It isn’t usually you’ll be able to say the group with the very best payroll within the sport was a enjoyable underdog story, however that is precisely what the New York Mets had been in 2024. They went 75-87 and missed the postseason in 2023 — issues went so bitter they offered on the commerce deadline — then rebounded to go 89-73 in 2024, together with an MLB-best 65-38 after June 2. New York made a spirited run to the NLCS earlier than being eradicated by the eventual World Collection champion Los Angeles Dodgers in six video games.
“We loved this run,” POBO David Stearns mentioned after the NLCS defeat (by way of MLB.com). “Our fan base loved this run. We have nice reminiscences from this run. It is also time for us to start to transfer ahead and see what we are able to do to construct on this to make sure we have now the kind of sustainable competitiveness — true sustainable competitiveness — that is eluded this group for a very long time.”
For the primary time in a very long time, the Mets have an proprietor who needs to win and is keen to spend (Steve Cohen), a shiny head baseball operations government (Stearns), and a supervisor with regular management (Carlos Mendoza) all on the identical time. They’ve had these issues individually all through their historical past, however hardly ever on the identical time like they do now. All indications are 2024 was the start of a long term of success for the Mets, not a one-year blip.
With that in thoughts, here is a take a look at what the Mets are going through this offseason.
Key free brokers
- 1B Pete Alonso
- SP Sean Manaea
- SP Jose Quintana
- SP Luis Severino
- DH J.D. Martinez
- OF Harrison Bader
- OF Jesse Winker
- RP Phil Maton
- RP Ryne Stanek
The Mets had 14 gamers grow to be free brokers after the season, to not point out a number of gamers come off the books who weren’t on their 2024 roster. This previous season the Mets paid important sums to James McCann ($9.5 million), Max Scherzer ($30.8 million), and Justin Verlander ($25 million) to play for different groups. That is greater than $65 million paid out to make gamers go away.
Between their very own free brokers and the fellows they paid to play for different groups, the Mets had roughly $180 million come off their MLB-high $356.2 million aggressive stability tax payroll this offseason. Cot’s Baseball Contracts estimates their 2025 CBT payroll at $170.5 million, presently. That leaves loads — A LOT — of cash to spend if their 2025 payroll approaches 2024 ranges.
Greatest wants
Rotation assist, at first. Severino, Manaea, and Quintana ranked 1-2-3 on the group in innings in 2024 and all three are actually free brokers. Manaea opted out his $13.5 million wage for subsequent season and is taking a look at a multi-year contract. The Mets have expressed an curiosity in bringing him again. Manaea and Severino each obtained the qualifying provide, it ought to be famous.
New York’s 2025 rotation depth chart presently appears to be like like this:
- Kodai Senga (threw solely 10 ⅓ innings round accidents in 2024)
- David Peterson
- Paul Blackburn (may miss begin of 2025 following again surgical procedure)
- Tylor Megill
Christian Scott(will miss 2025 with Tommy John surgical procedure)- José Buttó?
Re-signing Manaea to a four-ish 12 months contract and Severino accepting the $21.05 million qualifying provide is perhaps the very best end result for the Mets. Regardless, they want starters this offseason. Plural. They usually have the monetary wherewithal to dive into the deep finish of the free agent pool. The Mets had success with Manaea and Severino on short-term offers final 12 months. They’ll intention increased now.
Past the rotation, the Mets should additionally determine their nook infield state of affairs, particularly with Alonso. Alonso has not made it a secret that he needs to stay a Met the remainder of his profession, although giving a soon-to-be 30-year-old righty hitting first baseman an enormous contract is a dangerous proposition. Stearns might not be so wanting to re-sign Alonso given who else is out there in free company (extra on that in a bit).
The Mets know this a lot: Mark Vientos will play a nook infield spot in 2025. It may very well be third base, the place he spent 2024, or he may slide over the primary base, with Alonso successfully being changed by a brand new third baseman. Brett Baty strikes me as a change of surroundings commerce candidate greater than somebody who will get one other alternative in 2025, however who is aware of? Baty may very well be an choice.
