Top 50 NY Mets players ranked by how valuable they are for the franchise

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With Spring Training in full swing, New York Mets fans are finally getting to watch their favorite players again after a long four months off. Not only that, but they’re also getting what is likely a first look at some of the young guns in the lower levels of the organization.

With that comes wondering who on the field is important to keep an eye on. I took my best stab at narrowing down that list.

It’s important to note that the most valuable is not the same as the best. Is Darin Ruf right now better than a top prospect currently in the lower levels of the minor leagues? Probably. But is he more valuable? Absolutely not.

It raises some interesting questions about how to value prospects versus players already in the major leagues. Who is more valuable, a proven MLB role player or an unproven minor leaguer with a lot of potential? There is no right answer.

So, with that said, I present the definitive list of the top 50 most valuable players in the Mets organization that I’m sure everyone will agree with.

Just missed the cut: Tim Locastro, Layonel Oliveras, Willy Fanas, Stanley Consuegra, Junior Santos, Tommy Hunter

50) Most valuable player in the Mets organization - Matt Allan

Kicking off the list is Allan, who at one point was as high as a top-3 prospect in the organization. Now, he’s down to No. 23 on MLB Pipeline. Due to multiple elbow injuries, he hasn’t pitched in an official game since 2019. He recently suffered a setback that will keep him out until at least 2024. Once a steal of a 3rd-round pick, Allan’s future is significantly more uncertain.

49) Most valuable player in the Mets organization - Simon Juan

The Mets made Juan their most expensive signing in the 2022 international signing period, giving him $1.9 million. He struggled in Dominican Summer League, hitting just .219 with a .633 OPS over 53 games. Despite this, he’s just 17 years old and doesn’t turn 18 until July. He took a bit of a tumble, but he’s still the No. 29 prospect in the organization. All the reasons why the Mets signed him are still there, he still has more than enough time to grow.

48) Most valuable player in the Mets organization - Jacob Reimer

A 4th-round pick in 2022, Reimer showed some real promise at the plate in his seven games of rookie ball. Going 6-for-23 with a homer, triple, six walks and just three strikeouts, the third baseman showed why the Mets went above slot value to sign him and why he’s now the No. 17 prospect in the organization. Having just turned 19 years old a few weeks ago, he’ll be an interesting player to follow through the different levels of the minors.

47) Most valuable player in the Mets organization - Javier Atencio

A 21-year-old left-hand pitcher, Atencio has improved every year throughout his three seasons in the minors. He went from a 4.75 ERA in rookie ball in 2019 to a 2.44 ERA in rookie ball in 2021 and a 2.27 ERA in Low-A in 2022. Atencio was even named the organizational All-Star at left-handed starting pitcher in 2022. He’s at least a few years out from even threatening the major league squad, but signs are pointing up for the No. 25 organizational prospect.

46) Most valuable player in the Mets organization - Joey Lucchesi

Some Mets fans might have forgotten about Lucchesi after he missed the last season and a half but the southpaw has a chance to be an important piece of the Mets this season. If he’s fully healthy, Lucchesi could be a good option to fill the Trevor Williams role in the bullpen this season. He was hot and cold with the Mets before getting hurt in 2021, but when the churve is on, he can be pretty effective.

45) Most valuable player in the Mets organization - Nick Morabito

The Mets received No. 75 pick in the 2022 MLB draft when Noah Syndergaard signed with the Los Angeles Angels and used it to take Morabito. He got a quick six-game taste of rookie ball last season and went 2-for-22 with two walks and 14 strikeouts, which is concerning. However, it is an incredibly small sample size and he’ll just turn 20 years old in May, so there’s no reason to think the No. 14 organizational prospect will continue to struggle when he gets into his first full season.

44) Most valuable player in the Mets organization - William Lugo

After a relatively slow first few years in rookie ball, Lugo really started to turn a corner in 2022. Over 112 games at Low-A St. Lucie and High-A Brooklyn, Lugo hit .263 with a .779 OPS and 14 home runs. He hits the ball hard and brings added value by being able to play multiple positions in the infield. The No. 27 organizational prospect even has a home run this spring training in very limited playing time.

