Reese Kaplan -- 2023 is Now Over...2024 Can't Come Soon Enough

Since 2023 is pretty much over in the world of the Mets, what will 2024 resemble?

Right now the Mets have a number of players under multiyear contracts who are likely to return given the relative difficulty of getting another club to absorb the remaining salary obligation.  Some are playing well enough to meekly welcome a return to Citifield.  This group would include Jeff McNeil, Francisco Lindor, Brandon Nimmo and Starling Marte on the offensive side of the ledger.  For pitchers it would mean Edwin Diaz, Kodai Senga, Jose Quintana and Brooks Raley.  

Then there are the youth, players around whom you hope to build a foundation for the future.  Most are quite inexpensive save for the contract-yet-to-be-issued to one Pete Alonso.  If you thought some of the other returning ballplayers were wealthy for their service, as they often say in these types of circumstances, "You ain't seen nothing yet!"

If you examine Pete Alonso's record as a hitter, he's done something that other Mets players have often failed to do.  He's gotten better as he's matured as a ballplayer.  While the batting average year-to-year is nothing to applaud, you can't argue with an AVERAGE of 46 HRs and 117 RBIs per 162 games.  Yes, he's been that good.

For a point of comparison, there's a certain Cooperstown represented catcher who for his career averaged 36 HRs and 113 RBIs per season but of course he accompanied that with a .308 batting average.  Still, the comparison is somewhat valid and should give you an idea of the magnitude of riches about to enter the Alonso household.  While it's probably premature to speculate on an exact number, I'd be looking at Francisco Lindor's contract as a mere starting point.  

After that pile of precious gems is deposited to Mr. Alonso, you have to look at the youth that can or should be on the 2024 ballclub.  You lead off with Francisco Alvarez, Brett Baty, Ronny Mauricio and Mark Vientos who all will be due minimum wage with perhaps quite modest increases.  Right now the addition of Mauricio and Vientos in place of Canha, Pham and Vogelbach should bring both salary relief and an opportunity to see what they are capable of doing if (believe it or not) actually being given the chance to play regularly instead of warming the bench as was done earlier in this season that coincides with the turn towards the cellar by continuing to trot out folks who did not help at all.

On the pitching side of the ledger there is a LOT of work to be done.  Know that Kodai Senga and Jose Quintana will be back.  If there is any common sense in the front office three of the current starters, Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander and Carlos Carrasco, will finish the season no longer wearing some variation of orange and blue.  The bullpen departure should most definitely include David Robertson.  Adam Ottavino and the who's who of support relievers will get the balance of the season in August and September to show what they can do.  Frankly, this area needs the most attention through free agency and trades.  

Everyone is drooling over Steve Cohen's deep pockets and the impending free agency of Shoehei Ohtani.  It would fill me with glee to get another capable starting pitcher in the rotation but after the implosion of the 2023 season Cohen is going to find it's surely going to be a much tougher sell to players and their agents to lure folks into Queens.  

One player who might be on the trading block after a disappointing season in the field and at the plate is newly made millionaire Jeff McNeil.  His contract total is not astronomical and having an NL batting title on the back of his baseball card would make him desirable in trades.  Giving away a solid hitter is always difficult to do, but you'd think that Brandon Nimmo is a more critical piece of the team in the future, Starling Marte also had an off year and unless they are totally insane Pete Alonso is strictly off limits.  Francisco Lindor is likely off limits due to the size of his ctonract.  That pretty much leaves McNeil as the sole veteran that could be in jeopardy. It is possible that a pitcher like Adam Ottavino could also be in play, but the return for him is likely lesser than what McNeil would net in trade.  

How do you see the 2024 Mets team being constructed?