In a season the place the aim was merely to achieve the playoffs, the New York Mets did one higher by coming inside two wins of reaching the 2024 World Collection.
Their journey ended with a 10-5 loss to the Dodgers in Sport 6 of the Nationwide League Championship Collection on Sunday at Dodger Stadium. However the run additionally opened up many potentialities for the Mets’ franchise within the close to future.
“Clearly it stinks since you wish to maintain going, however I simply instructed the blokes how proud I used to be due to not solely we turned a extremely good staff, we turned a household,” supervisor Carlos Mendoza mentioned late Sunday night time. “And now we raised the bar. Expectations now, that is what we must always attempt for yearly, to be enjoying deep into October. And we confirmed that this 12 months.”
COLUMN:How the Mets’ 2024 season will likely be remembered for its awe-inspiring run
Will probably be a busy offseason for a staff constructed on prove-it offers. Most of these gamers, together with Sean Manaea and Luis Severino, nicely exceeded expectations to assist the Mets obtain unexpected heights.
Because the Mets’ season involves an finish, listed here are the most important questions going through the staff coming into the offseason:
Will Pete Alonso re-sign with Mets?
It’s the largest query for the Mets, however it is going to additionally ship ripples all through the baseball panorama.
Pete Alonso is ready to develop into an unrestricted free agent as soon as the season ends after making $20.5 million in his last season of arbitration in 2024.
The Mets are the one staff Alonso has recognized since he was drafted out of the College of Florida within the second spherical of the 2016 MLB Draft. If Alonso stays, he has the possibility to be one of many all-time greats within the historical past of the franchise. He’s already third all-time with 226 house runs and sixth with 586 RBI.
How a lot inventory do the Mets put in Alonso’s profession tenure with the staff? In a contract 12 months, he posted considered one of his worst seasons with a .240/.329/.459 slash line with 34 house runs, 88 RBI, 31 doubles and 172 strikeouts. However he rose up within the playoffs and delivered a few of the most memorable house runs in staff historical past.
Alonso employed Scott Boras, who squeezes all he can for his purchasers, however first basemen haven’t historically obtained the identical cash as different positions of worth. He loves New York, however will that affinity outweigh a large payday?
How will Mets bolster the beginning rotation?
When David Stearns got here on board because the Mets’ new president of baseball operations, he methodically crammed within the gaps on the staff’s roster with short-term choices that may assist present some monetary flexibility into the long run.
That meant some gambles in bringing in Severino and Manaea. Severino had handled accidents since 2019 whereas Manaea was making an attempt to reassert himself as a reliable starter following a season break up between the rotation and bullpen with the Giants.
Each of these pitchers far exceeded their expectations, with Severino going 11-7 with a 3.91 ERA and 161 strikeouts in 182 innings, and Manaea changing into the Mets’ ace with a 12-6 file, 3.47 ERA and 184 strikeouts in 181.2 innings. Jose Quintana, who was in his final season of his deal, was regular down the stretch.
Severino is an unrestricted free agent, and Manaea has a $13.5 million participant choice that he’s prone to decline.
They’ll want one other top-of-the-rotation arm in the event that they plan on persevering with to contend. On the books for subsequent season, the Mets have Kodai Senga, David Peterson, Paul Blackburn, Tylor Megill and Jose Butto.
Will Mets attempt to signal Juan Soto or different big-time free brokers?
Because the 2024 season attracts to an in depth, quite a lot of massive contracts are coming off the books for the Mets. Notably, Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander, who have been owed a mixed $57.1 million this season, will not get a pay verify.
In line with FanGraphs, the Mets’ current payroll is estimated to be round $160.7 million heading into free company. Some notable arbitration eligible gamers are Blackburn, Peterson, Tyrone Taylor and Luis Torrens.
With some wiggle room financially, will Steve Cohen open the verify ebook for a few of the largest free brokers on this cycle? The largest title is Juan Soto, who, at 25 years outdated, is due for a large payday to rival that of Shohei Ohtani, who obtained 10 years, $700 million from the Dodgers.
The largest title on the pitching aspect is Corbin Burnes, who was acquired by the Orioles for some big-time prospect capital. He’s anticipated to get the most important deal on the pitching aspect.
How good can Mets’ younger expertise be in 2025?
Mark Vientos made a large splash through the 2024 season.
After some uncertainty about how Vientos would fare at third base, he rose to the duty and have become one of many Mets’ most beneficial hitters in 2024, posting an .837 OPS with 27 house runs, 71 RBI, 22 doubles and 58 runs. However the place does that go away Brett Baty, who noticed time at second base and the outfield at Triple-A Syracuse, subsequent season?
Luisangel Acuña made a shocking late-season debut for the Mets following an harm to Jeff McNeil and flashed some promise by going 12-for-39 (.308), with three house runs, six RBI and 6 runs in 12 video games. He made the playoff roster and noticed time at second base, however is he actually prepared for a daily position.
The Mets’ different high two prospects, Jett Williams and Drew Gilbert, handled injury-riddled campaigns within the minor league system. In the meantime, Brandon Sproat surged onto the scene to seize Minor League Pitcher of the 12 months honors, rising to Triple-A Syracuse.
Ronny Mauricio, who confirmed off his explosive energy throughout his 2023 debut, is ready to return from an ACL harm subsequent season.
With loads of younger expertise on the minor-league ranges, spring coaching ought to be an thrilling time for the Mets heading into 2025.
Who will likely be within the Mets’ outfield?
With Bader slated to move again into free company, the Mets have Brandon Nimmo, Starling Marte and Taylor underneath staff management for 2025.
After working via a bone bruise in his knee late, Marte had a powerful 2024 marketing campaign and rose up within the postseason. He had a .707 OPS with 9 RBI within the playoffs. However he’ll be coming into his age-36 season and has handled accidents the previous three seasons.
Nimmo is the staff’s long-term left fielder. He delivered a career-high 90 RBI this season regardless of a career-low .224 batting common. His sturdiness, as soon as a priority, has been confirmed in recent times, and he battled via plantar fasciitis within the playoffs.
Taylor was a nice shock, enjoying high quality protection throughout the outfield, and offering a much-needed spark with a .701 OPS through the season. However can he deal with an on a regular basis position transferring ahead?
A method or one other, whether or not it is via their minor leagues or free company, anticipate the Mets to again up this unit in some capability heading into 2025.