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3 more ways the NY Mets can shock us this offseason

By Tim Boyle |
New York Yankees v New York Mets
New York Yankees v New York Mets / Mike Stobe/GettyImages
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Shock and awe is one military strategy to help win a war. In baseball, it’s a way to leave the fans excited and eager for season tickets to go on sale. The New York Mets have gotten off to a fine start in doing this.

The most shocking move of all made by the Mets since the 2021 season ended was the signing of Max Scherzer. The other position players were nice additions but not nearly as seemingly out-of-reach as Scherzer. Even the Buck Showalter hiring wasn’t quite as surprising considering he had no manager job and his options were limited while Scherzer had a whole league of opportunities.

Regardless of what has shocked you most this winter, I wanted to take a look at three more ways the Mets can leave us with our jaws dropped. I’m taking the positive approach with it, too. So things like “trading Jacob deGrom” or “moving the team to London” will not make this list—as shocking and riot-inducing as those may be.

An honorary mention goes out to “signing Kris Bryant.” At this point, I think don’t think that would be as shocking as it would be the next logical move for how hard this front office is pushing.

The Mets can shock us by getting an awesome return in a trade

I have my doubts about what the Mets could possibly get in return for any of their three major trade candidates. J.D. Davis, Jeff McNeil, and Dominic Smith are all on the block. Each has something about them that could hurt their marketability.

Davis is a man without a true position and after last season’s injury issues, his stock has fallen greatly. The Mets never seemed too eager to keep him as a part of their future. From almost the moment they traded for him, the plan seemed geared toward flipping him for something else.

McNeil is a little different from these two as he is a once untouchable member of the roster. He’d easily get the most back in a trade but a down year in 2021 could mean the Mets are selling him at his lowest point.

Then there’s Smith. A natural at first base, the issue with him is how many first basemen are already out there. Add in that he has yet to put together a full season of excellence and we have ourselves a guy teams are taking a risk on if they choose to trade for him.

With any of these three, it would be shocking to see New York come away with an excellent piece or two. Whether it’s a big leaguer or a prospect, I think anything the Mets come away with in a trade involving these three will feel a bit underwhelming.

Maybe Eppler can shock us and revamp the farm a little bit or turn one of these guys into a guy that can help the team now rather than later.

Gatorade All-Star Workout Day
Gatorade All-Star Workout Day / Patrick McDermott/GettyImages

The Mets can shock us by adding another star pitcher

What will the Mets do with the starting rotation? Is it really going to be Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer with some prayers for Carlos Carrasco and Taijuan Walker plus some other random dude? I think it’s very possible this ends up being the case.

The free agent starting pitcher market has gone drier than we would like it. There are a couple of options still available once the lockout ends yet none seem like such sure things.

The Mets probably won’t add another star pitcher—at least a star by most people’s definition. But what about Carlos Rodon or Luis Castillo? Each is young and would probably be the absolute best the team could possibly do. They might not be household names or have the completed resumes normally associated with a star. However, each could become a major upgrade for what the club currently has.

I do think the Mets will be diligent in at least attempting to find another starting pitcher before Opening Day. It has to help a little bit to have Scherzer on the roster. He changed things. Queens is now a destination.

If it’s not one of the top-level pitchers the Mets add, we’ll have to question whether he’s even worth it. Comparing even the most average of arms out there in free agency or expected to be on the trade market, I think many of us would take number four quality.

New York Mets v Washington Nationals
New York Mets v Washington Nationals / Will Newton/GettyImages

The Mets can shock us by making an upgrade we didn’t think was possible

In a fantasy world, the Mets do a lot more than they already have. They find a way to upgrade at their weakest positions. Money is no issue. Other clubs willingly take on bad contracts.

The most glaring of those bad contracts belongs to Robinson Cano. A guy just about everyone wouldn’t mind seeing retire to save a roster spot and open up some more spending for the Mets, he’s probably coming back. Nothing seems to suggest otherwise.

Beyond Cano, there are a lot of Mets fans that wouldn’t mind getting a do-over on the James McCann deal. I’ve learned to “never say never” again with the Mets so I won’t guarantee he’s on the club in 2022. Anything else they could possibly get is a downgrade, as bad as he was last year.

Then there are those who have doubts about Carrasco and Walker. Neither is particularly cheap. This becomes especially true if we get dud seasons from them yet again. Could the Mets conceivably move one of them in a trade and upgrade the rotation with a different arm in the process?

If I was a gambling man, I would stay away from even having this thought.

The Mets have room to surprise us with a few more moves before Opening Day. I don’t think anything will leave us as shocked as the Scherzer signing. That’s the kind of surprise you only get once a decade.

Next. 3 big roster questions the Mets still need to answer. dark

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