Saturday we questioned the depth and breadth of the Mets starting rotation. It’s serviceable but not stellar. If the offense can deliver then that level of performance from the pitchers might indeed be acceptable.
Today let’s look at the offense and see whether or not it is indeed capable. Obviously the addition of Juan Soto and the return of Pete Alonso along with Francisco Lindor, a hopefully resurgent Mark Vientos and a rebound from Brandon Nimmo would go a long way towards making folks a whole lot more comfortable.
Oddly, the key to make or break for 2025 might indeed be the guy behind the plate. We saw in 2023 what Francisco Alvarez was capable of doing as a power hitter, but then nagging injuries in 2025 usurped a great deal of his home run power. You have to bear in mind how very young he is but it would appear that he needs to strike a balance between contact hitting and power hitting in order to help the Mets continue their progress towards a regular October contender.
The second base position is an interesting one as well. Yes, it is true that Jeff McNeil started to rebound in the second half after a mediocre 2023 and a seemingly awful 2024. He’s being paid handsomely based upon his 2022 batting title season but has not yet lived up to that level of performance. Many would like to see the Mets cut ties to him by trading him away but the problem is that neither of the possible replacements for him are guarantees either. Luisangel Acuna was great in September but pretty much ho-hum in April through August. Ronny Mauricio wasn’t even that as he missed all of 2024. Jett Williams has everyone declaring him as the top prospect, but he also missed most of last season due to injury. So there is youth and potential but the question marks make trading away McNeil a bit of a risk.
Lost in this mix is Brett Baty. Many thought he would out of necessity get a fair shot at a starting role in 2025 when Pete Alonso was still in roster limbo but once he put pen to paper to return to the big club it probably spelled doom for Baty. He can return to Syracuse to demonstrate yet again that he’s a capable minor leaguer, but even as trade bait people want to see what he can do for real at the major league level. Right now it’s still the great unknown.
The final regular position worth considering is center field. By most assessments newcomer Jose Siri is the guy dubbed to be the starter out there. His defense is absolutely stellar, even better than the man he replace, Harrison Bader. He also has good speed. If he played regularly he would eclipse the 20 SB mark. He also has power having hit as many as 25 HRs in a 364 AB season for the Rays. The real issue is his batting average (or lack thereof). He is a career .210 hitter and is coming off a 2024 season with .187 on the back of his baseball card. Now if every single other ballplayer executes to the best of his abilities then the bargain priced Siri is an acceptable Cesar Geronimo type to put out there day after day. If not, well, he could spell a one of potentially several lower order easy outs for opposing pitchers.
The bench right now is a great unknown. Obviously Luis Torrens will be there to back up Alvarez. Likely Acuna will be there in the former Jose Iglesias role. Tyrone Taylor is the fourth outfielder. The rest are not solidly identified.
There are a great many ifs regarding the offense yet it’s possible it could equal the mediocrity of 2024. Surpassing it would require several folks to step up to complement the addition of Juan Soto. Here it appears that David Stearns has not done quite enough.
13 comments:
I think this team has the potential to be the Mets’ highest ever scoring team, as constituted. Soto extremely above average, Lindor well above average, Pete, Vientos, and Alvarez above average, Nimmo, McNeil, Marte and Taylor collectively productive, if not above average. 5+ runs per game. Mauricio, Acuna, and Baty are gravy. Siri I would minimize, mostly use as a defensive replacement.
Oh, and I think Winker has another good year of hitting in him vs. righties.
Morning
My Monday thoughts:
1. I believe this team is the best they have ever assembled offensively
2. Very few camp battles. Second base, SP5, RP 7, and RP8 stand out
3. Wish Soto came to camp in better shape. Plus wearing sneakers instead of cleats sends a negative unity message
4. Can't imagine how obnoxious it must have been in a Philly bar last night 😳
To start, if Siri is anything more than a defensive replacement/occasional starter we are in trouble. That trade is a bit of a head scratcher. We actually gave up a viable piece to the bullpen. I understand he is one of the best defensive CF in the game.
I think Alverez is a very important piece moving forward. He must begin to show his potential.
To Mack's point #3...not sure what that means. This was the point that I as shouting from the rooftops. This signing has turned this team into a 24 + 1 team. Did anyone notice when we signed him. He showed up looking chubby in his first photos.
Reports I got was he looked out of shape and wore different footwear than everyone else
Thank you, Mack. That goes along with what I was saying about what I saw at the opening press conference. That is why I am so against the Guerrero signing. Once they get their money you are screwed. All I can imagine is Soto and Guerrero sending out for Mickie D's.
Nah
Duffy's
The 2025 version of the Mets offense has the potential to be one of the best. Tom's article the other day with the challenge to score 854 runs highlighted the terrific 1999 team, the best infield offensive team ever. The 1987 team has to be in the discussion, particularly for the outfield (Strawberry, Dykstra, McReynolds) and their depth (Wilson, HoJo, Teufel).
I actually see Taylor becoming the center field starter with Siri getting a lot of time. I am OK with the offense from the 8 position (and 9th position in the lineup) if they can provide some occasional speed and exceptional defense.
If Marte is good with the short side of the DH platoon and being the first guy off the bench, a Winker/Marte combo can be better than league average at the extra hitting slot.
If the question is "has Stearns done enough", my answer is Yes.
Tyrone Taylor Steamers: .236/.290/.403
Jose Siri Steamers: .206/.265/.383
I know who I rank above Siri - his name is Tyrone Taylor.
As I've said before, I don't think Marte makes the OD roster. Baty with a strong spring forces the Mets hand.
Only issue is that Baty is a LHH, and if he takes Marte’s spot, that leaves us without a RHH DH. If Marte does lose his spot, I’m pretty sure it won’t be to Baty.
The thing about Soto is that he is on a Hall-of-Fame tract and you’d expect he would care about that. If he embarrasses Cohen, I’m sure Cohen won’t like it, and then we have problems. Look at Jimmy Butler in Florida.
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