What was supposed to be a transitional year for the Mets turned into a Cinderella campaign. They got stronger as the season went along and snuck into the playoffs, eventually reaching the NLCS. Now, they are set to lose a huge batch of players to free agency. That gives them plenty of holes to fill but a massive amount of spending capacity, meaning just about anything is possible this winter.
Guaranteed Contracts
- Francisco Lindor, SS: $224MM through 2031 ($5MM deferred annually)
- Brandon Nimmo, OF: $121.5MM through 2030
- Edwin Díaz, RHP: $55.5MM through 2027 (includes buy-out on '28 club option; Diaz can opt-out after '25; some money deferred)
- Kodai Senga, RHP: $42MM through 2027 (deal includes conditional opt-out after '25 and conditional club option for '28)
- Jeff McNeil, IF/OF: $33.5MM through 2026 (includes buyout on '27 club option)
- Starling Marte, OF: $19.5MM through 2025
Option Decisions
- Sean Manaea, LHP: $13.5MM player option
- Phil Maton, RHP $7.75MM club option with $250K buyout
Total 2025 commitments (assuming Manaea opts out and Maton is bought out): $119.25MM
Total future commitments (assuming Manaea opts out and Maton is bought out): $496.25MM
Arbitration-Eligible Players (projections via Matt Swartz)
- Paul Blackburn (5.018): $4.4MM
- Luis Torrens (4.105): $1.1MM
- Tyrone Taylor (4.093): $2.9MM
- David Peterson (4.089): $4.4MM
- Alex Young (4.085): $1.4MM
- DJ Stewart (3.144): $1.7MM
- Sean Reid-Foley (3.133): $900K
- Tylor Megill (3.031): $2.1MM
Non-tender candidates: Blackburn, Torrens, Young, Stewart, Reid-Foley
Free Agents
- Pete Alonso, Jose Quintana, Luis Severino, Harrison Bader, J.D. Martinez, Brooks Raley, Adam Ottavino, Ryne Stanek, Drew Smith, Jesse Winker, Jose Iglesias
David Stearns was hired to be the president of baseball operations just as the 2023 season was winding down. That was a disappointing year for the Mets, as they had raised hopes with a strong 2022 season and then spent big in the offseason. But things fell apart and they ended up selling at the 2023 deadline, including sending out future Hall of Famers Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander.
Scherzer indicated to reporters that he agreed to be traded to the Rangers because he was told that 2024 would be "a kind of transitory year" for the Mets. The first offseason under Stearns seemed to reflect that, as the Mets backed away from the massive spending sprees that characterized previous winters. They did sign ten free agents, but nine of them were one-year deals and the only exception was the two-year deal for Sean Manaea, which came with an opt-out after year one.
The Mets got out to a rough start in 2024, losing their first five games. They had a record of 24-33 at the end of May. But everything turned around from there, as they went 65-40 in the final four months of the season, nabbing a Wild Card spot and going on a nice postseason run. Now the questions are about what's next.
Since the club gave so many short-term deals recently, a huge chunk of their roster is now heading to free agency. There's also some dead money coming off the books. The Scherzer and Verlander pacts are now done, as is their four-year James McCann deal. (He played the final two seasons of that pact in Baltimore, with the Mets covering most of the salary.) Stearns will have plenty of work to do in the next few months, but he should have a massive amount of spending capacity available to him.
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It’s interesting to note that both the Mets and Padres spent BIG on free agents in ’23, but didn’t get any real results until they chopped off some big salaries and more evenly spread out their payroll for 2024.
The back half of even a 4 year deal with Alonso will be ugly. I don’t think the Mets bring him back
Pete’s clearly a useful player, but his $200M asking price is ridiculous considering he’s probably the Met’s 3rd or 4th best player. Lumbering sluggers just don’t carry the value they once did.
That should be on Alonso’s baseball card: Lumbering slugger
So other than Lindor, who’s the others 2 or 3. Vientos did it 1 year, so not him, he has to do longer. Nimmo disappeared in the second half. Martinez too. So who let’s the team leader in HR/RBI walk. Who. He’s on the doorstep of breaking the Mets all time HRS/RBIS records. Steve is building history that’s why Doc/Darryl #s were retired. 2 players who drugged their way out the league
metfan4ever;
Excellent post again.
Rule #1 in the adult world:
If one puts their values on other people, more times then not you’re going to be wrong and upset.
