Here are five questions Billy Eppler should answer at the GM Meetings that will take place in Las Vegas starting on Nov. 7…
Are the Mets likely to exceed the top luxury tax threshold?
With the Mets aiming to bring back at least a couple of their big internal free agents and planning to be big-time players at the high end of the free-agent market for external players, it’s fair to believe that their payroll is about to skyrocket .
Per Cot’s Baseball Contracts, the Mets have roughly $205 million committed to the payroll for 2023, which includes player benefits, the money owed to 40-man players in the minors, and other things that are factored in for luxury tax purposes. Money owed to their many arbitration-eligible players will bring that to around $232 million, but a big chunk will come off the books if Jacob deGrom leaves.
Speaking at the Mets’ end-of-season news conference, Eppler discussed the potential budget, but did not get into specifics when it came to whether the Mets would be crossing the top luxury tax threshold of $290 million.
If the Mets are going to put themselves in the best position to contend in 2023, they will not only have to exceed the $290 million threshold but likely go well past it, with the plan being to get back under it in a year or two. Does Eppler have the all-clear to do it?
How might the timing of Jacob deGrom’s decision impact the Mets’ offseason plans?
With every starting rotation spot heading into 2023 up in the air except the one occupied by Max Scherzerthe situation with deGrom is both difficult and tricky from a timing perspective.
That’s because as the Mets decide whether they want to commit a massive amount of dollars to deGrom (and deGrom decides where he wants to be), the Mets will have to be aggressive filling in most of the rotation around him.
How long can the Mets afford to wait? And are they comfortable potentially losing Chris Bassitt or missing out on a free agent like Justin Verlander while deGrom makes up his mind?
Will there be an emphasis on adding more punch to the offense?
The Mets’ offense in 2023 was contact-first and often very successful as they were in the top five in the majors as far as runs scored. But while the Mets often did a great job situationally, their offense lacked punch.
That lack of punch was especially evident during the Mets’ late-season sweep at the hands of the Braves in Atlanta that cost them the NL East, and again during Game 1 and Game 3 of the Wild Card Series against the San Diego Padres.
With the Mets expected to return most of their offensive core, how much of an emphasis will they place on adding more power to the offense this offseason?
And will the Mets’ plan be to add that power by inking a DH (Jose Abreu and JD Martinez are set to be free agents), a dynamic infielder (Trea Turneranyone?), or mixing things up at a different position?
Which prospects are ready to take on big roles in 2023?
Eppler adeptly danced around this question earlier this week during an appearance on The Show podcast, at least as it pertains to Francisco Alvarezsaying that Alvarez’s role on the 2023 Mets and readiness to catch at the big league level will be something he proves/earns during Spring Training.
But the Mets, who are dealing with so many moving parts this season and will again be trying to contend for a World Series title, must already know how ready they are to hand over the reins to Alvarez — and to a lesser extent, how much they expect Brett Baty to contribute.
If the Mets aren’t planning to have Alvarez be their starting catcher next Opening Day or soon after, how much of an impact might that have on their offseason plans?
The same goes for Baty, who could be an ideal candidate to split time at third base with Eduardo Escobar. Is he going to be counted on in 2023?
Are the Mets open to trading top prospects if it means landing a difference-maker?
The Mets were understandably reluctant during the trade deadline this past summer to trade any of their most coveted prospects.
The above made sense when you consider that there weren’t many impact players dealt, and the only true star who was dealt (Juan Soto) was never coming to the Mets anyway because of Washington’s reluctance to trade him inside the NL East.
But what if Shohei Ohtani becomes available this offseason and the Mets think they can re-sign him? Would the Mets be willing to include a few of their top prospects in a deal to bring the two-way star to Queens? Or are they still staying the course when it comes to their unwillingness to deal from their blossoming prospect stash?