The Mets are evaluating Michael Morse as a potential addition for 2015.
After Michael Cuddyer received a qualifying offer from the Rockies on Monday, the Mets have now turned their attention to Michael Morse, according to Mike Puma of the New York Post.
With the qualifying offer now attached to Cuddyer, any team that signs him would be giving up a draft pick. It would be a potential risk, considering Cuddyer's age and the fact that he's coming off an injury plagued season. On the flip side, Cuddyer rejecting the Rockies' $15.3 million offer would be a risk for him as well. Given that teams might be turned off by his qualifying offer, it might be a safer bet for Cuddyer to accept the offer from the Rockies.
The Mets were expected to be a potential landing spot for Cuddyer, but with the news of the qualifying offer from the Rockies, Puma expects New York to look at other options instead of forfeiting the fifteenth overall pick in next year's draft.
That brings us to Michael Morse.
Morse is coming off a one-year, $6 million deal with the Giants. For the 2014 season, Morse posted an .811 OPS in 131 games. His versatility as a corner outfielder and first baseman makes him a very similar player as Cuddyer.
The Mets' have some serious question marks in left field, with primary starter Eric Young posting a .610 OPS in 100 games. Other left field candidates include fellow left-handed hitting outfielders Matt den Dekker and Kirk Nieuwenhuis. Adding a right-handed bat like Morse could help even out a lineup that already includes Curtis Granderson, Daniel Murphy and Lucas Duda. Morse could also help spell Duda at first base, who has career splits of .847 vs RHP and .608 vs LHP. As long as Morse stays healthy, he would be a positive addition to the Mets' lineup.