NY Mets predictions and expectations for November 2020

What will the New York Mets do in November? We have three predictions for the first full month of the offseason.

It’s officially November! The World Series is over, the leaves are in full autumn mode, and the New York Mets are about to embark on what we hope is a fantastic offseason. Life is good.

As Mets fans sip on their favorite pumpkin-spiced flavored beverages, many are eager to see some action take place this month. November isn’t a major month for the MLB Hot Stove, but some things can still happen.

With a new owner coming in, we can expect plenty of turnover on the roster and in the front office. Coming to a Mets blog near you this November, we can expect these three storylines to make headlines.

Mets prepare to non-tender Steven Matz

One of the first big moves I expect by the Mets is the release of pitcher Steven Matz. He’ll be non-tendered a contract this winter, allowing the club to avoid the arbitration process with the longtime Mets starter.

If the Mets were to hold onto Matz, he would probably get $5-6 million. This might be pennies to Steve Cohen. More important than his salary is his place on the team. The Mets cannot afford the roster spot.

While I predict doom for Matz and the Mets initially, I don’t necessarily believe the relationship is completely over. The team could always non-tender him and re-sign him to a brand new contract. This allows them to put a dollar amount they feel is fair. They can even add incentives that favor the club more than the player.

Matz hasn’t been effective for a few years yet I think he can find a starting role somewhere in Major League Baseball. A rebuilding squad in need of someone to eat a few innings could look at him as an arm to sign for a very low price.

One guarantee I can make is that Matz will not be in the starting rotation for the Mets in 2021. His role with them or any other club has yet to be determined. It all begins with the club non-tendering him a contract.

Trevor Bauer rumors highlight the month

Trevor Bauer isn’t going to sign with the Mets—at least not in November. Big deals like this just don’t happen in the first full month of the offseason. We’ll need to wait until December or January before those top-tier players ink a deal.

However, this doesn’t mean news involving the Mets and Bauer will just disappear. I expect one of the most outspoken men in the game to remain active on social media and raise his voice a little louder.

Whatever you think of Bauer, there’s no debate about his talent. He’s probably going to win a Cy Young. Just as likely, he’s going to get paid a lot of money in his next contract.

Rumors about Bauer signing with the Mets will highlight the month of November. Because the Mets need starting pitcher more than anything else, I predict the thinking shifts fully toward him and away from position players such as J.T. Realmuto and George Springer.

Behind the scenes, the front office may do things differently. Bauer isn’t the type of player the Mets would have signed in past offseasons. This franchise seems to prefer more mellow personalities sometimes with a slight edge. Bauer is about as edgy as it gets in baseball.

If you’re sick of hearing about Bauer going to the Mets or seeing debates about whether the team should target him or Marcus Stroman, I have some bad news. It’s not going to end. This will be what everyone is talking about in November. Until he has signed a deal, Bauer is going to be the king of the offseason.