Christmas is just around the corner, and people all across the country will storm to retail stores to try and get their hands on the best deals possible. Likewise for the Mets, they need to try and get their hands on the best deals available on the best and brightest “toys” on the market… so which “toys” benefit fit the Mets and their hunt for a playoff berth in 2019?
Starting Pitcher – Nate Eovaldi
Nate Eovaldi is coming off playoff heroics for the Red Sox, and regular season success between Boston and the Rays. At only 28, Eovaldi is hitting the market after going 6-7 with a 3.81 ERA last season. He was almost a full run better for the Red Sox from July onward, and was masterful in October, posting a 1.61 ERA in the postseason. The Mets seem to have deep, dark, gaping hole on their roster in the fifth starter role, as no one on the active roster has shown capability to step up and grab onto the job. Bringing in Eovaldi can push the Mets over the top, considering how many games they lost last year that weren’t started by one of the Big Four. Often times, the best way to push your team over the top is by adding to your biggest strength, so why wouldn’t the Mets consider adding an arm of the likes of Eovaldi?
Relief Pitchers – Adam Ottavino and David Robertson
With an obvious need for relievers, these two fit the Mets the best. Ottavino has been an absolute stud in Colorado for a handful of years now outside of his 2017 campaign, but he missed a chunk of that season due to injury. For his 2017 season, Ottavino posted a 5.06 ERA in 53.1 innings pitched, the reason for a spike in his career ERA, which sits at 3.68. Ottavino’s curveball is one of the best in baseball, and will only get better when you remove it from altitude. As for David Robertson, the Mets are already in his final three teams by default. The self-representing reliever has said that he will stay in New England for his next contract, narrowing his potential suitors down to the Mets, Red Sox, and Yankees. Since the start of the decade, Robertson has appeared in 584 games, posted a 2.72 ERA, and posted a WHIP of 1.11. In various chances to be a closer, he has 131 saves in the same time frame, and has thrown 60 or more innings in the same time. A true iron man for a bullpen, Robertson can be a Godsend for the Mets
Catcher – Yasmani Grandal
When looking at any potential Opening Day lineup for the 2019 Mets, the easiest place to upgrade is the starting catcher spot. Not to knock on Kevin Plawecki, who has shown extended runs in 2017 and 2018 of being a Major League caliber starting catcher, but he was never able to sustain the success. With a few big-name catchers on the free agent market, like Yasmani Grandal, Wilson Ramos, and Jonathan Lucroy, the time to upgrade at catcher is now, and no one fits the Mets better than Yasmani Grandal. For starters, defensively, Grandal is one of the better catchers in baseball. That would be a big asset to the Mets who lack defense up the middle, and have a few pitchers that allow a boatload of stolen bases. Grandal isn’t the greatest at throwing out runners, only nailing runners 25 percent of the time, but posted a career best 3.6 WAR last season. Grandal is reliable behind the plate, and brings above average offense for a catcher, hitting .240/.341/.441 for his career, and adding 113 career home runs onto that.
Honorable Mentions – outfielder Adam Jones, infielder Josh Harrison and left-handed reliever Justin Wilson.
Who is atop your Mets wishlist?
