NY Mets Free Agent Predictions: The only 3 players returning next season

The New York Mets have a good number of players set to hit free agency this offseason. As the case always is with any team, some return and some go.

The free agent class of 2021-2022 is a hefty one with some longtime Mets set to hit the open market. Speculated upon last winter already, there are plenty of guys fans would like to see stay a few more years.

A lot can happen between now and the start of the free agency period. Management’s opinion on a particular player could change drastically. The players could also have a different viewpoint of where they want to land.

From all of the guys with the potential to hit the open market, these are the three I’m predicting come back to the Mets in 2022.

Aaron Loup says he wants to stay with the Mets and I believe him

What else would Aaron Loup say other than he wants to return to the Mets? As stated by the talented lefty reliever already, he gave us a piece of good news about his future in baseball. True or not, the ball is in the front office’s court to get a deal done once the hot stove begins to heat up.

Loup has been terrific for the Mets this year. Signed to just a one-year contract this past offseason, you could say he was the best free agent relief pitcher the club has ever brought in—aside from Billy Wagner.

I don’t think anyone should expect Loup to replicate his 2021 season ever again. This will go down as one of the best performances any pitcher has ever given the Mets.

Even if things can only go downhill for Loup, he’s worth at least another year—maybe two. I predict he gets a pair of years for his strong showing this year.

Although not fully a free agent, Kevin Pillar uses his player option to return

Kevin Pillar isn’t a “full” free agent because he has a player option, along with a team option, that can be exercised. If the Mets decide to bring him back, they pay him $6.4 million. I don’t think he’s worth that much to ride the bench nor do I believe the team is happy enough with his performance.

However, the player option, at a lesser $2.9 million, looks far more favorable. Pillar also has a buyout worth $1.4 million but I suspect Pillar chooses to stay in New York for another season. It’s hard to imagine him making more than $2.9 million on the open market following such an up-and-down year.

For a while, it seemed like Pillar was going to become a Mets legend. His tough play and return after getting hit in the face with a pitch made him a franchise folk hero. His involvement in the thumbs-downing of the fans may have changed the opinion of some. Add in a less than stellar batting average on the year and we have a guy who has done pretty much what was expected: fill in as a starter sometimes and occasionally produce good numbers but not earn a starting role by any stretch of the imagination.

Despite the rollercoaster year Pillar had with the Mets, I think he’ll take advantage of the money he has coming his way. He’s not getting any younger and the Mets should at least provide him with an opportunity to play some competitive baseball.

What about the other Mets free agents?

There are a few other big name Mets free agents worth mentioning. I’ve left out those with arbitration years available or aren’t really impactful enough. I tend to think many of them are gone.

Marcus Stroman has done the most to raise his free agent stock. It certainly helps to be a starting pitcher in a lean market. I don’t think the Mets let him walk away; I predict someone just outbids them for his next contract. As badly as the Mets could use him, I think they spend their big money on a variety of player, not just one. I think Stroman ends up with a team like the Los Angeles Angels.

Javier Baez is yet another major case to discuss. I can’t see his relationship with the fans healing enough no matter how much water passes under the bridge despite a lot of water passing under the bridge. Another team will offer him bigger bucks to play for them. Maybe he even ends up with the Chicago Cubs again.

It should be rather easy for the Mets to let Jeurys Familia walk away. Despite his somewhat good season, expecting him to pitch well in the future is not a good idea. Let’s wish him the best in his future endeavors and be glad that 2021 was not a disaster.

I also see Rich Hill walking away from the Mets quite easily. The starting pitcher brought in at the trade deadline has pitched well for the team. However, he’s not really necessary to bring back. Hill could very well retire after this season is through.

The other two major free agents might be a little tougher to part with.

Jonathan Villar has been a godsend for the club in 2021. Convincing him to return in a part-time role would be impossible. The team could always trade J.D. Davis and open up third base duties for Villar full-time. This would be the only way to keep the well-traveled veteran infielder. I suspect it’s more likely the Mets add a bigger name third baseman and Villar signs with a lesser team to play more regularly from the start.

Finally, there’s Michael Conforto. As poorly as he has performed this year, it’s going to be tough imagining him with another organization. Conforto is Mets through and through. In good times and bad, in sickness and in health, he has worn the orange and blue with passion and by setting a nice example. In his first trip to free agency, I predict Conforto ends up with a West Coast club hoping to land a comeback player candidate. His home state Seattle Mariners are one option as are the San Francisco Giants—not too far from Washington. An abundance of teams will look at Conforto. He’ll be playing baseball in 2022 but it will not be with the Mets.

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What do you predict for the Mets free agent class of 2021-2022?