Mets Second Basemen

The Mets are trying to tread water this season as their rebuilding phase continues.  They're trying to fill holes with young players and plug others with veterans here and there, and some spots remain open for competition.  One such spot is second base.

1.  Daniel Murphy:  Oh yeah.  Murphy is being converted into a second baseman this off-season.  Again.  For those of us counting, this is the fourth time that Murphy has been converted into a second baseman (once after the 2008 season, twice in the 2010 season at AAA, thrice after the 2010 season, and now a fourth time heading into the 2012 season).  No conversion has worked yet for a variety of reasons.  The Mets were unable to trade 2B Luis Castillo the first time.  The second conversion was ended due to a season-ending knee injury.  The third time it just didn't work as Murphy couldn't play defense at second.  And what will happen this year?  LeRoy doesn't know that, but here's a prediction:  Come Opening Day, Daniel Murphy will not be playing second base for the Mets.  Instead he'll be a left-handed bat off the bench and a super-sub in the vein of former Mets IF/OF Kevin Mitchell, who can play almost everyday at a different position.  No matter where or how he plays, the Mets need his bat in the lineup.  He batted .320 last season.

2.  Justin Turner:  Turner lost out on the second base and utility infielder job last season to 2B Brad Emaus and IF Chin-lung Hu, respectively, but he had the last laugh as he was recalled early in the season and ended up being the team's starting second baseman.  And he performed decently, batting .260 and playing good defense at second.  He's on the bubble again this season.  With the Mets pulling for Murphy to win the second base job, IF Ronny Cedeno signed to serve as the team's utility player, and OF/2B Scott Hairston signed to a guaranteed contract to serve as the team's right-handed pinch hitter, it looks like Turner might be out of a job.  But LeRoy wouldn't worry too much:  Here's predicting that Turner wins the second base job in Spring Training.

3.  Reese Havens:  Havens is a top prospect and former number one draft pick with the Mets who they have added to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule V Draft.  Despite all of the hype Havens has done nothing in the Minor Leagues and his professional career has thus far been injury-riddled, though the Mets still believe in him enough to invest in him this Spring and he' still being ranked as one of their top prospects.  But none of that really matters.  Havens, regardless of his performance or health, needs to start the season at AA and he probably won't reach the Major Leagues until sometime in the second half of 2013.

The Mets second base situation looks murky, but it doesn't look bad.  If Murphy wins the job the Mets should expect sub par defense but a lot of offense.  If Turner wins the job they should expect decent offense and above average defense.  Either way their second base situation base situation looks solid.  And with Havens waiting in the wings at least they can say that they have someone poised to take over by 2014.