–
I like Pete. He has shortcomings. Where his body will be in 3-5 years….I don’t know. But I exercise quite a bit as an old man, and although I talk to many doctors and trainers I don’t have access to the caliber of people Mr. Alonso does. From what I’ve seen, Pete is a dedicated physical workaholic. He’s 29 years-old. It wouldn’t surprise me if he was still playing at age 40. Many players do if they keep themselves in shape.
And you are correct – his value to the Mets goes well beyond WAR or any other stat. His HR against the Brewers Devin Williams – as he fouled off pitches waiting for the inevitable changeup – was masterful. To me he’s easily one of the most intense players in MLB (and very probably THE most intense) and has been for years.
Joe Morgan (the ballplayer, not the manager) often said: “The only statistic in MLB that matters is your teams W vs. L”. Pete Alonso shows up every single game wanting (badly) for his team to win. I can name you 2 dozen big name highly-paid “superstars” in MLB that don’t.
He has a tendency to show up in post season play. Somebody’s gonna pay him.
Samuel
Pete Alonso shows up every single game wanting (badly) for his team to win.
=======================
How do we know this? Is there a stat that differentiates him from others?
“How do we know this? Is there a stat that differentiates him from others?”
Joe;
LOL
Is that some sort of joke?
Watch the games.
Pete is happy when his team wins even if he had a bad or so-so game. He’s not happy when he had a good game but the team lost. Call it Body Language or whatever.
–
You really think there’s a stat that revels team players vs. me-first players. Or do you think those 2 type of players don’t exist?
@metsfan4ever
I agree with you, and even chuckled when I saw that statement of Pete “…probably the Mets’ 3rd or 4th best player…” I’m curious who are all these better Mets players than Pete because the only argument can be made for Lindor, and most of their time as teammates, Pete has been the guy with performance – not Lindor until really this year. Who else? Vientos has a lot more to prove. And Nimmo? LOL! Not at any moment of both of their careers.
Um, I’m a fan of an opposing team – an opposing team that even has turned Alonso into an all-or-nothing guy against us, but I will say that Pete is one of the most dangereous bats in MLB. While he looks like Dave Kingman at times, he’s one of the few guys in MLB that just needs to get enough of the bat on the ball to hit it out of the park, and make a major impact in games. Look at Pete in these terms. There are only a handful of guys in all of MLB that make every single park look small. The guys that are that for the most part are Shohei, Judge, Stanton, Harper, Soto, Yordan Alvarez, and Pete Alonso. While Alonso may not be the same hitter as most of these guys, you are careful with pitching against him every much as you do those guys, because you know he’s one of these few that doesn’t necessarily need to barrel it up to hit it out.
With this said, I do agree that he’s asking for a large price for what he is, but the reality is that he very likely comes close to it from someone feeling they can use that type of bat in the middle of the order. And another reality is, that if the Mets try to shortchange him, he’s headed elsewhere…and I’ve said it before, watch out for the Astros and the Braves as very strong landing spots due to regional loale to his home in Tampa. If the Rays or Marlins were willing to spend in the vicinty of Pete’s pricetag, I’d be guaranteeing he would be headed to one of them, but since they won’t, keep an eye on Houston and Atlanta. And as a fan of a NL East team, it would really suck if Pete went to the Braves to DH with the rest of the lineup they have in place. It would really suck.
Agreed, but how replacing his production with all that cash?
The Mets could consider moving Vientos to 1b or could look into the market of Christian Walker, who’d cost less than Alonso, but is a better all around player. Personally, I’d target Walker and leave Vientos at 3b.
If money isn’t an option, why wouldn’t you consider Bregman, upgrading defensively at 3B, pushing Vientos to 1B — suppressing his def, where he’s below average already at 3B? Think about how much a left-side IF of Bregman/Lindor would help pitchers, where they have a lot of work to do in the rotation.
I get Bregman is tied to a previous scandal, but winning heals all wounds.
Because the Mets have 4 quality young 3b. No chance of signing a 3b.
Walker is 4 years older and only had 1 100 rbi seasons. That doesn’t replace Pete. He cost less because he’s a lesser player. That weakens the Mets not improves the Mets. The Mets paid a ton of money to get rid of Max/Verlander/Cano/McCann and more. Now they are off the books.
Bergman is going nowhere, the Astros will re-sign him. Plus that contract won’t age well either.
