Another reason the Mets should spend aggressively this offseason

As if the New York Mets needed more reasons to attack free agency like a buffet table on a cruise ship, a quick look into the future at what’s in store for next winter provides plenty of incentive to go a little nuts.

Steve Cohen has said in the past how the Mets won’t spend like drunken sailors nor should they. But they can spend the same way someone with a Hulu subscription without the ads might. Extend a little further because next year’s free agent class isn’t great.

The Mets won’t have an abundance of good free agent hitters to choose from next winter

First base is oddly a strong position and while a few available players this offseason could end up with one-year deals or opt outs in their contracts, waiting a year for the possibility of signing one of them is silly. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. might never get to free agency. With Luis Arraez, the question becomes whether or not he’s a good fit for the Mets. Players like Josh Naylor and LaMonte Wade Jr. as well as longtime Mets enemy Rhys Hoskins add a little something as well.

Exact needs for the Mets this time next winter are unknown. A further look around the field, even the class of outfielders isn’t fantastic after you get past Kyle Tucker. Lane Thomas is a solid late bloomer. Cedric Mullins had a bit of a down year this past year but has been tremendous in the past. What’s going to happen with Luis Robert Jr.’s $20 million club option? Kyle Schwarber is an intriguing player who’d only be 33 when he re-enters free agency. How will he age as a slugger?

The starting pitching group isn’t terrific either. Dylan Cease, Zac Gallen, Michael King, Freddy Peralta, Ranger Suarez, Jose Urquidy, and Framber Valdez all fall into a category of guys who at times look like aces but in other seasons seem much more mediocre. We are bound to see a couple of free agent pitchers in the 2024-2025 offseason sign for one-year deals and join this group as well. There will be someone the Mets can conceivably add to bolster their rotation if they have the need to do so.

What the Mets also have to start thinking about already is which prospects, particularly the hitters, should be ready by next year. It’s a question impossible to fully answer. The only expiring MLB contracts the Mets have after the 2025 season belong to Starling Marte and Paul Blackburn who’ll be in his final year of arbitration eligibility.

Last offseason’s story was about taking some chances and finding placeholders while dead money made its way off the books. Next winter seems to be one where only making some finishing touches is possible. Right now? The Mets need to realize this is their time to go a little more nuts than they’re comfortable doing.