Going into this season, no one could make heads or tails on what the Mets were going to be. They were coming off a miserable 2023, which saw the team underachieve, finish with a 75-87 record, and miss the playoffs. For a team that had World Series aspirations, this was extremely disappointing. So much so that they sold off pieces like Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander and restocked the farm system.
However, this team was only two seasons removed from a 100-win season, as well as a wild card berth. Plus, the majority of the hitting core was still intact. Guys like Francisco Lindor, Pete Alonso, and Brandon Nimmo were all back and set to have a big season. They were also getting back star closer Edwin Diaz after missing all of 2023 due to a torn patellar tendon. If the starting pitching could hold the Mets could get back to 2022 form.
So far the Mets have been a mixed bag. At the beginning of the season, this Mets team was struggling. They started 0-5 and looked like it was gonna be a long season. However, they were able to rally and get back to .500. That has been the tale of the entire season. It’s been streaks of really bad baseball, followed by getting back to .500. This plus a weak National League has made many question what the Mets should do at the deadline.
Why The Mets Should Be Buyers
Although the Mets are 28-37 and 17.5 games behind the Phillies for first, they’re a lot closer to the postseason. They’re only 3.5 games out of the final Wild Card spot. Although there are six teams in front of them, all of them also have losing records. This means the Mets need one big hot streak and they could quickly jump those teams and sit in the final Wild Card spot.
Plus the record isn’t an accurate statement of how the Mets have been playing. Their record in one-run games is 12-8. Yes, they have an above .500 record in those types of contests. But at the beginning of the season, they dropped a lot of those games. If even half of those games went the Mets’ way, they would only be a half-game out of the last spot. They also have lost six games when leading after eight innings, and have a record of 3-7 in extra innings. This shows that this team has problems closing out games.
The Mets offense has also been on a tear since the middle of May. On May 18th, the Mets decided to shake up their lineup by moving Lindor into the leadoff spot and sliding Nimmo down to the three-hole. It was the jolt that this lineup needed. Since then, they have averaged an MLB-best 4.9 runs per game. They also rank in the top two in several other offensive categories. This means the offense has come alive and is playing up to expectations. If the Mets were to add some quality starting pitching, they could make a run at a Wild Card spot.
Why They Should Be Sellers
Now, although the Mets are only 3.5 games out of a Wild Card spot, that says more about the league than how good the Mets could be. In the entire MLB, there are only eleven teams with a winning record. Lots of the teams are hovering a few games under .500. The Mets being so close also shows more about how having a third wild card spot is a bad thing and waters down the competition in the postseason.
Without question, the Mets were the worst team in May. They had a record of 9-19, which was the worst in baseball. Sure, baseball is a marathon and not a sprint. There are going to be ups and downs throughout a 162-game season. They’re going to go through hot streaks and cold streaks. However, a month like that isn’t a cold streak. It shows that this team has fundamental flaws that can’t be fixed in one season. It’s something that takes years of work to fix. No matter how well you play the rest of the season, a month like that will completely derail the season.
Steve Cohen has also stressed the importance of building a strong farm system. Yes, he’s still going to be a major player in free agency, but he wants that to be a complementary piece. He wants the core to be developed through the minor league system, which is why the Mets were sellers last season and are willing to eat so much money. The Mets have transformed their system into one of the best in baseball. However, to compete this season, they’re going to have to trade a lot of the young pieces they acquired for a team that may not be ready to compete.
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