43) Most valuable player in the Mets organization - Jesus Baez

A member of the same international signing class as Juan, Baez had a noticeably better season at the dish. Hitting .242/.341/.403 with seven home runs and nine doubles in 54 games, Baez jumped all the way up to the No. 13 organizational prospect. The 17-year-old infielder was even the Mets’ Dominican Summer League Player of the Year in 2022, MLB Pipeline wrote. Now 18 years old, it will be interesting to see if the youngster who was relatively unheralded before last season can turn heads again.

42) Most valuable player in the Mets organization - Grant Hartwig

Signed by the Mets in 2021 after going undrafted out of college, Hartwig has skyrocketed up through the minor league ranks and is now the No. 30 organizational prospect. He pitched in four different levels of the minor leagues last year, starting with Low-A St. Lucie and making it all the way up to Triple-A Syracuse. In 39 games and 56.2 innings across the four levels, he put up a 1.75 ERA and gave up just one home run. Hartwig will probably start the year in Triple-A, but there’s a real possibility he gets an opportunity in the big league bullpen at some point this season.

41) Most valuable player in the Mets organization - Dangelo Sarmiento

If there’s one thing to know about Sarmiento, it’s that he is FAST. A 70-grade runner on MLB Pipeline, the No. 18 organizational prospect really had a great season in rookie ball in 2022. Over 34 games, he hit .295/.374/.393 with one home run, one triple, six doubles and nine stolen bases. He’s a plus-defender at shortstop and has impressive walk and strikeout rates for someone his age. If he can keep his bat going through the different levels of the minor leagues, he’s a really intriguing future heir to Francisco Lindor.

40) Most valuable player in the Mets organization - Zach Greene

One of the more fascinating players to watch this spring training, Greene might not even be in the organization in a few weeks. The 26-year-old relief pitcher spent the previous years of his career in the Yankees organization until the Mets selected him in this year’s Rule 5 draft. If the Mets don’t have him on the MLB roster for the entire 2023 season, then he will be offered back to the Yankees. A 3.42 ERA last year in 48 games and 68.1 innings at Triple-A Greene certainly could turn into a valuable bullpen piece if he makes the roster. Or, he could be back in pinstripes in a month.

39) Most valuable player in the Mets organization - Stephen Nogosek

Nogosek’s first appearance as a Met was all the way back in 2019, but the 2022 season was the first time he really experienced any success. Over 12 games and 22 innings he gave up just six earned runs, good for a 2.45 ERA. Unfortunately, Nogosek doesn’t have any minor league options remaining, so it might be a bit more difficult to get him on the roster this season. With that said, a good spring training could get him a place at the back of the bullpen.

38) Most valuable player in the Mets organization - Joel Díaz

Díaz did not have a good 2022 season. He spent the entire year in Low-A and put up a 5.86 ERA over 55.1 innings. His strikeout numbers weren’t crazy and his walk numbers weren’t good either. However, his 2021 season in rookie ball was off the charts. In 50.1 innings he gave up just three earned runs. Three. That’s a 0.54 ERA. He struck out 63 batters to just nine walks, and was overall just dominant. The 2022 season was obviously a big step in the wrong direction for the No. 12 organizational prospect, but he’s shown he can dominate before.

37) Most valuable player in the Mets organization - Bryce Montes de Oca

Montes de Oca is a flamethrower. Now that Jacob deGrom is a Texas Ranger, the only Met who can even rival his velocity is Edwin Diaz. His fastball sits around 100 MPH with good drop, and his cutter has a crazy combination of movement and velocity. He had a short three-game stint with the Mets last season and wasn’t great, giving up four earned runs in 3.1 innings, but that’s a small sample size. In 51.1 innings between Double-A and Triple-A last season, he put up a 3.33 ERA and struck out 80 batters.

36) Most valuable player in the Mets organization - Mike Vasil

An 8th-round pick in the 2021 draft, Vasil pitched pretty well last year in his first full season of minor league baseball. It was almost an even split of his innings between Low-A and High-A, and he struggled a bit at the higher level. In nine appearances at Low-A he posted a 2.19 ERA, but in eight appearances at High-A it climbed to 5.13. Overall his ERA was in the mid-3s for the year and it was a nice step forward, bumping him to the No. 11 organizational prospect spot.

35) Most valuable player in the Mets organization - Tommy Pham

There’s a chance Pham could be too low on this list. If he has a good season and sticks on the roster he would probably move about ten spots higher, but there’s also a possibility he doesn’t make it through the year. Going into his age-35 season on just a 1-year, $6 million deal, the Mets have little commitment to him. Ideally, he’s a good 4th outfielder and DH vs. left-handed pitching. However, if he doesn’t produce, the Mets could easily replace him at the trade deadline.

