Why not Abreu or Ibanez...

The two names the Mets have been linked to for left field are both left handed hitters. Bobby Abreu and Raul Ibanez would be excellent acquisitions if your team needed a left handed hitter. Abreu is an on-base machine and Ibanez not only is he a consistent hitter but provides a decent amount of power. Joe D. of Metsmerized online has an excellent post today comparing the two, maybe I've been thinking about this all wrong.

Both players hit lefties well so who cares what side of the plate they bat from, if they are the best options then maybe they make sense. There truly isn't any solid right handed hitting outfielders available ( unless a trade surfaces) or you consider Juan Rivera and his one solid season a better choice.

I've thought maybe signing one of them was contingent upon trading Church and I'd hate to see him go, but does it really matter if the team is lefty dominant (offensively) as long as they hit lefties. If someone struggles they'd have Tatis on the bench and I'm sure they'll trade or sign another righty for the bench....

Both players would be short term acquisitions, at most signing for three years making a smooth transition to F-Mart. I figure this year he'll be an injury call up, next year a platoon partner and by the third year he'll be a full timer moving the vet. to be the bench.....

Bobby Abreu has said all along he'd like to return to the Yankees, but that seems doubtful unless he accepts arbitration. There have been no talks between the outfielder and the club and Abreu has made it clear he wants a three-year deal, something the Yankees likely won't give him. A source close to Abreu said he might be willing to accept a two-year contract with an option from the Yankees, though he might get a three-year offer elsewhere. The Mets and Cubs have expressed interest in him, the source said. source Daily News