2 Mets needs that must be addressed at the Winter Meetings, 1 that can wait

3. The Mets can wait on improving their outfield depth

Outfield depth is a top priority for Stearns and company this free agent period. Currently, the Mets have three major league options on the 40-man roster: Starling Marte, Brandon Nimmo, and D.J. Stewart. Jeff McNeil may find himself in left field if Ronny Mauricio earns the second base job, but this is not a guarantee. Drew Gilbert and Jett Williams are close but have been ruled out to make the club on opening day.

Though the Mets are bereft of outfield depth, they do not need to make this a top priority at the Winter Meetings. 4th outfielders can be found in January and February for cheaper, short-term contracts. Last offseason, Tommy Pham signed in late January for one year at $6 million. The Mets traded for Keon Broxton from the Milwaukee Brewers in January 2019. Heck, Stewart was signed to a minor-league contract last offseason. Simply put: Stearns is not making this role a top priority at the Winter Meetings, though he will not shy away if the right move becomes available.

The Mets do not have to make their biggest splash at the Winter Meetings- they just need quality baseball players to fill certain roles. Though rumors will always swirl with Steve Cohen at the helm, the best moves sometimes are the ones that go unnoticed. We should not draw conclusions if the Mets leave the Winter Meetings without Jordan Montgomery or Yamamoto. All 26 spots on the roster need to matter for the Mets to contend in 2024, not just the ace of the staff.