The Mets Are Certainly Getting Less Expensive

The Dodgers, already comprehensively better than every other team in baseball, today gave up cash and a player to be named later for Curtis Granderson of the Mets.

Granderson was having a “meh” season for the doomed Mets, batting .228/.334/.481 with decent power numbers over 111 games. The Dodgers didn’t give up a whole lot to get him, but, then, they don’t exactly need him, either—the Dodgers are deep with quality outfielders, such that they’ve started Cody Bellinger at first base in 30 of their last 32 games. The opening is in center, where Joc Pederson has managed a .215/.329/.418 slash and a -0.4 WAR that is by far the lowest of any Dodgers player with at least 200 plate appearances. That’s probably Granderson’s ultimate landing spot.

Granderson also gives the Dodgers yet another useful lefty bat, to go along with Bellinger, Cory Seager, Chase Utley, switch-hitting Yasmani Grandal, and (if you feel like being generous) Adrián González and Pederson. Screw the Dodgers. I am already angry at them for whupping whoever whups the Nationals in the playoffs.

The Mets, for their part, get clear of the final year of Granderson’s four-year, $60 million contract. Presumably the player to be named later will be someone they can actually use as early as next season—their other recent moves suggest they’re not too eager to start a protracted rebuild. ESPN positioned this as “a move that helps them reload for next season,” which is an interesting thing to say about a move that, so far, has only returned cold, hard cash. The cash-and-unspecified-player return is a little troubling in the wake of another recent outfielder-for-savings trade, when Jay Bruce was dealt to the Indians for a non-prospect in a move that seemed motivated primarily by a desire to offload as much of Bruce’s contract as possible, at all costs.

Whatever else happens, you just hope that player to be named later can play a little infield. The Mets have an urgent need for someone who can field a grounder. Besides, they’re all set at outfielder-of-the-future, thank you very much.

Update (4:45 p.m.): The Dodgers have reportedly optioned Joc Pederson to Triple-A Oklahoma City today to make room for Granderson.