The New York Mets are among roughly a dozen clubs showing interest in free-agent first baseman/outfielder Corey Hart, reports Mike Puma of the NY Post.
Corey Hart rumors: Mets among several teams interested in FA slugger
New York has several first-base/corner-outfield types on their roster, but that isn’t stopping them from checking out the former Brewers all-star.
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Hart, 31, missed all of this past season recovering from surgeries on both of his knees, so he’s likely to be one of the cheaper quality 1B/OF options in free agency this winter.
The market for first basemen is rather shallow beyond Mike Napoli and Kendrys Morales, which could work in Hart's favor salary-wise, but no one is likely to put big money down on a player who's still questionable for the start of 2014. Hart was just cleared to run on a treadmill at the end of September.
The Mets currently have several first-base types on their roster -- including Ike Davis, Josh Satin, Lucas Duda and Zach Lutz -- but have recently shown a willingness to part with at least Davis and/or Duda, which could open the door for Hart.
A two-time all-star, Hart has the track record of a guy who'd normally get eight figures on the open market if he were healthy. In his six full seasons as the Brewers' right fielder/first baseman, the 6'6 slugger hit .277/.335/.495 with 143 home runs, twice reaching the 30 home run plateau in a season.
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