One of the questions I am asked most often is what I think the Mets will do this offseason, and quite frankly I don’t really see the Mets doing too much. Perhaps the most significant decision facing the Mets is trying to re-sign Yoenis Cespedes – and I’m hearing the front office will be focusing most of their efforts on getting some kind of resolution on this before they do anything else. Rightfully so. What the Mets do or don’t do this offseason offensively, all hinges on whether Cespedes will be back next season.
If Cespedes does re-sign with the Mets, I would expect to see the team looking very similar to the one that they ended the season with except for a few minor changes. Offensively, I would expect the starting outfield to remain intact with Curtis Granderson and Juan Lagares platooning in center field flanked by Cespedes in left and Jay Bruce in right.
Despite a report by Adam Rubin to the contrary, I do not see the Mets tendering a qualifying offer to second baseman Neil Walker. Instead, the Mets will cross their fingers and hope that T.J. Rivera is every bit as good as he looked in his month-long debut. They will still have Jose Reyes as a fallback option on the roster with Gavin Cecchini providing some depth at Triple-A.
Like it or not, the Mets are locked in at the corners with Lucas Duda and David Wright. At first base, Duda finally returned in late September from his back injury and he should benefit from a full offseason of rest. Meanwhile, Wright is laser focused on returning from his neck surgery while continuing to battle with his spinal stenosis condition. With Reyes on hand, the Mets will give their captain every opportunity to mount his comeback while remaining at ease if things go awry.
Second half MVP, Asdrubal Cabrera, will be back at shortstop and will have all Winter to rest his ailing knee. Cabrera was a steadying force defensively at short and he became a force batting second in the order.
It’s behind the plate where you might see some significant change after a very disappointing season by Travis d’Arnaud. You have to believe that arbitration eligible Rene Rivera will be back, but will the front office see the catching position as an opportunity to upgrade? Or do they give their once promising catching tandem of d’Arnaud and Kevin Plawecki another year to step forward and win the starting backstop job?
The bench is where you’ll see at least one small change. Do the Mets roll with Brandon Nimmo in a utility outfield role or do they go out and sign another Alejandro De Aza type outfielder? Other than that, Reyes and Wilmer Flores should return as backup infielders.
Now, if the Mets fail to bring back Cespedes, you have to believe that a right-handed power bat will be high on the Mets to-do list this Winter. And that could lead to a substantial domino effect. But I have a good feeling that the Yo Show will return to Citi Field in 2017 so it’s a moot point.
Up Next: Thoughts on Rotation and Bullpen
