The Mets left the GM Meetings in Las Vegas without making a splash, but they did come away with a pretty clear offseason blueprint.
The biggest takeaway is that New York is not treating offense as the main event. Yes, the Mets need help there, especially after finishing with a .707 team OPS that ranked seventh-worst in baseball.
A right-handed bat has been on plenty of minds, and it’s still a need. But according to former general manager Jim Duquette, who spoke with several MLB executives at the meetings, it does not sound like the club sees that as the top priority.
Instead, the word coming out of those conversations was that the Mets are aiming higher on the pitching side. Duquette said New York appears ready to cast a wide net and try to sign or trade for multiple starting pitchers, not just one.
One thing was clear from the GM meetings after speaking with several MLB people , that the Mets are casting a wide net in their search for pitching, in addition to meeting with Skubal. And the sense was they will try and sign or trade for MULTIPLE SP, not just one. Also, adding a…
That approach makes sense when you look at how the season unfolded. The offense was inconsistent, but a lot of that damage came with injuries and uneven production mixed in.
The Mets ranked 21st in runs scored with 699, posted a 97 wRC+, and finished 27th in on-base percentage at .310. Still, Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor were rarely on the field together, appearing in fewer than 60 games together.
Bo Bichette also needed time to settle in during his first year in New York, hitting .219 with a .583 OPS through the end of May before finding his footing later.
Even the younger bright spots had their rough patches. Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing both went through extended slumps during rookie seasons that were otherwise impressive.
When the lineup finally got healthy, the difference showed. The Mets were fully intact only in September, and that month gave a much better look at what the offense can be when it’s all there. New York hit .256 with a .767 OPS and a 113 wRC+ in September, with all three numbers ranking among the top eight in baseball for the month.
That doesn’t erase the holes, though. Second base, first base and catcher still sit in the conversation, which is why some fans have pushed for another offensive move.
Marcus Semien appears likely to stay at second base next season, based on Stearns’ recent comments. If Semien slips again, the Mets do have internal options, with Jefferson Rojas and Mitch Voit leading that group.
Adding another veteran would only make the path harder for those prospects.
Catcher is a different story than the raw numbers might suggest. Francisco Alvarez and Luis Torrens didn’t light up the box score, but their combined output still stacked up well against most catching tandems around the league.
Mets catchers finished in the top 15 in batting average at .232, slugging percentage at .397 and fWAR at 3.3. That’s not exactly an area begging for a major overhaul.
First base is the spot where New York should be most aggressive on offense. Jared Young had a breakout year, but the Mets still need a more established right-handed bat to pair with him. Stearns has made it clear enough that first base is going to be addressed, whether that means a platoon setup or a more established everyday player.
There is also the possibility of a fourth outfielder, a role that currently looks like it would go to Nick Morabito. Even there, the price tag would not need to be steep.
But the real logic of this offseason points back to the mound. If the bats stumble again because of injuries or inconsistency, a strong rotation can still keep the Mets in the fight. That is why the reported focus on multiple starters feels like the right call.
The young arms are promising, but they are still young. Nolan McLean, Christian Scott, Zac Thornton and Jonah Tong all bring upside, yet none has much major league mileage.
Jorge Castillo of ESPN reported that the Mets view only McLean and Scott as locks for next season’s rotation. Tong still has to prove he is ready for a full-time role, and Thornton, while encouraging, still has work to do.
Sean Manaea is not exactly a certainty either after putting up a 4.78 ERA last season.
That leaves Stearns with a rotation picture that carries real risk if he doesn’t add more than one arm. Bringing in two starters, including a frontline piece, would go a long way toward settling things down. A pitcher like Tarik Skubal or Michael King would immediately change the top of the rotation, and another addition such as Michael Soroka, Clay Holmes or Kris Bubic would give the Mets a much sturdier foundation.
If New York follows that path, it gives itself a much better chance to get back to the postseason in 2027.
In Other News...
Mets First Base Search Could Force A Costly Trade Decision
The Mets are already looking hard at first base this offseason, and the market is pointing them toward two very different paths. Alec Bohm is out there in free agency, while St. Louis first baseman Alec Burleson has emerged as a possible trade target after a strong recent season and with two years of club control still attached.
Burlesons appeal is obvious for a team trying to upgrade without creating another short-term hole, but that kind of player does not come cheap. If the Mets decide to pursue him seriously, they would likely have to part with controllable pitching and prospects, which turns a straightforward roster need into a much bigger organizational decision. [Read more 🡒]
Mets Linked To An Outfield Bat Who Could Spark A Bidding War
The winter market for Japanese outfielder Teruaki Sato is already shaping up to be one of the more intriguing pursuits on the board, and the Mets are right in the middle of it. Philadelphia is reportedly interested in adding Sato to help its outfield, but USA Todays Bob Nightengale says the Mets, Yankees and Padres are also viewing him as a top free-agent target after a season that featured 39 home runs and a .306 batting average.
For the Mets, the appeal is obvious. They have been linked to a bat with real impact potential, and Satos combination of power and production would make him a sought-after fit for a lineup looking for more thump. With multiple big-market teams involved, this is the kind of chase that can turn into a bidding war quickly, and the Mets figure to have company every step of the way. [Read more 🡒]
Mets First Base Search Just Took An Interesting Turn
The Mets search for help at first base is already taking shape, and Ty France has emerged as one of the names worth watching. New York is looking to strengthen the position this offseason, and France fits the kind of practical, middle-of-the-order depth the club has been weighing as it sorts through both free-agent and trade possibilities.
France is coming off a strong 2023 season with the Padres, which helps explain why he is in the mix alongside Alec Bohm as a potential target. The Mets are still in evaluation mode, but the fact that they are considering more than one route at first base suggests this could become one of the more interesting roster decisions of the winter. [Read more 🡒]