NY Mets award winners for the 2023 season

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The 2023 season was not kind to the New York Mets. Owner Steve Cohen spent the largest amount in baseball history on payroll, and yet his team was on the outside looking in as the playoffs got underway Tuesday. Further rubbing salt in the wound, the Braves, Phillies, and Marlins all reached the postseason from the N.L. East.

For the Mets, the focus now moves to next year. Buck Showalter will not return as manager, and David Stearns, who has officially been announced as the Mets' new president of baseball operations, will try to find Buck's replacement as his first order of business.

There are many questions surrounding what the Mets will look like when Opening Day 2024 rolls around, but we have months to answer them. For now, let's hand out some awards for the season that just ended.

The "Underappreciated Excellence" award goes to Francisco Lindor

There's not a player in baseball more consistently excellent, and yet constantly overlooked, than Francisco Lindor. The Mets' foundational shortstop just closed the book on another superb season, and there are few people outside of Flushing that even realize it.

Lindor finished with 31 homers and 31 stolen bases, knocking in 98 runs while turning in another exceptional season with the glove at short. He maintained his quality play even after the Mets effectively punted on the season at the trade deadline, and he was one of only 10 players to play in at least 160 games.

The "Newcomer of the Year" award goes to Kodai Senga and Francisco Alvarez

We have to share the trophy on this one, because both Kodai Senga and Francisco Alvarez were incredibly special in their rookie seasons.

Senga confounded hitters all year long with his ghost fork pitch, which was somehow even better than advertised. Opposing hitters managed a pitiful .110 average against the ghost fork, but Senga was good no matter what he threw. He finished second in the National League with a sterling 2.98 ERA and third in strikeouts with 202, and there is no doubt that he'll receive Cy Young votes, especially after carrying the Mets staff through the loss of Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander.

Francisco Alvarez has long been considered the #1 prospect in the Mets' farm system, and after a cup of coffee as a September call-up last year, he burst onto the scene following the injury to Omar Narvaez this year and never relinquished the starting catcher job. Alvarez showed off his prodigious power with 24 home runs, which is only one fewer than Johnny Bench hit in his age-21 season. Just as impressive, though, was his defense. Alvarez was praised by his teammates all season for his handling of the Mets' pitching staff, and according to Statcast, he finished fourth in the majors in pitch framing.

Both Senga and Alvarez have proven that they are integral pieces for the team moving forward. Mets fans can't wait to see what else they'll do in the years to come.

The "Please Come Back" award goes to Edwin Diaz and Pete Alonso

We're splitting another award here, but for two different reasons. The loss of Diaz before the season even began gave credence to the tinfoil hat crowd that believes in a Mets curse, and without him, the bullpen scuffled through the season, finishing with the 22nd-best ERA in the majors.

Alonso was again one of the best power hitters in baseball, slugging 46 homers and driving in 118 runs, all while overcoming trade rumors and baseless reports impugning his qualities as a clubhouse leader.

As the Mets look to the future, it's imperative that they get the old Edwin Diaz back after surgery to repair his torn ACL. Diaz was the best closer in baseball in 2022, and the quality of his stuff was matched only by the quality of his entrances.

David Stearns placated Mets fans in his introductory press conference when he extolled Alonso's virtues and said, "I expect Pete to be the Opening Day first basemen next year," but Mets fans won't be fully satisfied until the team signs Alonso to a long-term extension and puts the trade rumors to bed once and for all.

The "Ghost of Buck" award goes to the 2024 Mets

Despite the disappointing way in which his tenure ended, I appreciated having Buck Showalter as the Mets manager. Now that the Mets have made the decision to let him go, though, it's time to look ahead, and David Stearns will have a critical decision on his hands when choosing the Mets' next skipper.

One ray of hope for Mets fans is the odd success of teams in their first year post-Showalter. Both the Yankees and Diamondbacks won the World Series immediately after firing Buck, and the Mets hope to become the third next year.

Who will be the manager that tries to take the Mets to the promised land? Count me among the proponents of Craig Counsell, but time will tell.

David Stearns' promise to field a competitive team should give Mets fans hope that 2024 won't be a rebuilding year. In Lindor, Senga, Alvarez, Diaz, and Alonso, the Mets have a core in place that could give them a chance to make a run at it, and that's even before seeing what moves Stearns makes this offseason.

The baseball season is long, but it can feel even longer when your team doesn't have much to play for. After a hot start in April, the Mets could never quite keep it going, but there were still plenty of reasons to watch. With new leadership and a full offseason to prepare, let's hope that we can give out some even better awards in 2024.

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