Before the MLB Winter Meetings had even begun, the New York Mets were back on their heels following the abrupt news that Jacob deGrom would be joining the Texas Rangers.
DeGrom’s departure gave an immediate urgency to GM Billy Eppler’s business trip to San Diego.
The Mets needed to act quickly to replace deGrom with a front-end ace, and they made the splash just as the Winter Meetings were getting underway as they agreed to a two-year, $86.6 million contract with Justin Verlander on Monday morning.
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There are still numerous vacancies in the Mets’ pitching staff, and the front office is not done filling in the roster. With Friday’s signing of Brandon Nimmo, the Mets are going to blast past the MLB’s final luxury tax threshold of $293 million.
With each signing, Eppler has continually praised owner Steve Cohen’s commitment to winning and thus, an unspoken willingness to spend.
Winter summary
The Mets have the top-end of their rotation figured out with the addition of Verlander and lefty Jose Quintana, who agreed to a two-year, $26 million deal with the team on Wednesday.
Now, the question is whether the Mets will move forward with a tandem of David Peterson and Tylor Megill in the rotation’s No. 5 spot, or will they add one more piece in the middle of the rotation.
The Mets filled the one last glaring hole in center field when it was announced they will bring back Nimmo on a sizable eight-year, $162 million deal.
The Mets also signed Edwin Diaz to a record deal before the meetings began. Now, the most pressing roster concern is bolstering the bullpen. They brought in lefty Brooks Raley from the Rays in a Wednesday trade and signed David Robertson to a one-year, $10 million deal as the meetings wound to a close.
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Notable remaining Mets free agents
They are: RHP Chris Bassitt, RHP Mychal Givens, RHP Seth Lugo, RHP Trevor May, RHP Adam Ottavino, 1B/OF Dominic Smith, RHP Trevor Williams
Jacob deGrom agreed to a five-year, $185 million contract with the Rangers.
Taijuan Walker agreed to a four-year, $72 million contract with the Phillies.
Joely Rodriguez agreed to a one-year, $2 million contract with the Red Sox.
Areas of need
Even after signing Nimmo to a long-term deal, the Mets will need to add some outfield depth to reduce the wear and tear on Starling Marte and Mark Canha.
In addition to Raley and Robertson, the Mets brought back Tommy Hunter and Sean Reid-Foley on minor-league deals, but their bullpen is currently filled with largely unseasoned talent. A few more veterans would go a long way to bolstering the level of trust in the relievers.
The Mets might also want to add some right-handed pop to their lineup.
Players to watch
Kevin Kiermaier
If the Mets were looking to spend less to add depth to their outfield, then Kiermaier might fit the bill.
While he is an average hitter – he batted .228/.281/.369 in 63 games last season – Kiermaier is regarded as one of the top defensive center fielders. He won a Platinum Glove in 2015 and added two more Gold Gloves as a member of the Rays, where he has spent all 10 years of his career.
Trey Mancini
Mancini would be the ultimate depth piece for the Mets. He could back up Pete Alonso at first base, serve as a backup outfielder or as a designated hitter.
The 30-year-old started last season strong, slashing .268/.347/.404 with 10 home runs and 41 RBI in 92 games for the Orioles. But after he was traded to the Astros, he struggled to just a .178/.258/.364 line although he ended up winning a World Series.
The Mets love versatility, and Mancini’s struggles could mean that he’ll come at a discount to fill some pressing needs.
Kodai Senga
After spending 11 seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball, there will be a hefty price tag tied to Senga, who does not have a release fee attached to him.
Senga boasts a fastball in the mid- to high-90s along with an impressive splitter. The 30-year-old has a lifetime 2.59 ERA and 1.12 WHIP with 10.9 strikeouts per innings. He’s likely to receive a five- or six-year deal.
However, there are some concerns about the development of a useful third pitch and the adjustment to pitching on every fifth day.
Who might the Mets trade away?
If the Mets want to get top prospect Francisco Alvarez reps behind the plate, there is already a logjam in front of him with James McCann and Tomas Nido in the way.
McCann has struggled to live up to his four-year, $40.6 million contract, and he could be the odd man out if the Mets look to expedite Alvarez’s development. McCann has two years left on that deal, and the Mets could help shed some of that salary if a willing suitor emerges.
The 32-year-old was an All-Star in 2019 when he slashed .273/.328/.460 with 18 home runs and 60 RBI, but he’s coming off one of his worst seasons of his career as he dealt with injuries and only collected three home runs and 18 RBI in 61 games.