34) Most valuable player in the Mets organization - Calvin Ziegler

The No. 46 overall pick by the Mets in the 2021 draft, Ziegler ranks as the No. 10 prospect in the organization. His 2022 season was up and down and he dealt with some injury concerns, but it was overall solid. Over 16 starts and 46.2 innings he put up a 4.44 ERA and an impressive 70 strikeouts. His control was not always consistent and the walk numbers will need to come down but his K/9 was one of the best in the organization. With a 60-grade fastball and 60-grade curveball on MLB Pipeline, he’ll be a fun prospect to watch.

33) Most valuable player in the Mets organization - José Butto

The No. 15 prospect in the organization, Butto did make one start with the big league club last season. It didn’t go well, giving up nine earned runs over 4.0 innings, but it was just one game. He has a long history of success in the minors, never having an ERA above 3.86 over five seasons. In 129 innings last year between Double-A and Triple-A he had a 3.56 ERA with 138 strikeouts. He won’t make the opening day roster, but expect to see Butto make at least one spot start this season when needed, if not more.

32) Most valuable player in the Mets organization - Mark Vientos

There’s no denying the power that Vientos has. His 24 home runs ranked No. 4 across the Mets minor leagues last season, behind just Francisco Álvarez, Ronny Mauricio and Daniel Palka. His .877 OPS was third, behind just Brett Baty and Álvarez. On the flip side, he had a 28.6% strikeout rate in Triple-A and 29.3% strikeout rate in his short stint in the majors last season. His ground ball rates also jumped dramatically, up to 48.4% in Triple-A, which isn’t ideal. To top it off, he doesn’t really have a defensive position. He’s not going to be able to stick at third base in the majors and first base is blocked by Pete Alonso. He should probably be traded.

31) Most valuable player in the Mets organization - Omar Narváez

It was just two seasons ago that Narváez was an All-Star. In 2021, he hit 11 home runs with a .743 OPS and 101 OPS+. Not great, but for the standard of the catching position today, it’s well above average. It was a huge step back in 2022 though, playing 84 games with an OPS of just .597. If he can regain his bat, he’ll form a very solid platoon with Tomás Nido, especially since Narváez hits lefty. If not, he’ll still be a very good defensive catcher.

30) Most valuable player in the Mets organization - Blade Tidwell

The No. 52 overall pick in the 2022 draft, Tidwell got just a taste of the minor leagues last season. In five starts and 9.1 innings, Tidwell gave up just two earned runs, struck out 11 and walked seven. The Mets No. 7 organizational prospect, MLB Pipeline has him with a 60-grade fastball, 60-grade slider and 55-grade changeup. Standing at 6-foot-4, he is now the top-ranked pitching prospect in the organization. He’s a long way away from the big leagues, but give it a few years and he could really make some noise.

29) Most valuable player in the Mets organization - David Robertson

It will be interesting to see where the Mets deploy Robertson this season, as his role is not obvious. He picked up 20 saves last year with Cubs and Phillies, but the Mets already have their closer in Edwin Díaz. They even have their eighth-inning man in Adam Ottavino, who the Mets brought back after a great 2022. Robertson will probably just be deployed wherever and whenever he’s needed as well as filling in for Díaz and Ottavino when they need days off. It’s a luxury to have a reliever as good as Robertson and not need him to set up or close, and he’s not even the only one the Mets have like that.

28) Most valuable player in the Mets organization - Drew Smith

At times, Smith is one of the most exciting arms on the Mets roster. With a live arm and a nice arsenal of pitches, he looks like he has the making of a high-caliber big-league reliever. The downside is he’s missed a significant portion of time each of the past two seasons due to injury. In 2021 he pitched in just 31 games, and in 2022 it was just 44. For reference, Robertson appeared in 58, Díaz 61 and Ottavino 66. If Smith can stay healthy, he can be a very valuable piece to the Mets bullpen.

