Steve Cohen’s largesse was sufficient to lure Juan Soto to Queens. Soto is reportedly becoming a member of the New York Mets on a large 15-year contract value $765 million. For a Mets workforce that’s beginning to emerge as a league powerhouse, including Soto is a big transfer (duh), although maybe not one which makes them NL East and World Sequence favorites by itself.
The Mets now have top-of-the-line hitters on the planet as their centerpiece, and can work to construct a championship roster round him. MLB’s Winter Assembly start in earnest Monday in Dallas. Free brokers are able to signal and commerce companions are able to do enterprise. The Mets cannot actually sit round and have a good time touchdown Soto. Extra must occur.
Right here now are three issues the Mets should do between now and Opening Day as they transfer ahead with Soto.
Proceed including to the rotation
Earlier this month the Mets signed veteran righty Frankie Montas to a two-year, $34 million contract with an choose out. They later added ex-Yankees nearer Clay Holmes on a three-year, $38 million deal with plans to experiment with him as a starter. That continues their development of focusing on pitchers with upside on short-term contracts. That they had success with Sean Manaea and Luis Severino on comparable contracts this previous season.
Even with these two, New York’s rotation is skinny and in want of reinforcement. Manaea, Severino, and Jose Quintana are free brokers and so they had been the workforce’s high three in innings in 2024. Right here is their rotation depth chart in the meanwhile:
- RHP Kodai Senga (restricted to 10 ⅓ innings in 2024 by shoulder and calf accidents)
- LHP David Peterson
- RHP Frankie Montas
- RHP Paul Blackburn (might miss begin of 2025 following backbone surgical procedure)
- RHP Clay Holmes (has not began since 2018)
- RHP Tylor Megill
RHP Christian Scott(will miss 2025 with Tommy John surgical procedure)- RHP Justin Hagenman
Cohen and the Mets in all probability — in all probability — will not pursue Corbin Burnes now that they’ve spend huge on Soto despite the fact that POBO Davis Stearns drafted the Cy Younger winner again when he was with the Milwaukee Brewers. Stearns’ factor is excessive upside short-term offers, therefore their curiosity in Walker Buehler, although maybe they’d make an exception for Burnes given their historical past?
The Mets might additionally look to the commerce market. Chicago White Sox ace Garrett Crochet is the apparent identify there, and maybe somebody like Tony Gonsolin (Los Angeles Dodgers) or Shane McClanahan (Tampa Bay Rays) turns into obtainable. Level is, the Mets want extra rotation assist even after signing Montas and Holmes.
Re-sign or change Alonso
Do the Mets now circle again and look to re-sign Pete Alonso even after including Soto? He is a beloved homegrown participant who’s one typical Alonso season away from changing into the franchise’s all-time dwelling chief. There are causes to wish to keep away from a long-term take care of Alonso. On the similar time, he is nonetheless very productive, and the lineup wants some thump even with out Soto.
A method or one other, the Mets want a bat on the infield, and it needs to be famous changing Alonso doesn’t essentially imply bringing in a brand new first baseman. The Mets might slide Mark Vientos, their 2024 breakout participant, from third base over to first, and purchase a brand new third baseman. First base is probably going Vientos’ long-term defensive dwelling anyway. The Mets could make the transfer straight away.
Willy Adames, who is alleged to be keen to play third base and who Stearns traded for throughout his Brewers days, signed with the San Francisco Giants lately. He is off the board. Alex Bregman is obtainable although. Not too way back the Mets agreed to signal Carlos Correa to play third base, however issues over his ankle scuttled that deal. Maybe they’re going to now pivot to Correa’s long-time Houston Astros teammate on the scorching nook.
Whether or not it is Alonso or Bregman or another person completely, the Mets want so as to add to their infield this winter. They’ve the pliability to pursue first or third basemen as they are not locked into searching for one set place, however they might use a middle-of-the-order bat. The Mets landed Soto and now want to search out him a little bit extra assist. That may go away a giant void.
Fill out the bullpen
Stearns did a wonderful job rebuilding his bullpen on the fly this previous season. He hit on non-roster invitees Dedniel Núñez and Danny Younger, and picked up Phil Maton and Ryne Stanek in low-cost trades. Discovering low-cost relievers was his specialty with the Brewers and Stearns must proceed doing it with the Mets. Their present bullpen:
There isn’t a such factor as too many good relievers and one other veteran high-leverage arm, somebody to push Brazoban all the way down to Triple-A, can be a worthwhile pickup. All-Star closers Ryan Helsley (St. Louis Cardinals) and Devin Williams (Brewers) can be found, although buying and selling high prospects for a reliever just isn’t one thing Stearns tends to do. Determine they’re going to proceed scouring the marketplace for decrease price, high-upside relievers, and complement the bullpen that manner.
