With an eagerness and hunger to make it into the playoffs next season, the Mets need to have a successful offseason. Sandy Alderson will be looking to get either a shortstop or left fielder to help make the Mets’ offense better than it was this season. Even without signing a free agent, the Mets will be a winner this offseason, as the ace of the team, Matt Harvey is set to return.
The free agent market has good starting pitching available, with stars such as Jon Lester, Max Scherzer and James Shields. Since the 2015 Mets will have a surplus of pitching, signing a free agent pitcher is not the way to go. With the addition of Harvey, the Mets pitchers will have less stress on them, and it provides a better chance for the Mets to win every 5th day.
Harvey’s talent alone could make up a winning offseason. In 2013, he was named to the All-Star Game and finished 9-5 with an ERA of 2.27, and struck out 191 hitters in 178.1 innings before going to the disabled list. Another important factor of the 25-year-old is his mindset. With the organization aspiring to become a 90 win team, there needs to be a winning mindset, and the right-handed pitcher is just the one to do that.
In a 2013 interview with Steve Serby of the New York Post, Harvey says, “I don’t accept mediocrity” and continues to say, “winning is what I want to do. If I’m the best and we’re not winning, that doesn’t necessarily mean anything.” It is time for the Mets to stop accepting mediocrity, and start winning games. This season’s goal without Harvey should have been to finish .500 or above, and the team failed to meet that requirement. The addition of Harvey will continue to push the Mets forward to the playoffs, but it does not mean that his addition alone will propel the team.
As previously stated, the Mets need a corner outfielder or a shortstop. Some options to fill these spots are Norichika Aoki, Michael Cuddyer, J.J. Hardy and Josh Willingham. There are more players on the market, but it seems that the Mets will not go after a big-named player, but rather a player who will put the ball in play while providing protection to David Wright and Lucas Duda.
The 2014 Mets did not have a terrible season, as there are pieces to the team that flourished, and will be building blocks of the franchise. If we take the team, and add an offensive bat, a healthy Matt Harvey and even a healthy relief pitcher in Bobby Parnell, the team should be fighting for a playoff spot next season. The Nationals won 96 games this season and made it to the playoffs. The Nationals were the Mets’ Achilles’ heel throughout the season, as the Mets had a 4-15 record against them. With Harvey potentially matching up against Stephen Strasburg, the rotations should match up more evenly to provide the Mets with a better chance of winning.
With an ace and a closer added to this team for next year, there is no reason for the Mets not to make the playoffs in 2015. Alderson does not have to make to big of an impact on this team going forward, and that is why the Mets have already entered the offseason as winners.
James,
I’ve said it before, but you should not expect Harvey to return to top form in ’15.
There is a history of pitchers coming off this type of surgery. They often need
a season or so to build up to the point that they resemble their former selves.
Harvey’s biggest enemy may be the expectations that he brings to the mound along with the expectations of a frustrated fandom.
Good point Norme, even if Harvey is not as dominant as he was to start off the season, I think he’ll be regaining his form sometime next season. Especially with additional time to recuperate, I wouldn’t be surprised if he regains his form before the All-Star break.
I love the idea to keep Murphy for the entire 2015 year, let him go free agent in2016 and just get the draft pick for him.Plus it gives a full year for Herrera to mature at 2nd base.
Rev., you get a roll of the dice with one player that will be four years away, when you can get a known quantity that will be ready sooner for just one year of Murphy? You would take that chance if you wanted to re-sign Murphy, but since they don’t, trade him now for a nice player or as a piece to a bigger deal.
Problem is that the Mets will not get a draft pick unless they make a qualifying offer to Murphy which would have to be an offer of about $14 million for one year. Of course Murphy would probably accept that offer so the Mets would not make the offer. Result: The Mets get nothing if they wait for Murphy to become a free agent.
