Atlanta’s division rival recently added an elite defender to their roster.
Even though the Atlanta Braves have a developing talent in Michael Harris II who is certain to play center field for at least the next six seasons, it’s difficult not to be envious of the New York Mets’ acquisition of Jose Siri.
After all, Siri had a 1.9 fWAR season with exceptional defense (16 OAA) in center field, as well as the odd big bomb and even louder celebration, and the Mets were able to grab an average starter for the price of a 27-year-old reliever with a 21.60 career ERA.
Even worse for the Braves, with Siri taking over in center field, the team with the highest salary in 2024 frees up funds to make a potentially larger move elsewhere in the outfield.
New York Mets savvy trade for Jose Siri doesn’t bode well for the Braves
Jose Siri’s stat line isn’t exciting on the surface. The 28-year-old only slashed .187/.255/.366, good for a 78 wRC+ in 448 plate appearances. He had a staggeringly high 37.9% strikeout rate, often struggling to get on even when he hit the ball in play. He also had a mediocre 6.9% walk rate, which meant he wasn’t able to use his 99th percentile sprint speed to its full potential, only stealing 14 bags in 21 attempts.
Nonetheless, his 18 home runs were enough to save him from being a complete batting disaster, and his 16 Outs Above Average placed him in the 99th percentile while playing a premium position.
Siri also had some bad luck, underperforming his xBA and xSLG. If he hit more in line with his predicted numbers, he’d probably be closer to league average.
This move does not guarantee that the Mets will produce more in center field than the Braves this season, but it does help their bitter rival shift money around, potentially making more place for lefty slugger Juan Soto.
Last season, New York paid Harrison Bader $10.5 million to be their starting center fielder. Bader’s wRC+ of 85 was only seven points higher than Siri’s, yet he played slightly worse defense.
Overall, Siri has a greater ceiling than Bader but shares the same floor. The now-29-year-old is expected to receive $2.3 million in arbitration, 4.5 times less what Bader earned in 2024.
The Mets have been prominently linked to Juan Soto this winter. The team has a lot of money going off the books, with its current active salary being roughly $200 million less than their 2024 payroll.
Unfortunately for the Braves, who just finished the 2024 season in a close battle with New York, the Mets’ newest move ensures they are just as good in center and now have even more money to throw at the top free agent in baseball.
