BY MARK HALPERN
This past season for the Mets was the hardest to swallow. We entered the season with a very capable line up and what started off as a pitching staff. Then it all started to fall like a row of dominoes. Kodai Senga the Mets ace got injured right before the all-star game and really didn’t recover well with more injuries leading to ending his season early. Sean Manea, who last season was Mets ace in the absence of Senga, suffered an injury during spring training that kept him out until right after the all-star break and was nothing like he was. Bright Spots David Peterson (who was just nominated for a gold glove) had one of his most solid seasons going 9-6 with an ERA of 4.50, but hit a wall in the second half. Converted pitcher Clay Holmes in his first year as a starter went 12-8 with a 3.53 ERA. These two have cemented themselves for next year but none of the four I have mentioned are not aces.
This Year’s free agency definitely has possibilities of adding to this rotation to make it better but there isn’t a #1 Free Agent Pitcher. However, there is one name that is on Mike Rifkin’s and mine’s wish list and that’s San Diego SP Dylan Cease. Cease has what it takes to win and has shown off his talent in San Diego and there is no secret that the Mets have him at the top of their wish list. The SP who I’d make a run at is Zac Gallen who pitched 33 games and went 13-15 with a 3.58 ERA. Gallen also is not a number one pitcher but would give this Mets team something it has been missing and that’s a pitcher with endurance and that could go more than 5 innings.
However, the only way the Mets will get a #1 pitcher will be through a trade and one might be had sooner than expected. It is rumored that the Detroit Tigers are 250million dollars apart in his new contract negotiations. This is where the Mets can sweep in but will cost them very highly. Expectations are that the Mets would have to offer top prospects Jett Williams, Brandon Sproat, Ryan Clifford and either Brett Baty or Ronny Mauricio. Steve Cohen wants to win and win now and if Skubal is willing to sign a massive extension to stay the trigger HAS to be pulled.
The Bullpen also started out good and then has a massive collapse with injuries all over the place. Edwin “Sugar” Diaz, one of the top closers in the league can opt out of his contract and there is no way the Mets should not re-sign him to man the closing role for the next few years. Of the Mets pick ups at the trade deadline Helsey, Gregory Soto and Rogers, I would say keep Soto and Rogers and go out and get someone like Caleb Ferguson who has been solid for the Mariners this season and make sure you re-sign left-handed specialist Brooks Raley.
Cohen was quoted “I want to win one or two WS championships in the next 3-5 years and if we don’t it would be a wake up call for alarm.” Cohen isn’t afraid to spend money but he isn’t just going to write checks. David Stearns needs to redeem himself in this offseason and to win back this Mets fanbase and needs to make a splash early.
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