Santander and Teo Hernandez combined might cost similar to Alonso alone in total dollars
Offer him 2 yrs with a team option for a 3rd year. If he balks let him walk
that makes no sense
I can see a four-year deal working out fine. It’s anything beyond that which can be a problem.
His extra base hits per year is probably the most consistent in baseball. It’s 65-70 a year. This talk of dramatic drop offs is just hot air especially in 2 seasons.
Jumping into the C Walker dialog. I love the player, hits, defends, leads, intangibles. However, he comes with some issues. First, probably QO attached. Second, oblique injury in 24 coupled with oblique injury history. I’m not seeing C Walker on the Mets.
Pete Alonso is an iron man if nothing else. 4/$112 million. $28 AAV.
Trade for Yandy Diaz. The lineup will have enough power from other hitters. Dump Jeff McNeil $33.5 million for expensive pitching. Trade for Yandy and Brandon Lowe, and perhaps Zack Littell. Gonna have to give up some young players and prospects for those 3. I wonder what Tampa would want.
metsin4
Heard of an interesting stat…..
On balls either: 1) Thrown in the dirt by a teammate (pickoff throw by a pitcher or throw by one of the infielders); or 2) Hit on the ground by an opposing player to the 1B, Alonso has far and away the highest percentage of those balls being caught.
Not a stat geek. But when I heard that one it registered. He does work hard on his D.
And they don’t calculate that in defensive metrics for first baseman. It’s the most important part of playing first.
@samuel and metsin4
Exactly, and is one of the reasons i dont put as much stock in defensive metrics. Theres noticeable subjectivity there that leads to a lot of variance. Pete isnt nimble but he can pick throws w the best and that does save outs.
I think the mets will either offer 5 in the 115-120 range or maybe go the 6th year for 130-135. The 6th year would be a mistake imo but i think both sides want him back.
Also, if they can get him to go back to his RF approach like in his Devin Williams AB and the HR vs the phillies after that, he can go back to 250+ 40-100 very quickly.
Don’t know how anyone could look at the Mets current roster, their ability to spend, and the direction Stearns is pushing them and not think pending dynasty. Pennants and rings coming to Flushing in the very near future.
Depends on what you mean by dynasty. It’s become a bit of a watered-down term. The last dynasty in baseball was the ’96-‘2003 Yankees with six pennants and four world championships.
I guess you can have divisional dynasties, although I don’t recognize them. The current Dodgers fit that description. The Braves fit that when they won 14 consecutive division titles. . The current Astros fit that. A dynasty needs to be recognized up front, meaning they’re the team to beat every year. They then go out and back it up and win multiple championships. It’s a very small list.
“Pennants and rings”…I usually root against both NY teams, but I do hope you’re right. Baseball is better(and healthier)when both NY teams are relevant and winning.
The last subway World Series was in 2000 and the national TV ratings went through the floor.
Also, the Yankees have never had “world championships” anywhere other than Murica, F@&k Yeah!
A subway series would be bad for ratings. It’s one city. A big city with lots of fans, but it would turn the rest of the country off. A Dodgers-Mets NLCS and a Yankees-Dodgers World Series is what the TV networks wanted, and this year they got it.
ChuckyNJ: What a colossally dumb post.
Why not just make baseball political?
You sound like a fan of the film “Team America: World Police.” (One of my favorites.)
SonnySteele: Never heard of it.
If it was NY and LA in the World Series every year it would be a problem, but this hasn’t happened in 43 years. Last year we had Rangers-D’backs. It’s good to have the big teams in the final show, as long as it’s not always. The current structure of the baseball playoffs pretty much guarantees no team will dominate. There’s good in that, and there’s bad in that. But it’s not going away.
Multiple rings? Get a single ring first, then talk about more.
This is a bit like discussing a marriage before getting a partner.
Don’t forget the prenup before the first date.
Keep smashing your skull against that turnbuckle my concussed friend.The got hot at the right moment mets are about to get a wake up call, kind of like the pitchers did against the dodgers.
Yes they got hot from June til October. I guess it’s just luck to be the best team in baseball for 5 months.
Ha getting hot at the right time is for mediocre teams. OMG the dodgers are 1 win away.
Just because they can spend a ton of money, that doesn’t mean that the Mets will do so. I imagine Stearns is far too smart to blow his load on everything available on the market. He’s done way more with less with the Brewers, he’ll probably stop Cohen from being impulsive.
