Do you remember when Andy Martino reported last week that the New York Mets were mostly done with the heavy lifting for the roster this winter? Do you remember feeling a little bummed out it like I was? Well, I can’t believe I’m saying this, but MLB insider Jon Heyman is giving us a ray of sunshine to start our week.
Despite Martino’s earlier report, here’s what Heyman had to say on Monday morning:
Have heard Mets might consider signing another significant pitcher and hitter once the lockout ends, on top of Scherzer, Marte, Canha and Escobar. If so $270M payroll could approach $300M.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) January 31, 2022
Of course, this hardly sounds like a sure thing once MLB teams are able to make big-league acquisitions again. And who knows how the season’s timeline — if it’s impacted by current labor negotiations — will play into that. Either way, this can only mean one thing, dudes like Kris Bryant and Clayton Kershaw are back on the table and in our daydreams. That also leaves the possibility of Kyle Schwarber being an option, too — even if it’s just so he doesn’t have to torment New York as an opposing player again in 2022.
Heyman is alluding to New York making these significant acquisitions via free agency, but if Jeff McNeil, Dominic Smith, and J.D. Davis are available via trade — as Martino reported recently — who knows what general manager Billy Eppler is thinking about pulling off.
Whether there’s any truth to this rumor or not, it’s still a breath of fresh air and something we’re likely still getting used to with Steve Cohen in charge. The pre-lockout spending spree was such a treat because they backed up what they said the objective was at the end of the regular season with action. We all know the Mets can afford to make another big splash or two if they really want. They’re not just going to sign everyone for whatever money they want, but nothing is necessarily out of the realm of possibility anymore.
If we’re being honest here, Martino’s report sounded like something that’d come out of a Wilpon-led organization. What Heyman reported Monday at least jives with what Eppler said in a press conference last week with manager Buck Showalter. The GM is confident the Mets are a good club and can be competitive as currently constructed, but that doesn’t mean he won’t stop hunting for ways to get better.
Now, we just have to get this lockout over with so we can see what they’ll actually do next.
