New York Mets

New York Mets: How Much Can They Get Out Of David Wright?

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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The New York Mets have way more problems than just David Wright to address this winter. He’ll definitely be with the team when the season opens, but the question will be how much the Mets can get out of him, and how much can his body give?

Who’s On Third, (And It’s Not What)

Other than David Wright, the New York Mets do not have another legitimate third baseman on their roster. Wilmer Flores has filled in and did a credible job, but he is a converted second baseman who was converted from shortstop to play second. They also have the rejuvenated Jose Reyes, who would be another converted shortstop moved to fill the need at third.

Another option would be if General Manager Sandy Alderson can make a trade or sign a second level free agent as insurance for Wright. But as mentioned before, he has other holes to fill before he addresses this one.

Essentially though, it’s all about David Wright. The Mets owe him a boatload of money which they will pay him without any protest based on his past service. The problem is twofold though and it has little to do with money for a change.

The Intangibles Surrounding David Wright

David Wright is 33 years old (yes, time flies) and he is the victim of a herniated neck disease that is not conducive to normal living and exercise, much less playing baseball at this level. In the 37 games he played last season before he went down for the year, Wright drove in the equivalent of 61 runs if he had played a full season. That’s nothing to write home about but it certainly would have added to the Mets paltry run production.

Even more than that though is the way the whole Mets lineup changes when Wright is in there. Just seeing him step up with that bat that seems to be twice as big as he is, and to see him take those long swings and driving the ball the other way, if nothing else, at least creates the illusion that something is different and better about the Mets chances that night.

And beyond even that, David Wright is the face of the New York Mets. He’s both the official (as Captain) and unofficial leader of the clubhouse. Manager Terry Collins did his very best to hold the team together in Wright’s absence. But that’s no substitute for a player with Wright’s stature telling a teammate, ” You know what, you should have cut off that ball hit to you last night if your head was in the game. We don’t do things that way here and we’ll expect better from you next time.”

The Best The Mets Can Hope For

So maybe what the Mets should hope for is that David Wright can stay healthy enough to warrant his presence on the 25-man roster for a full season. And if he can play three or maybe four games a week when he’s feeling good, and stay in uniform the rest of the time, it will be a victory for the team and Wright.

Recently, Wright received permission to resume baseball activities. Amazin Avenue also mentioned that “Wright’s neck injury was similar to one suffered by Braves outfielder Nick Markakis, who underwent fusion surgery in December 2014. The 32-year-old Markakis recovered quickly, managed to be ready for 2015 Opening Day and has stayed completely healthy since, though he wasn’t dealing with Wright’s other back issues”.

So, if you’re a Mets fan, here’s hopin’. And that’s all you can do.

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