Pros and Cons: Should the Mets...

Since the buzz around free agent Trea Turner and the Mets started building recently, there have been some eager to shoot it down as foolish. Why would the Mets want Turner when they already have Francisco Lindor? The above questions are all somewhat valid, but flawed.

Turner is not a perfect fit for the Mets, but he is one of the best players in baseball. And the Mets, who need to add a jolt to their offense and could have plenty of money to spread around depending on how many of their own free agents they bring back, should have lots of interest in Turner -- regardless of the imperfect fit.

CONS

Turner will begin next season at 29 years old and turn 30 on June 30, so he's not exactly a kid. And there's a chance he could get a deal for eight years or more. That could be a ton to give to someone who generates lots of value with his legs and is about to be on the wrong side of 30 -- Turner has averaged 44 stolen bases per 162 games.

Would the Mets be comfortable having three position players making $30 million or more for a half decade or longer? That will obviously depend on how the rest of the roster is constructed, and it could get a serious facelift this offseason, with Brandon Nimmo possibly leaving via free agency and a handful of other big free agents.

PROS

Turner is one of the best players in baseball, and is a truly dynamic offensive weapon. A career .302/.355/.487 hitter, Turner was the 13th most valuable player in baseball last season per fWAR. For reference, Lindor was seventh, Jeff McNeil was 21st, and Nimmo was 27th.

But the Mets are smack in the middle of their World Series window, and they should be aggressive while trying to win a title during that window. Turner would help them do that.

VERDICT

Of all the external position player free agents on the market, which of course includes Aaron Judge and the three other star shortstops listed above, I think Turner makes the most sense for the Mets. And if I'm the Mets, I look to fill the power void by signing Jose Abreu to be the DH. As far as the Mets and Turner, it could simply come down to timing, especially as it pertains to deGrom's future and -- to a lesser extent -- Nimmo's.

If deGrom drags his feet or signs somewhere else, things could get very interesting -- depending partially on what happens with Nimmo and whether the Mets try to sign a different ace. And it doesn't get much more interesting than Turner. The Mets recently gave a huge deal to Lindor, but they doled it out before his age-27 season. For Turner, they'd be giving it to him before his age-30 season. And Lindor is a better defender than Turner.

Speaking of Lindor, the Mets will be paying him $32 million annually through 2031, and they'll also have to soon pay Pete Alonso if they want to keep him from leaving as a free agent after the 2024 season.