Reese Kaplan -- How to Replace Fallen Pitchers Without Spending

Creativity is often required to find ways out of difficult problems and with the two rapid injuries to the Mets starting rotation it may be time to think a bit outside the box in order to tackle the situation while not increasing the payroll.  Towards that end it’s time to visit some unwanted pitchers on other teams whose presence there is no longer required but whose payroll burden could mesh well with the Mets desire to offload some of their larger an potentially unwanted salary burdens.

No one really needs a deep analysis of who is on the table here.  Outfielder-turned-part-time-DH Starling Marte is on the last year of his four-year Mets contract and is slated to earn $19.5 million for the 2025 season.  If he could return to the .280 hitter with 30 stolen bases and low double digit home runs then that number is not outlandish.  

Unfortunately his health and age have not been a good mix and the arrival of Juan Soto took away his right field job.  If he’s healthy, his track record is good enough that someone might have interest.

The other big number player who could hit the market is contact hitter Jeff McNeil.  His contract is a bit more complex.  He is going to make $15.75 million in 2025 and again in 2026.  If he returned to the .300+ hitting he demonstrated earlier in his career then that number is quite reasonable but he had a poor 2023 and mostly poor 2024 though he did show a .280-ish uptick in the second part of the year which raised his average to a very mediocre .238.  

He is four years younger than Marte which stands in his favor and his positional versatility could also sell well.  However, he needs to show he’s on track for that .280+ hitting in order to gain someone’s attention.  The issue here is the salary for two upcoming seasons (and a club option for a third year).

Now where David Stearns needs to become creative is by examining the salary obligations for other teams’ unwanted or unneeded starting pitchers.  

Two classic examples come up with former Mets pitchers Marcus Stroman currently persona non grata in The Bronx and Taijuan Walker who has lost his job and his desire to be on the team in the City of Brotherly Love.  While I’m not necessarily advocating either of these pitchers specifically, they make the point of what the Mets front office must consider.

For the 2025 season, pint sized loudmouth Stroman is scheduled to earn $18.5 million which is pretty close to the $19.5 million that Marte is expected to be paid.  Stroman’s contract contains a player clause for 2026 if he achieves 140 IP and would renew at an $18 million salary level.  This type of deal would work in the Marte model.

For Walker, the Mets might be in the driver’s seat using Jeff McNeil as a trade option.  He’s going to play for two more seasons at $15.75 million.  If the Mets got the Phillies to pay down Walker to that same level from his current $18 million salary, then the hometown club gets a veteran pitcher who showed he can play in New York at no increase in pay.  It would then open up regular playing time for Luisangel Acuna at second base and gives you a built-in Francisco Lindor backup. 

As you peruse the rosters around the other 29 clubs there are surely many other pitchers who fit the high priced salary swap model for either Marte or McNeil.  Stroman and his mouthful of venom on the way out of Citifield and Walker with his very poor showing in 2024 may not be the best trade acquisitions but together they represent how Stearns can play the game without hitting an increase in payroll and taxation.