In a surprising move, the New York Mets invested in an aging hitter to kick off the free agent season. Eric Ebron Colts Jersey . Numbers Game breaks down the Mets’ addition of Michael Cuddyer. The Mets Get: OF Michael Cuddyer. Cuddyer, 35, is coming off an injury-plagued season, but he’s been a very productive hitter for Colorado the past two seasons. It’s no coincidence, however, that those seasons have occurred in Colorado. Cuddyer has played 179 games over the past two seasons, hitting .331 with a .928 OPS, but those numbers are, not surprisingly, tilted towards the Rockies’ home field. HOME-ROAD SPLITS 2013-2014 LOCATION AB HR AVG OPS Home 305 17 .367 1.061 Road 374 13 .302 .815 Three of Cuddyer’s four highest home-run-to-flyball rates have come in the past three years, while playing for the Rockies, including last season’s career-best 22.7%. All this while swinging at more pitches outside the strike zone than ever before, something that would seem to be a nasty habit when the confines of the home park aren’t so friendly. Even if we can rest assured that Cuddyer will no longer receive the Colorado boost to his offensive numbers, there is still the opportunity that he could be a productive hitter. The trouble is, at his age, he’s not much more than a hitter. Whie he can still run a little bit (stealing 32 bases in 39 attempts over the past four seasons), Cuddyer is a liability in the field. In right field, where’s he’s spent most of his outfield time, he hasn’t had a positive Defensive Runs Saved rating since 2005, and is minus-18 runs in that metric over the past two seasons. His Ultimate Zone Rating has been similarly negative and now that he’s in his mid-30s, there’s no reason to believe that it’s going to get better. In New York, Cuddyer figures to shift to left field, which could help mitigate some of his fielding woes, but will also mean that CF Juan Lagares and RF Curtis Granderson will have to be prepared to cover a lot of ground. Over the past two seasons, Cuddyer has, cumulatively, been good for three-to-four wins above replacement (3.0 BBRef WAR, 3.9 fWAR) and that makes him a useful player and two years, at a total of $21-million isn’t unreasonable for solid bat, when healthy. Whether that makes him worth forgoing the 15th pick in the first round of next year’s draft – the compensation that the Mets owe for signing him – is another matter entirely. Colorado is already rather crowded in the outfield, with young inexpensive options like Corey Dickerson, Brandon Barnes and Charlie Blackmon pushing for bigger roles, so they can afford to lose Cuddyer. Getting a first-round pick out of the deal is a reward for being willing to make a $15.3-million qualifying offer to Cuddyer in the first place. Verdict: Cuddyer could be a solid bat for the Mets, but he’s played 280 (of a possible 486) games over the past three seasons and health questions for a player in his mid-30s don’t figure to go away. Mix in expected decline with a change in home park and it is hard for the Mets to justify the long-term impact of giving up a first-round pick. Scott Cullen can be reached at scott.cullen@bellmedia.ca Ryan Grant Colts Jersey . The 25-year-old Lu, a regular on the Japan LPGA Tour after giving up her LPGA Tour membership in 2010, shot an 8-under 64 in windy, wet conditions at Kintetsu Kashikojima. Quenton Nelson Colts Jersey . Patton was placed on the restricted list testing positive for a banned amphetamine. Patton took Adderall, a drug commonly used to combat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, late in the 2013 season and then was given a random drug test. http://www.nflcoltsgearsshop.com/Black-Matt-Slauson-Colts-Jersey.html?cat=948 . - The width of Alec Martinezs shin guard was the difference between the Los Angeles Kings and the Anaheim Ducks in their playoff series opener.LONDON - Defending champion Sevilla is one of 18 teams vying for 10 remaining places in the knockout rounds of the Europa League when the last group matches kick off on Thursday.Sevilla needs a point to advance, and hosts Croatian team Rijeka.Two-time former champ Borussia Moenchengladbach also needs a point against Zurich to advance.Dynamo Moscow has secured its place in the last 32 but can become the sixth team in the competitions history to make it through by winning all six group matches, providing it beats PSV Eindhoven.Here are some things to know about the round:___CHAMPIONSHIP POINT: Sevilla has won its last four European home games, but the Andalusian side needed a late goal from Stephane Mbia to salvage a 2-2 draw the first time it met Rijeka.Sevilla will be led by in-form striker Carlos Bacca, who has 11 goals in 20 games in all competitions, one in the Europa League.Coach Unai Emery has called on Sevillas fans to give them all they support they can at Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium. We feel strong at home, and ready to dictate the match, Emery said. We will try to draw from this strength while preparing with a lot of care for an opponent that cant settle for a draw.DYNAMO AIMS FOR SWEEP: Dynamo is determined not to squander the infrequent chance for a winning sweep of its group at the expense of PSV, which has already qualified for the playoffs.The target was set by the management: Win every game, striker Aleksandr Kokorin said.Coach Stanislav Cherchesov was bullish about his sides form this season. Colts Jerseys. I try to give as much as I can, so that wherever I work - and by the way, this has always happened - the team reaches a new, higher level, he said. We have developed a formula for success for ourselves, so well just stick to it. We need to move forward all the time.TORINO TARGETS ITALIAN CLEAN SWEEP: Torino will be hoping star striker Fabio Quagliarella rediscovers his form as it looks to complete an Italian clean sweep in the last 32.Torino will join Inter Milan, Fiorentina and Napoli in the next round if it wins, or if HJK Helsinki fails to win, while it could also qualify with a draw if HJK beats Brugge by enough goals to ensure Torino has a better goal difference than the Belgian side.However, Torino hasnt won a match since October — a run of four defeats and three draws.That poor streak coincided with Quagliarellas drop in form. The Italy striker, signed from Juventus in the summer, scored in five successive matches over September and October, but has netted just once since — in a dismal 2-1 defeat at HJK.SOMMER ON SWISS: Moenchengladbach goalkeeper Yann Sommer is anticipating a special game against Zurich in search of the point it needs to advance.Its impossible to play for a draw, Sommer said. Well play like we always do, to win, as we also want to win the group.Striker Max Kruse is sidelined with an ankle injury but defender Martin Stranzl is available again after a thigh injury. But after missing three weeks of training, Stranzl may start on the bench. Stitched NFL Jerseys Discount Jerseys Stitched Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Camo Youth NFL Jerseys China NFL Jerseys Outlet Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys ' ' '