new york mets
2023 record: 75 wins, 87 losses
4th place, National League East
Team ERA: 4.31 (19th in MLB)
Team OPS: .723 (18th in MLB)
what went well
There are very few. This season was a huge failure for the Mets, but they still had some standout seasons from their key contributors. Kodai Senga exceeded expectations with a 2.98 ERA in 29 starts in his first season in the United States. Chiga may not win the award, but he should be loved in the National League Rookie of the Year and National League Cy Young Award voting. Pete Alonso hit 46 home runs (the most since his rookie season in 2019), and Brandon Nimmo set career highs with 24 home runs and 68 RBIs. Francisco Lindor overcame a slow start to finish the season 30-30, the first of his career. Adding in his defensive contributions, Lindor tied for eighth among position players in fWAR (6.0). David Robertson stepped up admirably in the closer role before being traded to the Marlins, and Tommy Pham was one of the team’s best players before being traded to the Diamondbacks. Francisco Alvarez also showed signs of becoming a core member of this team going forward. It’s strange to say that being a seller at the deadline “worked out,” but the Mets did a good job of acquiring quality prospects to strengthen their farm system.
what went wrong
With the highest annual salary in history, expectations naturally rose for the team that achieved 101 wins last season. However, his fortunes took a turn for the worse this season when Edwin Diaz tore the patella tendon in his right knee during a World Baseball Classic celebration. Offseason additions Justin Verlander and Jose Quintana both started the season on injured reserve, and Max Scherzer also missed time with an injury and suspension for stickiness after getting into a scuffle earlier this year. Carlos Carrasco was absolutely awful, and Tyler Megill and David Peterson had little trouble picking up the slack in the rotation. Billy Eppler’s collection of optional relievers was ineffective and overextended. The main reliever of the Mets posted a 4.48 ERA for the year, ranking 23rd in MLB. Starling Marte was in poor health and struggled when he played. Meanwhile, Jeff McNeil slumped after winning the batting title last year, and Brett Beatty shouldered the burden as a rookie. A year after winning the National League Manager of the Year Award, Buck Showalter resigned in favor of new President of Baseball Operations David Stearns. Days after Stearns was officially hired, general manager Billy Eppler resigned following reports that Stearns was under investigation by MLB over his use of the “phantom IL.”
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fantasy slant
– We knew there would be more stolen bases this season, but it was difficult to determine who would benefit and how much. Francisco Lindor was a surprise in this department as he had a career-high 31 stolen bases after totaling 26 in 2021-2022. Add to this his other stats (31 home runs, 98 RBIs, 108 RBIs), and Lindor is the No. 15 hitter in the Yahoo League this year, despite lagging behind in batting average. For some reason, after his daughter was born in June, Lindor was a different player, batting .288 with 19 home runs and an .887 OPS over his final 90 games. Dad’s strength is real, everyone. Lindor is definitely one of the best options at the shortstop position, even if he tempers expectations of reaching 30 stolen bases again.
– Pete Alonso’s season is a strange one to unpack, but let’s give it a shot. The 28-year-old slugger got off to a decent start until June 7 when he was hit by a pitch in his hands. Initially expected to miss several weeks, he returned after just 11 days, hitting just .132. He posted a .549 OPS in his next 25 games. It’s probably safe to say he returned too soon. Alonso was more productive in the remaining games, hitting 20 home runs and an .875 OPS in his final 67 games, but success in the batting department was elusive all season. Even accounting for his increase in strikeouts, his .246 xBA showed he deserved a little more luck. Alonso is a prolific power hitter with some bounce back potential. The big question is what his future will be with the Mets after recently hiring Scott Boras as an agent.
– As mentioned in the “What went right” section, Kodai Senga was a bright spot in a terribly disappointing season. In addition to posting a 2.99 ERA, he struck out 202 batters in 166 1/3 innings. This gave him the sixth-highest strikeout rate among eligible starting pitchers, ahead of the likes of Jesus Luzardo, Luis Castillo, Dylan Schiess, Gerrit Cole and Zach Wheeler. Chiga’s “Ghost Fork” was one of the most devastating pitches in this year’s game, forcing opposing batters to hit just .110, with a slugging percentage of .147 and a whiff rate of 59.5 percent. His control has gotten better as the years have gone on, but he still held back a bit in WHIP compared to other players. This will put him down a bit in the starting pitcher rankings heading into 2024, but he ranks as the No. 2 starting pitcher among most mixed league staffs.
– After the Mets signed Omar Narváez last winter, it was clear that Francisco Alvarez would likely start the 2023 season in the minors. That’s exactly what happened, but plans quickly changed after Narváez went down with a severe calf strain in April. Alvarez went through all the big ups and downs you’d expect when a 21-year-old catcher navigates a rotating pitching staff. Perhaps most important to his long-term dream prospects, Alvarez has shown he can handle himself behind the plate as well. As a hitter, he was an incredible hitter and often seemed satisfied with home runs. His approach has its challenges, but he has the raw power of his dreams. We may not be imagining his best yet, but there’s no guarantee he’ll take a big step forward next season.
– Edwin Diaz was unable to return from knee surgery before the end of the season, but he had a bullpen session in September and all indications are that he should have regular spring training in 2024. has been done. A year from now? Remember, the last time we saw Diaz, he put together a historically dominant season with a 1.31 ERA and 118/18 K/BB ratio in 62 innings. If he looks like his usual dominant self this spring, it’s not crazy to think he could be the No. 1 closer off the board in mixed fantasy leagues.
major free agents
Carlos Carrasco (Omar Narváez and Adam Ottavino have player options for 2024 and are expected to exercise)
team needs
David Stearns has a lot of work to do in a short period of time as the Mets’ director of baseball operations. In addition to finding a new coach, they need to put together a plan for how to attack the offseason for a team that has clear needs. Making things even more difficult is the surprise exit of Billy Eppler. Once the Mets declared themselves sellers at this summer’s trade deadline, the club seemed to move from a “win now” team to one that thinks more long-term, but clearly Steve Cohen is willing to Will still spend money.
The top priority this offseason will be working on the starting rotation, as Kodai Chiga and Jose Quintana are the only locks at the moment. Blake Snell, Aaron Nola and Jordan Montgomery are available in free agency, but the name to watch here is 25-year-old Japanese right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Given Cohen’s deep pockets, it’s hard to ignore Shohei Ohtani’s potential, but if he can actually pitch next season, it would be an easier sell.
The Mets also need to retool their bullpen and come up with a plan to meet their needs in left field and designated hitter. New York’s 2023 DH option finished 24th in the majors with a .700 OPS last season.