SAN ANTONIO — We aren’t going to hold Mets owner Steve Cohen to his original hope/goal to win a championship in his first five years. Not with only one year to go. Even with our usual billionaire’s curve, that just wouldn’t be fair.
But we do like how well-positioned the Mets are for 2025, aka Year 5.
Sure, the Mets currently possess only 40 percent of a rotation, and maybe not even that much of a bullpen. And, of course, their top slugger, Pete Alonso, is a free agent.
Yes, they have tons of work to do, but the half-empty canvas works well for them. The free-agent market has impact stars, and what’s more, they are guys who fit them. In particular, there are plenty of good to excellent starting pitchers who are now free agents.
“I think there are some options there,” baseball president David Stearns said of this market.
After watching Stearns work magic his first year, a year that was supposed to be transitional, we feel very good about the leadership. He spent less than $100M (pocket change by MLB standards) and improved the team from dreadful to downright dangerous. Given the keys to the vault, he could clean up.
It doesn’t hurt that Cohen is the richest owner, or certainly that he wants to win badly enough that he’s willing to take a financial hit. Since I like nothing more than spending other people’s money, here’s my plan:
1. Go for Soto
I don’t think this needs to be suggested to Cohen, as he’s known to go for the best in whatever he collects (art, for sure). Stearns didn’t directly address Soto on Monday, but while he isn’t believed to love big contracts for typical free agents nearing 30, Soto is 26 and Stearns showed he was willing to go all-out for then-25-year-old Yoshinobu Yamamoto, stopping at $325M (plus posting fee and moving expenses) only after it became clear Yamamoto preferred to join Shohei Ohtani’s Dodgers.
While Cohen was polite by not playing for Yankees superstar Aaron Judge, Soto publicly opened the door to “all 30 teams,” as he said after the World Series Game 5 debacle. And while a Yankees person told The Post that going from the Yankees to the Mets would represent a “buzzkill” for Soto, we can’t assume Soto feels the same.
We know he generally likes New York, likes being a Yankee (though probably not as much as Gerrit Cole obviously does), and especially seems to love the Bleacher Creature roll call. But there were some bumps in The Bronx, and there’s no reason to think he wouldn’t seriously consider the Mets.
2. Go for Pete Alonso or Christian Walker for first base
There’s nothing wrong with satisfying the fan base, and a return for Alonso, an October hero who’s hit more homers than any National Leaguer since debuting in 2019, certainly would do that. Walker becomes a little less attractive since he also received a qualifying offer from the Diamondbacks. But he’d come cheaper and he’s an excellent first baseman with big power (not as big as Pete, but pretty big).
3. If they don’t get Alonso or Walker, consider Alex Bregman
He’s a terrific all-around player who’d aid their average defense. Stearns said the Mets believe emerging star Mark Vientos can play either third base or first base, so that gives them extra options.
4. Sign one of Corbin Burnes or Max Fried
We aren’t that picky, we’re good with either. Burnes is more durable (heck, he’s more durable than anyone this side of Logan Webb,) but Fried is also ubertalented and should cost a little less. Stearns said they don’t necessarily need to add a “name-brand” guy, and they survived without the obvious ace this season, making it to the NLCS and actually beating the Dodgers one more game than the Yankees. But it certainly doesn’t hurt.
5. Sign at least two more starters, starting with Sean Manaea
Manaea won’t be taking the qualifying offer (and probably neither will Luis Severino) but he’s made clear he’d like to return after emerging as their de facto ace in the second half last year. He loves New York, and we love that kind of guy. Then sign one of Jack Flaherty, Yusei Kikuchi, Nick Martinez, Severino, Matthew Boyd, Nick Pivetta or Nate Eovaldi. “Multiples is kind of what I’m going for,” Stearns said of starters. “How many multiples, I’m not sure yet.”
6. Sign or trade for a center fielder
Stearns said they could do this via free agency or trade. The ultra talented Luis Robert is being made available by the record-setting White Sox, but while some believe he’d be better playing for a contender, I’d suggest waiting to see him play closer to his potential before making a move there. I’d see if Cedric Mullins is available from the Orioles. If not, I’m not opposed to bringing back Harrison Bader.
Well, now that I’ve spent more than a billion dollars of someone else’s money, my job is complete. Hey, I know I’m being greedy. But the Dodgers, the team they are aiming for, spent a billion bucks last winter, and it worked out pretty well for them.
