New York Mets: Time to give Jose Bautista a chance

The New York Mets signed Jose Bautista in the middle of the day on Tuesday. He was immediately put in the lineup and can actually make a difference and should be given a chance.

Now, I am not trying to say that every New York Mets fan are not stoked about the Jose Bautista signing. Some are, some are not. The writing has been on the wall of this happening for days now. So, what I am saying is that Bautista should be given a chance given the circumstances.

The New York Mets lost outfield depth. This is going to be a problem all year. Juan Lagares is out for the season. Yoenis Cespedes is likely going to return to the disabled list again at some point this year once he returns. Also, Jay Bruce shouldn’t play the outfield every day with his nagging injuries.

Jose Bautista is essentially a poor man’s Jay Bruce except he is a right-handed bat. He is barely going to be making any money and can play the outfield and the corners bases on the infield. It is rare he will ever have to play centerfield or third base but he is probably capable of doing so. There is no reason to think that he is going to be taking on a heavier load than what he did Tuesday night against the Marlins anyway.

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Bautista’s numbers are terrible. Like almost impressively bad at every level in baseball this season. That is concerning and definitely a liability. He has fallen off a cliff. That is no secret. However, he is a player who’s on his last life but was once a star. He still has a pretty high ceiling and all he can do is go up from here. Isn’t that basically the entire bottom half of the Mets’ rotation?

He is not someone with the numbers, production, or usefulness that the team needs out of an everyday player. Therefore, he is not going to be one. He knows that.

This is purely to stick a bat/body out there whenever one of the core guys in the outfield rotation needs a rest. That is a great role for the man formerly known as “Joey Bats.”

Being released by the Atlanta Braves humbled him. But it could have lit a fire under him, especially when the Mets and Braves meet down the stretch.

It is always a petty move to snag a player who a division rival considers scraps, but a savage move.

There is about a 90% chance Bautista will be exactly who you think he is in 2018. But if he can come in and be decent in random games throughout the summer and be an asset by staying healthy and being ready when called upon, the move will be worth it.

Bautista is no different from a lot of players on the Mets roster. He knows his role. The fans know his role. Management knows why they are bringing him in.

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It’s time to give him a chance. If he can even give the Mets one productive week and help them win even say three games, this will all be worth it.

Let’s see how it works out. The New York Mets fulfill a need and Joey Bats has one more shot.

That is a win-win for both sides.

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