Three NY Mets offseason moves we'd be shocked to see

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As we head towards the end of the 2023 MLB Season, the New York Mets are left with more questions than answers. When they entered this year, expectations were high but injuries, lack of offensive production and a horrendous month of June derailed the Mets resulting in them in last place in the NL East, almost 25 games out of first place in the division after a 101 win campaign in 2022.

So once the offseason gets underway, the Mets and their front office led by general manager Billy Eppler and the CEO Steve Cohen will have a lot of thinking to do. Do they make moves that get them back into World Series contenders or will accept the fact that they're in a rebuilding phase and will have to build a team around the players that they currently have on their roster? It is going to be an interesting offseason for sure as the NL East is looking like the best division in all of baseball with the Braves seeming to build a dynasty before our very eyes, the Phillies building a contender every season and even the Marlins and now the Nationals showing that they have promise. Anything is possible for the Mets too so don't be surprised if these stunning moves happen this offseason.

1. The Mets reunite with Noah Syndergaard

Now this move will be one that will probably have a lot of Mets fans rolling their eyes and rightfully so. Ever since Syndergaard or "Thor" as he was nicknamed in New York left the Mets in 2021, he's never found his ace form. While he did have a decent year in 2022 with two teams, the Angels and Phillies he pitched to a 3.83 ERA in 15 outings with the Halos and was a factor in the Philles run to the World Series when he was traded to Philly. He seemed to have lost his game this year in particular.

After he signed a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers, it was not the result he or LA expected as was to put it bluntly horrible in 13 games putting up a record of 1-4 with a 7.16 ERA. When he got traded to the Cleveland Guardians in July, he was just as bad as in just six outings and had an ERA of 5.40 resulting in him getting designated for assignment. So why would the Mets want to sign him, to begin with?

I think the move is a risk the Mets should not be willing to take. Giving him either a one-year contract or a minor league with an invite to Spring Training doesn't hurt your team, but if the Mets want to compete in 2024, signing a player like Syndergaard who has proved recently that he can't be a starting pitcher right now in the MLB is a step in the wrong direction.

2. The Mets giving up on Brett Baty by trading him for starting pitching

Now, this move may seem unlikely, but it would make sense if the Mets decide to move on from their former first-round pick. Baty had so much promise when he first got called up last year in August and homered in his first at-bat, but this season, he's looked totally lost at the plate so maybe the Mets should think about a possible trade.

In 2023, Baty's average is pretty bad as he's only slashed .216, and has only driven in 27 runs in 278 at-bats as well as just 60 hits with a whopping 86 strikeouts to go along with it. Those struggles resulted in Baty being demoted in early August and we have not seen Baty ever since and don't be surprised if he does sniff the big leagues for the rest of this season at least.

So, if the Mets should pull off this trade, what should they get in return? Well, how about starting pitching? Never did we think heading into this year that the Mets biggest weakness would be starting pitching. Now, with Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander their two aces no longer in Flushing, Queens, MLB teams should be willing to take on Baty and trade one of their starting pitchers. Maybe a pitcher like Corbin Burnes from the Milwaukee Brewers should be an asset the Mets should take on. The Brewers need a third baseman with questions surrounding their hot corner, and this could be an opportunity for a player like Ronny Mauricio and Mark Vientos to play at third for New York.

But still, Mets fans should be patient with Baty. He is only 23 years old and has plenty of time to develop. Yes, the team does need starting pitching, but trading away someone who may be a part of your future is not a smart move.

3. The Mets trade Closer Edwin Diaz

Okay, this move will probably not happen at all, especially with the fact that Edwin Diaz is without a doubt the best closer in all of baseball and how he signed a long-term deal with the Mets for five years. But this one baseball writer from USA Today floated the idea of the Mets cutting ties with the former Seattle Mariner.

Bob Nightengale from USA Today talked about how it should be justified to trade a pitcher like Diaz. Now baseball experts and Mets fans especially don't want to hear it but Nightengale even speaks of the idea he wrote about whether or Diaz can keep the success he had with the Mets when he had 32 saves in 2022 in his 61 games pitched and pitch like that on a consistent basis?

Plus, can he stay healthy in 2024 and more importantly, are the Mets confident that he does not fall off a cliff and struggle like he did in his first couple of seasons in Flushing Queens? It is very hard for a pitcher to pitch like Diaz pitched last season in back-to-back seasons and if the Mets don't feel confident in their chances in 2024 and wish to enter a rebuild and are not 100% in Diaz's ability to pitch like he did in 2022, trading him will definitely get you a lot in return. Again, it is very unlikely but with the way the Mets are heading, anything is possible.

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