Reese Kaplan -- Mets Top Ten List for 2022 Rankings 4 Through 2

Feedback on the selections of 7 through 5 is a little slow in coming, but the general consensus among folks I've messaged and talked to has been pretty supportive of where I put folks.  

One suggestion was that Francisco Lindor should be ranked higher, but you do have to note his sub-.250 batting average and overcome the disappointment of his weak 2021 debut season.  

No one can argue with his power and RBI numbers (and he's contributing with speed and defense as well).  However, it will take a long string of positivity to win over the holdouts still decrying the trade as an expensive mistake.  

Going forward we should have no challenges regarding the players in the upper four Mets Top Ten list positions, though the specific rankings could be debated as some folks deserving to be higher or lower.  So with no further ado, let's see who are the heavyweights when it comes to contributing to the Mets being in first place almost since day one during the 2022 season.

Number 4

The first conspicuous addition to this season's version of the New York Mets roster was former Pittsburgh Pirates, Arizona Diamondbacks, Miami Marlins and Oakland A's stud outfielder Starling Marte.  No one was at all upset with the Mets securing his services as he has shown the ability to hit with power, steal bases and play Gold Glove level defense while sporting a career batting average of .290.  

Most folks penciled him in as the new centerfielder for New York but taking advantage of his stellar arm and perhaps owing a little debt to him turning age 34 this year the Mets saw fit to move him to right field instead.  

He's done all that they could have asked, hitting .295 with 9 HRs, 41 RBIs and a dozen stolen bases while playing his usual highlight reel defense.  He was named to the All Star team for his efforts, though opted to take the three-day break to rest and recuperate after facing some torso muscle issues.  It was a mature and professional thing to do.  For a salary of $15.75 million Billy Eppler and Steve Cohen have to be doing cartwheels.  

Now that number jumps to $20.75 million for each of the next three years for a four-year average of $19.5 million for each season.  (Brandon Nimmo take note: even Marte isn't getting $20 million per year so keep your expected earning power in check!)

Number 3

Here's where the debate over position in this list will begin in earnest.  After shelling out $130 million for three years of his services for an average annual value of $43.3 million, Scherzer and his mantle with three Cy Young Awards on it set a record for the highest salary ever given by the Mets to a player (particularly one who is age 37 at the beginning of the deal).  

Are they getting fair value?  Well, considering he is currently sporting a 2.22 ERA with a 6-1 record.  His WHIP is an unreal 0.884 while he's striking out 11.7 per 9 IP and only walking 1.6 over the same number of innings.  Yeah, that was money very well spent indeed. 

Granted, he missed time this year with injury, something that has not been a major issue prior to this season but you can't debate on what he's delivering when he takes the mound.  Of course, the price given to Scherzer is going to play directly into Jacob deGrom's upcoming threat to opt out on his Mets deal unless they pony up similar numbers for him.  Still, it's only money and for the team and their fans that's a great problem to have.  

Number 2

If Scherzer at number three is likely to cause consternation, then number two will surely ignite some fireworks.  You could go either way in this next-to-the-best ranking position, but when you consider where Edwin Diaz after his disastrous 2020 start with the Mets, having him almost at the top of the list is a comeback of unforeseen proportion.  

Not only did he make the All Star team and was slated to be the closer, he made great headlines for his gesture to allow the Pirates' David Bednar has his moment in the spotlight as he'd never before been an All Star.  So what did Diaz do this year to earn the support of his peers?  Well, he's been in 38 games pitching 37.1 innings with 75 strikeouts.  That is not a typo!  

He has 20 saves on a pace to cross the 40 threshold for the season while sporting a WHIP of just 0.991.  He's got a 2-1 record and has allowed just 25 hits.  His 2.3 walks per 9 IP is not bad at all and easily forgiven when the 18.1 Ks per 9 IP comes into focus.  Yes, he's an All Star by any measure, not the least of which is his 1.69 ERA.  What has Jarred Kelenic done lately? 

While who is the number one player responsible for the Mets being on top is no mystery, there is plenty to say about what he's done and how he's improved.  

There's also a special entry for an unranked member of the organization who deserves to be on this list as well.