In desperate need of a fill in for the injured Lucas Duda, the New York Mets acquired James Loney from the San Diego Padres for cash considerations last Saturday. The Mets are the third Major League team Loney has played for. He is a career .285/.338/.411 hitter with 99 home runs to date and provides a reputable glove at first base but is 32 years old and has spent his entire 2016 campaign in AAA. The majority of Loney’s $8 million 2016 salary will be paid by the Tampa Bay Rays, who released him in April.
Mets announce trade for James Loney. Makes a lot of sense as a low cost fill in. Acquired for straight cash, homies.
— Marc Carig (@MarcCarig) May 28, 2016
James Loney’s Impact on the Mets
The beleaguered Duda is often a target of fury for Mets fans, though he has slugged 64 home runs and 176 RBI’s since becoming the full-time starter in 2014. Most will remember him for this throw in Game 5 of the 2015 World Series.
If anything, Loney is a considerable offensive upgrade over anything the Mets previously had on the 40 man roster. The Mets are currently 26th in baseball in runs scored, 29th in batting average, and 23rd in OBP. The team has been able to stay afloat due to their elite pitching which ranks 3rd in ERA, 3rd in runs against, and 6th in strikeouts.
Loney is a significantly better hitter when facing right-handed pitching. He’s posted a .296 career batting average against righties but has only a .254 mark against left-handers. In his last Major League stint with the Rays, Loney was used primarily as a platoon player, meaning that Flores could still see time at first with Ty Kelly at third.
The former Gold Glove award winner Loney has maintained a career .994 fielding percentage, but his advanced defensive statistics have taken a hit in recent years. Loney’s UZR (Ultimate Zone Rating) dropped from +6.1 to -1.5 between 2013 and 2014.
Prior to trading for Loney, the Mets explored several in-house options at first base. Eric Campbell received the majority of starts at the position subsequent to Duda’s injury, but posted an underwhelming .159 batting average in 63 at bats. Prior to a DL stint of his own, Wilmer Flores also received some time at first base. The fan favorite Flores has just a .167 batting average in 2016.
The Mets pondered the thought of moving either Michael Conforto or Alejandro De Aza to first base. Moving Conforto to first would have freed up more playing time for outfielder Juan Lagares, who has played well in a limited role. De Aza has served as the fifth outfielder and primary left-handed bat off the bench. De Aza, who is hitting .196, originally signed with the Mets in the offseason to platoon with Lagares. The Mets went on to sign Yoenis Cespedes to a lucrative contract.
Due to the Mets dire situation at first base, though, Loney is a sensible and cost effective option. Loney is a proven veteran who makes total sense for the Mets as a short-term option in place of Lucas Duda. Mets fans can expect a steady performer who is familiar with playing in a large market after spending the majority of his career in Los Angeles.
Though Loney is unlikely to put up gaudy numbers, he is still more dependable than any option the Mets previously had on their roster. Since it is such a cheap investment, giving Loney another chance in the big leagues is a relatively small risk for a team looking to keep pace with the Washington Nationals.
Main Photo: LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL – MARCH 14: James Loney #21 of the Tampa Bay Rays waits for a pitch during a spring training game against the Atlanta Braves at Champion Stadium on March 14, 2016 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
