KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – AUGUST 02: Owner Steve Cohen of the New York Mets talks with members of the media prior to a game between the New York Mets and Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on August 02, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
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The New York Mets were widely anticipated to make a splash at the Major League Baseball Winter Meetings after a brutal slide in the standings this past season resulted in a playoff absence.
And the Mets certainly did grab headlines during the event, though not the kinds that fans were hoping for.
Instead of reuniting with key free agents Edwin Diaz or Pete Alonso, or bringing in a significant new addition to boost the roster, the Mets lost Diaz to the Los Angeles Dodgers and Alonso to the Baltimore Orioles after balking at their contract prices. Add those losses to president of baseball operations David Stearns’ decision to ship out long-time outfielder Brandon Nimmo earlier this winter and Mets fans have some reason for concern.
“Mets All-Star outfielder Brandon Nimmo was traded one week, All-Star closer Edwin Diaz defected the next, and now the trilogy is complete with hometown hero Pete Alonso departing Wednesday without even getting a contract offer to stay,” as USA Today’s Bob Nightengale put it. “Now, we’ll see what Stearns has up his sleeve.”
Stearns was able to bring in star infielder Marcus Semien in exchange for Nimmo. And now that he has cleared the team of potential commitments to Diaz and Alonso, he has more room to make additions that fit his vision for the team.
“Stearns has the power and flexibility to create the team he wants, one with sustained success, and who knows, one day end their World Series drought that has lasted since 1986,” Nightengale added, pointing out that the Mets’ fan-favorite core fell well short of expectations in this last season.
With plenty of time before spring training begins, team owner Steve Cohen preached a message of patience as he broke his silence following the loss of Alonso and Diaz.
“I totally understand the fans’ reaction,” Cohen told the New York Post’s Jon Heyman. “There is lots of offseason left to put a playoff team on the field.”
There certainly still is time for the Mets to replace their fan favorites with exciting new faces. Superstar outfielder Kyle Tucker, versatile former New York Yankee Cody Bellinger and starters like Framber Valdez and Ranger Suarez all remain available on the free agent market, as do several high-leverage relievers.
But the Mets seem to have dug themselves into a hole, at least with their long-time fans, to start the offseason. After cutting ties with Nimmo, then letting Diaz and Alonso walk, the team seems to have little choice but to bring in some new stars just to get their fans back on board before the start of next season.