Well he did say he was going to probably spend most of the money coming off the books yesterday. He isn’t going to make dumb moves but he sure isn’t going to not make moves to save an owner money that doesn’t want to save it. I’m not sure why fans want Cohen to stop spending money so bad.
This right here. There are certain things that Stearns will spend on (they made a huge offer to Yamamoto and will surely make one to Soto). But he’s not going to be a drunken sailor like the prior regime. I would expect several mid-size move before anything major.
The last regime wasn’t drunken sailors either. They signed a few high dollar contracts that were only a couple years long. It was meant as a stop gap until they could improve their farm system. They won 101 games in the first season and the second season didn’t work out on the field but allowed them to dramatically improve their farm system. The spending did what it was intended to do until they got into a situation they are in now. A good farm system with lots of money to spend.
Agree… Soto is exactly the kind of player they will go overboard for. 26 YO and a top 5 MLB bat – they’ll make a huge offer. This will likely mean no staying below the tax threshold, but how many times does a Soto quality player come along at that age? Once every 5-10 years?
Gimme Kyle Tucker after 2025. Push the Soto dollars up for the Yankees but save the cash for Tucker.
Guerrero would be a better signing then Tucker next year.
Bring back Alonso and Quintana. Pick up an outfielder. Go get Burnes.
Hells no to Quintana.
No, just no to Alonso.
Maybe Burnes, should he command less than some think (at around 28 mil per season).
Q is a terrific #5. Depth. Affordable depth. A player who wants to be on the Mets. More Q.
No way. Mets are going to try to lower luxury tax obligations and are not going to spend 15+ mil on number 5 starter. Not happening.
Alonso is not leaving. The Met’s are owned by a Met’s fan who understands how the fan base is. There’s basically no chance he plays for another team, at least right now.
Oh he is gone. No way to address the rotation and possibly make a run at Soto with Alonso being part of the 2025 Mets. Boras will try to leverage Mets all he wants, but the polar bear will price himself into a late signing.
Mets fans will miss Alonso but the team will be competitive without him. It will only be an issue should team have a bad season. Vientos will move to first. Baty holds down third until whenever Mauricio returns to health. Hopefully a revamped outfield with reworked rotation/bullpen.
If the Mets sign Soto…fans wouldn’t care as much. Definitely sell more tickets and new Soto gear
Cashman won’t let Soto get away. Pete stays a Met.
Even if Mets lose on Soto, I don’t see Pete as a Met in 2025.
Soto is coming to Queens. Sherman and Klapisch have hinted that Cohen will not be outbid.
I do believe this
I can see that, but the Yankees will have the final bid. It’s a question of if Steinbrenner will opt to match it. They’re already paying Soto $31MM a year. I can’t see them letting Soto leave because they can’t dig up an extra $20MM a year, and then it’s. down to where Soto wants to play. He seems to love playing for the Yankees.
Soto is going to wherever the most money is. That’s been his MO from the beginning and it hasn’t changed now.
Yes, but all things being equal he wants to be a Yankee, and they will have final opportunity to match any bid. The question is will Hal Steinbrenner do that. Unknown.
They also said he wouldn’t be outbid for Yamamoto. The Yankees weren’t going to be outbid for Ohtani (the first time). The Giants refused to be outbid for Judge. And on and on.
Reporters just love to say a team “won’t be outbid” to get people excited when there is no news. You fell for it.
Yes. Judge wanted to be a Yankee, but he used the market to get his price. Yamamoto wanted to be a Dodger, but he used the market to get his price. Soto will use the market to get his price, so then it comes down to where he wants to play.
He wants to be wherever pays him the most. It’s been that way in SD, WAS, and now NYY.
He’s going to the Mets, just accept it.
Soto is not leaving the Yankees. The Mets will be used like they have in the past for him to get the highest bid, but he will stay with the Yankees, especially if they win the WS. As a Mets fan I would rather see them spend the money elsewhere on pitching and Alonso or Walker as I can see Soto becoming Stanton 2.0 one day. I realize that Walker is no Alonso, but with the emergence of Vientos as a big clutch bat, I think they can get by for a couple of years with a Walker until Ryan Clifford is ready for the majors. He projects as a big bat first baseman.
Why all the BIG love for Alonso (homegrown) but he’s not worth $30 mil per for 7-8 years and with Boras as his agent they’re going for the most $$. I think with a full year Vientos can put up those #’s that Alonso gives and we save $29 mil a year lol to invest elsewhere.
