2) You need players who can live up to the moment
The Dodgers didn’t do a lot of hitting the playoffs. Clutch hitting was what helped the most. However, the overall numbers from some of the stars weren’t so superb. Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman each hit in the .220s. Shohei Ohtani had big hits yet he trailed several Toronto Blue Jays in terms of overall October production.
It’s rare for a team to go from one of the worst in baseball one season (Blue Jays) to a championship. Their lack of experience showed in comparison to the Dodgers who were 12 months past winning a championship already. Several of their stars came to Hollywood with championship pedigree. Betts and Freeman already had rings. Perhaps a little overrated at times when it comes to figuring out who you should or shouldn’t add, the Dodgers are proving past success is valuable.
The Mets haven’t necessarily approached free agency or trades by looking for guys who’ve been proven in October. The best recent example of someone who was and it seemed to show was the presence of J.D. Martinez in 2024. Jose Iglesias was the fun veteran leader. Martinez was the guy who won a World Series as one of the most important players on his team.
Signing a player solely because he won a ring for another team is silly. It still belongs as a reason to consider a guy. Enrique Hernandez is a perfect example of someone who won’t let the bright lights get to him. For the past two seasons, the Mets didn’t have that aura, especially in 2025 when they failed to even make it to the playoffs.
