Mets Offseason To-Do List: Five grocery list items to check off

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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 24: Brandon Nimmo #9 of the New York Mets throws the ball to infield during the fifth inning of their game against the Miami Marlins at Citi Field on September 24, 2019 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) /

The offseason is a time for teams to revamp the roster. For the New York Mets, these are five items they need to address on their to-do list.

The New York Mets didn’t make the 2019 postseason despite a valiant effort to contend late into September. The team looks like it’s capable of competing in 2020, but first, we’ll have to go through another winter.

The MLB offseason may bore some fans. For me, it’s one of the most exciting times of the year. Rosters change, trades are made, and dreamers can dream about a better season in the near future.

In Brodie Van Wagenen’s second offseason with the team, he has a grocery list of items to check off. It may not be nearly as long as it was last winter when the roster was a little more questionable. BVW can consider himself lucky. While these tasks aren’t the easiest, he knows which aisles to shop in.

Make a decision on who plays center field

Who will play center field for the Mets on Opening Day 2020? Ever since Carlos Beltran left, the team hasn’t had a truly reliable man play the position. Juan Lagares has been the most frequent starter at the position on Opening Day. He’ll likely leave via free agency and if he did return, he’s not getting the start in game one.

So, the Mets need to decide on what direction they go at this position. Do they keep it in-house and let Brandon Nimmo or Michael Conforto play the position to begin the year? Is one of this offseason’s big storylines about Amed Rosario’s transition to the outfield?

The Mets have plenty of options without actually making a transaction. However, none of the players they have under team control are regarded as “true center fielders.”

Whatever it is the Mets decide to do, they need to make a firm decision early on in the offseason. Before the best free agents sign or any available via trade swap uniforms, they need to know if their starting center fielder for 2020 already resides on their roster.

If I had to predict, I think the Mets end up starting Conforto in center field and add one veteran or younger player to the roster as a fifth outfielder. How long Conforto stays at the position will depend a lot on his defense.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – JULY 16: Edwin Diaz #39 of the New York Mets delivers a pitch against the Minnesota Twins during the ninth inning of the interleague game on July 16, 2019 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Mets defeated the Twins 3-2. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

Find bullpen help

Did I mention this list is in no particular order? I mean, how many people actually make a grocery list based on the items’ location to the entrance anyway?

There’s nothing the Mets need to do more than find bullpen help. The relievers were the biggest reason why the team exited on time in 2019. They must ensure this isn’t the case again in 2020.

Finding talented relievers is easier said than done. As we witnessed in several cities during the 2019 season, it’s not a science.

Relief pitchers have become more important than ever in baseball. However, inconsistency has made it harder to find the right ones. Plenty of talented men have failed after an All-Star season. Others have had career-years after several seasons as journeymen. Not long after, they fall off the face of the earth.

At a minimum, the Mets need two really good relievers. One should come via free agency and another through a trade. And after they’re added to the cart, we have to all cross our fingers they were the brand our kids wanted.

Ensure the starting rotation is as good as ever

The Mets may lose Zack Wheeler to free agency this winter. To combat that, they may need to seek out an equally as talented replacement.

If Wheeler does return either with a new deal or after accepting the qualifying offer, there’s always a possibility we see them trade Noah Syndergaard. Without a doubt, one of the biggest stories to watch unfold this winter will be how the Mets plan to build their rotation. The most important part of this is that we can confidently say the five-man rotation is as good as it was at the end of 2019.

We know Jacob deGrom will be back and I’m guessing Marcus Stroman will be, too. Steven Matz should slot in as the team’s fifth starter. At least one of the other two spots will belong to Syndergaard or Wheeler.

Starting pitching has been the key to the Mets’ success for most of the franchise’s history. In 2015, it was the reason they made it to the World Series. They have a chance to do it again on the backs of their starters.

Among the tasks they need to accomplish this winter, ensuring the rotation is as good as ever is essential.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 20: New York Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen and New York Mets chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon listen to manager Mickey Callaway speak during a press conference before the game between the New York Mets and the Washington Nationals at Citi Field on May 20, 2019 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

Shop players, see what types of deals are out there

I love the fact that the Mets made a lot of trades last winter. In recent years, they haven’t done so. Most of their trades took place in the summer with any additions joining the club via free agency.

While many of Van Wagenen’s trades were terrible, we did see how well some can payoff. J.D. Davis has the kind of raw power you want in your everyday lineup. Another deal like this could help land the Mets a player they didn’t think they had any shot at.

Just because there are deals out there to make doesn’t mean BVW should agree to all that come along. He loves to make a big splash. Sometimes, though, you need to slowly slink into the pool from the ladder and not jump into the deep end.

I expect plenty of Mets players to get shopped this winter other than a handful of the core players. At the very least, this allows the front office to see what the other teams are thinking. If the Mets ultimately fail to pull off any trade, that’s cool, too. The deals you don’t make are often the best.

Spend as much as the Wilpons will let them

Neither of the Wilpons will wake up on Christmas Day and buy a goose for a poor family. This doesn’t mean they’ll remain misers this winter. It’s up to Brodie to convince them they need to spend as much as possible.

We shouldn’t get our hopes up too high. However, I can see the payroll go up a little more. Van Wagenen needs to push this issue and force them to pay whatever it takes to build the best roster.

It’s always easy to tell someone to spend money that isn’t yours. Visit enough Go Fund Me pages and you’ll understand.

After years of building a reputation as frugal and meddling, it’s time for the Wilpons to shock us all and open up the vaults.

More importantly, they need to spend this money wisely.

Next. Biggest trade deadline deals in Mets history

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What else do you think belongs on the Mets’ to-do list this winter?

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