The free-agent signing of Bo Bichette gave the Mets an offensive piece they have been badly missing, and Tuesday’s late-night commerce for heart fielder Luis Robert Jr. not solely lengthened the lineup nevertheless it strengthened the protection as nicely.
If the Mets can get one other beginning pitcher, an offseason that after regarded misplaced might find yourself changing into one in every of their finest in years.
In fact, it’s not about having an excellent offseason. If not one of the items that have been acquired over the winter match collectively come April, then not one of the grades or predictions even matter. However the items do look like falling into place.
“We’re still having pitching discussions,” president of baseball operations David Stearns mentioned Wednesday at Citi Subject. “I’ve been open about that. Whether we get something over the line or not? I don’t know, it’s really tough to predict. Three days ago, if you had asked me, ‘Are you going to acquire Luis Robert?’ I would have said I don’t know. And we were able to pull off a trade last night. So these things literally can either move forward or back with one phone call or one text.”
The Mets would nonetheless like so as to add one other beginning pitcher. A frontline starter would drastically enhance their projections for 2026, however even a depth starter would make an influence.
“I’ve been clear: My preference would be to add a starting pitcher,” Stearns mentioned. “That remains my preference. It doesn’t mean it’s a certainty that we’re going to do it, but yes, that would be my preference.”
The offseason hasn’t precisely gone based on plan. The Mets thought nearer Edwin Diaz could be returning and have been shocked when he determined to go to the Los Angeles Dodgers as a substitute. They made a proposal to proper fielder Kyle Tucker, top-of-the-line hitters within the sport, for $50 million a 12 months, solely to see the Dodgers beat it by $10 million a 12 months.
Nonetheless, it hasn’t gone based on plan for the 29 groups who don’t play in Los Angeles County (the Angels, who play in Orange County, don’t rely, regardless of town they declare for his or her identify). The beginning pitching market has barely moved, and with lower than a month till pitchers and catchers report back to spring coaching, three of the highest beginning pitchers are nonetheless available on the market, Framber Valdez, Lucas Giolito and Zac Gallen. Valdez and Gallen have qualifying presents connected to them, that means any crew that indicators them must forfeit draft picks, which might make it harder for them to seek out massive contracts.
Milwaukee Brewers ace Freddy Peralta hasn’t been traded, and neither has two-time Cy Younger Award winner Tarik Skubal.
The Mets have been in search of pitching all alongside, however they couldn’t precisely wait round for the market to maneuver. That they had too many different holes they needed to fill on the roster. Bichette fills a giant one, providing right-handed safety within the order for Juan Soto, and Robert fills an much more essential one.
True, two-way heart fielders have gotten uncommon. The Mets didn’t get a lot offensive manufacturing from Tyrone Taylor final 12 months, however wished to maintain his elite outfield glove. When wholesome, Robert is pretty much as good with the bat as he’s his glove.
Robert isn’t far faraway from a 5+ WAR All-Star season. In 2023, he hit .264 with a career-high 38 house runs and posted an OPS+ of 130. He got here in second place in AL Rookie of the Yr Award voting in 2020, and hit .338 with a .946 OPS in 2021.
However he solely performed in 68 video games that season, and 98 the 12 months after. A myriad of accidents have stored him off the sector. In current seasons, his manufacturing dipped. The Mets, who tried to commerce for him on the deadline final season, are hoping to maintain him wholesome and productive.
“I feel good about where our position player grouping is, but at this point in the offseason, you can never predict what’s going to happen,” Stearns mentioned. “Different things emerge. We’re not going to close the door to anything, but where we stand right now, and you feel good about our position players.”
