Where Do the Mets Need the Most Help This Offseason?

It’s always fun to imagine who will and who won’t be in a Mets uniform next season. Part of it is figuring out what position the Mets need to address immediately. From most to least important, let’s start with third base.

3B

By far the weakest position for the Mets in 2021 was whoever was positioned at the hot corner. J.D. Davis and Luis Guillorme couldn’t remain healthy and Jonathan Villar was serviceable.

The current answer for this position isn’t on the team but they’re still two years away from either Mark Vientos or Brett Baty taking over. If they want to improve here, they’ll have to look at an incredibly shallow free agency group.

Any of Kris Bryant, Kyle Seager, and Eduardo Escobar would be an immediate improvement to this group. The problem is, they’re the only three really available. If the Mets miss on their pursuance of them, it’s a steep slope back to 2021.

LF

Neither Dominic Smith nor Jeff McNeil is worth the defensive liability in left field when their bats perform as they did in 2021. Smith was relegated to the bench the final two months of the season and McNeil has two down years in a row.

The Mets might look at free agency and see a group led by Kyle Schwarber, Tommy Pham, and Mark Canha and realize they’re going to need to shell out the money Michael Conforto is looking for to give them two useful outfielders.

Canha would be my personal choice.

SP

Good, bad, old, young? It likely won’t matter to the Mets this offseason. A starting pitching rotation of Jacob deGrom, Carlos Carrasco, Noah Syndergaard, and Taijuan Walker, cannot be relied upon to be healthy an entire season.

Eduardo Rodriguez, Alex Cobb, and Jon Gray are the most realistic options outside of bringing back Marcus Stroman.

RF

Sign. Michael. Conforto.

Unless the Mets think Khalil Lee‘s time in Syracuse proved him to be an immediate major league contributor, then there are no other options here. There’s the slightly older and worse defender Nick Castellanos and a 35-year-old Charlie Blackmon. Conforto will be getting paid this winter.

2B

Even if Javier Baez leaves the Mets have McNeil and Robinson Cano. Although I’ve already mentioned McNeil having two consecutive poor years his value is much higher at second base than left field.

Cano hasn’t played in over a season and will likely end up as a DH if the league approves it for the National League. He’s still capable with a bat. A no-trade clause plus his albatross of a contract make him nearly unmovable.

Basically, please bring back Javy.

RP

The Mets are free of Dellin Betances and the awful month that was watching Brad Hand. Jeurys Familia is a free agent but none are more important than bringing back Aaron Loup. The untouchable lefty was the best arm in the pen, competing with deGrom for the most scoreless innings.

Edwin Diaz, Trevor May, Seth Lugo, Miguel Castro, Robert Gsellman, and Drew Smith are all either under contract or arbitration eligible for next season. As a whole, this group carried the Mets while the offense sputtered.

Relievers are a dime a dozen, the more you have available at your disposal the better. Re-sign Loup and anybody else who wants to pitch in New York.

C

As much as Mets fans want to move on from James McCann the team is stuck with him until Francisco Alvarez is ready to take over. Possibly the Mets try to upgrade from Tomas Nido as his backup but he’s projected to make just $1,000,000 after arbitration this year. A bargain for a payroll that should exceed most, if not every, other teams.

CF

Brandon Nimmo improved as a defender and is the catalyst to the Mets’ offense. He’ll bat leadoff and patrol center in 2022. Kevin Pillar has a player option that he’ll likely opt into. The class of free-agent center fielders is at a level worse than awful.

1B

Pete Alonso is your everyday starter. Smith will need his bat to improve again for playing time and Jose Martinez is still under contract. Don’t expect any moves here.

SS

You have Francisco Lindor. You play Francisco Lindor.

The post Where Do the Mets Need the Most Help This Offseason? first appeared on Metsmerized Online.