I don’t know maybe because he’s been the 3rd most prolific homerun hitter in his first 6 seasons in MLB history and that’s with a pandemic season.
Pete shows up in post season play. Keep him.
@jvent I wouldnt offer him a penny more then what Schwarber got from the Phillies. Arguably the same in terms of offensive production
Schwarber is going to have a very aav after next year if he produces a big year again.
@LFGMETS Sometimes I can go months without responding to your garbage but this one irked me for some reason so:
“I wouldnt offer him a penny more then what Schwarber got from the Phillies. Arguably the same in terms of offensive production”
You can SAY its arguable but that doesn’t make it so. They’re not the same offensive player; full stop. Schwarber is better in nearly offensive categories with fewer ABs ….. ok …. but then you double down by stating you’d completely remove Pete’s defense from the equation. Why would you do that? Why would anyone just say or do that?
That’s such a silly sentiment, to just arbitrarily remove a facet of this persons MLB caliber talent for no reason.
INB4 you say Pete sucks at defense; he’s hovering around league-average defensively but he’s top-tier at picking balls so yeah your inability to grasp nuance is incredible.
@Don’tBeDumb Put Schwarber at first base and he will provide the same defensive value as Alonso. The truth is that Alonso is barely above a net negative. There are plenty of guys that are free agents that could provide the same level of production as him while making a lot less. Heck I could see someone like C.J. Cron putting up identical
numbers for 1/20th of the price
Oh I see where the disconnect is here: I was assuming we were being rational. It’s irrational to just assume CJ Cron is ab offensive replacement for Pete, he hit 12 honeybee. It’s irrational to just assume Schwarber is a defensive replacement for Pete. It’s lazy to just label Pete as a “net negative” because of -1DRS and assume whoever replaced him would be an improvement. There are facets of playing baseball not represented by DRS such as ability to receive throws via scoops/picks where Pete is #1 across baseball
And a $150 million only committed for 2025, with no longer paying for people to not play for them…
Leaves lots of room for the right additions…
Stearns didn’t spend all that much money last offseason and you saw how much more productive his dollars spent were than the previous regime.
Mets will be in the mix constantly if he’s running the show.
Stearns is smart, and understands that it’s not always the “Glamour” signing that wins pennants. He will be disciplined in his acquisitions.But he does have the backing to financially go after any player he thinks is the future of the organization.
He also has an owner that’s willing to do what is necessary… that also includes cutting losses and absorbing monies with players that are not a benefit to the future..
Resigning Alonso is an absolute must for the Mets.
Cinderella season? Get outta here with that crap. They had the highest payroll in baseball. Mets try and buy their way into the playoffs every year, just like the Padres. That’s what happens when you’re a poorly run organization that can’t develop their own players.
Let me guess, your team was beat by the Mets and you’re still a little sore over it…
There’s been new management in town for the last year, and it showed with this year’s results, so you better get used to the Mets beating your team on a regular basis. The Mets now have a well run organization and they are developing their own players, and plan on doing that on a sustainable basis into the future.
They developed alonso nimmo vientos alvarez so they can develop players, but hoping for higher percentage of offensive impact guys moving forward. Theyve always had a good history of developing SP.
Slight quibble with the site. When you click on the Offseason Series link on the right hand side, it should bring you to the list of teams and hyperlinks to each, vs. the long doom scroll to find the team you are looking for.
Seems this has been addressed! Thank you.
“Who’s the other 2 or 3″…By Fangraph’s W.A.R statistic(for those who trust analytics)Pete Alonso was tied for 6th(Severino) on the Mets at 2.1 W.A.R He trailed Jose Iglesias(2.5), Sean Manaea(2.8), Mark Vientos(2.9), Brandon Nimmo(2.7) and Francisco Lindor(7.8).
And at least 2 of those position players(Vientos, Iglesias)accumulated more WAR than Pete Alonso in significantly less ABs. I’m sorry about suggesting that Pete was the 3rd or 4th best player on the Mets. He’s actually their 6th best(tied with Severino)player according to W.A.R
Now you can’t read the whole article unless you pay for it. PHUKOFF “Rumors”. I don’t need this garbage anyway
1. It’s far from garbage. Probably the best-written baseball content anywhere. 2. $29 for an annual sub is too steep? Please!
Spend money on pitching. Lots and lots of pitching. Oh, and a 1B.
