It some ways it feels like the 2011-12 offseason all over again. Too many holes and not enough money earmarked to patch all of them. Of course, the Mets are starting with a little more talent this time around, temporarily ignoring injury concerns.

However, Sandy Alderson doesn’t have the luxury of ignoring those concerns and he’ll have to prioritize where he feels he’ll get the most bang for his buck. It’s not the sexiest free agent class ever but he has options available. Plus there’s always the trade market to consider, too. Alderson is frequently criticized for not being active enough in this area but, among others, he’s traded for Yoenis Cespedes, AJ Ramos and Neil Walker the past three seasons. He’s displayed the ability to trade for pieces he feels necessary.

If you were Alderson, where would your focus be?

What addition should be the Mets' top offseason priority?

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19 comments on “Poll: What addition should be the Mets’ top offseason priority?

  • Pete

    Second base via trade Dee Gordon? But I’d prefer Ian Kinsler to lead off just in case Comforto isn’t ready. It’s a one year deal and Detroit is continuing to unload salary and rebuild. Third base depends on how much the Wilpons have left after addng Arb. numbers. The FA market is fairly thin at third base this off season.

  • Rabbit

    Gordon and Frazier and there ready to rock and roll!

  • Pete from NJ

    So many needs with so few options?

    My first thought was build a quality bullpen. Them I quickly moved to the rotation.I back tracked just thinking of a quality FA arm: Arieta, Darvish, ect but then, they’re too expensive and have too many questions.

    Bullpen: join the trend and throw and go with relief pitching to support the starters at a cost that can be managed. Addison Reed?

  • Brian Joura

    I’m surprised for the strong support in early voting for adding a power bat.

    • JTZ

      I think that 3rd base is where we need that power bat…..Wright at this stage is a first baseman if he is able to come back at all in this lifetime. We fans have waited long enough for him to make a comeback. I have been a Wright fan forever but now have my doubts as to if he can return to his former self again.

  • Chris F

    the poll would not let me select “all of the above”

    We need starting pitching like mad. It may be the deepest problem in the system, but others arent far behind, except for power bat.

  • Name

    “Plus there’s always the trade market to consider, too. Alderson is frequently criticized for not being active enough in this area”

    This. I want him to get creative in the trade market.
    Besides Walker for Niese, the only other “creative” trade (as in not a straight MLB player for prospects deal) was Pagan for Ramirez/Torres.

    Swap some relievers. Target some change of scenery trades. Don’t feel so attached the guys you drafted. Do the non-headline grabbing trades like trading a backup infielder + 4th OFer for a slightly better 4th OFer.

  • TexasGusCC

    Outstanding poll Brian, mostly because the “best” answer isn’t so obvious. I, too, am surprised at the “power bat” responses because for so many years we saw how it left the offense inconsistent. Also, I believe the athleticism and the defense goes together as one; hard to have one and not expect to have the other.

    But, while like Chris I struggled picking just one, at the end I chose the athleticism because I feel this team doesn’t manufacture many runs and that comes from having immobile players, and immobile players don’t usually play good defense. If I absolutely had to start with a rotation of Thor, JDG, Harvey, and two of Gsellman, Montero, Matz, Wheeler, and Lugo, I could live with it if I knew the defense would be top rate. If we are so jinxed as to have all the injuries happen again at the same time, then, whatever. Can’t fight bad luck. Also, without an upgrade, the bullpen would not be acceptable, but I believe the position players leave more to be desired than either pitching area.

    But, you asked for just one…

    Also, difference between 2011 and now is Sandy had to make the Mets the Idaho Mets, because they suffered from cash flow. Supposedly, they’re just cheap now.

    • Pete

      Gus I don’t believe it was all bad luck. You make your own luck.The Mets off season strengthening program was a disaster and came back to bite their collective butts. And well deserved I might add. Even if Sandy denied it. The team we soon realized had no depth. We were expecting our SP to carry the team and boy were we wrong! So let’s hope this off season is about stretching and staying healthy. I do agree the team needs to improve their defense and athleticism and stop relying on home runs. We’ll see.

      • TexasGusCC

        Pete, I almost always agree that luck is “a residue of design”, but nerves out of place, bone spurs, Lugo getting hurt pitching for Puerto Rico, Thor not wanting to take the MRI and Collins pitching a recently returned Familia four consecutive days aren’t the fault of the doctors.

        They had starting pitching depth, but no bullpen depth. They had players like Reyes severely underachieve in the first half and severely overachieve in the second half. Also, Granny kept batting at the top when he couldn’t hit his way out of a house of cards. Not bringing up Rosario due to the chemistry in the clubhouse sits on the shoulders of Bozo the Manager, his daddy Fred Coupon, and the snobby GM.

        I think circumstances this year were more than a “normal” team would have.

        • Pete

          “Normal” for the Mets is the dysfunctional triad of Coupon, Coupon Jr. and SA. Let’s see who they bring in as manager.
          Gardenhire is gone and Cora looks like is headed to Boston. I’ll puke if they sign Ausmus. By the way normal for this team is a never ending catastrophe. One disaster after another.

          • Brian Joura

            MetsBlog has reported that Ausmus doesn’t want the Mets’ job.

  • Metsense

    Adding a #3 or better starting pitcher.
    The Mets starting pitchers were 14th in ERA, 11th in FIP, 11th in BB/9, 13th in HR/9 and 14th in WHIP. It was pretty obvious to see where the weakness was in 2017.
    They need to stabilize the rotation by getting at least an Alex Cobb, Jhoulys Chacin ,Jason Vargas, Lance Lynn or Andrew Cashner.

  • Jimmy P

    I feel a comprehensive and aggressive approach — combined with a little luck in the health department — could get the Mets back into the playoffs next season.

    I also don’t believe that will happen.

    Starting pitching gets teams into the postseason, and once there, a strong bullpen brings home the championship.

    For the Mets, I’d focus on that rotation — adding a quality starter — and slide Wheeler into the pen — and hope to bolster the bullpen at the deadline.

    Then a couple of astute trades for key pieces and hope & pray that Conforto and Cespedes are healthy.

    My vote is the quality starter as #1 priority. But if they punt all the other areas of need, it won’t be enough.

  • Mike Walczak

    How about Eduardo Nunez to play 3B.

  • Tom Read

    Mets need defense, defense and a CF. Nimmo is a nice 4TH outfielder and has a high OBP though lacks the speed to be a reguler. Sorry about the grammer and mispelling as i just mover to Mexico and was given a Spanish based laptop.

  • Eraff

    Miracle return to Health for the SP’s, in General, is the biggest factor this off-season.

    With That, the team can make moves after the start of the season. Without that, it doesn’t matter what they do.

    I would solve for a Starting Infield first.

  • Ken Rudin

    A new medical staff, new trainers and a new strength coach. Their injuries are ridiculous.

  • TJ

    Like others stated,really all of the above is the answer. But, to me, adding 175 quality innings of starting pitching is by far the biggest move,as it also deepens the pen.

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