By now the empty beer bottles and cans are cluttering up most Mets fans’ homes once the news was properly digested and celebrated that the Polar Bear, Pete Alonso, was coming back to his home in Queens for the next year (with an opt out). It is a two-year deal worth $54 million with in inequitable split of $30 million for year one and, if accepted, a $24 million fee for year two. It is once again up to Pete Alonso to try to put together a monster year in what for the second consecutive season could be his audition for free agency.
While the money paid for a guaranteed one year of his services should make Alonso and Scott Boras very happy, the net hit to the Mets is not all that bad after 2025. If he stays the salary goes down. If he goes, then the club is open for the bidding of any Canadian-based free agent first basemen who might hit the open market. So, tip your cap to David Stearns for getting it done while not painting himself into a corner.
While everyone is raving about the great off season the Mets have had with the return of Alonso and the addition of Juan Soto, has it really been worthy of the adulation and celebration fans and media have suggested?
The way I slice it, the Mets have added Juan Soto. That’s a HUGE win. However, they have not truly addressed the DH role after yet another debacle in 2024. Their center field question still remains with Tyrone Taylor a great 4th outfielder option but not a starting caliber player for a contending club and Jose Siri an even better fielder than Harrison Bader but a below Mendoza line hitter. Then there’s the bench where the big addition is a split contract to Nick Madrigal??? I won’t even go down the road of pitching question marks
Many people are anxious to see what the value of folks like Luisangel Acuna, Ronny Mauricio and yes, even Brett Baty can be on the field or as trade fodder. Right now in early February it would seem that none of the above have much of a chance of playing regularly with Jeff McNeil, Starling Marte and others being paid to do something other than sit on the bench.
As it stands right now the combination of Jesse Winker and Starling Marte may or may not equal the less than impressive totals of the 2024 designated hitters. You know that the pair of right handed hitting center fielders will not do what the defensively stellar and offensively questionable Harrison Bader and Tyrone Taylor paired up to do. Then there’s the bench.
Thank you for bringing us even with where we once were if J.D. Davis had hit as expected, if Francisco Alvarez, Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil could have hit at least .240 between them and if Starling Marte was as good as he once was. No, there’s still a lot of work to be done between now and opening day. Then I’ll pop the champagne cork. I never was much of a beer drinker.
10 comments:
I think all the hitting brings us back to 1999 or 2006, two clubbing Mets teams. And Stearns May still add a pitcher. Maybe Iggy, too, if he agrees to one year. I’m excited. I saw Ron Darling - he gives Stearns an A+.
My brother Steve added that If the Mets could pull off a trade with San Diego for Cease, and get another solid arm for the bullpen, they would be top 2 in MLB, neck and neck with LAD.
GET GREEDY!
I would love the Cease trade. Not sure it's worth the prospects unless we get a window to extend him. Also, who gets bumped from the rotation. They don't need 6 pitchers for the first few weeks.
Just read Iggy was open to a 1 year contract and the Mets already made an offer. I'm guessing he knows he won't play that much this year. Maybe looking for a full time gig. Still believe he blocks Acuna.
I think the Mets are done
As far as Cease is concerned, I am sure that the Mets have a good reading as to the ceiling for Brandon Sproat. If they feel it is high, I would not trade him to get Cease. At some point, they need cheap rookie labor, to bend the curve on team salary.
I agree with Mack. At the major league level, I don't see them making any more moves. There really is not more roster space, unless they are willing to eat some salary. They didn't trade for Siri if they were going to later trade for Robert.
And I am just fine with the roster as it is set. I believe this is a great team. Obviously staying healthy is key. My biggest worry is Alvarez.
And the biggest missing ingredient from the team keeping them from being very great is team speed.
Good morning, Reese. I’m going to push back on the DH spot. Winker as the log side of a DH platoon is going to be a lot better vs. RHP than Martinez was last season. And even last year, Marte was an above average hitter vs. LHP. The combination isn’t ideal, since you really don’t want either of them playing the field (though both can, in a pinch) but considering they’re tied to Marte for $19Mil, I’m OK with the DH spot. I do agree that I’d love to see them bring in a SP like Cease (or King), which would really solidify the rotation and eliminate the Megill/Blackburn/etc. competition for the 6th starter’s spot. I do kinda think they’re done in the BP, which is much, much better than their OD bullpen in ‘24. Stearns has 5 or 6 guys who will compete for the last BP spot, and it’s pretty likely that one or more of those guys step up into that role. Not sure if they’ll bring back Iglesias, but I do think they’ll add a backup MI, and I don’t think they hope/expect that to be Madrigal, who I think is here for insurance. Overall, I think we’re a far better team than on OD ‘24.
My feeling is that Alonso coming back took them from an 85 or 86 win team to a 93 or 94 win team. Thoughts?
To me, the only field question is second base
I would still try and swap Marte for Montgomery. Free up the right hand side of DH platoon and add another lefty to the pen/6th starter.
Then I would trade Baty, Acuna, Tidwell and Parada for Luis Roberts and put him in CF.
I believe Marte is a goner and no room for Iglesias if Acuna makes the team.
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