27) Most valuable player in the Mets organization - Tomás Nido

Narvaez is a very good defensive catcher, but Nido is nothing short of elite. On the Baseball Prospectus catching leaderboards, Nido is the No. 2 ranked catcher in all of baseball basically across the board. He is No. 2 in catcher defensive adjustment, No. 2 in deserved runs prevented, No. 2 in framing runs and No. 2 in blocking runs. Sure, his bat isn’t good. He only had a .600 OPS last season, and that was his best over the four seasons where he’s played double-digit games. The value he brings behind the plate though just can’t be understated. There’s a reason the Mets extended him through 2024 despite Narváez having a 2024 player option and Francisco Álvarez knocking on the door. He is elite behind the plate, and that matters.

26) Most valuable player in the Mets organization - Ronny Mauricio

One of the most polarizing prospects in the Mets organization, Mauricio certainly has some tantalizing traits. The soon-to-be 22-year-old stands at 6-foot-3 and has some of the most power of anyone in the organization, and his 26 home runs last year were tied for second-most in the Mets minor leagues. He also had a 23.1% strikeout rate and just 4.4% walk rate in Double-A last season. With Francisco Lindor blocking him at shortstop for the next decade and Brett Baty ahead of him at third base, a likely scenario is the Mets trading Mauricio. Hopefully whatever team gets him looks at his three spring training home runs (and counting) and not his sub-.300 on-base percentage each of the past two seasons.

25) Most valuable player in the Mets organization - Brooks Raley

Brought in this offseason to help fill the void that was the left-handed reliever role last season, Raley could be the most important Mets reliever not named Edwin Díaz. The southpaw pitched in 60 games for the Rays last season with a 2.68 ERA, and held lefties specifically to a .155 batting average. The Mets still only have one left-hand pitcher in their bullpen (unless Lucchesi or David Peterson makes the opening day roster), but it’s a big upgrade over last season.

24) Most valuable player in the Mets organization - Carlos Carrasco

At this point in Carrasco’s career, he’s a capable starting pitcher — and that’s perfectly fine. The Mets aren’t asking him to be an ace. They’re not even asking him to be a middle-of-the-rotation starter. Carrasco is their No. 5, and he’s better than most teams’ No. 5 starter. He wasn’t great last year by any measure, and he did have a small injury that made him miss some time, but he wasn’t bad. He was really good at times and he was really bad at times, ultimately evening out to about average on the year. Being average though, for the last starter, is very good.

23) Most valuable player in the Mets organization - Adam Ottavino

Mets fans didn’t know what to expect from Ottavino going into last season, as he combined for a 4.59 ERA with the Yankees and Red Sox over the previous two years. What they got though was one of the premier setup men in all of baseball. Over 66 games and 65.2 innings, Ottavino posted a 2.06 ERA and 0.975 WHIP, both close to his career bests. The Mets then brought him back on a one-year deal with a player option for a second, ensuring that he can hand the ball off to Diaz for at least one more season. If he can continue to have success and the Mets’ new additions play as expected, the Mets could very well have the best bullpen in baseball.

22) Most valuable player in the Mets organization - Daniel Vogelbach

Despite being a fan favorite, Vogelbach is actually one of the most underappreciated players on the Mets roster. Yes, he is a very niche player, but what he does well, he does REALLY well. After the Mets acquired him last season and started giving him at-bats almost exclusively against right-handed pitching, he thrived. In 55 games with the Mets, Vogelbach hit .255/.393/.436, good for an .830 OPS and 139 OPS+. It’s a much smaller sample size, but only Pete Alonso and Jeff McNeil had a higher OPS+ in a Mets uniform last season. Yes, he strikes out looking more than desired and that can be frustrating, but it’s just part of his game. Ultimately, it works. He’s an on-base machine. As long as the Mets keep him in his role of only hitting against right-handed pitching, he should continue to thrive.

21) Most valuable player in the Mets organization - Dominic Hamel

A 3rd-round pick in the 2021 draft, Hamel shot up the Mets’ prospect rankings in 2022, his first full season. Over 25 games between Low-A and High-A, Hamel pitched 119 innings to the tune of a 3.25 ERA and 145 strikeouts. Now, he’s lined up to be the No. 3 starter for Team Puerto Rico in the upcoming World Baseball Classic. The Mets do not have a ton of highly touted starting pitching prospects close to the majors, but Hamel, already 23 years old, could be just that in a year or two.

