The Mets were not supposed to be good. That is as simple as you can put it. After winning 101 games in 2022, the team got embarrassed at their home stadium by the Padres and were bounced out early. However, owner Steve Cohen spent big that offseason and 2023 was set up what was supposed to be a big year in Queens. What preceded to happen was one of the most disappointing and utterly shameful seasons in franchise history. Finishing 75-87, the team had traded away many key pieces for prospects. One player, Max Scherzer, was on the fence about allowing his trade to go through. The Mets wanted to send him to the Texas Rangers in exchange for prospect Luis Angel Acuna. A part of Scherzer’s contract stated that he had a say in whether he was traded or not when he heard from Mets GM Billy Eppler that they were looking at 2024 as a transition year into 2025, he gracefully accepted and packed his bags for Texas. Fast forward to 24, after a quiet offseason of shopping for cheap players, the team started off 0-5. They showed minor signs of life in April taking down the Dodgers and Braves but tanked in May. 11 games under and with a little help from Grimace, the team turned what looked like another lost season into a NLCS appearance. A few days after getting knocked out by the Dodgers in Game 6, Mets head of baseball operations David Stearns stated the organization would be using their massive amounts of money to their advantage, meaning it’s gonna be another big offseason in Queens. But many Mets already on the team are now free agents. That being said, who will be back in Orange and Blue?
Pete Alonso- The past few months have been loaded with speculation regarding Alonso’s future as a Met. It’s no secret Pete loves New York and wants to be back, but will he? In my opinion, I believe Pete will be back. Although 2024 was the worst season of his career, Pete still holds multiple records, both franchise and MLB. We have seen Pete hit 40+ homers, and put up fantastic offensive numbers. And even his “Down year” this year was still a solid year with a .240 BA and 34 homers. However, I don’t believe Pete should get a long-term deal. While he is only 29, you have no idea if his worsened numbers are the result of too much pressure of upcoming free agency or an actual decline. 2-3 years max, maybe an opt-out would work, so if he shows more signs of a decline, the Mets won’t be trapped on a long deal and there’s a possibility to trade him. The only issue here is his agent, Scott Boras, will be looking to get Alonso as much money as possible. This hurts the Mets chances of getting Pete back on a shorter deal.
Jose Iglesias-This one is tough for me. While the Mets turnaround did begin when he came up, I do not believe the Mets will be bringing Jose Igelsias back. Jose started the year off in the minors. After being injured in 2022 and basically out of baseball, the Mets gave him a contract with a chance at seeing a major league field again. With a solid bat, great speed, and Platinum Glove-level defense, he was perfect for the time being, but I do not believe he fits on a team that is trying to contend, especially with Ronny Mauricio coming off an ACL tear and Vientos becoming the everyday 3rd baseman. There is simply no space for him the infield and his bat is not good enough to be a DH. At the end of the day, I do not have a personal preference whether they bring Jose back or not, as he could be a solid backup. However, I doubt the Mets will give him a contract.
J.D Martinez- As for the 37 year old DH, there is no spot for him left on this team. J.D did a job in June and got hot when the Mets needed him, but since then he has been extremely lacking. JD has announced he plans to continue playing, but if the Mets want to have a competitive group of hitters, JD cannot be on the roster. He is aging, his bat has declined, and he doesn’t play defense. I don’t believe he will be back nor do I want him to be back.
Jose Quintana- Quintana is another one who is aging. Just two years younger than JD at 35, Quintana was incredibly mid during his Mets career. Being injured for the first half of the 2023 season, he returned after the all-star break and posted a 3.57 ERA in 13 starts. In 2024, he posted a 3.75 ERA in 31 starts. For some starts, he was decent, others he threw batting practice. However, during the playoff push in September is when he shined. In the month of September, he posted a 0.72 ERA in 4 starts. Being practically unhittable, he helped the Mets get over the hump and make it to the playoffs. However, with his constant inconsistency, I don’t believe the Mets will sign him. Looking to build a competitive rotation, he doesn’t exactly fit on one and will only get worse with age.
