The New York Mets currently face a pivotal offseason. After falling short in 2022, the team enters 2023 with World Series aspirations.
They have a strong foundation with core players already in place. That said, this is still a baseball team with some holes and in need of two to three quality signings this free agency.
Below, in this mock free agency, a few players at positions of need across the roster who could be in the Mets’ plans will be discussed.
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New York Mets mock free agency:
Mets re-sign Jacob deGrom:
The Mets and Jacob deGrom are able to reach on a three-year contract. The average annual salary will eclipse $40 million per year. But, the Mets are able to keep the duration with deGrom’s age and injury concerns, shorter term.
All indications from past and former teammates of deGrom have clearly made known that he is indeed happy with the Mets.
Now, it comes down to the two simply meeting in the middle on a contract. Sure, there will be multiple suitors strongly interested in deGrom. However, should the Mets offer him slightly more than what they gave Scherzer a year ago, they could very well end up retaining him on the three-year deal they seem to desire.
The Mets cannot exit this offseason without a prime starting pitcher under contract. Keeping their own, in deGrom, should be the top goal for the Mets this free agency period.
Mets land Trea Turner:
Along with an elite starter, the Mets need one prized bat this offseason as well. Few out there are better and make sense for the Mets than Trea Turner.
The young 29-year-old will get at least five years and likely comfortably surpass an average annual salary of $30 million per year. For a win-now team in need of a consistent bat, the value is there for the Mets, even at such a steep price.
Turner, by most accounts, prefers to play on the east coast. Obviously, in this scenario, he would move to second base with Francisco Lindor at short. In turn, Jeff McNeil would likely go to right field and Starling Marte to center, as in this predicament, the Mets would lose Brandon Nimmo.
Turner is a pure hitter with a presence the Mets need atop the lineup. Over the last two years, he has also shown great progress in terms of power, hitting 49 home runs.
Mets sign Kodai Senga:
Another investment to keep the starting rotation a clear strength of the Mets. Billy Eppler, who has had success luring Japanese pitchers like Masahiro Tanaka and Shohei Ohtani, lands Kodai Senga for the Mets.
This gives the Mets a top four to the rotation of deGrom, Scherzer, Senga, and Carlos Carrasco. A group more than capable of getting the job done.
The Mets have met with the prized free agent. With Chris Bassitt’s future status with the team unknown, the Mets have got to be ready to pivot and keep the middle of their rotation stable.
Mets sign Taylor Rogers:
Without argument, the bullpen of the Mets has to be addressed with at least one quality arm this offseason. Here, they come away with one of the better left-handers on the market.
Taylor Rogers is 31 and coming off somewhat of an uncharacteristic year in which he had a 4.76 ERA. However, over his seven years in the MLB, he has a career ERA of 3.42.
The Mets need to add some proven arms in front of Edwin Diaz in the bullpen to take the next step in the postseason next year. Rogers did post a 3.35 ERA in 2021, which led to an All-Star appearance. He would bolster a weak Mets bullpen.
All in all, to re-sign deGrom, sign Turner, Senga, and Rodgers would, at the very least, be solid for the Mets this free agency. The first and third starting pitching roles are musts to come away with. At least one difference-making bat at the top of the lineup has got to be signed. Lastly, adding a proven left-handed reliever in Rogers would give the Mets a needed upgrade to their bullpen. The Mets will have the money at their disposal and need to be ready to spend big.