20) Most valuable player in the Mets organization - Tylor Megill

It’s easy to forget that just last year, Tylor Megill was the Mets’ opening day starter. Sure, that’s not exactly how it was planned, but he stepped up and delivered five shutout innings. Overall, he had a great first six starts, putting up a 2.43 ERA and going at least five innings in each one. Then, he gave up eight earned runs in 1.1 innings vs. the Nationals and went on the IL a few days later. He struggled in his only two starts in June before going back on the IL until mid-September, then made six relief appearances down the stretch. He doesn’t have a rotation spot this season and it is unknown if his role will be in the MLB bullpen or Triple-A rotation. With that said, we’ve seen Megill have a lot of success as a starting pitcher before. If called upon, he can be a serious weapon.

19) Most valuable player in the Mets organization - Luis Guillorme

It’s been really special to watch Guillorme grow ever since he came into the league in 2018. When he first arrived he had virtually no bat, but he has improved each year until he finally got to the point he is now — bringing legitimate offensive value. He still doesn’t have much pop, but he makes a ton of contact and gets on base a ton. Last year, he even had a 101 OPS+, which means he was technically an above-average hitter. You read that right. Luis Gullorme was an above-average hitter in 2022. And of course, his defense goes without saying. You can stick him anywhere on the infield and he’ll thrive. He quite simply has some of the best hands in baseball. He is the ultimate utility infielder.

18) Most valuable player in the Mets organization - David Peterson

Contrary to popular opinion, Peterson wasn’t actually bad last year. In 105.2 innings over 28 games and 19 starts, Peterson posted a 3.83 ERA and 101 ERA+, technically making him above average. What’s even more impressive about that though is he did it without ever truly having a set rotation spot. He spent the year bouncing back and forth from Triple-A and later year the MLB bullpen. That’s not easy. Like Megill, he doesn’t have a clear-cut roster spot this year and his role is unknown. He could be an extra left-handed arm in the bullpen, or he could be a part of the 6-man rotation the Mets are reportedly going to deploy at points this year. One thing is sure though, he’s a luxury. Peterson is probably too good to have his role be what it is, and he would be a clear-cut starter on a lot of teams.

17) Most valuable player in the Mets organization - José Quintana

The Mets inked Quintana to a 2-year, $26 million deal this offseason hoping he could solidify their rotation. The big question is, which Quintana are the Mets going to get? Are they going to get the pitcher who posted a 2.93 ERA for the Pirates and Cardinals last year, or are they going to get the pitcher who 6.43 ERA for the Angels and Giants in 2021? It’s a relatively low-risk signing seeing as there aren’t any major long-term commitments, and if he does what he did last year, it could be a steal. The veteran lefty will also be the No. 1 starter for Team Colombia this WBC.

16) Most valuable player in the Mets organization - Jett Williams

The Mets had two 1st-round picks in the 2022 draft and used one of them to take Jett Williams at No. 14 overall. A shortstop drafted out of high school, Williams will play the entire 2023 season at just 19 years old. He played well in his 2022 in rookie ball, hitting .250/.366/.438, good for a .804 OPS. He only struck out six times in 32 at-bats, swiped six bases and hit one home run, triple and double each. Standing at just 5-foot-8 he doesn’t project to hit for a ton of power, but he does have some pop. He’s fast, athletic and has great bat-to-ball skills, he just needs time.

15) Most valuable player in the Mets organization - Eduardo Escobar

It wasn’t long ago when it looked like Escobar didn’t even have a place on the Mets roster thanks to the Carlos Correa saga, but now the Mets are going to need to rely on him. He wasn’t great last season, but his offensive struggles were rather uncharacteristic. His .726 OPS was his lowest in a season since 2016 (excluding 2020), but at times he still showed what he is capable of. Over the final month of the season, Escobar was probably the best hitter on the team. In 30 games in September and October, he hit .321 with a .982 OPS and eight home runs, almost half of his total of 20 for the season. If there’s anyone on this roster primed for a bounceback, it’s him.

14) Most valuable player in the Mets organization - Alex Ramirez

One of the most exciting players in the Mets system, Ramirez has the potential to be a true five-tool player. The No. 4 organizational prospect is an excellent defensive centerfielder with a great arm, a lot of speed and a lot of power. The biggest question will be if he can make enough contact to stick, and his early minor league results are promising. In 121 games last year between Low-A and High-A, Ramirez hit .281/.359/.443, putting up an OPS of .782 with 11 home runs, seven triples, 30 doubles and 21 stolen bases. His strikeout and walk rates weren’t ideal, but they also were far from overly troubling. He’s going to need a few more years at least, but at just 20 years old, he has the time.

