NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 12: Juan Soto #22 of the New York Mets poses for a photo during the Juan … [+]
The New York Mets can’t escape the fact they finished in 3rd place in the highly competitive National League East.
Last year, the Mets finished with a record of 89-73, or 6 games behind the division winning Philadelphia Phillies.
The Mets are trying to make up those 6 games, and overtake the Phillies, and the Atlanta Braves.
The Mets have had a very busy, and expensive offseason, as they try to catch their National League rivals.
According to spotrac.com, the Mets tax payroll now sits at $321,456,449, which places them behind only the Los Angeles Dodgers in tax payroll at this point in time.
The Phillies have a tax payroll of $298,928,770, and rank third, behind the Mets.
If their tax payroll isn’t reduced, which isn’t likely, the Mets will be over the highest threshold of Major League Baseball’s Luxury Tax levels.
Those levels are $241 million, $261 million, $281 million, and $301 million.
The Mets are hoping their new additions for 2025 will catapult them to the top of the National League East, and even into the World Series.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JULY 03: Clay Holmes #35 of the New York Yankees in action against the … [+]
Mets New Additions/Re-Signing for 2025:
Juan Soto-RF-Age 26-signed to a 15-year, $765 million contract, with an opt out after 2029.
Pete Alonso-1B-Age 30-returned to the Mets on a 2-year, $54 million contract, with a 2026 player option.
Jose Siri-CF-Age 29-traded from the Tampa Bay Rays and signed to a 1-year contract as an arbitration eligible player. Siri has arbitration eligibility in 2026, and 2027. He will be eligible for free agency in 2028.
Nick Madrigal-INF-Age 28-signed as a free agent to a 1- year contract as an arbitration eligible player. Madrigal has one year of arbitration eligibility remaining, before he can become a free agent in 2027.
Frankie Montas-RHSP-Age 31-signed as a free agent, with a 2-year, $34 million contract.
Montas is currently shut down due to a high-grade lat strain. And that’s the type of injury that could haunt the Mets rotation.
Clay Holmes-RHP-Age 31- signed as a free agent, Holmes was a reliever for the New York Yankees. The Mets are converting him to the rotation, on a 3-year, $38 million contract.
A.J. Minter-LHRP-age 31-signed as a free agent to a 2-year, $22 million contract.
Griffin Canning-RHRP-Age 28-Canning has starting experience, and was signed to a 1-year, $4.25 million contract.
With the exception of All World Juan Soto, the other offseason additions to the Mets have had mediocre and varying degrees of success in their major league careers.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – SEPTEMBER 30: Francisco Lindor #12 of the New York Mets looks up as he returns to … [+]
Mets Offense:
Facing the Mets lineup will be no walk in the park for any pitcher.
fangraphs.com projects the Mets opening day lineup to be:
Francisco Lindor-SS
Juan Soto-RF
Pete Alonso-1B
Brandon Nimmo-LF
Mark Vientos-3B
Jess Winker-LF (as part of a platoon with Starling Marte/Tyrone Taylor)
Francisco Alvarez-C
Jeff McNeil-2B
Jose Siri-CF
-Soto will lead the offense, coming off hitting 41 homers, scoring 128 runs, driving in 109 runs, and walking 129 times for the Yankees.
-Lindor hit .273 with 33 homers, 107 runs scored, and 91 RBIs. He stole 29 bases
-Vientos is a budding star-he hit 27 homers, and drove in 71 runs
-Frankie Alvarez is a very tough out, and hit 11 homers
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 20: Starting pitcher Sean Manaea #59 of the New York Mets pitches … [+]
Mets Pitching:
That’s the area this old scout believes will cause heartburn for the Mets.
The rotation, according to fangraphs.com includes:
Sean Manaea-LHP-Age 33
Kodai Senga-RHP-Age 32
Frankie Montas-RHP-Age 29 (currently injured)
David Peterson-LHP-Age 29 (could replace Montas)
Clay Holmes-RHP-Age 31
Paul Blackburn-RHP-Age 31
It is an experienced staff, but they are getting up in age.
-Manaea has had injuries in his past, but he made 32 starts last year, and should be fine. He’s a solid starter.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 12: Kodai Senga #34 of the New York Mets looks on before the game from … [+]
-Senga made only one start last year, as he suffered from a strain in his throwing shoulder. For this writer, he remains a risk. A huge risk.
-Montas has a long history of injuries, including:
2024- forearm issues
2023- shoulder issues
2022- shoulder and hand issues
2020- back issues
It is the shoulder problems that are of concern to this old scout. Barking shoulders have a tendency to recur. Shoulder pain is very, very difficult to treat.
And now he is hurt again.
-Holmes has been a reliever- How will he perform in the rotation? That’s an unknown.
-Blackburn made only 14 starts last year between Oakland and the Mets. He is already dealing with back issues this spring.
Can that rotation keep the Phillies and Braves in check?
The bullpen is solid enough with Edwin Diaz, and Minter holding down the high-leverage back-end roles.
But like the rotation, age is catching up a bit with the pen.
Conclusions:
The Mets have really bolstered their offensive attack with the presence of Soto. Retaining Alonso was crucial as well.
If Lindor, Nimmo, Vientos, and Alvarez continue to hit as this writer thinks they will, the Mets will score plenty of runs.
In the end, It may all rest on the arms of the Mets pitching.
