Cody Ross Signs with Diamondbacks

Cody Ross has reportedly signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks, which means he will not be on the Mets in 2013 and beyond. That is a good thing.

I never understood the fascination some had with seeing Ross on the Mets. He is a perfectly adequate player, but as a right handed hitter he managed to hit just 22 home runs while playing in Fenway Park in 2012. What would have happened in Citi Field if didn’t have that short porch? I say 15 home runs, tops.

Arizona is a home run hitters park, but my guess is that he hits maybe 20 homers in 2013.

It’s not known yet how much money Cody Ross got from the Diamondbacks, but he was reportedly looking for three years, around $25 million. I have no problem with the Mets spending that kind of money for a quality player with tons of upside, but at 32 (tomorrow, happy birthday Cody!), I think we’ve seen the best of Cody Ross.

With no quality free agents left in the Mets budget, Sandy Alderson would have to swing a trade to get  a much-needed outfielder. Arizona’s outfield is crowded, and Justin Upton is apparently readily available for some reason. But the Mets likely do not have enough to get him, and besides, they probably don’t want to pay the nearly $40 million he’s owed over the next three years. And we all know Alderson prefers to stand pat rather than actually do something.

So expect to see Lucas Duda, Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Mike Baxter, Collin Cowgill and some other low priced mediocre player roaming the outfield in Flushing next season. Yes, it’s what dreams are made of.