MACK - Sunday Morning Observations: Let's Blow It Up!!!

 

I’m not going to do my normal Sunday morning observation post this week. I have a bigger agenda to discuss. Let’s face it. This is a .500 baseball team. RFK Jr. has a better chance of catching Biden than this team has catching either the Phillies or Braves. 

Sure, the Mets have begun a half-ass youth program. But do fans really care if 24 year olds stumble at their first go in the majors ot if the player loses a year of eligibity? 

Were the Braves concerned when they began building their current world class team? 

I’m cleaning house this season, while at the same time, freeing up money for some new cough cough Soto cough exciting players to play next season. 

So, with that said, let’s move on to what I would do in 2025. 

 

C - It’s obvious that C Francisco Alvarez (24: $762.500 - 25: approx. $900,000) will be my starter here. But neither C Omar Narvaez (24: $7,000,000 - 25: FA) or C Tomas Nido (24: 2,100,000 - 25: A4) will be around anymore.  As we all know, the Mets have had significant problems defensively this season, especially regarding throws to second base. My back-up here goes to the defensive specialist Hayden Senger (24: $60,300 - 25: approx.$850,000) who currently plays for Syracuse.

 

2025 SAVINGS:  $ 8,172,800

 

1B - I’m trying to build a world class team full of players that do more than one good thing, so I really have no desire to pay in the range of 30mil a season for a first baseman that strikes out too much and can’t seem to hit .220. So, I’m done with Pete Alonso (24: $20,500,000 - 25: FA), who I am  replacing full time with 1B/3B/DH Mark Vientos (24: 750,000 - 25: approx. $850,000). I also would make sure I had a veteran backup in Syracuse. I'll make up the homers elsewhere.

 

2025 SAVINGS:  $ 20,400,000

 

2B - I like Jeff McNeil (24: $10,250,000 - 25: $15,750,000).  I know him. That being said, it’s time to cut fish and move on this season when a return for him will be the greatest. 2B/SS Ronny Mauricio (24: $743,500 - 25: approx. $850,000) will be back next spring raring to go, healthy and all. Benind him, would be Jose Iglesias (24: $1,000,000) , who I would resign under a major league contract for around $3,000.000. I also would use him as my backup shortstop.

 

2025 SAVINGS: $ 8,193,500

 

SS - The Mets have one of the best shortstops in the game. He’s also the leader of this team. Lastly, his contract no longer looks silly. SS Francisco Lindor (24: $34,100,000 - 25: $34,100,000) is my guy.

But SS Joey Wendle (24: $2,000,000 - 25: FA) is no longer my backup. I’m replacing him with Jose Inglesias, who also lines up as my backup on second.

 

2025 SAVINGS: $ 2,000,000

 

3B - This one is simple. 3B Brett Baty (24: $750,000 minimum - 25: approx. $850,000) is my everyday starter. My everyday first baseman, Mark Vientos, is the backup here. Both Jose Ingleas and Ronny Mauricio can fill in here in a pinch.

 

2025 ADDITIONAL COST: $ 100,000

 

OF - OF Brandon Nimmo (24: $20,500,000 - 25: $20,500,000) will return as one of my starting outfielders. OF Alex Ramirez (24: $60,300 - 25: approx. $850,000) will finish 2024 in Syracuse and become another of my 2025 starters. OF Tyrone Taylor (24: $2,025,000 - 25: A2) will return as my chief utility outfielder. The other UTOF will be a graduated OF/SS/2B Luisangel Acuna (24: $60,300 - 25: approx, $850,000) who also gives my team added infield depth. Starlin Marte (24: $20,750,000 - 25: $20,750,000) will be sold off this season for prospects, while OF Harrison Bader (24: $10,500,000 - 25: FA) and

OF/DH DJ Stewart (24: $1,380,000 - 25: A2) will be released. This leaves one starter opening (he he).

 

2025 SAVINGS: $ 30,075,600

 

DH - I would do everything I could to get DH JD Martinez (24: $12,000,000 - 25: FA - offer: $15,000,000) to return for 2025. He could say no, retire, or go elsewhere. For now, I have to list this job wide open.

 

2025 CURRENT SAVINGS: $ 12,000,000

 

SP - Probably my SP1 will be, out of respect,  SP Kodai Senga - (24: $15,000,000 - 25: $15,000,000). SP Christian Scott - (24: $592,796 - 25: approx. $1,500,000) would then come in SP2. Right now, before an upgrade, SP Tyler Megill (24: $766,250 - 25: A1 - proj. $1,500,000), SP Jose Butto (24: $686,718 - 25: approx. $850,000), and SP David Peterson (24: $2,150,000 - 25: A2 - proj. $2,500,000) line up SP3-5. I would make an attempt to bring back SP Joey Lucchese (24: $1,650,000 - 25: FA - proj. $2,000,000) as my SP6/AAA-SP1. Ss for my “old arms”…

SP Sean Manaea (24: $14,500,000 - 25: $13,500,000), SP Jose Quintana (24: $13,000,000 - 25: FA), SP Luis Severino (24: $13,000,000) - 25: FA), SP Adrian Houser (24: $5,050,000 - 25: FA), all would be traded this season for what I could get before their arms fall off. Where I go from here will be discussed later.

 

2025 SAVINGS: $ 30,045,764

 

RP - First, the keepers…

 

RP Edwin Diaz (24: $21,250,000 - 25: $21,250,000)

RP Brooks Raley (24: $6,500,000 - 25: A3 - proj. $8,000,000)

RP Adam Ottavino (24: $4.500,000 - 25: FA - proj. $10,000,000)

RP Sean Reid-Foley (24: $772,750 - 25: A1 - proj. $1,000,000)

RP Jake Diekman (24: $4,000,000 - 25: Opt $4,000,000)

RP Reed Garrett (24: $726,680 - 25: FA - proj. $1,500,000)

RP Josh Walker (24: $120,481 - 25: approx. $850,000)

RP Grant Hartwig - (24: $750,000 - 25: approx. $850,000)

RP Dedniel Nunez - (24: $750,000 - 25: approx. $850,000)

 

Next, the ones I trade or release….

 

 RP Shintaro Fujinami (24: $3,350,000 - 25: FA)

RP Cole Sulzer (24: $854,838 - 25: A3)

RP Drew Smith (24: $2,250,000 - 25: FA)

RP Jorge Lopez (24: $2,000,000 - 25: FA)

RP Yohan Ramirez (24: $608,000 - 25: A1)

 

2025 SAVINGS: $ 906,069

 

 Dead Money  - coming off in 2025: P Max Kranick ($117,482), P Zack Short ($136.603), P Michael Tonkin ($107,527), P Kolton Ingram ($17,506), P Julio Teheran (120,986), P Phil Bickford ($217,472), P Justin Verlander ($31,300,000), and P Max Scherzer ($30,833,333). 

 

SAVINGS: $ 62,550,909.

 

 So… what does this all mean? Well, it means that I just cut $ 174,244,642 off the 2025 payroll, plenty of money to go get me an outfielder, a designated hitter, and another quality starter. 

My goals would be to secure Juan Soto, resign JD, and shop for a starter, while still saving enough money to get below the luxury tax penalty level so I can stop losing my draft pick level. 

Thoughts?