There isn’t a truly satisfying Mets starting lineup next year without Juan Soto

You were looking at your to-do list alone in a dark room half-clothed up in Letterkenny the other day, when you realized an idea of yours didn’t have a satisfactory conclusion. The thought was what a satisfying New York Mets starting lineup without Juan Soto could look like. You try putting it together only to quickly realize the alternatives are closer to D-Gens than satisfactory.

Usual suspects will be present. Shortstop. Left field. Catcher. A few other positions aren’t going to change. It’s up to those players to either perform well or grow into the studs we’ve been told they would become.

There are only so many different combinations of free agents or trades the Mets could pull off to bolster the lineup. Nothing comes close to the satisfaction of having Soto batting second (or third if you’d prefer) in Carlos Mendoza’s starting nine.

Juan Soto alternatives in free agency are too far below what he can offer the Mets

The free agent pool isn’t filled with used Band-Aids after Soto. The pitching market is intriguing and offers high-end, mid-level, and even high upside options. Landing several of those notable starting pitchers does nothing to help the Mets starting lineup.

Quick pivots for the Mets including bringing back Pete Alonso or signing Alex Bregman to play third base; not both. Adding a corner outfielder or DH is paramount as well. Joc Pederson or Jesse Winker? Teoscar Hernandez or Anthony Santander?

When it comes to trades, a constant name brought up is Chicago White Sox center fielder Luis Robert. Even if he doesn’t come paired alongside Garrett Crochet, he’s someone the Mets could add alongside Soto this offense or as a fallback plan.

The Mets aren’t garbage without Soto. They were two wins away from the World Series in 2024. They can strategically come out on top even with Soto wearing another team’s jersey. Still, it’s hard to get excited about the consolation prizes.