3 moves the Mets can still make to score an 'A' this offseason
All hope is not lost this offseason.
With the news surfacing late Thursday night into Friday morning with the Los Angeles Dodgers signing Japanese star pitcher, Yoshinobu Yamamoto to a lucrative 12-year, $325 million contract, it for sure left many people shocked. Especially after the Dodgers already signed two-way Japanese phenom Shohei Ohtani to a 10-year, $700 million contract. The New York Mets and Steve Cohen did everything they could to land Yamamoto even flying out to Japan not just meet him. but to treat him to dinner.
With Yamamoto being the coveted free agent star that the Mets so desperately wanted, they now have to go with plan 'B' with their roster having some many holes at starting pitching, in the outfield and at the designated hitter position. Despite missing out on Yamamoto, there is still time for the Mets to make this offseason a successful one.
1. Signing Pete Alonso long-term
This has to be a no-brainer for the Mets to make this move. Alonso is in the final year of time control and will be a free agent for the first time in his career at the end of 2024. Not with Yamamoto no longer on the free agent market, Cohen has the money to make this move. As a matter of fact, this move has to happen if the Mets want to get back into contention.
Alonso is entering his sixth season for the 2024 campaign and has already made a big name for himself. The Polar Bear as he's affectionally called has hit 40 home runs or more three in his six seasons as a big leaguer including setting a single-season Rookie record hitting 53 homers in 2019. Alonso also sits fourth all-time in the Mets for home runs only behind, Daryl Strawberry, David Wright, and Mike Piazza. The Mets can't afford to let Alonso leave in free agency or trade him at the deadline this season. Alonso is a generational talent, the fans love him and he wants to stay in Flushing Queens. This could satisfy Mets fans this offseason if New York can lock him up.
2. Signing starting pitcher Jordan Montgomery in free agency
Yes, Jordan Montgomery is no Yamamoto, but with the Mets pitching rotation in need of fixing, the Mets might have no choice but to sign the lefty. Right now, the Mets rotation if the season would start today, the rotation would consist of in no particular order Kodai Senga, Luis Severino, Tylor Megill and newcomer Adrian Houser who was acquired from the Brewers this past week. This rotation does not seem sustainable.
We all know already how good Senga can be as he pitched phenomenally in his rookie season and Houser can for sure be a reliable option as in 2023 when he pitched to a 4.12 ERA in 23 games. But for Severino and Megill, there are questions about those two. While Severino has proven to be ace, especially in 2017 and 2018 going 14-6 in 2017 and 2018 going 19-8. But injuries and inconsistencies have troubled Severino as he had a whopping ERA in 2023 of 6.75 plus Tommy John surgery in 2020 which caused him to miss all of that season and most of 2021. Severino also in 2022 was placed on the 60-Day injured list with a low-grade lat strain.
And Megill has a problem with consistency as well with his best ERA only being at 4.52 in 2021. That's not terrible but that can't be something New York can rely on. The Mets also have lefty David Peterson but they're also questions about his consistency as well with his ERA being as high as 8.08 in mid-May of last season. So, it is safe to say that starting pitching is a problem so adding a guy like Montgomery would be a huge boost for the Mets rotation.
3. Adding J. D. Martinez for the Designated Hitter role
It was safe to say that in 2023, the Mets designated hitter position did not provide much production offensively. And with the Dodgers adding Ohtani for their DH spot, J. D. Martinez most likely won't be back for a second stint in LA.
Daniel Vogelbach who was the Mets primary designated hitter last season did not do much only slashing .233 with just 13 home runs and 48 runs batted in. That's why adding Martinez would make the most sense. Despite being 36 years old, he proved that age is just a number this past season. In 2023, he slugged his way to 33 home runs and 103 runs batted in to go with a .271 batting average. This should be a no-brainer for the Mets. If they want to compete in the ultra-competitive NL East with three teams making the postseason this past season, adding someone like Martinez.
The Mets are in desperate need of some more offensive power in their lineup. Yes, they have Alonso, Francisco Lindor, Jeff McNeil and Brandon Nimmo, but if a guy like Martinez is available who has proven to hit north of 30 home runs every season, Steve Cohen needs to get this deal done. And if they do, this offseason can be deemed as a success.