The Mets and Yankees, teams with ambitions, are gambling on up-the-middle positions with players they are not sure can handle the assignment on either side of the ball.
It is one thing if the Mets knew for sure Wilmer Flores’ quality minor league offense eventually would translate to the majors to make his iffy defense more palatable. Or if the Yanks were positive Stephen Drew’s strong defense as a shortstop could pivot over to second to make his possible hitting decline more acceptable.
Instead, both teams went for the same triad — dollars saved, an underwhelming sense of what was otherwise available and a strong dose of blind faith.
The Mets couldn’t get Jimmy Rollins, didn’t want to gamble on Troy Tulowitzki and were among the many who no longer believed Hanley Ramirez was still a shortstop. As their options dwindled, they became more willing to either convince themselves or con themselves that Flores could handle the job.
Was that because he was cheap? After all, the Mets might have been able to buy Drew for the same $5 million the Yanks paid, in part because Drew doesn’t really want to be a second baseman. The Mets could be relatively sure Drew could play shortstop at a strong level behind their power rotation.
It was not long ago that the Mets believed Flores could not handle the position. In 2012-13, he was moved fully off of shortstop in the minors. But he got into better shape, Ruben Tejada’s status plummeted, and no better alternative was found outside the organization. So, suddenly an organization thinking playoffs is going to see if Flores can really be Jhonny Peralta Lite — a strong bat with the ability to make the routine plays.
As for Drew, the Yanks believe he will be an above-average second baseman and part of an overall defensive upgrade from recent seasons. But Drew hardly looked the part early in spring and has admitted he still is learning the angles and nuances of the position. And even if Drew is Gold Glove caliber at the position, can the Yankees let him play regularly if he produces like last season (.536 OPS) rather than like in 2013 (.777), when he was the starting shortstop for the champion Red Sox?
The New York clubs are not the only teams wagering big with position changes. Among positional free agents, Ramirez ($88 million) got the second-largest package this offseason and Yasmany Tomas ($68.5 million) the fourth. Yet Boston is taking Ramirez from the infield (shortstop) to the outfield (left field), and Arizona is moving Tomas from the outfield to the infield (third base).
Here is a closer look at those changes, and a few other key ones for the 2015 season:
1. Hanley Ramirez
There was a general agreement among executives in the sport that Ramirez was a bad shortstop. The expectation was that he would move to third. Instead, he heads back to his original organization to play in front of the Green Monster because Boston wants him in the lineup daily to try to hit balls over the Monster.
So far, the Red Sox have been impressed with his attitude and focus as they try to get him comfortable just making routine plays. Still, you wonder if this is a short detour until he becomes the full-time DH if David Ortiz ever retires.
2. Yasmany Tomas
He was tested often at third in his first spring game Thursday, failed to make one backhand and bounced a couple of throws. Still, Arizona general manager Dave Stewart said the Diamondbacks have liked what they have seen so far from Tomas, while acknowledging it is a work in progress. Stewart said if Tomas can handle the position, great, but if he can’t, the Diamondbacks can manage that, too.
Young Jake Lamb might be ready, but that would push Tomas into an already crowded Arizona outfield picture.
3. Ryan Zimmerman/Pedro Alvarez
Both experienced throwing problems and began the transformation last year from third to first. Zimmerman has appeared much more willing to make the move. Word is Alvarez still wishes he were at third.
Washington and Pittsburgh are viewed as two of the NL’s main contenders, and their daily lineups are easier to construct if Zimmerman and Alvarez can play first. The Nationals can keep the young, rising Anthony Rendon at his natural position, third base.
Pittsburgh can use 2014 breakout star Josh Harrison at third or move the versatile player around some if Jung-Ho Kang proves he can make his own transitions from being a regular shortstop in Korea to playing multiple positions (including third) with his power still showing up here.
And you might have heard about another longtime third baseman dabbling some with first base. A fella named Alex Rodriguez.
4. Wil Myers
Taken independently, the Padres’ trades for Myers, Matt Kemp and Justin Upton are understandable. But since they form a new outfield and one has to play center and none is considered a particularly good outfielder on the corners, well, you see the problem.
Myers, who last played center with some regularity in the minors in 2012, will be given the chance to patrol the position in large Petco Park. San Diego still has Cameron Maybin and Will Venable on multi-year contracts. But if one of them is starting in center, it means the grand plan of the offseason went wrong.
5. Coco Crisp
He has been the A’s primary center fielder the past five seasons, but he is being asked to move to left as a concession to his age (35) and to see if it is less wear and tear in general for a player who has had a chronic neck issue. Sam Fuld and Craig Gentry will form a center-field platoon to replace Crisp.
Another AL West team might try a relatively novice left fielder but not one who has Crisp’s defensive acumen. Houston obtained Evan Gattis from Atlanta for his bat. To get that in the lineup, while keeping Jonathan Singleton at first and Chris Carter as the DH, the Astros might have to hope Gattis can handle the outfield.