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The New York Mets have decided to sell, and with that, a lot of controversy has followed.
The team that spent hundreds of millions of dollars on free agents is now the same that traded those players looking for prospects and a bit of salary relief.
It’s quite a turn, but the only reason the Mets decided to change course was their mediocre 2023 record (50-56) and the fact that the playoffs are now a distant dream.
As a result, the Mets opted to trade veterans on short-term deals to lower the average age of the roster and give themselves more prospects and flexibility going forward.
Considering the hand they were dealt, it was the right move.
Now, can they compete in 2024?
Without Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander, Mark Canha, Dominic Leone, Tommy Pham, and David Robertson, it will be hard.
General manager Billy Eppler, however, thinks there is a chance they compete next year, but isn’t promising much.
“Billy Eppler on Mets’ direction: ‘Going into 2024, we don’t see ourselves as having the same odds as going into 2023. But we will field a competitive team in 2024,’” Mets insider Deesha Thosar tweeted after a chat with Eppler.
Billy Eppler on Mets’ direction: “Going into 2024, we don’t see ourselves as having the same odds as going into 2023. But we will field a competitive team in 2024.”
— Deesha (@DeeshaThosar) August 1, 2023
The Mets probably won’t sign too many free agents that are pushing 40: they might have learned their lesson.
What they could do is start to shape the future of the franchise with trades for controllable stars and free agent signings that are relatively young.
If they do that starting this offseason, they might actually compete next year.
It’s also important to give the young guys (Brett Baty, Francisco Alvarez, Mark Vientos, David Peterson, and others) a chance to play regularly in what is left of 2023.
They can be part of the next core together with Francisco Lindor, Jeff McNeil, Kodai Senga, Pete Alonso, and the prospects, headlined by Luisangel Acuna and Marco Vargas.
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