Reese Kaplan -- Mets Offseason Roster Bullet List Week Fifteen

Mack's Mets will summarize players mentioned as possible new members of the team available via trade or free agency that have popped up in the media associated with them as a part of the 40 man roster.  These bullet points are not necessarily factual as if they were leaked from the Mets front office.  They comprise opinions, rumors and hypotheticals that various Mets beat writers and bloggers have felt necessary to put out into public notice.  Like EPA gas mileage ratings, take the news with a grain of salt.  We share but don’t necessarily endorse any of these transactions. 

For the frustration some Mets fans are feeling about their offseason and how the club has or has not addressed some of their needs, they actually ranked fairly high on the MLB survey of insiders regarding team performance.  By sharp contrast the oft-mentioned GM of the San Diego Padres has been granted a near failing grade for losing three key pieces and replacing just one player with a lowball contract to Nick Pivetta.  

If the inactivity presages a poor season for the Friars then it may be that the Mets will want to raid for mid year supplements on expiring contracts prior to free agency for the year end.  This list would certainly include the much discussed Dylan Cease and Michael King.  Wait, wait...the Padres did add .337 hitting Jose Iglesias at the eleventh hour, too.  Perhaps all is not lost south of Los Angeles. 

Ever since the departure of reliever-turned-starter Seth Lugo, the concept of a talented middle innings guy becoming extended and transtioning to a successful starting pitcher is sometimes more wishful thinking than reality.  

Some players like former Met swingman Trevor Williams seemed to flourish as a starter and was reacquired by the Nationals to assume that role in 2023 but things did not progress so well.  He finished the year with 30 starts, no relief appearances and an ERA of 5.55.  Therefore it was somewhat surprising to see some baseball insiders cite the Mets contract to former Yankees closer Clay Holmes as the under-the-radar excellent move that will grow in appreciation as the 2025 season progresses.  

Thus far Holmes has looked like his namesake Sherlock for solving how to avoid hitters bats.  People are already in the absence of Sean Manaea and slow return to regular duty for Kodai Senga referring to Holmes as the Mets ace of the rotation.

While obviously the key attention paid to the Mets in 2025 is the future HOF bat of Juan Soto, there have been articles categorizing other key cogs in the upcoming season’s success or failure concerning the Mets place in the standings.  First and foremost is the health of long injured starting pitcher Kodai Senga.  Everyone saw how very dominant he could be as a North American rookie in 2023.  Unfortunately 2024 was a virtually lost season due to slow healing of his injuries.  A return to the 2023 Senga would make the Mets have an nearly sure winner every time he takes the mound.  

The second critical piece is what the full time sophomore season of Mark Vientos will be like.  Nowadays no one is going to sneak him across as an unknown youngster subbing at third base. He was on a 40 HR pace last season if extrapolated for the traditional number of ABs.  Will he continue his development or will the reassessment by opposing pitchers make it difficult for him to replicate his feats of 2024?  

The final piece is not an individual player but a grouping of older veterans including Starling Marte, Jeff McNeil and Jesse Winker.  Will they rebound to deliver what they have done in the sometimes distant past or will they be marketed to other clubs to make room for players like Luisangel Acuna, Brett Baty, Drew Gilbert, Ronny Mauricio and Jett Williams all of whom are anticipated spending some of their time in Syracuse. 

While many fans if asked would immediately cite the Los Angeles Dodgers as the team buying its way into postseason baseball.  However, for the past three years in a row that honor belonged to Steve Cohen’s New York Mets.  For the 2025 season unless there are some extremely expensive and surprising personnel additions, the World Series Champion Dodgers will assume that mantle from the now somewhat more fiscally careful Mets.  

Steve Cohen’s standpoint is clear, “One thing I’ve learned a long time ago, if you want something that’s amazing, it’s going to be uncomfortable.” 

While many people are understandably anxious about the Mets being down 40% of their starting pitching with one more recovering from injury and another needing to prove his bullpen days are behind him, that leaves David Peterson and his unbelievable team leading 2.90 ERA from 2024 as the most solid option.  

