5 biggest surprises of the Mets' offseason so far

2) The NY Mets were able to replace Jacob deGrom with Justin Verlander

It made a lot of sense for the Mets to replace Jacob deGrom with Justin Verlander. Who else could, over a short period of time, give them anything close to what deGrom can when healthy?

After what the Mets did last offseason bringing in Max Scherzer, the Verlander signing doesn’t have quite the same effect as it normally would. The Scherzer deal really did prove anything was possible for the Mets. We’ll probably feel the effects more when we actually see Verlander pitching for the team.

You weren’t surprised by that one either? Okay, let’s see if this next one left you stunned.

3) The NY Mets won the Kodai Senga sweepstakes

Kodai Senga was another one of those free agents many predicted could end up with the Mets. The keyword is “could.” After landing Verlander, it did feel like the Mets might lose out on everyone’s favorite middle-of-the-rotation option, Senga.

Rumors about where he would land were extensive. The Mets didn’t waste much time. They brought in Senga after already bringing in Jose Quintana. Suddenly, the deGrom-less rotation had been completely overhauled.

Billy Eppler has managed to replace deGrom, Chris Bassitt, and Taijuan Walker. More shocking, he’s paying each of their replacements less. The Mets are believed to be free-spenders when it’s not quite the case. Yes, they do spend a lot of money on the roster. What else would we expect from an owner who wants to win?

Still not surprised by any of these additions or subtractions? You’re a tough audience. I swear, our final two moments definitely caught you off-guard.