MMO Roundtable: Mets‘ MVP Of The 2022 Season

The 2022 Mets’ season wasn’t what many had hoped or expected it to be. Though, there were a ton of positives to the season. Namely, so many different individuals made meaningful contributions to the second-most successful regular season in franchise history. So, out of all those individuals, which Met is most deserving of team MVP?

John Sheridan

The Mets‘ MVP was definitively Jeff McNeil. Aside from leading the team in WAR, McNeil did everything the team asked.

He was Gold Glove caliber at second base. He stepped in to play right field late in the season when Starling Marte was injured. He also slashed .371/.420/.505 over the final two months of the season en route to winning the NL batting title.

When the team needed a big hit, he was the bat you trusted most. When the team needed to shift things around due to injuries, he answered the call. In every sense of the word, McNeil was the Mets MVP.

Michael Garaffa

For me, it came down to Francisco Lindor or Edwin Díaz. Both played incredible roles in the 2022 season for the Mets. The club would likely have been nowhere without either of those guys.

When it comes down to it, I have to choose Francisco Lindor.

While WAR is obviously not the most important attribute, it is what made the difference in my decision. Lindor finished the season with a 5.4 bWAR, whereas Díaz finished with a 3.2 bWAR.

Lindor also played in 161 of the 162 games for the Mets in 2022. He to a .270 with a .339 OBP and a .449 SLG. On top of that, he hit 26 home runs and drove in 107 runs.

What Lindor provided to the Mets’ offense could not be replaced by anyone else, and the fact that he did it in 161 games made it that much more impressive.

Rich Sparago

The Mets had several candidates for MVP in 2022. Looking at WAR, Jeff McNeil leads the pack, and he certainly deserves consideration (winning the NL batting title helps too). Francisco Lindor had a record-setting season as Mets shortstops go, earning him second place on the WAR list. Pete Alonso and Brandon Nimmo also merit consideration for their solid seasons. However, offense is team effort, so I’m going to go with closer, Edwin Díaz, as team MVP in 2022.

Díaz single-handedly (and when you look at his strikeouts, it was often a solo effort) impacted the Mets’ season more than any other player. Diaz netted 32 saves, and had an other-worldly 118 strikeouts in 62 innings pitched. He allowed just 34 hits and three home runs.

When it comes to MVP, I think about an individual effort that had the most impact. When Díaz took the mound in the ninth (or eighth or even seventh inning), it was on him. He came through basically every time. I give the Mets’ 2022 MVP award to Diaz.

Matt Mancuso

Where would the Mets be without Pete Alonso? The team leader in wOBA & wRC+, the Polar Bear provided a consistent power source in the lineup, even carrying the team on his back during offensive slogs.

His at-bats provided momentum jolts to a team that, at times, desperately needed them. Although his rookie season was only three years ago, it’s clear the leadership he demonstrated helped the club reach the playoffs for only the 10th time in its 60-year history.

Patrick Glynn

The Mets have a couple options here. They didn’t have their version of Aaron Judge, who carried their team to the playoffs. It was a real team effort to win 101 games. Overall, though, I’d give MVP to Francisco Lindor.

On top of his all-world defense (no matter what Rawlings thinks) at one of the most critical positions in the game, he was also arguably the best offensive shortstop in the National League, too. Overall, Lindor put up the highest fWAR on the team (6.8), he knocked in over 100 runs, scored nearly 100 runs, and had over 700 plate appearances. He was also the team’s best hitter (by wRC+) in medium-to-high-leverage spots.

Whatever stench came from Lindor’s 2021 season (which wasn’t as bad as a whole as you may think it was) was washed away in 2022. He might earn down-ballot MVP votes this year (as will Alonso and McNeil), and I think he’d earn the top MVP spot if Mets players ran a vote.

Joe D

Despite the Mets leaving a very sour taste in my mouth with another epic late season failure, several players did manage to deliver some very special seasons making the whole season overall very palatable.

Leading the charge for the Mets were Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso on offense, but don’t forget Edwin Díaz who finally emerged as the elite closer this team has been thirsting for. However, at the head of the class for me is the cagey, squirrely, blue collar, working class hero, Jeff McNeil.

McNeil had a remarkable season, leading the team with a 5.7 WAR and capturing the franchise’s second-ever batting title. Additionally, McNeil led the team in hits and doubles and remarkably, struck out only 61 times in 589 plate appearances. Only two players in MLB had a better strikeout percentage.

McNeil also flashed gold glove potential at second base and surprisingly right field as well.

Given all that, Jeff McNeil should be your hands-down choice for MVP of the Mets in 2022.