3 NY Mets players who could win the 2022 NL MVP

1 of 3

Last season, I was convinced the New York Mets were going to roster their first MVP Award winner. They've won seven Cy Young Awards by four different pitchers, but never an MVP. Jacob deGrom was on pace to potentially have the greatest season a pitcher has ever had.

deGrom was 7-2 with a 1.08 ERA in his 15 starts. He struck out an absurd 146 batters in 92 innings pitched. That is good for a 14.3 K/9. He walked just 11 batters all season (1.1 BB/9) while allowing just 3.9 H/9.

The Mets were in first place for much of the season, and deGrom's dominance seemingly every time out was a huge reason why. He allowed three runs or fewer in each of his starts and allowed more than two earned runs once. deGrom did not get crazy run support, he was just deGrominant. Even while missing half of a season deGrom finished ninth in the NL Cy Young balloting. Just a ridiculous season.

1. Mets pitcher Jacob deGrom

If Jacob deGrom stays healthy, there is no reason to believe he can't be in the MVP conversation. He finished fifth in the balloting in 2018 and tenth in 2019, both seasons that resulted in Cy Young Awards for deGrom.

As good as he was back then, he wasn't as good as he is now. He wasn't throwing 100 mph pitches dotting the outside corner or 95 mph sliders making hitters look silly.

Even with that being said, it's reasonable to wonder whether deGrom can in fact stay healthy especially while throwing this hard. He thinks he can, and so do I. But it does come with some questions.

A healthy season for deGrom probably meant the Mets at least play out most of September in contention for the NL East division title if not win it. With the upgrades they have made and the expanded playoffs there is no reason to believe that with a healthy deGrom they will miss the playoffs. This helps his case for MVP as well.

Pitchers rarely win it, but the best ones do. Justin Verlander was the AL MVP in 2011 when he won the pitching Triple Crown. Clayton Kershaw won it in 2014 when he had a 1.77 ERA. deGrom can easily top both seasons that resulted in MVP awards if he can just stay healthy.

Sep 12, 2021; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) hits his / Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

2. Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor

I know last season wasn't his best, but when right, Francisco Lindor is an MVP caliber player. In the past, Lindor has been in the MVP conversation. He had three straight top-nine AL MVP finishes from 2016-2018 finishing as high as fifth in 2017.

In that 2017 season he slashed .273/.337/.505 with 33 home runs and 89 RBI. He also tacked on 15 stolen bases, 44 doubles, and elite defense. Lindor can 100% replicate that season, or even top it in 2022.

Lindor's first season in New York was rocky at best. He came in with lofty expectations and just flat out did not meet them. However, once he got more accustomed to being a New York Met he showed some flashes of his old self. From May 27 until the end of the season he slashed .258/.341/.492 with 17 home runs and 54 RBI. He had nine home runs and 25 RBI in September along with a 138 WRC+. He had a 118 WRC+ in the second half, which would tie him for the third-highest mark in his career.

He obviously wasn't as good as he was a couple of years ago, but he wasn't super far away. That combined with his elite defense still made him a 3.1 WAR player, despite his brutal start to the season.

Lindor's best offensive season came in 2018 when he had a 132 WRC+. He hit 38 home runs and hit 38 home runs. I believe both of these numbers are attainable for Lindor. He was a 7.7 fWAR player.

If the Mets perform like they should, I expect Lindor to be one of, if not the best position player on this team. If he performs like he did in Cleveland and like they are paying him to, he will be in the MVP conversation.

Oct 1, 2021; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso (20) hits a single / Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

3. Pete Alonso

Pete Alonso burst onto the scene in his rookie year and hit a franchise and rookie record 53 home runs in 2019. While he hasn't topped the 53 homer mark since he's become a much better overall player.

This past season Alonso slashed .262/.344/.519 with 37 home runs and 94 RBI. The numbers look similar, but Alonso looked like a more complete player. He went from the 18th percentile in K% in 2019 to the 61st percentile in 2021. He went from the 24th percentile in whiff rate to the 45th percentile in 2021. Lastly, he went from the ninth percentile in outs above average to the 74th percentile.

Alonso has become more of a pure hitter than he was when he first came up. This should help him put up even better numbers while still being a guy who can hit 50+ home runs.

Alonso would have to hit 50+ homers to be considered, but I believe he can do that. Combining that with improved on-base skills and better contact rates I expect Alonso to hit for a higher average with more home runs, thus catapulting himself into the MVP conversation.

His big path to improvement with the bat would be hitting breaking pitches better. Alonso hit .295 against fastballs but just .223 and .225 against breaking and offspeed pitches respectively.

Alonso also keeps improving as a defender at first base. He posted -6 OAA in his rookie year followed by -5 OAA in 2020. This season he had 2 OAA. That's a massive jump for a player once seen as a defensive liability. An even better season will help his WAR and improve his MVP case even more.

An MVP season is unlikely, but not out of the question assuming the power, improved discipline, and team success are there. Alonso has a very good chance at being the best hitter on one of the best teams in baseball. If that happens, he will get some MVP consideration.

Next. 15 best oufielders in Mets history. dark

Home / New York Mets News

3 Mets players that could win the 2022 NL MVP

1. Mets pitcher Jacob deGrom

2. Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor

3. Pete Alonso

Schedule