The NY Mets Face Tough Offseason Free Agent Decisions
The New York Mets enter the MLB winter offseason with an urgent need to make smart decisions that could reverse the team’s fortunes in 2022. After holding the №1 spot in the National League until the 2021 All-Star break, the Mets fell apart as they slid down the rankings until a 2–1 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers destroyed their hopes of ending a five-year playoff drought.
While injuries and the departure of two general managers share part of the blame, the Mets must address some severe deficiencies in player personnel, particularly in the outfield. So, after the front office selects a new director of baseball operations and a new general manager, they can start filling the roster gaps by dealing in both sides of the free agency pool.
Mets Free Agents — Who Should Stay?
Fourteen Mets players are eligible to become free agents in 2022. Although there are valid reasons for re-signing all the players on this list, the following four players stand out:
Marcus Stroman: By all means, 30-year-old Stroman is a keeper. The 5’7, 180-pound pitcher carried a 3.02 ERA and led the team in starts, proving he’s a solid #3 pitcher. Although he had a 10–13 record in 2021, Stroman had only 44 walks with an impressive 158 strikeouts. His only fault is he tends to be streaky. Regardless, the main question is how much the Mets are willing to pay to keep him.
Michael Conforto: 28-year-old Conforto had a disappointing injury-plagued season in 2021, but his past play and his potential make him an asset for the Mets organization. Despite a poor 2021 showing, the 6’1, 210-pound outfielder has proven he is an integral part of the Mets system, and he is hard to replace.
Javier Baez: Although 28-year-old Baez wants to return to the Mets, Chicago Cubs fans would love nothing better than to have the 6’1, 190-pound second baseman back in the Windy City. In July 2020, the Cubs sent Baez and Trevor Williams to the Mets for Pete Crow-Armstrong. Since then, Baez has become an offensive threat that the Mets would sorely miss.
Noah Syndergaard: This 6’6, 242-pound pitcher sat out almost two seasons with a torn ulna that required surgery. However, in his first post-surgery game, Syndergaard pitched a perfect inning against the Seattle Mariners. His performance reminded Mets fans why he is one of Major League Baseball’s most awesome starting pitchers. Plus, he has an impressive 3.31 ERA.
Open Market MLB Free Agents
Out of the many voids in the Mets’ roster, the outfield demands the most attention. There is a possibility that Michael Conforto could reject the Mets’ one-year, $18 million compensatory offer and leave town.
If this happened, the remaining outfield would leave Jeff McNeil, Dom Smith, Brandon Nimmo, Jose Martinez, and Kelvin Pillar under contract. Also, the minor league pool is at least a year away from providing any support.
Taking all this information into account, this list of free-agent candidates could become valuable additions to the Mets’ roster.
Nick Castellanos: Most insiders expect this 29-year-old Cincinnati Reds outfielder to pass on his current deal and enter the free-agent market this winter. If the 6’4, 203-pounder signed with the Mets, Castellanos would instantly become the top dog in the batting order. His 2021 stats included:
- 100 runs batted in
- 34 home runs
- .309 batting average
- .362 on-base percentage
- .939 on-base plus slugging
The negative line on Castellanos is he struggles defensively at right field, and he comes with a high price and a forfeiture of a 14th overall draft pick.
Kris Bryant: Signing 29-year-old Kris Bryant could bring a regular third baseman or a replacement for a possible departing Conforto. The 6’2, 230-pounder’s capability of becoming a full-time outfielder would allow the Mets to pursue free agents who could fill other thin spots on the roster.
Chris Taylor: The 31-year-old Dodger is one of those second-tier players with great potential. In game 5 of the 2021 National League playoff series, the 6’1, 196-pound outfielder went 4-for-4 with three home runs and six RBIs. He also holds the Dodgers’ record for most RBIs in elimination games. For these reasons, Taylor should be looking for more than the $7.8 million he received for the 2021 season.
Eddie Rosario: You might recognize 30-year-old Rosario as the Atlanta Brave who hit the three-run homer that sent the Dodgers home and sealed the Braves’ first pennant win since 1999. Over six weeks, Rosario tied the post-season record with 14 hits, three home runs, and nine RBIs. Plus, the 6’1, 180-pound left fielder was named the 2020 National League Championship Series MVP. At present, the Mets have a significant need for a left fielder.
Looking Toward the 2022 Season
The Mets front office has a lot of decisions to make. However, the free-agent market can help the Mets fill many of the playoff-killing voids that contributed to the mid-season collapse in 2021.