Point taken James, but that alone will not get the mets to more than 90 wins, nor does it mean the Mets have “won” the off season. It’s worth pointing out like norme mentioned that it’s no slam dunk how Harvey returns. Even he doesn’t know. I’ve read some places how well conditioned Harvey is and there is nothing to worry about for his return, but that is folly, otherwise he never would have been injured to begin with. Is there a chance he could face a re-tear like a Kris Medlin or even sooner like Hef. Even if all Is well, he will be on a 160ish IP limit. So while I can’t wait to see #33 back on the hill as much as any Mets fan, maybe even more, we need to be realistic about his return. We could be in the exact same position as the nationals when they shut down Strasburg in his come back year…before the post season.
I think the Mets are going to hold Harvey back earlier instead of later in the season, to avoid the Strasburg debacle of a few years ago.
This would be the correct move. The problem with holding Harvey back is Harvey. I get that he is a competitor and wants to pitch and win. He seems to put what he wants ahead of what is best for the team. Playing it safe with his rehab/return is what is best for the team.
Brian I was thinking the same thing. About the only thing I could come is for the Mets to give Harvey extra rest by skipping him in the rotation every 10 starts and give him 2 weeks off during the All-Star break. But even that means the Mets will shut him down in early September
Patrick you can’t do that because Harvey is still throwing somewhere. Whether it be in extended spring training or… He’s your ace and the Mets for selfish reasons will want him to start immediately. Hold him back? Only if the Mets open on the road. Then the scheming Wilpons can have Harvey’s debut in Citifield in front of their only sellout of the season.
“It is time for the Mets to stop accepting mediocrity, and start winning games”
Here’s some advice for you.
It is time for you to stop accepting mediocrity from Alderson
You have really really really low expectations if you consider doing nothing as a “win” for Alderson.
There are always chances to improve the team. Always.
Indeed Name, indeed.
There’s always going to be room for improvement, and you’re right with that point. But with two players coming back, who should benefit the team tremendously, I think the Mets’ offseason is pretty successful. Obviously I would love for the Mets to go for players like Cuddyer and Aoki, but the offseason is starting out on a good tone.
Just talking semantics here, but a player coming back from injury can’t seriously be considered a “move” and shouldn’t factor into determining whether an offseason was successful or not. And also it’s not like it’s some unexpected news that he’s coming back either, people knew he was coming back in 2015 pretty much from the get go…
Perhaps “Mets will enter 2015 in a better position than 2014” would have been a more appropriate title.
I’m hoping for Flores with a full year at short and a FA LFer..like Cudddyear..along with Harvey, that should put them in the running..
Yeah, and getting Wright and Granderson more productive at the plate, too!
Rather have Cabrera.
You mean Melky? Or Miguel?
Do the Mets :need: to go after a FA? Or will a trade be a more viable option? The Mets cannot compete with the Yanks,Red Soxs, or Dodgers. If the Dodgers lose Ramirez they’ll simply sign Hardy. So any high caliber free agent is going to make the rounds and gauge his value on the open market. No free agent is going to sign quickly with the Mets (unless its Chris Young) simply because the Mets as they are constituted today have no room for any free agent James. No money period. Their payroll is at 54.4 million for 4 players already. They have 11 players who are eligible for arbitration. So say another 25 million there. 10 minimum league salaried players adds up to 5 million. Your total is 85 million or exactly where they were this past season. That’s why SA needs to package a couple of starters and perhaps Murphy for LFer.
I think the Mets will be making deals to free up some room. Bartolo will probably be traded, even if it’s not for much, it will give Alderson some flexibility, and I hope that the payroll increases in order to sign another bat for the lineup. If they trade Murphy, they probably would package players to get a big time player, so I doubt moving Murphy would be a salary dump. It will be interesting to see who they non-tender as well, as that could create some more cap.
James if anything the payroll should of gone up This year with the new television contract going into effect And Every team receiving an increase from 25 to 50 million dollars. James the Mets continued to Cut payroll! After trading Ike their payroll sat at 80 million dollars! 14 million less than 2013. So reality check here is that the Wilpons Are Broke!
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