MLB free agency: One player each team should sign

MLB free agency: One free agent each team should sign

CHICAGO, IL - SEPTEMBER 24: Kansas City Royals First base Eric Hosmer (35) during the game between the Kansas City Royals and the Chicago White Sox on September 24, 2017 at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago, Illinois.(Photo by Jerome Lynch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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TORONTO, ON – SEPTEMBER 21: Mike Moustakas #8 of the Kansas City Royals reacts after grounding into a double play in the fourth inning during MLB game action against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on September 21, 2017 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /

New York Mets: Mike Moustakas

The Mets have essentially been held hostage at third base by David Wright the past three years. The captain of the team has only played 75 games since the start of the 2015 season as he deals with spinal stenosis and associated injuries to his shoulder. Wright has brushed aside any talk of retirement, but played only three games of a rehab assignment this year. He is owed $47 million through 2020. The Mets and Wright should come to an agreement about the remaining money owed to Wright and attempt to move on.

Mike Moustakas is the best third baseman on the market this offseaosn, and a perfect fit for the Mets if they do ultimately find a way to move on from Wright (or attempt one last try with him as a first baseman). Moustakas is coming off the best year of his career and would provide a long-term answer at third base.

The 2017 season will go down as a lost year for the Mets, but they can still contend again next year if ownership is willing to spend money to address the weaknesses in the roster. The Mets were able to skate by with a weak lineup in 2015 and 2016 thanks to their dominant rotation. When the starters hit the shelf this year, the Mets crumbled right along with them.

New York’s National League team plays with a different budget than their Bronx rivals, but they must make an attempt to continue contending while Noah Syndergaard and Jacob deGrom are still relatively inexpensive.

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