NY Mets Roster: 3 players from 2015 nearing the end of their tenure

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Aug 25, 2021; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets right fielder Michael Conforto (30) makes an a diving attempt on the ball in the eighth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports /

If there’s one season of New York Mets baseball in the last decade you didn’t want to miss it’s the one from 2015. Now six years in the past, it may feel even more distant after the 2021 season is over.

Jacob deGrom, a rising star from the 2015 club, will be back. We know that much. However, everyone else from the 2015 roster has either already departed or is heading toward free agency this winter.

Three key members from the 2015 club might be playing out their final games for the Mets in September. Will any return for another ride?

Michael Conforto was promoted mid-year in 2015 and helped the Mets get to the postseason

We’ve been waiting a long time to see Michael Conforto help lead the Mets to the postseason again. In 2016, when the team made another trip, he had little to do with it.

Conforto suffered one of the ultimate sophomore slumps in franchise history. After such a dazzling 56 regular season games in 2015 followed up with some memorable postseason hits, Conforto sunk back to the minors in 2016.

However, Conforto did rebound with what was going to be a career year in 2017. He was an All-Star for the first and only time of his career. Ever since, he has remained a key part of the team’s core—win or lose.

Conforto came into this season as one of the guys nearly every Mets fan wanted to see signed to an extension. He may be leaving with far fewer tears. Scooter is putting together a year that nobody saw coming in the worst of ways. His power has diminished and his batting average will finish well below what anyone could have seen even in a nightmare.

Although entrenched in the hearts of many fans, Conforto may have played his way out of right field in Flushing. There’s still the possibility that the front office views him favorably enough to award him with a deal. Unfortunately for his wallet, it’s not going to be nearly as much as anyone originally thought was possible.

Aug 22, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; New York Mets relief pitcher Jeurys Familia (27) throws a pitch in the seventh inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports /

Star 2015 closer Jeurys Familia’s second round with the Mets is nearly over already

It’s hard to believe Jeurys Familia’s three-year contract with the Mets signed after the 2018 season is nearing its end. It feels like only yesterday I was sitting in my apartment late one night in December refreshing social media during the winter meetings waiting for Brodie Van Wagenen to strike.

A lot has changed since that night. I own a house now! And I kind of wish I had the money Familia was making to pay for every little expense that comes with it.

Familia was horrific in 2019 but had a much more favorable return in the shortened 2020 season. In 2021, he has often flirted with danger yet he continues to show he is capable of getting some big outs.

I’m personally torn as to whether or not he’s a viable candidate to return next season. Relatively young in terms of free agents, Rising Apple’s Leen Amin has already made the case to re-sign him; at the right price of course.

Familia hasn’t been with the Mets through it all as he was a 2018 trade casualty. Still, he was one of the biggest members of the 2015 Mets. This was a team a whole generation has relied on for fond memories. Anyone under 20 knows them as the lone Mets club to reach the World Series.

Sep 13, 2019; New York City, NY, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard (34) pitches against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

Will the bright Noah Syndergaard star burn out?

Noah Syndergaard is a big name in baseball. He’s actually a bigger name than player—and I don’t mean height-wise.

Syndergaard’s stardom was tracking well early on in his career. He had the look. He had the charisma. He had the devastating fastballs. It’s tough to say he has lived up to the hype because injuries have curtailed his career several times. Since his debut in 2015, Syndergaard has only three seasons of 25 or more starts.

This is a relatively low bar for someone with so much star power. It’s still there, though, and age is definitely on his side.

Syndergaard is in a similar boat as Conforto. We don’t have poor numbers to cite as a reason to not bring him back. Uncertainty about his recovery from Tommy John Surgery is the main reason why the Mets may want to move on.

Inviting Syndergaard back with a qualifying offer might be the most logical move for him and the Mets to make. If he flounders as a starter, moving him to the bullpen is always a possibility. I can’t say the same with a guy like Conforto. Another bad year from him and stashing his body on the bench feels like more of a nuisance. There is a direction for a pitcher to get demoted and stay on the big league roster. I don’t feel the same about position players.

Next. Bad Mets teams that were still fun to watch

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Whatever it is the Mets decide to do, one thing is clear: 2015 is becoming an even more distant memory.

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