Reese Kaplan -- Less Than a Month to Go With Unanswered Questions

What changes still need to be done before the 2024 season begins?

Well, for one there are a number of pitchers in contention for bullpen spots who have not had success in the majors (and sometimes questionable results in the minors as well).  It would seem that the limited budget may be put towards more reliable arms in support of Edwin Diaz, Brooks Raley and others.

There needs to be clarity about the DH role which has been a laughingstock for the Mets ever since the National League embraced it as part of roster construction.  Most have accepted the probability that veteran big bats like J.D. Martinez and Justin Turner are not likely going to become part of the Mets organization.  The most recent rumor was about Jorge Soler who is young enough to want a multiyear deal for moderately high money which between his on-again/off-again offensive productivity and a myriad of health issues that kept him off the field would suggest he's a bit of a risky selection.  Interestingly there has been no mention of last year's missing-in-action Rhys Hoskins but aside from a one-year "prove it" kind of deal he too would likely want longer term security.  

Internally we're hearing that it will be a platoon of D.J. Stewart and Mark Vientos.  This approach on the surface seems a bit backwards as Stewart being a left handed hitter will get the lion's share of the ABs despite only having had a couple of months of solid productivity in his major league career.  He was backsliding rather pointedly in September just as Mark Vientos was revving it up.  Given the fact that ballplayers in the minors face both lefty and righty pitchers, it is reasonable to assume that someone with more potential like Vientos could measure up if he gets regular at-bats.  The prospect of that happening is fairly slim if the current plans remain in place.  Then there are other internal options like Tyrone Taylor, Joey Wendle and whomever else makes the bench.  

The starting rotation at the present looks fairly set with Kodai Senga, Jose Quintana, Sean Manaea, Luis Severino and Adrian Houser.  Rumors of a six-man rotation would open up opportunity for one of Jose Butto, Joey Lucchesi or Tylor Megill.  In addition, David Peterson will be back at some point.  A lot of ifs exist in this rotation but it's surely not the worst anyone's ever seen, though it is also far from the best.

There are some players on the current roster who might be parlayed in trades to address these holes.  The most obvious one is a paid-down contract for Omar Narvaez as the free agent catcher position is almost completely empty other than Mike Zunino.  With Ronny Mauricio gone, you would think Jeff McNeil has cemented his place on the 2024 team.  D.J. Stewart could be traded as he earns very little and did have a hot few months last season, but alone he wouldn't bring back much.  

The big question, of course, is the Polar Bear, Pete Alonso.  The fact that they reached a non-arbiter settlement for a 2024 salary was a good sign but Alonso agent Scott Boras is well known for having his clients sell their services to the highest bidder.  Depending on how the first 81 games go for the Mets in 2024 may hasten the security or the departure of Alonso.  You can't argue with his power and his RBIs which are at or near the very top the game offers.  Still, knowing he's in a free agency walk year means his value might be depressed in July and it would take a mighty desperate contending team willing to cough up what he's really worth for the second half of the season.  Of course, living down the offensive equivalent of the infamous Seaver trade may be more of a public relations hit than a wise business decision.  

What may be the most interesting part of the Mets for 2024 might be not what happens in Queens but in Syracuse and Binghamton as the young studs continue working their way up the ladder.  Word has been spread that Drew Gilbert is starting in Syracuse and it's entirely possible that Luisangel Acuna may soon join him there.  The other one whose bat and legs everyone wants to see if the very young Jett Williams but he's likely slated for Binghamton to start the year.  The young pitchers are intriguing for different reasons and given how very awful much of the minor league starters performed last year it is time to put them under the microscope.

We could all be wrong.  It's possible there's a hidden trade no one knows about or a free agent signing of a marquee level player that would catch everyone completely by surprise.  It's more likely plausible to consider how to do best with what you already have and see where the chips fall when on Opening Day the umpire commands, "Play ball!"