5 bold predictions for the 2022-2023 Mets offseason

The 2022-2023 New York Mets offseason. Nothing has been more exciting since the 2021-2022 New York Mets offseason.

It’s going to be hard to top signing Max Scherzer. A deal which redefined our expectations, the team coming up short this past year should have them looking to make equally as big of splashes.

To get everyone ready for what lies ahead, I thought now would be an appropriate time to start predicting what the Mets will do. There’s some good. There’s some bad. There’s some wait and see. These are five of the boldest predictions for the Mets this offseason.

1) NY Mets will lose Jacob deGrom to the Texas Rangers

Let’s get the bad out of the way early. Jacob deGrom leaves. He has thrown his last pitch for the Mets until maybe the very end of his career when he returns. Even if deGrom enjoys being with this franchise, it seems like he won’t be back. Call it a gut feel. Signs seem to be pointing toward some changes for him and the organization.

It won’t be for a lack of effort. The Mets will make deGrom a more than fair offer. However, the Texas Rangers are going to roll out the red carpet for him.

deGrom seems to care a lot about getting paid what he feels he is worth. There’s nothing wrong with it. We’d all do the same, too, if the opportunity presented itself. Opting out of his contract makes the most sense for him right now. He needs to capitalize on the opportunity.

The Rangers have already hired Bruce Bochy to be their manager and should be in the market for some big addition. deGrom will be one of them. Bringing in Clayton Kershaw could be another.

Fortunately, it’s not checkmate against the Mets. They have another move up their sleeve.

2) NY Mets sign Justin Verlander to replace Jacob deGrom

What do you do when you lose one of your best pitchers? You go out and sign someone else’s. Justin Verlander could top the AAV Cohen gave to Scherzer last offseason. It would be a major counterattack if deGrom does indeed leave New York.

This prediction falls somewhat in line with what happened between the Atlanta Braves and Freddie Freeman last winter. We could see deGrom vs. the Mets in a “who blinks first” contest. The Mets shouldn’t wait too long, though. If they can snag Verlander, they need to.

Verlander also has an opt out in his contract. Even if the Houston Astros have proven to be one of the best places to win a championship, Mr. Kate Upton could be looking for a change of scenery, new challenge, or just the biggest boatload of money. Houston can move on from him more easily than the Mets can lose deGrom and not making a huge transaction to replace him.

The Mets should remain built around a starting rotation of aces. It’s what has tended to work for the organization. Scherzer as the number one guy with some talented arms behind him might be enough. The Mets could always bring back Chris Bassitt and Carlos Carrasco—two of the most realistic possibilities.

They may even do more. This leads to the next prediction: the big Mets trade of the offseason.

3) NY Mets trade for Shane Bieber and extend him immediately

It’s going to be around mid-January or maybe even early February when the Mets trade for Shane Bieber. The Cleveland Guardians ace is one of the likeliest trade candidates out there this offseason. His growing salary makes him someone the Guardians will inevitable move.

What kind of a package would the Guardians want?

Using the Francisco Lindor trade as a gauge, the Mets would have to at least include a starting pitcher. Tylor Megill or David Peterson would work. On top of that, the Guardians would need some top prospects. It’s hard to see them having too much interest in Ronny Mauricio although if they are also interesting in moving on from Amed Rosario for someone cheaper, it could work. Imagine a middle infield of Mauricio and Andres Gimenez in Cleveland.

Mark Vientos would be a no-brainer to include in the deal. The Mets would probably also have to include one other prospect—maybe a pitcher such as Dominic Hamel.

With this prediction, the Mets add a third ace to the staff. They also sign Bieber to an extension immediately. Scherzer will be gone soon and Verlander won’t be around for much either. Bieber is a younger arm for the Mets to lock up. He also helps complete the most dangerous trifecta in the game.

4) NY Mets make a serious offers to Aaron Judge and for Shohei Ohtani

Now that the starting rotation has been fixed, let’s look at some offense. Free agent Aaron Judge will draw plenty of interest from teams with the cash to pay him. The same is true for trade candidate Shohei Ohtani whose status with the Los Angeles Angels seems to point toward the team shopping him this winter.

Unfortunately for those hoping to see the Mets land either, it’s not going to happen.

Judge seems bound to return to the New York Yankees or end up with the San Francisco Giants. Take your pick. It’s not the Mets he will play for in 2023.

As for Ohtani, a trade for him this offseason will cost a little too much compared to waiting for the deadline or him to hit free agency. Plus, with prediction the Mets will trade for Bieber, their best assets to acquire the modern day Babe Ruth have passed by.

The Mets will still make Judge a realistic free agent offer but nothing close to what he’ll get from the other two teams in the race. The Mets will also be unwilling to give up as much as the Angels want for Ohtani. At least the conversation will get started for a possible trade deadline conversation and Ohtani will be fully aware that Billy Eppler would like to work with him again.