1 best NY Mets free agent target on each team still hoping to win the World Series

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There are two types of New York Mets fans right now. There are those who have turned their attention to 2024 and are skipping the playoffs entirely, and there are those who are hate-watching the Braves-Phillies series and rooting for literally anyone else to win.

For those still watching, some intriguing free agent targets can be found in both the National League and American League Championship Series, and now is the perfect time to get familiar with them.

Let's take a look at one player from each team that would look good in a Mets uniform in 2024.

Lourdes Gurriel, Jr.

Mark Canha and Tommy Pham were both dealt by the Mets at the trade deadline, and before they left, the two combined for over 100 starts in left field. Jeff McNeil mostly took over in left down the stretch, but with his ability to play multiple positions, it will be interesting to see where he plugs in next year.

McNeil's defensive future may come down to how much the Mets are willing to commit to Ronny Mauricio as the team's second baseman of the future. If Mauricio doesn't get the green light and McNeil plays mostly at second again, one intriguing option for the outfield could be Lourdes Gurriel, Jr.

Gurriel spent his career with the Blue Jays before joining the Diamondbacks this year, and the 30-year old enjoyed his best season, posting career highs in homers, doubles, total bases, and WAR on the way to making his first All-Star team.

Gurriel was extremely durable, playing in 145 games. The Mets were hamstrung all season by Starling Marte's injuries, so being able to pencil in another dependable guy like Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso into the lineup each night carries a lot of value.

Most Mets fans are ready to move on from Daniel Vogelbach, which would open up at-bats at DH. Signing Gurriel could allow the Mets to keep both he and McNeil fresh by playing them both in left and at DH.

Mets fans are looking for a player that can help them get to the postseason and perform on the biggest stage. Gurriel has a hit in four out of five playoff games, including an RBI single and a homer in Game 2 against the Dodgers. He'd look great in blue and orange.

Aaron Nola

The Mets' biggest need heading in to 2024 is pitching. Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander were traded away in-season, and the only two surefire rotation options remaining are Kodai Senga and Jose Quintana.

One of the top free agent pitchers that will be available is Phillies starter Aaron Nola. The righty had a down year by his standards, but he still struck out over 200 batters, and he's really shown up when it matters.

Nola was brilliant against the Marlins in the Wild Card Series, allowing only three hits in seven shutout innings to propel the Phils to the next round. He then got the win in Wednesday's pivotal Game 3 against Atlanta, striking out nine while holding the Braves to two runs in a 10-2 win.

It will take a substantial investment to land Nola's services, but after spending his entire career in Philly, would he be willing to jump ship to the Mets? Perhaps more importantly, would the Phillies be willing to let him go?

Nola's success this postseason, especially if it continues to the NLCS and beyond, will make it difficult to envision him leaving the only team he's ever known. The Mets have been rumored to be all-in on Japanese sensation Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and with Steve Cohen not committing to a repeat of last offseason's spending spree, Nola landing in New York may be a long shot.

Jordan Montgomery

One starting pitching option for the Mets that wouldn't totally break the bank is Jordan Montgomery of the Rangers. Montgomery was one of the few bright spots on a massively disappointing Cardinals team, but since coming to Texas at the trade deadline, he's raised his game to a new level.

Montgomery has experience playing in New York, having come up through the Yankees organization to begin his career, so a move to Citi Field wouldn't be the culture shock that it is for some players.

In a division that throws power lefties like Bryce Harper, Matt Olson, and Kyle Schwarber at you, having a second lefty in the rotation to complement Jose Quintana is a good idea. After Blake Snell (assuming Clayton Kershaw either retires or stays with the Dodgers), Montgomery figures to be the second-best southpaw on the market.

Montgomery has five pitches in his arsenal: a sinker, four-seamer, change-up, curveball, and a seldom-used cutter. His strikeout totals don't compare to someone like Nola, but he rarely walks batters, and his ability to keep hitters off balance allowed him to rank in the top 10% of all pitchers in barrel percentage the past two years, according to Baseball Savant.

Montgomery is 30 years old. After the Mets committed high AAVs to older pitchers like Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer, it would be a smart move to pivot to longer deals for pitchers that are in their primes. Montgomery has lowered his ERA every year since 2020, so the best is probably yet to come.

Michael Brantley

Our final free agent target isn't a splashy move, but it could help shore up the Mets' depth in the outfield and at DH.

Michael Brantley should be available on a cheap one- or two-year deal, and he can still be an effective lefty bat. If the Mets move on from Daniel Vogelbach, Brantley would be an upgrade at DH, plus he can play in left or even act as Starling Marte insurance in case he can't stay healthy again.

Brantley is 36, and durability is a concern. He recently missed over a year with a torn labrum, but since his return in late August he's looked like his old self, even homering in the Astros' series-clinching win over the Twins on Wednesday.

D.J. Stewart was electric in August for the Mets, but he faltered down the stretch. Though he probably figures into the Mets' 2024 plans in some way, having another lefty off the bench couldn't hurt.

Brantley would also bring the Mets a veteran presence that hasn't missed the playoffs since 2016. For a team that reportedly had locker room issues last year, he could be the perfect character-building addition.

Mets fans that haven't totally moved on to football season yet can do some advanced scouting the next couple weeks. Odds are, someone that's playing deep into October will be coming to Flushing next year. Which way will new president of baseball operations David Stearns go? I'm hoping for Montgomery and Gurriel, but we'll find out in the next few months.

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