With the Mets rumored to be obtaining Jason Kipnis, fans should be thrilled.  Kipnis is seemingly everything the team needs, and he could go a long way in making the Mets a better team.

He is a two time All Star, who seemingly has no ego.  After returning from the Disabled List, the Indians asked him to move to center field because that is what was needed to help the team win.  He did it, and he did it despite his having been a key player on a team that came within a run of winning the World Series in 2016.

In his two prior healthy seasons, Kipnis was a .289/.357/.460 hitter who averaged 42 doubles, six triples, 16 homers, and 67 RBI.  He also averaged a 4.3 WAR with him posting three seasons of a WAR above 4.0 in three out of his past five seasons.

Combine this with a reasonable salary (owed $28.3 million over next two years with a $16.5 million option for 2020), and you have a good player on a decent contract that can really help the Mets.

However, this is exactly the type of player that can also help a Cleveland Indians team with World Series aspirations – an Indians team who is about to take major hits in free agency.

Already, the Indians have lost Bryan Shaw and Carlos Santana in free agency. Jay Bruce and may not be far behind. By trading Kinsler, the Indians may be getting rid of a player who could help them at either first base, the outfield, or anywhere else the Indians need.

Yes, Jose Ramirez had an MVP caliber season, and he seemingly usurped Kipnis at second base.  Still, Ramirez moving from third to second also created some uncertainty at the third base position.

No doubt, the Indians have some talented young players who could play there like Yandy Diaz, Francisco Mejia, or Giovanny Urshela.  However, it is quite telling that come postseason time the Indians handed the third base duties to journeyman Michael Martinez.  Reason being is that the aforementioned trio wasn’t quite ready.  And really, who is to say they will be next season?

If you next take into account, Michael Brantley being constantly injured, you really begin to wonder why is it the Indians are willing to just give up on Kipnis?

It’s not like he’s at his peak value.  He’s coming off an injury plagued season where he had a 0.4 WAR, 81 OPS+, 82 wRC+, and a -2 DRS at second base.  Trading him now feels more like the Indians are dumping a salary than the Mets are blowing the Indians away with an offer to get a good player.

This should beg the question about what the Indians know that no one else does?  Is it Kipnis’ shoulder?  Is it fear of regression?  Is it just to free up money to spend elsewhere?  No one can be quite sure as of right now.

With all the said, Kipnis still presents a huge upgrade for a Mets organization that had the second worst DRS at second base in all of baseball.  It’s a massive upgrade for a team that views Jose Reyes and his -0.6 WAR last year as the free agent backup plan.  This all means the Mets should be pursuing Kipnis.

However, that doesn’t mean the Mets shouldn’t be concerned as to which Kipnis they are getting in return.