Mets Interested in Cody Ross?

This is the time of year when reports are rampant about one particular team interested in a particular player; most of them never seem to materialize, or make much sense, for that matter. But there is one report that may make sense — that the Mets are interested in Cody Ross. However, I don’t think it should happen.

The New York Post claims “multiple baseball officials” said the outfielder could be a free agent target for the Mets. I am certainly no expert on Cody Ross, but a look at his statistics suggests he might not be a significant upgrade for the Mets.

In each of the 2008 and 2009 seasons, when he was 27 and 28 years old, Ross hit 20+ home runs for the Marlins. He hit 14 the next season, then 14 the following season split between the Marlins and Giants. It is important to note that the old Marlins stadium and AT&T Park are both big pitchers ballparks, not unlike Citi Field.

Last season Ross was with the Red Sox. Playing in a hitters park in a hitters league, Ross managed 22 home runs.

It is safe to assume that in a return to the National League and to a pitchers park, the soon-to-be 32-year-old Ross will not fare as well as he did in Fenway. He would likely return to the 14 home run plateau of 2010 and 2011. How does that really help the Mets?

Add in the fact that Ross hardly walks (around 40 per season), strikes out a lot (around 120 per season), has a low on-base percentage and is a .260 hitter, and he doesn’t seem like the type of player the Mets want or need.

Ross made $3 million last season. That’s probably what he’s worth. I could see the Mets taking a chance on him at that salary level on a one-year deal, but I imagine other teams that are also hungry for outfielders will offer him more.

So my guess is that Cody Ross will not be a Met next season. And that’s just fine with me.