Mets Should Steer Clear of Seiya Suzuki

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As in many MLB cities, a lot of New York sportswriters are clamoring for the Mets to sign Japanese star outfielder Seiya Suzuki, figuring he's just the get-well tonic they need to vault back into contention. However, after looking over Suzuki's stats, they're eerily similar to Kazuo Matsui's. Remember him, Mets fans? Of course you do.

Seiya Suzuki (left) and Kazuo Matsui

For the benefit of those fans too young to remember, back in December of 2003, the Wilpons' Mets, in all their glorified incompetence, tried to make an international baseball splash by signing Japanese star shortstop Kazuo Matzui just like the Yankees did with Hideki Matsui (no relation) and Seattle with Ichiro Suzuki (no relation, either). In fact, Mets management was so excited to sign the Japanese star shortstop that they decided to shift Jose Reyes, their top shortstop prospect, to second base, where playing out of position effected his offense. Then they had them switch positions midseason and there after and now Matsui, a lifelong shortstop, was playing out of position. To nobody's surprise, the results were no different for him.

He turned out to be a major dissapointment to say the least, if not less. Of course, this isn't to say Suzuki will automatically be a Kaz rerun, but the Mets already have plenty of outfielders, with potentially another one in their crosshairs (Kris Bryant?). So there's no guarantee they won't play Suzuki in more than one position (The "Here We Go Again" dept) for tons of money better spent elsewhere.

Even with the universal DH the Mets don't need to go after Suzuki just because of the resounding success of fellow Japanese star Shohei Ohtani. That was the Wilpons' mistake. But these are now the Steve Cohen Mets and the glaring fact is too many Japanese superstars fail to live up to their billing in the Majors. However, MLB clubs are still shelling out the posting fees and the contracts to acquire what can be accurately described as very costly risks.

There's no creditable reason for the Mets to take that risk again.