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3 moves the Mets must make with Jacob deGrom gone
Jacob deGrom has signed a massive five-year deal with the Texas Rangers. It's a little comforting knowing that deGrom is pitching in the AL West instead of with a team like the Braves or Dodgers, but it's a brutal blow for the New York Mets and their fans nonetheless.
With deGrom gone, the Mets have to focus on building a contender for the 2023 season and beyond. Fortunately, they have the richest owner in the sport who's shown he's willing to spend the money necessary to do so. He won't have a $500 million dollar payroll (I think) but I'd be shocked if Steve Cohen doesn't have the Mets with the highest payroll again.
With that in mind, there're plenty of moves they have to make. Here are the three I believe they must make after losing Jacob deGrom.
1) The Mets must re-sign Brandon Nimmo
Losing out on Jacob deGrom stinks, but it opens up a ton of possibilities. Because of the potentially record-setting AAV on a deGrom contract with the Mets, many were suspecting they wouldn't retain both deGrom and Nimmo. Well, now that deGrom is gone, Nimmo has to be retained.
Brandon Nimmo is very unappreciated by Mets fans and it's crazy to me. He's one of the best players on the team and just had his best season. He's an on-base machine, has sneaky power, has developed into an elite center fielder defensively, and seems to be an awesome teammate and clubhouse presence.
The Mets need a center fielder. I do not want 34 year old Starling Marte who already wasn't a great center fielder defensively and dealt with various injuries this past season, to be manning center field every day.
The outfield market has one prominent name, Aaron Judge. As cool as it'd be to see him in a Mets uniform, it's not going to happen. Nimmo is the next best outfielder by a longshot.
Do you really want Kevin Kiermaier to play center field? Or Cody Bellinger? Nimmo is the only option out there, and the Mets cannot afford to lose him.
2) The Mets must acquire an ace-level pitcher
The Mets are fortunate to have Max Scherzer signed through the 2023 season. He can be expected to be the ace or the number two starter for this team and is still a very elite pitcher despite how awful the end of his season was.
The Mets vision last season was to just get to the postseason with deGrom and Scherzer healthy and have them pitch their way to a World Series title. They were healthy, but did not pitch like the pitchers they have always been.
I believe this formula of two aces can work, the Mets just have to find someone else now. Whether that's Justin Verlander, Carlos Rodon, or a trade remains to be seen, but they have to find a way to land an ace.
My preference would be Verlander as he's better than Rodon right now and might honestly be a better bet to stay on the field. Rodon made 31 starts this past season but had never made 30 starts in a season before.
In addition to those risks, Verlander won't require a very lengthy deal like Rodon. Either option is fine, but I'd lean Verlander.
A trade could make sense, but the high-level arms like Corbin Burnes and Shane Bieber who we thought might be available don't seem to be. A free agent signing makes the most sense, and Verlander should be the guy.
3) The Mets must acquire a mid-rotation level pitcher
The work doesn't stop after signing an ace. The Mets cannot rely on Carlos Carrasco, David Peterson, and Tylor Megill to be their 3-5 in the rotation. Two of the three is fine, but more than that is not.
With that in mind, the Mets need a reliable third starter. Chris Bassitt served that role very admirably in 2022 and was one of the best third starters in the game. He consistently gave the Mets six or more innings allowing three runs or fewer, giving them a chance to win virtually every time out.
I'd love to have Bassitt back, and the Mets are reportedly interested in bringing him back. Kodai Senga is another name I'd be very fine with, and is a player the Mets have shown interest in.
Other than those two, the market lacks many quality options. They could bring back Taijuan Walker or sign someone like Jameson Taillon or Jose Quintana, but those pitchers would be in the next tier to me. They're closer to Carrasco and Peterson's level than Bassitt or Senga's.
Again, this need can be filled in a trade, but it's hard to know who's available. The Mets also don't have crazy prospect depth to do a big trade like this. It takes a lot to acquire a good starting pitcher.
Whoever it is, the Mets must sign another starter to round out the rotation. Tylor Megill has been too inconsistent to be handed a starter role, both in production and just staying on the field.
Next. 3 American League stars we'll see at Citi Field in 2023. dark