Juan SotoMary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images
2024 Record: 89-73 (NL’s No. 6 seed)
Acquisitions: OF Juan Soto, RHP Frankie Montas, RHP Clay Holmes, OF Jose Siri, RHP Griffin Canning
Noteworthy Departures: 1B Pete Alonso, RHP Luis Severino, LHP Jose Quintana, OF Harrison Bader, IF Jose Iglesias, DH J.D. Martinez, OF/DH Jesse Winker, RHP Phil Maton, RHP Brooks Raley, RHP Drew Smith
Current Estimated Payroll: $236.3M
Three-Year Average Opening Day Payroll: $308.0M
Current DraftKings “To Make the Playoffs” Odds: -270
The New York Mets hit the great big, $765M home run of the offseason, signing Juan Soto through 2039 (assuming he doesn’t opt out after 2029).
But if they accomplish nothing else this winter, are they going to be any better than last season?
Re-signing Sean Manaea (albeit at nearly double his 2024 salary) was a near must, but this starting rotation sans Luis Severino and Jose Quintana still leaves something to be desired, pinning a lot of hopes and dreams on A) Kodai Senga staying healthy, B) Clay Holmes making a seamless transition from closer to starter and C) Frankie Montas pitching better than he did last year.
They do have a deep stable of options to combat inevitable injury, but let’s just say no one would presently expect the Mets to have the edge in starting pitching in a best-of-seven NLCS against the Dodgers, Phillies or Braves.
Even the lineup is slightly riddled with question marks.
Should be a solid top five in the order in Soto, Francisco Lindor, Mark Vientos, Brandon Nimmo and Francisco Alvarez, but is the fourth time the charm for Brett Baty? What’s the plan in center field? And are Jeff McNeil and Starling Marte still going to be big pieces of the puzzle, or are they leaning on youngsters Ronny Mauricio and Luisangel Acuña?
Again, a deep stable of options, but just a lot of iffy spots for a team that has had an Opening Day payroll around $100M higher than this over the past two seasons.
If the Mets can bring back Pete Alonso or bring in Corbin Burnes, things will look a whole heck of a lot better here. For now, though, another third-place finish in the NL East still seems likely.
This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.
