a bit frightening for exectutives. Will Granderson fetch $20M per year? No, but the Mets will most likely be paying the neighborhood of $15- $17 million per year for his services if they are successful. Expect a three or four year deal.
If the Mets are successful, Granderson will either replace Eric Young in left field or Juan Lageres in center. The bet would be for a replacement of Young in left. Granderson’s range, while less than before, would be of immediate benefit in the spacious Citi Field outfield expanse. Besides the Mets are fans of the young Dominican import that patrols center field.
Since Granderson does not hit for average a major concern for New York should be the affect Citi Field may have on Granderson’s power production. He was a benefactor in Yankee Stadium but the dimensions in Queens are not nearly as forgiving. A logic assumption would be that Granderson may only hit 20-26 home runs in Queens but could see his power transition to gap doubles and triples. Either way Granderson will have to be more patient at the plate and bring his average back up to his career line of .261 to make him worth the investment.
Is this deal eminent? Not at this time and details of any talks with the White Sox or Mariners have not been readily available. The Mariners have been distracted by their full court press for Robinson Cano but I am surprised the White Sox have no pushed harder for Granderson given he is a home town boy.
If the Mets are unable to land Granderson expect to see them very active in the Nelson Cruz sweepstakes and minor players in a possible return of Carlos Beltran.