13) Most valuable player in the Mets organization - Kevin Parada

A standout at Georgia Tech for two seasons, the Mets used the other of their two 1st-round picks to take Parada at No. 11 overall. It didn’t take long for the catcher to become one of the highest-rated prospects in the Mets system, currently ranked at No. 3, only behind Francisco Álvarez and Brett Baty. The two ahead of him will likely graduate by the end of the season, and Parada will take the top spot. In 13 games between rookie ball and Low-A last season, he hit .275/.455/.425, posting a .880 OPS with almost as many walks as strikeouts. If there’s anyone who can be a fast riser through the minors it’s him. Turning 22 years old in August, he could very well only be a year or two out. When he’s ready, he and Álvarez could form a dangerous tandem and split the catching and DH duties.

12) Most valuable player in the Mets organization - Mark Canha

Canha might just be one of the most underrated players in all of baseball. What he does isn’t sexy, but it’s so important — he gets on base. Over 140 games last season, Canha hit .266/.367/.403, good for a .770 OPS, while also leading baseball in hit-by-pitches for the second-straight year. His 122 OPS+ was No. 6 on the Mets and No. 47 in baseball among qualified hitters, better than players like Trea Turner, Will Smith and Corey Seager. Yet for some reason, there’s still a small segment of fans who don’t believe he’s good enough to be an everyday outfielder. You don’t kick the 47th-best hitter in baseball to the curb, especially when he can play all three outfield spots and even third base if you ask nicely enough.

11) Most valuable player in the Mets organization - Brett Baty

The No. 2 prospect in the Mets system and the No. 21 prospect in baseball on MLB Pipeline, Baty is as close to MLB-ready as a prospect can be. He had a short stint with the Mets last season and made headlines by homering in his first at-bat, but other than that largely struggled. However, it was just 38 at-bats, hardly enough of a sample size to draw any conclusions from. He tore up the minors last season, hitting .315/.410/.533, putting up an OPS of .943 and slugging 19 home runs. The biggest question with Baty is where he will play. Third base is occupied by Eduardo Escobar and even Luis Guillorme as the utility infielder. Left field is Mark Canha and left-hand hitting DH is Daniel Vogelbach. Because of this, Baty will likely start the year in Triple-A and be called up whenever the first injury is and inserted into the lineup.

10) Most valuable player in the Mets organization - Starling Marte

When Marte got hurt toward the end of last season and missed the final month, it became very apparent how important he is to this lineup. Without him in the 2-hole, the Mets struggled offensively more than they had all season. It makes sense too, he was excellent. He was an All-Star for the first time since 2016 and hit .292 with a .814 OPS and 16 home runs. His stolen bases took a step back, going from 47 in 2021 to 18 in 2022, but he was also playing through injury for much of the year. Health, combined with the larger bases, should see him recapture his base stealing in 2023.

9) Most valuable player in the Mets organization - Kodai Senga

There are plenty of other unknowns on the team, but none is bigger than Senga. He’s been one of the best pitchers in Japan for the last decade, but you never know how that’s going to translate to pitching in Major League Baseball. The Mets signed him this offseason to a 5-year, $75 million deal, which isn’t a whole lot relative to the Mets payroll. He’s going into his age-30 season, which means he is actually the youngest pitcher in the five-man rotation. If he lives up to the hype, he and his famous “ghost fork” could play a major role in the Mets success for years to come.

8) Most valuable player in the Mets organization - Edwin Díaz

Sound. The. Trumpets. The best closer in baseball is back with the Mets for at least the next three seasons which could be as many as six. The Mets gave him a 5-year, $102 million contract with an opt-out after three years and a team option for the sixth. He was indisputably the best reliever in baseball last season, which is something no one would have predicted in 2019. The way Díaz has adapted to pitching in New York has been truly special to watch, overcoming his disastrous first season in Queens and becoming what everyone thought he could become. Relievers are historically volatile, but there’s no reason to think Díaz won’t be one of the best arms in baseball again at the very least.

