Reese Kaplan -- Mets Not Operating On All Cylinders Thus Far

Wow, where do you begin to assess a front running start by the team with many cylinders simply not working as expected? 

Edwin Diaz came to the Mets in a trade along with since forgotten PED king Robinson Cano.  For the discounted contract of Cano with $20 million dollars coming from the Mariners the Mets gave up Anthony Swarzak (out of baseball), Gerson Bautista (last playing in the Mexican league alongside their batting champ, Cano), Jay Bruce (out of baseball), Justin Dunn (on the Reds’ long-term IL after shoulder surgery) and a name we do remember, Jared Kelenic.  The now 25 year old has never quite put it together with a career .212 batting average despite showing good if not great power.  Despite Cano’s buyout and Diaz’ up and down Mets career, they came out the winners of this winter of 2018 deal. 

Today Diaz is looking more like the guy who arrived for the 2019 season that ended with a 5.59 ERA, a 2-7 record and just 26 saves for the guy named your closer.  This year it’s a 5.79 ERA, a 1-0 record and 2 saves about 1/15th of the way through a normal pitching load.  If the team is going to remain at or near the top of the division, is this performance simply a bad start or a picture of something else?  The club needs to start thinking long term in the event it is the latter and decide who gets the 9th inning if not Diaz.  Minter would be one option though he’s recovering health wise himself.  Garrett is another option but his success seems more suited to an 8th inning role.  The unexpected duo of Brazoban and Kranick are also possibilities though both would need to show consistency before being handed that kind of responsibility.  Then there’s Dedniel Nunez still rehabbing in Syracuse. 

The next issue for the Mets is in the infield.  None of Mark Vientos, Brett Baty and Luisangel Acuna are establishing themselves in 2025, though of that trio Vientos has started laying off sure pitcher’s pitches and drawing walks.  If he concentrates on the types of swings he made in 202 then repeating that level of slugging is still possible.  For Acuna, he’s tap dancing on the precipice of demotion, though the fact he can back up Lindor may keep him here.  The surest one near the exit door is Port St. Lucie MVP Brett Baty whose bat and glove have both deserted him much of this early season.  Jeff McNeil’s return is going to force a change and right now it has a four letter word on th uniform jersey. 

Center field may become a position of intended improvement.  When your two players assigned there — Jose Siri and Tyrone Taylor — would both need to rally big time to catch up to the modest offensive exploits of Hayden Senger, well, that pretty much spells out the problem.  Rumors have again started circulating about the ChiSox Gold Glover Luis Robert, Jr., but trading for him brings in a commitment of $15 million for 2025 and then $20 million option years for 2026 and 2027 which would require a $2 million buyout if declined.  For that investment of a minimum of $17 million you would get someone who is 39 ABs for the 2025 season has a single extra base hit and no home runs to accompany his single RBI along with a .154 AVG.  Would giving away solid assets for him be simply replacing a pair of non performers for another one?  Yes, he did have that one All Star season in 2023 when he hit 38 HRs but hasn’t shown before or since that he can do it at that level ever again. 

The rest of the starting pitchers have been doing fine with the exception of work-in-progress Clay Holmes with a 4.30 ERA mostly as the result of giving up way too many walks.  Nothing appears needing to be done in terms of replacing anyone for now and even at giving up 4+ runs per game it’s enough to keep the club in ballgames.