On Wednesday, David Stearns, the president of baseball operations for the Mets, expressed optimism about the team’s prospects in 2024, stating that he thinks they will be better than many observers think.
“One of the really fascinating parts of my first weeks on the job was talking to a bunch of our players, and they were trying to convince me how good they are,” Stearns said, speaking on the Foul Territory streaming show. “And I was like, ‘No guys, I get it.’ This is a talented group we have here, and we’re going to add to it, and we’re going to be a good team next year.”
The Mets’ 40-man roster saw 13 new players added by Stearns during his first winter as manager of baseball operations. These players included several bullpen pieces, a new starting centre fielder, and three-fifths of the team’s expected rotation. Enhancing a team that ended 75-87 the previous year was the aim.
“I think the guys who were on the team last year believe that the group that was here last year and the group that we have going forward is significantly better than what the win total from 2023 would demonstrate,” Stearns said. “And I think there are a lot of reasons for that. I think a lot of people in baseball would believe that as well. So I really don’t think I have to convince anyone.”
In a relaxed but comprehensive discussion on Foul Territory, Stearns talked about a number of additional topics, such as:
A possible extension for Pete Alonso
“Pete’s a really good player. He’s performed on a big stage here for a long time. I know that. We all know that. I know how important he is to our fan base. I think where we are right now and where Pete is, everyone’s going to focus on this year. The best thing for us is for Pete to have a great year, and the best thing for Pete is for Pete to have a great year, and then we’ll go forward from there. But we’re certainly invested in trying to keep Pete a Met, and I’m hopeful that over time we’ll be able to work that out.”
The organization’s search for Yoshinobu Yamamoto
“Look, we gave it our best shot. I think as an organization, we did pretty much everything we could. I thought it was a good process, a fair process. And ultimately the player chose to go to L.A., which I respect. But we’re going to go through these types of pursuits in the future, and there are going to be times when we land the player. And that will certainly be exciting for us.”
The (probable) choice of Mark Vientos as the primary DH by the Mets
“I am a firm believer philosophically that we have to let young players play, that we have to allow young players to experience success and setback at the Major League level, that that’s how we learn, that that’s how we get better. So we have to provide room on our roster for that to happen. And that’s not only this year. That’s going to be going forward as well. We’re going to want to have our young players who have performed well in Triple-A to have the opportunity to perform in the big leagues and get meaningful playing time.”
Next week in Port St. Lucie, Florida, Stearns is expected to address a broader group of media members on a number of additional themes related to the 2024 Mets.