Ryne Stanek- The Mets weakest point was their bullpen. Plagued with injury, Stanek was acquired via trade at the deadline. His first few outings went horribly, and he struggled for the rest of the regular season. He was looked at by many as a poor acquisition. However, he turned it around quickly and was solid in relief for the Mets in the postseason. However, with the bullpen likely being gutted and rebuilt, Stanek must go. I don’t want to see him back, and he likely won’t be back.
Harrison Bader-Bader started off hot with the Mets. The former Cardinal, Yankee, and Red signed a one-year deal with the Mets in the wintertime. His bat was solid for the first few months, but slowed down and eventually died as the season went on. His defense was top notch which got him the majority of the starts in center, but it was hard to acknowledge that during his offensive struggles. Bader’s glove can only get him so far, he needs to be more consistent with the bat. With the massive amounts of outfielders on the market this offseason for the Mets to choose from, I don’t believe Bader will be coming back to Queens, nor do I want him to.
Sean Manaea- Sean was by far the best 2024 offseason acquisition made. Another struggling SP, Manaea signed a one-year deal with the Mets looking to bounce back on a noncompetitive team. He started off the season roughly and once again was struggling. That’s when he decided to change his arm angle and imitate NL Cy Young frontrunner Chris Sale. Since then, Sean has been the Mets ace and go-to guy. He seems to have found his groove and pitched some gems in some extremely high-leverage games. An all-around solid LHP, I believe the Mets will be bringing back Manaea, as he has already expressed how much he loves being a Met and his interest in coming back.
Luis Severino- Yet another struggling SP who was looking to find his groove again, Severino was once a flamethrower and dominant SP for the Yankees. However, in recent years, he battled injury. Still an all-around solid guy, Severino entered the 2023 season and was absolutely horrible. In 19 starts, he posted a 6.65 ERA in 89 innings pitched. The Yankees, going all in on 2024 did not debate giving up on what was once a solid SP. So the Mets who were doing the opposite of the Yankees, picked him up and had their pitching staff work with him. Severino says he changed his mechanics as well as his sleeping and eating habits, and this led to a huge bounceback season for the RHP. I believe Luis can be a solid back end of the rotation guy on a competitive team. However, it depends on if he and the Mets can come to an agreement moneywise. Severino will likely test the waters of Free agency since this is his first true free agency. Last year, his offers were minimal due to his horrific 2023 season, but this year many contending teams will likely give him offers. I would love to see him return and think it is highly possible he and the Mets come to an agreement.
Adam Ottavino-I promise you he will not be coming back. Ottavino is 38 coming off of a season where he recorded a 4.34 ERA in 56 Innings pitched. The Mets are trying to build a competitive bullpen, and guys like Ottavino are not competitive pitchers and the fact that he is almost 40 doesn’t help his case. I am confident he won’t be back.
Jesse Winker-Last but not least, we have Jesse Winker, who just a few years ago was taunting Mets fans while with the Reds. Now? “It’s a dream come true”-Jesse Winker. It is obvious that the OF wants to return to New York. After raking against the Mets on the Nationals all first half, he was public enemy number one in the eyes of Mets fans. This agenda did a full 180 in the course of one night, as the Mets acquired him for a pitching prospect. His bat started off cold, but after adjusting, Winker became a solid hitter. He ended up winning the hearts of Mets fans after hitting a walk off tank against the Orioles, and spiking his helmet toward the dugout. Winker became a spark plug for the team in the playoff push and during the playoffs. I believe he’s the type of guy to give you a 3 year deal. Winker personality is similar to the likes of Bryce Harper and Trevor Bauer-if he’s on your team you love him. Not on your team? You can’t stand him. With a great bat, personality, and love of being a Met, there is no reason why Jesse Winker should not return to the Mets. I believe the Met’s will bring Jesse back.
The Mets will look a lot different than how they did in ’24. Some key guys will be on the team, but look at it this way: The Mets will shed as much dead weight as possible and add on as much as they can. Unlike last year, where they went in signing guys for cheap that were expected to be traded, the Mets will hand out some long-term deals to big-time players in hopes to build a future for the organization.
