The New York Mets' offseason starts with their David Stearns pursuit. But after a long 2023 season, that's merely when the work begins.
The New York Mets are one of the most fascinating teams headed into the offseason.
On one hand, they are easily baseball's most disappointing team in 2023. They entered the season with a record payroll, a star-studded roster, and World Series expectations. They then traded Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer at the deadline, had extensive conversations with other teams about Pete Alonso, and traded a plethora of other players on the roster. They would appear to be a roster headed toward a retool, with Cohen and general manager Billy Eppler telling Verlander and Scherzer that the team was building for the 2025 season.
On the other hand, Mets team owner Steve Cohen likes to spend money. A lot of money. More than any owner in baseball history. It's hard to envision him sitting on his hands while Shohei Ohtani, arguably the best player in baseball history, is a free agent and able to sign with any team.
It will be another busy offseason in New York. Here's what Cohen, Eppler and the Mets should do.
MLB RumorsL Will Mets hire David Stearns?
This should be the Mets' first order of business. Because hiring Stearns as president of baseball operations could single handedly change the outlook of the franchise's next decade.
Stearns, TK, is as good as any veteran executive in baseball. He consistently got the Brewers to the postseason with limited resources and in a small market. He built one of the best homegrown pitching staffs in baseball, which is something that is important to Cohen. He built a strong culture in Milwaukee and was universally respected by all of his peers.
Stearns is someone that the Mets, who have struggled with leadership in recent years, have prioritized. He has been Cohen's No. 1 target since he revealed that he wants a president of baseball operations. He was unable to talk to him because Brewers owner Mark Attanasio blocked Cohen from doing so.
But Stearns stepped down as Brewers president of baseball operations in the winter of 2022. He is still technically under contract with the team through the 2023 season, but was recently allowed to talk with other teams – and reports suggest that he is already far down the road in negotiations with the Mets.
And that would be a franchise-altering hire.
Likelihood: 8.5/10.
MLB Rumors: What about a Mets Shohei Ohtani pursuit?
With the Mets signaling that they were building for 2025, it seemingly ruled out their chances for Ohtani.
But that said, it's still difficult to see Cohen sitting still with Ohtani on the market. It's not in his DNA. Not when a player of Ohtani's magnitude is available, even with a torn UCL that is likely to keep him off the mound until 2025.
An Ohtani-to-Mets scenario should still be viewed as unlikely. Ohtani wants to win, and win now, especially since he hasn't been to the postseason. The Mets are unlikely to provide that in 2024 while teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers, Texas Rangers and others will offer Ohtani a chance to compete in 2024 and beyond.
Look for Ohtani to sign elsewhere this winter and for the Mets to spend their money elsewhere.
Likelihood: 1.5/10.
MLB Rumors: Will Mets fortify the rotation?
Entering 2023, the New York Mets' rotation was really talented, but also on the older side with Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, Jose Quintana, Carlos Carrasco and Kodai Senga.
That rotation, besides Senga, has blown up. Verlander and Scherzer were traded. Quintana missed the first half of the season with an injury. Carrasco has struggled mightily and was placed on waivers in late August, but went unclaimed despite numerous contending teams needing pitching.
So it's no surprise that with so many questions in the rotation, the early buzz is that the Mets will prioritize pitching upgrades in the winter. It's just unclear who they will pursue, especially with it being unknown who will be running the front office (though all signs seem to point toward David Stearns).
There are some clues that could indicate what they will be looking for, however. They are intent on building their farm system, so signing a pitcher who is attached to the qualifying offer would seem to be a no-go. They want to build for the future, so signing an aging pitcher wouldn't make sense. They want to have long-term financial flexibility, so signing one of the big-name pitchers could be difficult.
The Mets will be in the pitching market. It just won't be in the same capacity as it was in recent offseasons.
Likelihood the Mets add a pitcher: 9/10.
