Mets trade for outfielder in their first notable offseason move

New York Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns is proving that he is committed to outfield defense and that 2024 wasn’t a fluke.
On Tuesday, the Mets acquired center fielder Jose Siri from the Tampa Bay Rays for reliever Eric Orze, according to reports.
Siri, 29, is considered one of the best defensive outfielders in baseball — with 99th percentile range and 97th percentile arm strength, according to Statcast. He also plays with a flair and attitude that the Mets (and their fans) have embraced, often flipping his bat with style after home runs.
Siri will team with Tyrone Taylor in center field, allowing Mets manager Carlos Mendoza to continue to move Taylor around as a starter, extra outfielder or defensive replacement.
Last offseason, the Mets traded for Taylor and signed center fielder Harrison Bader to a one-year deal. This will effectively rule out a Bader reunion. Siri, who is in his first offseason of arbitration, is under contract through 2027. MLB Trade Rumors projects him to receive $2.3 million, a price that the low-spending Rays likely felt was too much for a one-dimensional player.
While Siri is a standout fielder, he is a below average hitter because of a lack of an approach and contact issues. Last season, he batted .187/.255/.366 (76 OPS+) with 18 home runs, 47 RBIs and 14 steals. His best season came in 2023 when he posted a 105 OPS+ with 25 home runs, 56 RBIs and 12 steals. He has a career 36% strikeout rate. The Mets are clearly banking on his ability to save runs rather than produce them … though unlocking a new approach for offensive consistency could make this trade a major win.
Orze, 27, got into his first MLB games last season, allowing four earned runs in 1 2/3 innings. He has been in the organization since 2021, all spent as a reliever. He has a career 4.04 ERA in the minors.
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