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Palladino: Mets Need Either Kang Or Tulowitzki At Shortstop

By Ernie Palladino
» More Ernie Palladino Columns

By the end of this week, we'll know whether the Mets are serious about getting a shortstop.

They passed at the Winter Meetings last week, with Sandy Alderson proclaiming once again that all will be fine with Wilmer Flores and even Ruben Tejada. All but the most ardent of believers think that's a lot of smoke, that the Mets need to shore things up at the critical position.

So here is their chance. Or, at least, this is an opportunity to take a real shot at it.

The Nexen Heroes have posted their shortstop, Jung-Ho Kang.

For a tidy sum ranging from $10 million to $15 million, the Mets can enter the negotiating rights to the Korean League MVP and further their credibility among a frustrated fan base.

KALLET: SANDY NOT UPGRADING AT SHORTSTOP WOULD BE INEXCUSABLE AND UNACCEPTABLE 

Either that, or make a concerted effort to find an upgrade in the trade market. Troy Tulowitzki would be wonderful, thank you.

Alderson said on Tuesday that a Mets bid is "unlikely." Passing on the Korean would be a mistake. Alderson is about down to two options now, both of which will shatter Fred Wilpon's ever-present dream of a bargain-basement roster. Given the $20 million they'll owe David Wright in 2015, and the fact that Wright, Curtis Granderson, Bartolo Colon, Michael Cuddyer and Jon Niese alone take up $62.5 million, the Mets already sit just a few cents south of the $100 million mark.

That's way out of the Wilpons' comfort zone. But since that fantasy is dead, anyway, Alderson should go all-in on Kang, or at least try to lasso the 30-year-old, somewhat creaky Tulowitzki from the Rockies.

Go for Kang first, since he'll be the more economical option, if one considers a total posting fee/salary payout of $40 million economical. Unless the Korea Baseball Organization is less competitive than scouting reports indicate, Kang should hit in the majors. He certainly hit over there, compiling a .356 batting average with 40 homers and 117 RBIs in just 117 games.

The 27-year-old is sturdy enough at 6-foot-0 and 210 pounds, though the New York Daily News reported that he projects better as a second baseman. There is always the possibility that he could turn into another Kaz Matsui, the Japanese Gold Glover who played so poorly with the Mets that they had to move him to second.

Kang won't have that option, since Daniel Murphy is cemented there. Still, if Kang can provide adequate defense at shortstop, he'd make a nice addition to a lineup that Alderson has already upgraded with Cuddyer and, last week, John Mayberry, Jr.

The Mayberry signing could, in fact, turn into a gem. He came cheap at $1.45 million for one year, which should make ownership smile. The former Blue Jay and Phillie has a .269/.341/.571 career slash line against left-handers, which should make Mets fans smile. The team's .230 BA against southpaws ranked 29th last year.

He could be a late-game asset off the bench, as well as a steady fill-in when Lucas Duda gets a day off. So, nicely done.

But Alderson still needs that shortstop. Kang hits, but the Mets will have to spend a bit for a hitter who wants a deal in the three-year, $24 million ballpark.

Asdrubal Cabrera, the troubled Everth Cabrera and the declining Stephen Drew don't figure in as free-agent targets. That crop was further weakened by Jed Lowrie's signing with the Astros.

So it's either Kang or Tulowitzki. And Tulowitzki is going to cost them a good chunk of their talent-rich farm system, and probably a starting pitcher, too. And then they'll have to take on the remaining five years and $106 million of contract.

Ouch! And for a cash-poor franchise, double-ouch! But Tulowitzki hits in Citi Field. In 48 at-bats, he has five homers and eight extra-base hits. Extend that over a season and it's obvious, bad hips providing, that he could be a huge asset to that lineup.

One way or another, Alderson has to at least make a move here. He'll have some company in the Kang bidding. But he must at least throw the Mets' name in the hat. If the Giants or A's outbid him for the exclusive negotiating rights, so be it.

The Mets are in win-now mode. They can no longer draw lines in the sand over expenses.

Kang or Tulowitzki.

Either gambit will cost them money. Lots of it.

They owe it to their constituency to at least try.

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