The New York Mets are likely to go after outfielder Shin-Soo Choo when he hits free agency this fall, reports Andy Martino of the New York Daily News.
Both Mets officials and rival baseball execs told Martino over the last week that they are hearing Sandy Alderson and company are enamored by the Reds center fielder.
One of the Mets sources added, however, that the club is not interested in getting into an all-out bidding war for a guy entering his age-31 season (and who happens to be represented by Scott Boras). Essentially, it seems the Mets are saying (publicly, at least) that they'll go after Choo if the price is right, but aren't going to fall over themselves to get him.
At least one other club -- the Chicago Cubs -- has already shown interest in the left-handed hitter, so the Mets are definitely not alone in their pursuit.
Choo is in the midst of one of his best seasons at the dish, batting .291/.425/.472 with 20 home runs. While his OBP is buoyed by a league-leading 25 hit-by-pitches, he's also walking at a career-high clip (15 percent). His defensive numbers in center field are not pretty -- -17 defensive runs saved on the year -- but the Mets already have a center fielder in Juan Lagares, so they'd likely move Choo back into the outfield corners if they were to sign him.
Choo is a career .289/.389/.466 hitter in parts of nine big-league seasons, but has been a full-time player for just the last six.
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