New York Mets Linked to Veteran Slugger in Proposed Deal

Black Friday is one of the biggest shopping days of the year. So why not get a deal done if you’re the New York Mets?

The Athletic took that approach, providing each team with a Black Friday deal that would make them better for 2024.

The Mets finished last season under .500 and have new management in president of baseball operations David Stearns. He, in turn, has hired a new manager in Carlos Mendoza, who is hiring a new staff that includes bench coach John Gibbons.

But the Mets also need an upgrade in terms of talent, something that Stearns is working on. In fact, the Black Friday deal the site set aside for the Mets is a player that Stearns had designs on when he was in Milwaukee — Justin Turner:

If the Mets are serious about mostly sitting out this free-agent season, Turner would offer a serious short-term boost to the club’s infield rotation. He did not play much third base in Boston last season, but finished his tenure in Los Angeles as still playable at the position. His value, of course, is his bat, which could plug a hole at designated hitter. And, of course, a return to Queens would perhaps ease the sting felt by Mets fans watching him flourish with the Dodgers after the Mets cast him aside.

Turner has a lifetime batting average of .288 with 187 home runs and 759 RBI. He’s made two All-Star teams and was the 2022 Roberto Clemente winner.

But, given Turner’s age — 38 — it’s worth exploring his recent performance. He was with Boston last season and there is little dropoff from his career averages. With the Red Sox he batted .276 with 23 home runs and 96 RBI. It marked his fifth season of 20 or more home runs, and his second in the last three seasons.

It’s also worth noting that the played the majority of his games at designated hitter and first base. So he may not be as flexible an option as he was.

But, his average and his power numbers are still there, which makes him an inviting, and perhaps relatively cheap option, for a Mets team that could use some cheap power with a good average in 2024.