New York Mets: Sandy Alderson will prioritize free agents over trades

The New York Mets are not too far off from being a contending team. They have an amazing offensive core in place, so much that losing Robinson Cano for the whole 2021 season can be fixed by just sliding Jeff McNeil or Andres Gimenez as the full-time second baseman. Their offensive depth is very good, especially in the infield.

However, ever since the Mets welcomed new owner Steve Cohen and president Sandy Alderson, the new regime is clear that some improvements are needed if they want to make a deep playoff run next year and leave behind the awful 2020 experience.

The New York Mets need an ace to pair with Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard, once he regains full health. A reliever or two should also be a priority, as is adding a starting catcher, another depth starter, and maybe an outfielder capable of playing center.

Cohen and Alderson have made it clear that while they won’t spend for the sake of it, they are more than willing to flex the Mets’ financial muscle if it means the roster will be improved.

What will the Mets do?

Alderson offered a bit more clarity about the Mets’ winter plans in an interview with Jim Bowden and Jim Duquette on MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM.

“We expect to be somewhat active in the free agent market as opposed to the trade market. We don’t want to give up our young guys,” Alderson said, noting that the Mets plan to “recommit to our farm system and try to stay away from…our really prospects in significant trades.”

While those remarks don’t entirely dismiss the possibility of adding someone via trade, they do imply that the Mets aren’t likely to bring Francisco Lindor from the Cleveland Indians.
In the last couple of years, under Brodie Van Wagenen, they traded prospects Jarred Kelenic, Justin Dunn, Simeon Woods-Richardson, and Anthony Kay, among others.

“There are only two currencies in baseball: players and money,” Alderson said. “Right now, especially in the upper levels of our system, we don’t have the players. We have some money at this point. So, we’re going to sort of balance those two things.”