Two recent MLB moves we hoped the Mets would participate in, and two we’re relieved they stayed away from.

The Mets were not involved in these decisions. Some things we are grateful for, but not all of them.

The majority of MLB rumors this season has found the New York Mets sitting on the bench. The entire roster has to be upgraded significantly. A number of noteworthy transactions that might have included the Mets have occurred in the past several days.

Which other pair are we happy the Mets were able to observe from a distance, and which two are we jealous of?

Would that Lucas Giolito was signed by the Mets.

Imagine becoming upset that the Mets were unable to sign Lucas Giolito. Seeing him sign a contract with the Boston Red Sox was how a lot of people felt. We understand if you were among those who vented on social media or tweeted about it.

Giolito was the only free agent pitcher who made the most sense for the Mets. Undoubtedly a rebound prospect and a seasoned player, a brief commitment fit the 2024 strategy flawlessly. The Mets are now left with fewer desirable options inside the same range. Many are significantly less experienced or call for a deal that is longer than the two years he could have received from Boston.

Giolito was the guy to land, but to continue with the idea of players who potentially exceed their contracts, he wouldn’t have ensured the Mets remain a contender. Hopefully we learn a little more about why Giolito ended up in Boston instead, if only out of curiosity, and hopefully not out of a need to keep our sanity. Did he or did we do it?

Fortunately, we don’t have to travel far from Boston to make a move that we’re relieved the Mets decided against.

We are happy that the Mets did not rely on Chris Sale.

We’re happy the Mets avoided making the same trade that the Braves did. The Braves traded Chris Sale to the Red Sox for infield prospect Vaughn Grissom. A transaction that only Brodie Van Wagenen would not hesitate to make—a pitcher well past his prime still getting laid down big money. He most likely would have forfeited whichever Mets prospect ended up being the greatest in the long run or taken on more of the money.

although the Mets had added Sale, this would have been a headline move for their offseason, although not a very exciting one. In recent years, he has struggled to maintain his health. He wasn’t even very good last season, when he made 20 starts for the first time since 2019. He was much more approachable at 6-5 with a 4.30 ERA, even though his stat sheet had some respectable results elsewhere.

Only $10.5 million of Sale’s contract will be covered by the Braves, which is a great deal given how much more so many starting free agents are getting. It’s almost half of what Giolito will get from Boston.

This may make sense for a team like the Braves. It wouldn’t have been the answer the Mets were searching for.

Would that Lourdes Gurriel Jr. was signed by the Mets.

You might accept or reject this action, eh? Nonetheless, the Mets would have at least taken care of one of their more pressing needs right now if they had signed Lourdes Gurriel Jr. In the end, the Arizona Diamondbacks offered him a $42 million, three-year contract to move back to the desert. Too much time? Overdoing it? The Mets’ desire to make this signing stems from their inability to make other moves.

In left field, David Stearns has an opportunity to make an even better play. Doubts do really increase with each day that goes by. Gurriel wouldn’t have even acknowledged when the shopping was over. Teoscar Hernandez and Jorge Soler are two corner outfield DH possibilities whom the Mets might have signed just as easily as Justin Turner. Gurriel was the team’s first choice for left field. Whoever else assumes the role of DH.

This ball club has become silent in the outfield market. The persistent push to bring in a starting pitcher and the rumors that they are investigating a full-time DH have taken center stage. How about an outfielder is added? Is Tyrone Taylor truly going to be here on Opening Day?

Kevin Kiermaier will cost the Toronto Blue Jays $10.5 million a year to play center field. A little pricey for a player who gets hurt a lot and whose bat doesn’t always match his defensive prowess, maybe you would have rather to see the Mets sign him. Whatever it is, it’s getting to be too much to handle to always see DJ Stewart entrenched in the Mets depth charts.

Gurriel would have provided some relief from the idea that the ball club was subpar.

We’re happy Frankie Montas wasn’t signed by the Mets.

A roster can only have so many rebound candidates. With Luis Severino, the Mets made their decision a long time ago. Another pitcher the Mets may have looked at this summer is Frankie Montas, who struggled and was later placed on the disabled list by the New York Yankees. He agreed to a $16 million agreement with the Cincinnati Reds over the weekend, so they will not get their chance.

The debate among Mets supporters about which Oakland Athletics pitcher to acquire before the 2022 season seemed to have happened just yesterday. After selecting Chris Bassitt, they got one of the best one-and-done seasons in the history of the club. With one more season left on his contract, Montas stayed in Oakland until the Yankees traded for him in the middle of the season. After eight starts, his 3.18 ERA shot up to 6.35 as he abruptly collapsed. The suffering would come to an end in 2023 when Montas made just one appearance with the Yankees.

Even though Severino’s selection is dubious, at least he has been excellent for a far longer time. Given that Montas has only played in 100 innings in two seasons and is already thirty-one years old, his durability is a serious concern.

This offseason, the Mets need to finish their starting rotation with a player they can genuinely believe will play all the way through. It explains why supporters were so clamorous for Giolito.