Owner Steve Cohen of the New York Mets held interviews with members of the media both prior to the team’s Opening Day matchup with the Milwaukee Brewers and following what many felt to be an underwhelming offseason.
“I think what we’re building here is something that’s sustainable,” Cohen explained on Friday, as shared by John Healy of SNY. “I’ve talked about our farm system being a lot better and you need a combination of veterans and young players to make the roster work. You can’t just do it all through free agency. The numbers don’t work.”
In the past, Cohen has signed big-name players to large contracts over the fall and winter, including co-aces Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer and shortstop Francisco Lindor. The Mets had the largest payroll in baseball going into the 2023 season, but Cohen allowed a pre-trade deadline fire sale that included prospects for Scherzer and Verlander because the team was struggling both on and off the field.
Cohen allowed Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns to concentrate on depth-related acquisitions this past winter when two-way phenom Shohei Ohtani and Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto chose the Los Angeles Dodgers in free agency
“I’m encouraged by what we’re developing,” Cohen said on Friday. “I’m encouraged by how we’re making our players better – in the farm system and up here, too – and I’m encouraged by what we’re building organization-wise that is the type of stuff that creates an elite team.”
Earlier this month, Stearns hinted that the Mets will eventually “take our shots” when it comes to free agency. In particular, as Juan Soto starts his walk year, the Amazin’s have been frequently mentioned in speculations in relation to the outfielder for the New York Yankees.
Some were shocked when, toward the end of spring training, the Mets signed designated hitter J.D. Martinez to a one-year, $12 million contract. Cohen stated on Friday that, given the Mets’ need for a bat, getting Martinez “was an opportunity that we just couldn’t pass up,” according to SNY’s Robert Sanchez
“The problem with free agency is you’re dealing with an agent curve,” Cohen added about the club’s philosophy. “… Over time you get a declining performance and yet you’re still paying for that. But we have to find a blend that works. I don’t want to spend money for the sake of spending money. I want this organization to be run efficiently. I want it to be run professionally.”
PECOTA forecasts shared by Baseball Prospectus shortly before the Mets’ opening day forecasted that the 2024 team will record about 83.4 wins. Theoretically, a campaign this poor could encourage Cohen to go big-game hunting in autumn.