Eleven members of the New York Mets officially hit free agency after the World Series ended on Tuesday. The number is the highest among major league teams, and it signals that the Mets have lots of work to do to put together a team capable of competing with the best of the best.
Outfielders Yoenis Cespedes and Jake Marisnick, infielders Jed Lowrie and Eduardo Nunez, catcher Rene Rivera and pitchers Jared Hughes, Rick Porcello, Erasmo Ramirez, Marcus Stroman, Michael Wacha and Justin Wilson are all hitting the market, free to sign with any team of their liking.
Of course, the New York Mets are expected to retain at least some of them. They will presumably try to sign Stroman, and they could use the services and versatility of Ramirez, who had a good season in 2020.
What will the Mets do?
The Mets are not expected to bring Cespedes or Lowrie back, while the rest of the group are possibilities to return. The team needs relievers, so it is possible that Hughes and Wilson come back if the price is right for them.
According to MetsMerized.com’s Jacob Resnick, the Mets have until 5 p.m. ET on Sunday to tender the $18.9M qualifying offer to Stroman, which they likely will, and make decisions on the 2021 options.
Robinson Chirinos ($6.5M, $1M buyout) Todd Frazier ($5.75M, $1.5M buyout) and Wilson Ramos ($10M, $1.5M buyout) all have club options, but the Mets probably won’t bring them back at those prices.
Dellin Betances ($6.8M, $3M buyout) and Brad Brach ($2.425M, no buyout) have player options, and both of them stand a great chance of being exercised.
As you can see, the hot stove season is about to begin. For the New York Mets, it will be under the guidance and leadership of a new ownership group led by Steve Cohen, and with former general manager Sandy Alderson as the team president.