Going big at the center field spot doesn’t seem a guarantee for the New York Mets this offseason. They’ve been fine with lesser platoons. With several young players like Carson Benge and Jett Williams maybe months away from their big league debuts or possibly right out of the gate with the former (although I’d be doubtful of that), there isn’t an urgency to add someone all that expensive.
The trade market isn’t spectacular for center fielders because when you get someone good, you want to hold onto him. It’s not a position of great depth. The Mets haven’t had good luck at finding any sort of consistency there.
Well-known names like Luis Robert Jr., Byron Buxton, and any of the Boston Red Sox guys have been discussed plenty and would immediately improve the center field situation. What about something more up David Stearns’ alley? These three, oddly enough, have some sort of connection to the Mets or Stearns himself. As a placeholder, they seem to offer a lot of what the Mets seem to like at the center field position.
1) Derek Hill – White Sox
Derek Hill was tendered a contract by the Chicago White Sox but that doesn’t mean they’re married to keeping him. A strong defender who was worth 5 OAA in 2025 in limited opportunities, he’s a journeyman center fielder who’d fit snuggly alongside Tyrone Taylor to begin the year with a small enough contract to get DFA’d when the time comes; unless he outplays Taylor.
Hill’s unique connection to the Mets has to do with his cousin, Darryl Strawberry. Strawberry and Hill’s father are cousins which puts his bloodline on the same family tree as one of the great Mets of all-time. This isn’t the reason to trade for him. It’s just a fun coincidence.
Profiling similarly to Taylor as a hitter with a .216 batting average with the White Sox and Miami Marlins last year, he’d be an affordable and immediate second option in center field. He wouldn’t cost more than a low-level prospect or maybe even some cash.