Trust The Process

By Mike Rifkin

We’re into December and are just seeing some of the big names in MLB get moved. Juan Soto was traded to the Yankees, and Shohei Ohtani just signed a record-setting contract in sports history with the Dodgers, but outside of that, the Hot Stove hasn’t moved, but don’t tell that to Met fans. The Mets were one of the biggest disappointments in Baseball last season. Having the highest payroll in baseball history and finished with a record of 75-87. David Stearns is the new President of Baseball Operations, a role he had with the Milwaukee Brewers. Stearns and Cohen have yet to make the splashy move, but they have the opportunity to make some smart, savvy moves. So, how can Cohen and Stearns put together a competitive team in 2024? That’s what they said they’d do. 

Rotation: They signed former Yankee Luis Severino to a one-year 13 Million dollar deal. When healthy, Severino has been solid and a former All-Star. Severino joins Jose Quintana and Kodai Senga as the three locks for the rotation, so who’s next? Yoshinobu Yamamoto is sought after, and every central market team is looking at the 25-year-old Japanese sensation. He’s so sought after that Cohen and Stearns flew to Japan to see him, so for now, let’s say he goes and signs elsewhere. What do the Mets do? I have no interest in reigning CY Young Award Winner Blake Snell. He posted career highs in Innings pitched and strikeouts, but he’s never pitched in a market like New York. Could the Mets pivot to Jordan Montgomery, who was significant for the Rangers in their World Series Championship run. He did pitch for the Yankees. Both guys are 31 years old. Or are the Mets better off signing guys like Lucas Giolito to one-year contracts like Severino and play it out? The other option would be the trade market. Still, with the injury to Ronny Mauricio, I am unsure about the availability of some of the Mets prospects; topple that with the fact David Stearns has said he doesn’t see himself trading prospects for a rental player. Now, if the Mariners would be the team to sign Snell, the Mets could make a deal for Logan Gilbert or George Kirby. Now, while we want Yamamoto, if the Mets don’t wind up with him, there are other options.

Bullpen: The Mets bullpen should be better in 2024 because Closer Edwin Diaz will be back after missing last season with a knee injury. The question is how they will get the ball to Diaz. I like Ryne Stanek and Hector Neris of the Houston Astros. Both have experience in big games and could be good compliments to Diaz; then there’s Brent Suter, who pitched for Stearns in Milwaukee and could fill a role. Or the Mets could bring back David Robertson, who was good in replacing Diaz last season. 

Center Field: There has been talk about the Mets adding a Center Fielder and moving Brandon Nimmo to Left Field. I’m not looking at paying big money at Cody Bellinger here. The two names that make sense are Michael A. Taylor and Harrison Bader. Bader played for the Yankees and is a solid defender. Both guys give the Mets something they only have a little: speed. 

DH: The Mets have struggled to find the guy since the Universal DH was implemented. They have used the position to rotate guys in and out of the lineup. And now that the Daniel Vogelbach era is over, the Mets can continue that search. J.D. Martinez (who they should have signed last year) is out there again, as is former Met Justin Turner or guys like Rhys Hoskins or Jorge Soler, who can also play the field. But the Mets need an impact bat at DH. 

Extensions: Pete Alonso – The Mets first baseman is a free agent after the season. According to multiple reports, the Mets and Alonso have not yet met to discuss the extension; that said, the Mets should try to start those talks after the New Year and pick them up during Spring Training. The Mets cannot or shouldn’t just bank on the fact because they allowed Edwin Diaz and Brandon Nimmo to test the market and returned to allow the same thing for Alonso. If the Mets re-sign Alonso, he will own all the offensive records in franchise history. For a team built historically by pitching, Alonso can go down as the most outstanding offensive player in the franchise’s history.

Francisco Alvarez – Alvarez, the Catcher of the Present and the Future, has said he’s willing to sign a long-term extension with the organization; this is something the Mets should consider for two reasons. The first is it’s hard to find a good catcher now and have them locked up. The other is this is a page out of the Atlanta Braves playbook, and signing a future star well before they have to is a smart move. 

Here’s the playbook for Cohen and Stearns to follow if they don’t wind up with Yamamoto. While the big names are great, there are other ways for the Mets to have a successful offseason, and we are still a long way away from Spring Training.