To improve as the 2024 Mets, the Mets must make some roster additions this offseason, either through trades or free agents.
As they should have, the New York Mets and their supporters were full of hope for the 2023 season following a fantastic 2022 campaign. But after the team dreadfully underperformed in the previous campaign, the Mets must overhaul their roster this offseason by bringing in free agents or making trades in order to guarantee that the Mets of 2024 are superior to those of 2023.
The Mets fired out of a cannon in that 2022 season after playing below.500 ball for four of the previous five seasons. Since the Mets’ historic 1986 World Series victory season, they have won 101 games, the most by any team in that franchise in a single season.
Regretfully, in 2023, that enthusiasm was quickly tempered. Despite starting the 2023 season with a 14-7 record, the Mets struggled with injuries and ended up 42-48 at the All-Star break. The losses kept coming in. The Mets amassed so much that, in 2022, a year after winning 101 games, they made the decision to sell at the trade deadline, parting with Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander, who they had just signed as a free agent.
But that was in 2023. Pitchers and catchers will be reporting before anyone knows it, and Spring Training will suddenly start. But free agency comes first. With Steve Cohen as their new owner, the Mets haven’t held back when it comes to making bold free agent signings in an effort to strengthen their team. That most likely will also be the case on this occasion. What specifically should the Mets do to support their team in 2024 and beyond is the question.
Add more starting pitching
The first place the Mets could look to improve is with their pitching. Justin Verlander was excellent with the Mets during his brief pit stop there. He posted a 3.15 ERA, a 1.14 WHIP, and a 2.2 WAR during his 16 starts as a Metropolitan. Max Scherzer wasn’t as robust in New York, but he was still solid. His 4.01 ERA was high, but his 1.19 WHIP and 2.1 WAR across 19 starts was nothing to complain about.
The Mets’ other marquee pitching signing, who stayed with the team for the whole 2023 season, was fantastic as well. That would be Kodai Senga, who ended the 2023 season, his first in the big leagues, with a 2.98 ERA, a 1.22 WHIP, and a 4.5 WAR across 29 starts (16 of which were quality starts) and 166.1 innings pitched.
Those guys contributed solidly to the Mets’ pitching, but they didn’t contribute much else. With a 4.31 team ERA, the Mets were 19th in the Major League Baseball. In addition, they had the 18th-best opponents’ batting average allowed (0.248), the 21st-best WHIP (1.36), and the 16th-best strikeout total (1,398) in the league.
The Mets also did not receive a lot of individual contributions. Only one starting pitcher—Jose Quintana—had an ERA of less than four among those who pitched for the Mets in 2023 and finished the season on their roster.
Joey Lucchesi and Jose Butto did have a 2.89 ERA and a 3.64 ERA respectively, but did not meet that innings threshold. No starting pitcher who ended the season with the Mets had a WHIP below 1.2.
In 2024, the Mets will need to demand more from their starting pitchers. Fortunately, free agency offers an abundance of targets to pursue. Shohei Ohtani is one option, of course, but he might not be able to pitch in 2024. But there are plenty of excellent starting pitchers to pick from beyond him.
These include, among others, former Met Marcus Stroman, Blake Snell, Sonny Gray, Jordan Montgomery, Lucas Giolito, James Paxton, Jordan Montgomery, Jack Flaherty, and former Japanese sensation Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The Mets have no real reason not to sign at least one of those players. They require a pitch, and Steve Cohen enjoys blowing money. That is an effective way to find free agents.
More consistent hitting
The Mets had no trouble hitting for power in 2023. With 215 home runs hit in the season, they were ranked tenth in the Major League Baseball. However, the regularity with which they reached base had an effect on their cutting lines. The Mets’ batting average (.238) and on-base percentage (.316) were the 20th and 26th highest in the Major League Baseball, respectively, so their slugging percentage (.407) and OPS (.723) were tied for 18th place in the majors. Their season total of just 717 runs scored put them in 20th place in baseball.
The only Mets players to bat above.250 last season were Jeff McNeil, Francisco Lindor, Tommy Pham (before the Mets traded him to the Arizona Diamondbacks), and Brandon Nimmo. Although having players who can each hit at least 24 home runs in a season—Nimmo, Lindor, Pete Alonso, and Francisco Alvarez—is nice, it doesn’t mean much if other runs aren’t being scored. The Mets require more reliable batters.
Fortunately, free agency offers a variety of options. The Mets would benefit greatly from the addition of someone like Teoscar Hernandez, Whit Merrifield, JD Martinez, Cody Bellinger, and/or Lourdes Gurriel Jr. All of those players, with the exception of Merrifield, not only had batting averages above.250 but also hit at least 24 home runs in the previous campaign. They are the kind of players who could significantly contribute to the Mets offense becoming more reliable in 2024.