In addition you still have to consider Paul Blackburn, Griffin Canning, Max Kranick and some NRIs as the means to the temporary end of riding out the lat healing processes for Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas. 

One poorly written headline suggested that post-Mets career All Star Justin Turner ripped the folks in Queens for how little they have done towards improving the club, but the words actually were a major dig at the Seattle Mariners who have stagnated their roster. It read, “Ex-Mets player rips team he just left: ‘Are you trying?’”

Myself included, roster prediction articles are popular this time of the year and often quite wrong.  There were a few appearing this past week which were more-or-less similar to what I suggested with Brett Baty having catapulted over Luisangel Acuna for the spare infielder role, but in pitching they differed mightily.  

Both I read figured on Paul Blackburn and Griffin Canning being handed the two starting pitcher opportunities in place of the injured duo.  They foresaw Max Kranick as an additional lefty in the bullpen joining still recovering A.J. Minter and still injured Dedniel Nunez.  I was a bit more realistic about temporary measures in both the rotation and for supporting roles behind Edwin Diaz.  

Still, we’re not that far apart.  By the way, the New York Post doesn’t even mention what Max Kranick has done this pre-season nor acknowledge the prospect of him making the team at all.

An otherwise forgettable article on a former Met took on increased relevancy when it was suggested that the Detroit Tigers are prepared to cut loose former Mets backup catcher Tomas Nido.  While he was in New York he was solid behind the plate but suspect regarding how much he could help with a bat in his hands.  

He’s having a strong spring and with the loss of Francisco Alvarez for perhaps 2 months it would make sense for the Mets to keep looking at who pops up as available while rosters continue to get trimmed for the 29 other teams as the backup options in house are either inexperienced, proven poor hitters or in need for further minor league seasoning.  

Then again, a player like Nido might feel a two-month assignment is viable as an audition for a longer job elsewhere once Alvarez returns. 

In the what have you done for me lately category, a few stories appeared about the quality of some free agent relief pitchers and the correspondents’ lack of confidence in the players currently projected to be in the Mets bullpen.  Surely David Robertson and Craig Kimbrel would solidify what already exists.  Another named mentioned is still recovering former Met Brooks Raley who is theoretically going to be ready to pitch during the second half of 2025. 

One name not well known among all but the geekiest of Mets fans is reliever Tyler Zuber.  The now 29 year old righthander has had a productive but unspectacular minor league career with a career 3.79 ERA.  Injury issues to his shoulder had him out of pro baseball and pitching for the Long Island Ducks before the Rays brought him back into the minor league fold.  

The Mets acquired him for Paul Gervase and at this point it has not been a very successful period considering how little he has pitched.  Still, the pitching models give high marks to the man who has options and might be a quick call-up if the Mets have an injury or poor performing reliever.

After slamming the New York Post for ignoring Max Kranick, they have gotten on the Paul Blackburn expressway out of the locker room.  While health is obviously the most predominant attribute the pitcher has shown, his ability to get out opposing hitters has been highly questionable.  

Some wonder if the Mets would cut bait on a proven mediocre starting pitcher to take a chance on an unproven one like Kranick.  Still, it’s good to see that the writing professionals are starting to take notice of the same things we do.

Some rumors are picking up steam.  Jeff Passan is reporting that the Marlins are taking offers on aforementioned ace pitcher Sandy Alcantara who is still considered recovering his 100 mph arsenal. 

Pete Alonso while frustrated by the very long free agent contract dance, he stated he never really felt he was was anything but a Met. 

Brandon Nimmo hit the news this week for a gel injection in his achy knee while other knee patient Starling Marte actually played as DH this week. 

Back when it appeared that first base was going to be a huge hole to fill the Mets in November signed former Washington Nationals cornerman Joey Meneses.  He’s not a kid anymore but he’s also never established himself as a playing regular.  For his career the now 32 year old hitter who was a 30 year old rookie has had over 11 ABs and knocked 29 balls over the fence, drove in 165 and hit .274.  

Those numbers are not bad but never would have been a replacement for Pete Alonso.  As a NRI his potential to come north is pretty slim but he might be a good replacement bat to stash in AAA unless he feels he’d rather try free agency once again at the end of spring training.