NY Mets will be haunted by these 3 players in 2024

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There are plenty of examples former New York Mets players who have come back to haunt the organization. Justin Turner was non-tendered and became an all-star third baseman for the Dodgers. Daniel Murphy signed with the Nationals and went on to hit .413 against the Mets in 2016. Zack Wheeler signed with the Phillies and has been a Cy Young caliber starting pitcher. Travis d'Arnaud won a silver slugger award for the Braves in 2020, then won the World Series in 2021. Andres Gimenez won a Gold Glove for Cleveland in 2022. Heck, even J.D. Davis and Wilmer Flores have contributed well for the Giants.

The Mets have not done a good enough job in evaluating their own talent in the minor leagues. Though some trades have worked out OK such as Diaz and Lindor, the young prospects sent back have turned into quality baseball players. The question is, which ones of these players could have helped the Mets immediately in 2024?

1) Endy Rodriguez

Coming out of the Dominican Republic as an 18 year-old prospect, catcher Endy Rodriguez was signed by the Mets for just $10,000 in 2018. He had shown the ability to not only be a power hitting catcher, but has the athleticism to play both second base and the outfield. The switch-hitting catcher has been credited for his incredible offensive potential, plate discipline, and arm strength all through the minor leagues. After Rodriguez just barely got his feet wet in the minor leagues, the Mets traded him in a 3-team deal in 2021 that sent Rodriguez to the Pirates and brought pitcher Joey Lucchesi back from the Padres.

After being ranked a top 50 prospect in all of baseball coming into the season, the Pirates promoted Rodriguez in July. He struggled in his rookie season, batting just .220 in 57 games, but this sample size should not be an indicator of his entire career. Just remember, Aaron Judge hit .179 in his rookie season.

Rodriguez could have been a great asset for the 2024 Mets. For starters, we as fans would never have to see Omar Narvaez suit up in a Mets uniform again. Beyond Narvaez, the tandem of Alvarez and Rodriguez could have rivaled other offensive minded catching duos such as the tandem of Murphy and d'Arnaud in Atlanta. Not many teams have two catchers with all-star potential. Furthermore, this would give Alvarez more chances to DH knowing the backup catcher will not affect the lineup negatively.

2) Pete Crow-Armstrong

From Beverly Hills, California, Pete Crow-Armstrong (PCA) was drafted by the Mets 19th overall in 2020. Before even taking the field, PCA was dubbed a gold-glove caliber centerfielder with tremendous speed and superb bat-to-ball ability. After playing just 6 games for Single A St. Lucie due to injury, PCA was traded to the Chicago Cubs in 2021 for Javier Baez and Trevor Williams. Suffice to say, Mets fans are still giving former GM Zach Scott a thumbs down for this decision.

PCA has been ranked a top 10-20 prospect in all of baseball in 2023. His strong performance between AA and AAA hitting .283 with 20 home runs, 82 RBI, and 37 stolen bases earned him a call-up in mid-September. The young outfielder has already made highlight real catches in his short major league tenure.

The 2024 Mets could have finally had the all-star caliber centerfielder the team has been missing since Carlos Beltran was in his prime. An outfield including Brandon Nimmo in left field and PCA in center would have been great defensively and would have given the Mets lineup a true base stealer and playmaker. Once Gilbert is major league ready in mid to late 2024, the outfield could have been set for a long time. Considering Baez's short and tenuous tenure with the Mets, this trade never made sense from the start and continues to look worse on the part of Mets evaluators.

3) Jarred Kelenic

From Waukesha, Wisconsin, Jarred Kelenic was drafted 6th overall by the Mets in 2018. As an amateur player, Kelenic showed great ability to play all three outfield positions with premier power and on-base ability. After playing just 56 games in rookie-ball for the Mets, he was traded to Seattle for Robinson Cano and Edwin Diaz.

Kelenic has had an up and down beginning to his major league career. He struggled mightily with Seattle in 2021 and 2022, but continued to perform well in AAA, leaving evaluators to believe the former top 10 prospect in baseball can still recapture his all-star form. In 2023, Kelenic has finally broken out hitting 11 home runs, 49 RBI, and 25 doubles in just 105 games.

The 2024 Mets would have looked so much different with PCA, Kelenic, and Rodriguez at the helm. The trade for Drew Gilbert would have been redundant with three homegrown outfielders including Nimmo to build around for years to come. 2024 would not have to be viewed as a "transition year" for the Mets as the outfield and catching positions would have been solidified, with the only questions being at third base and DH.

This homegrown talent that was squandered on bad trade decisions for Baez, Cano, and Lucchesi will haunt the Mets in 2024. I would go as far as to say trading Gimenez was a disaster as well; his age and contract are much more favorable long-term than Lindor. Homegrown teams win championships- just ask the Astros, Braves, and Dodgers.

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