With the manager named and a front office honcho added, the Mets can now focus their attention on the many roster changes that need to be made. Rather than look at specific player additions and subtractions, instead let’s take a look generically about the issues facing the necessary revisions.
For many people the late season ascent to mediocrity under Andy Green and with the infusion of young talent the belief has emerged that a housecleaning is not needed but instead a refinement of the various needs after identifying what is and isn’t working with the players currently on hand. Some young veterans have indeed worn out their welcomes and it may be time to test out some new faces in their place.
Power
Obviously there is sufficient middle of the lineup run production from the $765 million man, but after that it gets a bit murkier. The club did see 20 HR power from Carson Benge, potentially 15 HR power from A.J. Ewing, 20+ HR power on average from Bo Bichette, Francisco Lindor and Francisco Alvarez, but after that it gets even less certain. Obviously Pete Alonso is not coming back but another 100 RBI type of bat would help immensely as home run power is scattered rather than concentrated.
Something encouraging during the 2026 season was the infusion of speed on the basepaths which had not really been a primary part of the team’s run production for quite some time. All three outfielders have impressive base stealing ability as does Lindor, but after that it’s a number of lead footed hitters. Will the emphasize this aspect of the offensive game?
One of the downsides of recent Mets lineups was a plethora of all-or-nothing swingers who racked up massive numbers of strikeouts at the expense of actually getting on base. With the high speed now seemingly becoming a core strength for the team the corresponding change to increased on base percentage would make a lot of sense and add value to the offense.
During the past off season there was a lot of narrative being spun about improving defense with an eye towards run prevention. Between slumps and injuries a great many players spent time on the field and several of them showed what great benefit could exist from having folks talented at fielding their positions. It was highly evident in CF and RF with occasional positive contributions from 1B, 2B and SS as well as backup catcher. There is room for improvement.
Here is where the Mets most definitely need to overhaul who backs up the starting players in the lineup. Too many AAAA retreads got way too much time in the lineup and contributed next to nothing substituting for the regulars. Disagreements will evolve regarding who should stay and who should go but it would appear that with 1B and 2B unsettled, 3B and C not solid at this point it should take David Stearns and Derek Falvey quite a bit of engineering to reinforce this aspect of the roster for 2027.
6 comments:
Mets without Alonso and Nimmo, and missing 100 combined games from Soto and Lindor, AND playing 81 games in a pitcher’s park, finished 7th in HRs with 204. HRs are not a problem to fix. The fix for that should come from promoted prospects.
The Mets were 20th in runs, but 4th over the last month. I’d fix that to the extent it needs fixing thru prospect promotions.
I’d concentrate spending on pitchers. You let Peterson, Peralta, Holmes, Weaver, Raley and Minter go. That is too much to bridge with existing players. One starter, two relievers should be added.
We finished in the bottom 6 so hopefully the ping pong ball falls our way.
Hopefully Benge can over take Sal for ROY?
Hopefully someone like the Rays sees value in Vientos and gives us a smaller package then we got for Peralta?
Hopefully Bichette stays for one more year?
Hopefully we get a top of the line Starter?
Hopefully Stearns makes the right moves?
Me?
The Mets played well after the trading deadline. My comments on the importance of a positive mental game have rung through.
Thinking the Mets are going to eat all the bad contracts is like thinking Tom will stop writing about fences and PCA. Not gonna happen.
The "new Mets" era will begin at the break, starting with Pitre, Amick, and Rojas.
Good points, Reese. I definitely think it was a mistake trading Alonso without a solution for replacing his power in the middle of the lineup. If you subtract power and can't replace the runs it generates with speed and OBP, you end up net negative. The new team has a lot of speed, and can take advantage of that next season. We saw a preview of this in the last couple months of the season.
(rung or ranged???)
The first big question will be how they handle the Rule 5 40 man roster positions. There are many AAA & AA players that will need to be placed on the 40 man, traded or released before the lockout. That will be a signal on how they will proceed into next year.
Related, will be how they handle dead money. I do think Polanco could be released, possibly Senga (although his relief experiment was reasonable).
These will be clues. Strategically, they need to continue to create room for advanced minor league players to develop & there is insufficient time to engineer trades before the lockout where they could package a combination of former baby Mets & some current prospects for controllable mlb talent with building teams (get a controllable semi-established SP or two. Also, bichette decision will have some impact as well.
I don’t see them spending a ton of extra cash - with exception of Skubal possibly - assuming he would come play for the Mets.
They have to keep spots open for the guys coming up next year - whatever next year turns out to look like with the lockout.
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