Middle subject may use an improve — Tyrone Taylor is a pleasant participant however stretched as an on a regular basis man — and the Mets have to determine a strategy to make room for prime prospect Luisangel Acuña, Ronald’s little brother. They might set up Acuña at second base full-time, use Jeff McNeil as an excellent utility man, and rotate gamers via the DH spot. That is one choice.
And, after all, the Mets want aid assist. Maton and Stanek had been two of their finest relievers down the stretch in 2024 (Maton had a tough postseason although) and the Mets had bullpen questions behind these two. Now these questions are even better. Throughout his time with the Milwaukee Brewers, Stearns was nice at unearthing low-cost relievers. He’ll attempt to do identical for the Mets.
Potential matches
Given their monetary may and the place they sit on the competition cycle (proper to win proper now), anticipate the Mets to be very energetic in free company, and to very aggressively pursue the offseason’s No. 1 free agent. That’s, after all …
OF Juan Soto, free agent: Soto is, for all intents and functions, the proper hitter. He has elite energy. He has elite contact abilities. He has elite plate self-discipline. On prime of that, Soto is simply 26. His protection leaves loads to be desired and he is a legal responsibility on the bases, however Soto is the closest factor we have seen to Ted Williams since, effectively, Ted Williams. The Mets have the sources to make Soto the very best paid participant ever — I believe his contract is extra prone to begin with a 7 than a 5 — and he matches their lineup completely. When it is all mentioned and executed, anticipate the Soto race to come back all the way down to the 2 New York groups. It may very well be a fierce bidding conflict.
RHP Corbin Burnes, free agent: Stearns drafted Burnes again within the day throughout his time with the Brewers, so there is a relationship already in place. The Mets had a lot cash come off the books this 12 months that they will afford Soto and a high-priced starter, and Burnes is likely one of the finest starters within the league. If not Burnes, then what about Max Fried? Signing Fried away from the Atlanta Braves would give the Mets one of many prime lefties within the sport and likewise damage a division rival. Level is, the Mets may very well be a participant for one of many offseason’s prime free-agent starters along with pursuing Soto.
OF Luis Robert Jr., Chicago White Sox: Accidents and wretched White Sox vibes contributed to Robert having a poor 2024, however he’s a 12 months faraway from hitting 38 house runs, and he is a splendid defensive heart fielder. His contract is group pleasant too. Robert is owed $15 million in 2025 with reasonably priced membership choices for 2026 and 2027. If he is available in and is nice in 2025, you then get to maintain him one other two years. If he has one other down 12 months, you’ll be able to stroll away after the season. Low threat, excessive reward. The White Sox are mentioned to be looking for place gamers this winter. I can not assist however marvel if Baty + stuff pursuits them in a Robert deal.
3B Alex Bregman, free agent: Is there a state of affairs the place the Mets led Alonso stroll, transfer Vientos to first base, and plug Bregman in on the scorching nook? That may improve the group’s protection significantly, and whereas Bregman does not have Alonso’s energy (few do), he’s a high-end hitter who’s battle-tested on the sport’s greatest stage. As soon as upon a time, Cohen and the Mets agreed to signal Carlos Correa, Bregman’s former teammate with the Houston Astros, to play third base earlier than they noticed one thing scary in Correa’s ankle throughout his bodily. Might they circle again and attempt to signal one other former Astro to play the recent nook? Hmmm.
RP Clay Holmes, free agent: Mendoza is aware of Holmes effectively from their time with the Yankees, and though he misplaced the nearer’s job late in 2024, Holmes stays an efficient excessive leverage reliever with a powerful postseason monitor file. He is been scored upon in solely two of his 19 profession postseason appearances. Holmes is the sport’s preeminent floor ball reliever and he added a bat-missing slider throughout his time within the Bronx. The Mets want late-inning assist and Holmes would give them a pleasant floor ball complement to nearer Edwin Díaz’s high-strikeout methods.
