A missing element for the 2025 NY Mets that they relied on last season

The New York Mets are looking at their second straight playoff appearance and the third time they've gone to the Postseason in the last four years. They are a well-built team, but are missing something this year that they had last year: a strong veteran presence. This was something that made up a large part of their 2024 roster core.

That's not to say there aren't any veterans on the Mets' active roster. Starling Marte, Francisco Lindor, Brandon Nimmo, Sean Manaea, Frankie Montas, and Edwin Diaz have all appeared in parts of at least ten MLB seasons. But the Mets had most of these players (minus Montas), plus more who played a key role in 2024.

The most impactful (in more ways than one) was Jose Iglesias. Despite the Mets signing the veteran infielder to a minor league deal in the 2023-2024 offseason, he became an integral part of the roster down the stretch. Iglesias made his season debut on May 31 and didn't look back. He stepped to the plate 291 times, batting .337/.381/.448 with a 137 wRC+. On top of that, he provided the Mets with a solid glove at second base and third base. Overall, he provided +2.4 fWAR.

To say that Iglesias was valuable for the Mets would be the understatement of the century. He ended up as one of their most important players in 2024. After making his Mets debut on May 31, the only position player with more fWAR on the team was Francisco Lindor. Lindor, along with Brandon Nimmo, was also the only Mets player with a higher WPA, as Iglesias sat at +1.62. Iglesias didn't just become a leader for the Mets, but a staple of their 2024 season, performing his very own song, "OMG," which became a de facto rallying cry for the Mets last year.

The Mets are missing this staple from their 2024 team

Aside from Iglesias, the Mets also had J.D. Martinez, along with pitchers Luis Severino, Jose Quintana, and Adam Ottavino. Martinez had an above-average OPS+, while both Severino and Quintana were above-average in ERA+. The Mets also had plenty of players who had been around the block. Harrison Bader was in his eighth MLB season, and the Mets were his fourth team. Jesse Winker was acquired at the deadline, with the Mets marking his fifth team in parts of eight MLB seasons as well. Sean Manaea was on his fourth team in as many seasons.

The Mets haven't had the same sort of luck with their veterans this year. Manaea was brought back on a three-year contract, but has missed the entire first half of this year. Frankie Montas, who was signed on a poorly aging two-year contract, also missed a large chunk of time and hasn't been effective when he has been able to take the mound. Winker is another player who has been injured for a large portion of the season. They've combined for just +0.4 fWAR in 2025.

Iglesias alone made a significant impact on the Mets last year that they just haven't had in 2025. But Manaea, Severino, and Quintana each made 31 or 32 starts, and, as stated earlier, provided above-average results. Winker was solid for the Mets down the stretch and provided some big hits in the Postseason. Even if Martinez was a letdown, given how well he hit in 2023, he still gave the Mets an above-average bat and more fWAR than Manaea, Winker, and Montas have this year.