Offseason Review: New York Mets

New York Mets

It's relatively difficult to assess with any real accuracy how the Mets performed in this offseason because it seems like they still have work to do. The Mets are in an interesting place franchise-wise and kind of remind me of the Nationals a few years ago. Lots of young, developable talent that has yet to prove itself; but no realistic ambition of contending immediately. That being said, there are still a few loose ends in the bullpen and off the bench that need to happen and an major extension for David Wright that needs to prove itself worthwhile.

David Wright
Lovin' the game.

It's almost impossible to disagree with extending a player with franchise status such as David Wright. He's given the Mets an all-star performance in all but one of his eight seasons, as well as two gold gloves, two silver sluggers and a 30-30 performance. Not too shabby. The problem being that he's a little older, has a little bit of a history with injuries and is playing in the difficult-to-inspire role of being the cornerstone in a franchise that isn't poised to be do a whole lot in the immediate future. This hasn't discouraged Wright from expressing a desire to stay with New York for the remainder of his career, and my guess is he'll repay Sandy Alderson for his $140MM investment.

Travis d'Arnaud
Centerpiece in the Dickey trade

It's pretty unlikely for a team in the Mets position to make several major moves in one offseason, but after 38 year old R.A. Dickey's unlikely Cy Young season, that's just what needed to happen. The Mets appeared to be willfully inactive on a ripe market for Dickey through early December until he made his displeasure for that inactivity known. The Mets struck a deal with the hyperactive Blue Jays and shipped Dickey, Josh Thole and Mike Nickeas for fine young catching prospect Travis d'Arnaud as well as Noah Syndergaard, John Buck and Wuilmer Becerra. The bounty hauled in by the Dickey trade is an unexpected and well-played boost for a team in need of rebuilding.

Ike Davis
I haven't mentioned him at all in this post but he looks
a LOT like a young Bruce Springsteen, right?

The Mets aren't going to make the playoffs next year and probably not for a couple years after that. The NL East of today is the AL East of yesterday. Every other team with the exception of the stupid ass Marlins looks like they are at least capable of contending for the next several years, forcing the Mets to be at least marginally docile. With players Frank Francisco as the incumbent closer and Lucas Duda, Collin Cowgill and Kirk Nieuwenhuis heading up the outfield, it's clear that the Metropolitans need some bandage additions to even breach relevancy; but they are proving to be competent in their plans for the future. Expect the Zach Wheeler and Travis d'Arnaud era to be an exciting one in Queens, but until then expect to see a few consecutive second to last seasons for New York.