Outfielder Bobby Abreu has yet to receive any enticing contract offers. While the Mets are no longer looking to make any big offseason moves, Abreu's price could fall to $3 million for a one-year deal.
In that case they'd have to look into it. The Angels, Braves, Dodgers, and Mariners are other potentially interested teams.
The biggest detriment to signing Abreu would be that he hits left-handed. I don't see this as a problem. In fact, Abreu hit better against lefties (.315) last year than he did against righties (.287)! He even has a career .280 average against southpaws.
Abreu does not have a tremendous amount of power, but his high on-base percentage would certainly be helpful to the Mets lineup. He has a career .405 OBP and would fit nicely in the two-hole hitting between Jose Reyes and David Wright.
Abreu's outfield defense would likely be equal to that of a Tatis/Murphy combination. Abreu will not sacrifice his body like Tatis or Murphy would, but his experience in the outfield would make up for that.
Having Abreu would allow Murphy to spend a year in Triple-A getting used to playing whatever position the Mets feel suits him (outfield or first base). Also, Tatis would be a nice right-handed bat coming off the bench. Cory Sullivan or Jeremy Reed, whomever wins the final outfield job, could spell Abreu in the late innings as a defensive replacement.
Abreu would be a nice fit for the Mets, however, I am perfectly fine with a Murphy/Tatis platoon.
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