5 offseason changes the Mets need to make if they miss the playoffs again

Bruises. Cuts. Blood. Sweat. Tears. Fist pumps. High-fives. Dirt everywhere. It’s all on the table for the final few weeks of the 2024 season for the New York Mets. This team has proven they can battle back from adversity. Written off after their first five games and once again at the end of May, the Mets are in the thick of the playoff race and how they close out August could say a lot about their chances.

What if the Mets miss the playoffs? It’s a scenario fans have been mistreated to far too often. The Mets aren’t regularly invited to the postseason. After last year’s major disappointment, we saw the team make some gigantic changes with the personnel on the field and the folks overlooking everything between the lines.

If the Mets miss the playoffs again in 2024, more changes will need to be made. It can start with these five.

1) The Mets need more definite solutions in the rotation

The Mets assembled their starting rotation only one step more calculated than opening up the phone book to a random page and prank phone calling whoever’s name you landed on. Remember phone books? Are they still in print? What do strong men rip in half these days?

As impressive as several Mets starting pitchers have been lately, lingering doubt about how far they can carry the team remains. The Mets gave Luis Severino and Sean Manaea what essentially equated to short-term deals to prove themselves. Successful for the most part, they were unable to add any true ace to the rotation prior to the year or again at the trade deadline.

In fact, the Mets stayed with the same theme at the trade deadline by adding Paul Blackburn. An acceptable addition, he doesn’t measure up compared to some of the other starters who changed uniforms.

No starting pitcher is a sure thing and yet there are more credentialed options always available in the offseason. Whether via trade or free agency, dedicating your resources to get a more trusted arm will be a must if the Mets miss the postseason this year.