Mets should sign Gomes

One of the casualties of the non-tender deadline was Tampa bay Rays corner outfielder Jonny Gomes. Don't get me wrong, I'm not expecting him to become the starting left fielder but as a right handed power bat off the bench he's well worth the risk. In fact Gomes was once a highly touted prospect, in 2006 Sickels completed a retro bio on him in which he thought Gomes had a chance to have a better career then his former teammate Delmon Young...

One thing about Gomes: although he doesn't have great running speed, he stole a ton of bases in the low minors, at a good success percentage. I believe that players who do that (steal bases at a good percentage in the minors even though they don't have great speed) often show unusual spikes in development. It's a sign of "baseball instinct" if you will. Note that with such players the steals themselves often don't carry forward. It is the fact that they exist at all at the lower levels that's the positive marker. In theory. source Minor League ball 5/11/06

Gomes had a break out season in 2005, he played in 101 games and posted the following numbers .372/ .534/ .282 with 21 HRs, 51 RBIs. 2006 was a disappointment in which he hit only .216 but still hit 20 HRs and drove in 59 RBIs. He rebounded in 2007 with a .244 BA, 17 HRs and 49 RBIs. Last year he made the team out of spring training but only hit .182 in 77 games and was sent down to AAA where he hit .252 in 26 games before getting a call-up in Sept.

From what I've read on Rays blogs there is a division, some are sick of Gomes horrible defense and low BA while others believe he was misused and never found his rhythm while losing his confidence. The Rays have a very young and talented outfield that is also very deep and Gomes as a traditional power hitting, stationary corner outfielder didn't really fit their mold.

His detractors maybe right, he may be a bust with a very low BA and horrible defense but the Mets need a power right handed bat, at least bring him to spring training and see what he has for a role on the bench...

Gomes' 66 career home runs rank fifth in Rays history and first among Rays right-handed hitters. He holds the franchise record for most times hit by a pitch (35) and catwalks hit at Tropicana Field (eight). His 21 home runs as a rookie in 2005 are a career high, and stood as a club rookie record until passed by Evan Longoria this season. Gomes was an 18th-round selection by the Rays in the 2001 June Draft. source MLB.com