Mets Remaining To-Do List This Offseason

It has already been a frantic and monumental offseason for the New York Mets who continue to take big swings under owner Steve Cohen. However, with spring training now only a couple of months away, the front office still have some business they need to take care of. Let’s take a look at what’s remaining on the to-do list…

Solve Carlos Correa Saga 

This is an obvious one. In a long running saga that Netflix would be proud to stream on its network, the Mets still can’t say they have their man when it comes to Carlos Correa. Despite coming to an agreement on a blockbuster 12-year, $315 million deal with the superstar shortstop before Christmas, we’re all still waiting for a resolution.

According to the latest reports from Andy Martino of SNY, the Mets have become “very frustrated” in their negotiations with powerhouse agent Scott Boras, and could opt to walk away from any potential deal. However, despite all of that, a source did tell Martino that they believed “the sides stood a strong chance of reaching an agreement.”

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic had previously reported that any potential deal would now look “dramatically different” to the original offer, due to ongoing concerns over an old lower right leg injury that Correa had suffered. Mets fans grow more and more nervous by the day, and it remains to be seen just how determined owner Steve Cohen is to get his man.

It goes without saying that the Mets will be a better team with Correa on the roster than without. The star infielder hit .291/.366/.467 with 22 home runs and a 5.4 WAR in 136 games for the Minnesota Twins in 2022. Boasting an excellent glove, Correa would give the Mets one of the most elite infields in all of baseball.

He also seems built for the big stage in New York. However, we’ve reached a point where both parties need to find a solution to this drawn-out saga and quick so everybody can move on. Let’s just hope it is the outcome the Mets desire.

Retain Eduardo Escobar & Carlos Carrasco

As busy as the front office have been in upgrading the roster significantly for the 2023 season, multiple reports have suggested they could have plenty of work ahead of them in terms of dealing away pieces. Having already traded catcher James McCann to the Baltimore Orioles this offseason, it seems that another pair of veterans could be moved at some point before spring training.

Due to the pursuit of Correa, there have been reports that the Mets could look to shop Eduardo Escobar with Correa becoming the team’s new everyday third baseman. This would be a huge mistake. For starters, you can’t have enough depth in baseball and, over a 162-game season, you are bound to suffer injuries at key positions. Escobar would act as an instrumental depth piece who could be called upon when needed.

Plus, as we explored in depth here, Escobar could be used to solve another fatal flaw in the pinch-hitting department. The Mets got little to no production from their pinch hitters in 2022, who collectively hit just .145/.268/.217 with one home run in 98 at-bats. The Mets used pinch hitters a total of 98 times in 2022, but they earned a hit on just 12 occasions and walked just 14 times.

As a result, manager Buck Showalter could look to use Escobar as a lethal switch-hitting weapon to come off the bench late on in games and in high-leverage situations. That’s a luxury not too many other teams have.

All of the above applies to Carlos Carrasco too. Having completely rebuilt the rotation thanks to the additions of Justin Verlander, José Quintana and Kodai Senga, coupled with the losses of Jacob deGrom, Chris Bassitt, and Taijuan Walker, the future of Carrasco came into doubt. According to Joel Sherman of The Post, the Mets are listening to offers on Carrasco and he’s an attractive piece given that he will earn just $14 million in 2023.

However, like Escobar, Carrasco can still hold tremendous value for the Mets. He went 15-7 with a 3.97 ERA in 2022 and was one of the team’s most consistent pitchers having pitched 152 innings. He boasts a wealth of experience, he is a very, very good No. 4 or No. 5 starter and he can also act as somewhat of a safety net if Senga struggles to quickly adapt to life in the majors. Plus, you can never have enough pitching depth.

If Cohen and the Mets really are serious about being all in to win in 2023, then ensuring this team has depth, and quality depth at that, in every single area is an absolute must. As a result, the front office need to ensure that they put the phones down and stop trying to shop Escobar and Carrasco. Both players will have major roles to play for the Mets as they hunt down a World Series in 2023, and you can never have too much depth.

Continue To Bolster Bullpen

You can’t expect to be successful in the majors unless you have a very good bullpen. That has been proven time and time again and the Mets found out what happens if you don’t have a good bullpen. Having failed to acquire a top left-handed reliever at the 2022 trade deadline, the front office could only watch on in horror as the bullpen failed to deliver the goods in big spots both down the stretch and in the postseason.

The Mets bullpen in 2022 was not good, outside of star reliever Edwin Diaz and the reliable Adam Ottavino. Both players are back for the 2023 season, while the front office also went out and signed veteran reliever David Robertson to a one-year, $10 million deal. The Mets acquired lefty reliever Brooks Raley in a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays too. However, again, if winning a World Series is the aim, then more needs to be done ahead of spring training.

There are still plenty of options out there. From Andrew Chafin to Michael Fulmer to Zack Britton to Matt Moore, the Mets still have the opportunity to go out and really bolster their bullpen with high-leverage arms that could help this team really compete for a championship in 2023.

Add Outfield Depth

According to Jim Bowden of The Athletic, the Mets want to add a backup outfielder once the deal with Correa is signed, sealed and delivered. With the outfield currently consisting of Brandon Nimmo, Starling Marte and Mark Canha, the lack of depth in that area is a concern with Khalil Lee effectively the fourth outfielder.

Darin Ruf also remains in the equation for now, too.

As has been the common theme throughout this article, depth throughout the major league roster is crucial for success and the front office is wise to want to go out and add a backup outfielder. Trey Mancini, Adam Duvall, AJ Pollock, Jurickson Profar, Jackie Bradley Jr., and Andrew McCutchen are all potential options. Having adequate cover in the outfield will be a key ingredient for the Mets if they want to taste success in 2023.

Sign Pete Alonso To An Extension

While Aaron Judge got most of the attention in 2022 for his home run hitting exploits, it is important to not forget how good a year Pete Alonso had too. The slugger set the Mets’ all-time RBI record in 2022 with 131, he also hit 40 home runs and he has hit a grand total of 146 homers over the past four seasons. He leads all of baseball in home runs since his rookie year in 2019. He’s also incredibly durable having missed just 16 games over a four-year span.

Alonso is two years away from free agency and he’s projected to make $16 million in arbitration in 2023. There is no doubt that Alonso is a key piece of this team, and he’s going to play a major role in any success the Mets go on to enjoy over the next few years.

As a result, by offering their star first baseman an extension now, the front office would put the franchise in a better financial position now and further down the road, while locking up an important player in the process. It would also remind the rest of baseball that the New York Mets really do mean business in 2023.