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3 Mets players we should raise the bar for in 2023
Expectations are high for the New York Mets in 2023. The team should continue to add before Opening Day in their quest to have a much-improved roster over the 101-win club from last year. It’s a tough mission but doable.
There are certain players who underachieved last season. For them, we’ll lower the bar. Others are trending upward. We’re going to raise the bar for them.
It’s these three returning players we should do our best Oliver Twists and say, “please sir, I want some more.”
1) NY Mets relief pitcher Drew Smith can accomplish more in 2023
Drew Smith had an unbelievably strong stretch in 2022. He didn’t give up an earned run until May 13. He’s someone fans have been eyeing ever since the team acquired him in 2017 in a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays for Lucas Duda. No doubt a winning deal by the Mets, Smith has grown into a steady presence in the bullpen when healthy.
It’s the last two seasons where Smith has finally been able to remain on the field with some frequency. He logged 41.1 innings in 2021 and another 46 last year. He now owns a lifetime 3.24 ERA. As one of the few returning relievers we can actually have some faith in, it’s important he steps up in a big way.
If there is one complaint about Smith it would be his tendency to serve up home runs. He gave up 1.8 per 9 innings last season which is well above what anyone would like to see.
Smith isn’t a kid any longer. He turned 29 in September and will need to become one of Buck Showalter’s surest things in the bullpen. He doesn’t have to outpitch David Robertson. What Smith needs to do is be a savior at the back end when Robertson or Edwin Diaz aren’t available. He should also see plenty of action before either of them touch the ball. Mastering the seventh inning should be a goal for Smith in 2023.
2) NY Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo has big money, needs a big season
Brandon Nimmo is back and a much wealthier man than when we last saw him play baseball. The club’s longtime leadoff hitter and center fielder comes into this next season with the bar set so high that he can jump and not even hit his head.
Predicting exactly what type of season Nimmo will have is difficult. He has turned into a much more complete player. He’s no longer a low-batting average, high OBP guy with questionable defense. Nimmo does a little bit of everything well. This is precisely what the Mets should expect out of him in 2023.
The big $162 million contract puts Nimmo at a level few Mets players have ever gotten to. We aren’t comparing it to past deals like ones handed out to Mike Piazza or Carlos Beltran. Instead, we’re looking at Nimmo compared to the rest of his peers currently active in MLB and on the same roster.
The Mets are committed to Nimmo. He’ll be asked to do a lot of the same things he has done well over the last few years. We may even keep our fingers crossed that he can do a bit more.
For all of his excellence, Nimmo has never been an All-Star, received any MVP consideration, or taken a major award home. The 2023 season is when that should change.
3) NY Mets catching prospect Francisco Alvarez needs to be ready
No pressure, kid.
But also, we need you!
Buzz about what Francisco Alvarez can accomplish has been a storyline for Mets fans to watch in these recent years. One of the more exciting young prospects the franchise has had in recent memory, we’ll all have patience with him yet also ask him to exceed our expectations in 2023.
Alvarez has a great shot at making the Opening Day roster. Whether he’s the starting catcher and/or a DH option, the Mets could really use his bat in the lineup.
The catcher position has been an especially problematic one for this organization in recent years. There have been moments and bright spots at times. Nothing has ever settled.
We probably won’t see the best of Alvarez in 2023 nor should we expect him to become one of those rare MVP/Rookie of the Year candidates. We aren’t out of line to raise the bar on our demands of him.
Accepting slumps, growing pains, and even a poorly put-together season when it’s all over statistically is actually higher than what some may have in mind for Alvarez in his first major league season. What fans want the most are signs of improvement and maybe the occasional long home run with a few men on base.
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