7) Most valuable player in the Mets organization - Jeff McNeil

After a very disappointing 2021 season, McNeil rebounded in the biggest way possible in 2022. He leaned into being the best version of the hitter he is built to be and flourished, winning the National League batting title. The craziest part is that’s not even close to all McNeil brings to the table. He is a fantastic defender at second base and there’s an argument to be made for him being robbed of a Gold Glove last season. He doesn’t just play second though, he’s also capable of playing either of the corner outfield spots at a high level and would move positions based on whatever the team needed frequently last season. He can even play third if asked to, there was just never a need last year. Locked up this offseason on a 4-year, $50 million extension with a team option for a fifth year, he’s a cornerstone piece of this franchise.

6) Most valuable player in the Mets organization - Max Scherzer

It’s unfortunate Scherzer’s season ended the way it did in the playoffs because it was not indicative of the season he had. He was one of the main reasons the Mets won 101 games and made it to the postseason, and no singular bad game can erase that. In 23 starts, Mad Max 2.29 ERA and 0.908 WHIP, both outstanding marks. He did deal with some injury issues and that is a concern with him turning 39 years old in July, but that’s just something the Mets will have to monitor as the season goes along. Regardless, he is still one of the absolute best pitchers in baseball and a massive tone-setter for the locker room.

5) Most valuable player in the Mets organization - Justin Verlander

Some people might view Verlander as a consolation prize for losing Jacob deGrom, but it is anything but that. Verlander won the AL Cy Young Award last season. He had the best ERA in baseball, the best ERA+ in baseball and the best WHIP in baseball. Sure, he’s 40 years old. But he’s also the best pitcher in baseball still, somehow. He is a freak of nature. deGrom is obviously a franchise legend. He will have his place in the Mets Hall of Fame after he retires. With that said, he also currently has a ton of injury concerns. The better pitcher at this point in time is Verlander, hands down.

4) Most valuable player in the Mets organization - Francisco Álvarez

It’s one thing to be the No. 3 prospect in baseball. It’s another thing to be the No. 3 prospect as a catcher. The state of the catching position in Major League Baseball is really, really bad. There are very few catchers currently in the game who pose legitimate offensive threats. Álvarez has the potential to be the exception. There might not be anyone across the entire minor leagues who has more power than Álvarez. He walks a ton and while he doesn’t hit for an outstanding average, it’s still better than most. He’ll likely start this season in Triple-A, but he should play a significant role on the Major League club this season — probably as a DH with some catching duties mixed in.

3) Most valuable player in the Mets organization - Brandon Nimmo

Mets fans know just how good Nimmo is. Fans around the league, not so much. There is a real argument to be made that Nimmo is the best center fielder in all of baseball. Not only is he one of the best offensive players at the position, but he is one of the best defensive players as well. The biggest concern is that 2022 was the first time he played basically a full season since 2018. His 151 games were a single-season high, and the only time he was even in triple digits aside from his 140-game 2018 season. The Mets signed him to an 8-year, $162 million extension this offseason, and their biggest key over that span will be keeping him on the field. When he’s healthy, he’s one of the best center fielders and one of the best leadoff hitters in baseball.

2) Most valuable player in the Mets organization - Francisco Lindor

This was a tough one. No. 2 and No. 1 can easily be swapped, but there’s no debate about who the two most valuable players in this organization are. Lindor is special. He’s an outstanding fielder at a premium position in shortstop and a rock in the middle of the Mets lineup. Among qualified shortstops last season Lindor’s OPS+ of 125 ranked No. 4 in all of baseball, only behind Carlos Correa, Xander Bogaerts and Bo Bichette. Lindor was better than Trea Turner, Dansby Swanson, Corey Seager and anyone else. On top of that, none of the three who beat him come close to his defensive ability. Lindor is quite simply the best all-around shortstop in baseball.

1) Most valuable player in the Mets organization - Pete Alonso

Clocking in at No. 1 is the one and only Polar Bear. Sure, he has his defensive limitations, but he plays first base. If there’s any position to be weak on defense, it’s there. He received the edge over Lindor simply because of his bat. Lindor’s is great, but Alonso’s is otherworldly. Since he came into the league in 2019, no one in baseball has more home runs than he does. He is the best power hitter in baseball and a perfect cleanup hitter. He led MLB in RBIs last season and yes, that’s largely opportunity based — but you still have to convert the opportunities. Just going into his age-28 season, the No. 1 priority for the Mets has to be keeping him in a Mets uniform for life. He is a player to put alongside Lindor and Nimmo and build a franchise around. The other two are locked up for the long haul. Now it’s Pete's turn.

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