Couple things: Marte is no longer above average defensively and isn’t great offensively either; I wouldn’t be so sure about pencilling him in as the every day right fielder. A platoon with McNeil might be the best bet. Please do not wish another go round with Michael Conforto for us, please. Talk about unrealized potential! The NY papers used to lather us up with articles pondering whether the upcoming year was going to MVP year…sure. Beautiful swing, though. With McNeil, Mauricio and Acuna and possibly Baty in the mix for 2b/3b, your idea of shifting Vientos to first if Alonso leaves is a good one.
I actually wouldnt mind conforto in a platoon with marte. But conforto prob wants more money than theyd be willing to go and likely wants to play FT.
You forgot that Peterson took a big step up this year. Solid #3 type starter.
Having listened to David Stearns end of season press conference, some of the things I took from it are that they are going to give Pete Alonso his time to see what the market will bring him, and then let him make his choice if he wants to come back. I don’t think Pete gets the recognition he deserves on defense. Anyone who considers him below average defensively hasn’t watched him play for any length of time. He’s not top tier, but he isn’t a below average defender either. He will get paid somewhere.
If Pete does move on,I would say that 1B will be filled internally, by Vientos. This will open up an opportunity for Baty, or Ronnie Mauricio to man 3B. Acuna will make this team next season. Mr. Stearns has stated in the past that players like McNeil, and Acuna, who play multiple positions in the infield, and outfield make roster construction easier. They will take advantage of this with Acuna, and McNeil on the roster. I’m hoping they will bring back Iglesias, as he was a big part of the culture that has formed in this clubhouse. He was here to be a backup, until McNeil got hurt. He would serve perfectly in that role again.
The outfield is an interesting issue. I’m not as convinced as everyone else is that they will pursue Soto. I go back and forth on this, but Soto is not a good defender in RF. He is a great offensive player. He’s not a good defensive player. Not really what I would call a “David Stearns” kinda acquisition. But he is what the Mets need in the lineup. Then there’s Drew Gilbert, who got hurt in AAA early last season, and has been struggling offensively since returning from the IL. As of this writing, Gilbert is batting. .171 in the Arizona Fall League, with a .767 OPS. Will Gilbert be able to get it together in time to make the team out of spring? How much faith do the Mets have that he could be ready? There aren’t many good options for CF right now, so the Mets may have to think hard about Soto, and resigning Bader, or promoting Gilbert. Acuna is also an option in CF. The biggest question become what do you do with Marte, and what is his role? They aren’t going to sign Soto, and make him a DH. They are going to play him in RF. Nimmo is going to be in LF. McNeil, Marte, and Taylor are also in the mix here. McNeil isn’t going anywhere. Good utility players are hard to find, and McNeil is one of the best. Tayloris younger, and less injury prone than Marte. It’ll be interesting to see how this plays out.
As far as a 2nd catcher is concerned, that can also be addressed in house, and with a free agent signing, or bringing back Torrens.
And pitching, I know they will go after a top tier FA starting pitcher, maybe 2. It is certainly not out of the question that Burnes, and Fried will be looked at. Burnes and Stearns in Millwaukee together could be good, or bad, but landing Fried, and taking him away from the Braves would be an excellent coup. Helping your own team, while weakening a competitor is a bonus that I don’t think will go by the wayside. At the very least, making the Braves have to pay extra to get their guy back helps the Mets cause. Manaea needs to be back as well. And let me not forget about Brandon Sproat, who was promoted to AAA Syracuse, struggled a bit, and started putting it together, who could also be an option.
And that bring us to the bullpen. Stanek is a no brainer to bring back. And they should pick up Maton’s option, if he wants to be back. Or pick it up, and trade him. Maton didn’t do well in the post, but he was very good getting us there. I’d take him back in a heartbeat. There are so many relievers on the market, I think Stearns will have to go through, and see who has the best stuff, and makeup to pitch in NY.
I do think the Mets have spending limits. I do not think that Mr. Stearns, or Mr. Cohen want to be in the “Cohen” tax bracket, if they can help it. Paying a 110% tax on all salary above…is not sustainable for anyone who wants to build a strong, and perpetually competitive franchise. They will be a competitive balance tax team, for sure, this season. How expensive it gets depends on Alonso, Soto, and what they do with the rotation.
I’ve got a feeling they’ll let Alonso test FA and once he’s come down to earth they’ll toss him an extra one or two million a year above the market to come back