BY MARK HALPERN AND MIKE RIFKIN
The Mets might have been hibernating through the first month or so of the offseason, even though they added pieces that would help, most fans ourselves included were upset at the fact that Edwin Diaz, Brandon Nimmo and Pete Alonso were no longer to be with the club. But things have changed over the last week. They really have turned things around after Kyle Tucker spurned them for the Dodgers. First they signed Bo Bichette, and now have added their Centerfielder and potential ace.
Luis Robert is the answer to the Mets Centerfield issues. Robert is one of the best defenders in baseball but his bat has taken a huge dive over the last two years. I truly think part of that is playing for the White Sox, so a change of scenery might benefit him. The Mets traded Second Baseman Luis Angel Acuna and pitcher Truman Pauly. This is a great deal by Stearns, the Mets are stocked with infielders and one had to go. Acuna really never got a full chance to play for the Mets. His fielding and speed are his advantages but, his bat hasn’t come around yet which kind of made him expendable. I hope Acuna goes on to a good career on a team that should give him playing time.
The Mets now have two of the three outfield positions set with Robert in Center and Soto in Right. LF is a mystery that needs to be solved. I have no problem in giving a rookie like Carson Benge a shot during spring training but, I think it would be advantageous for the Mets to re sign Starling Marte as the fourth and you can keep Taylor for PR/PH duties.
With Cody Bellinger re-signing with the Yankees that takes the biggest 1B off the market. The Mets need a first baseman and I would like to check in on the health of someone like Rhys Hoskins or maybe look at Luis Arraez for the First Baseman. Arraez isn’t someone who is going to give you Pete like numbers. However, not to sugar coat it “He gets on base and makes a hell of a lot less than Alonso.” It’s an option to look in on. I am not fully trusted in the idea of Baty or Vientos to man first. When you look at Hoskins, he is someone who can hit 25 plus homers and plays a solid first base.
This lineup is coming together rather nicely. Mets fans might still be sour but, with what Stearns has done hopefully will turn those frowns upside down.
One night after striking the Robert deal, David Stearns struck again. All Met fans were waiting for the starting rotation to get an upgrade, and Stearns had something brewing. The Mets GM went to his old employer and acquired Freddy Peralta and Tobias Meyers for top prospects Jett Williams and Brandon Sproat. Peralta went 17-6 with a 2.70 ERA in 176 ⅔ innings. Along with Dylan Cease, Peralta has 200 strikeouts over the last three seasons. The downside to Peralta is he is in the last season of his contract, but if he navigates New York they could give him an extension. But after a rough start to the winter, David Stearns is making his move now.
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