- 1B Pete Alonso (.250 / .788)
- OF/DH Jesse Winker (.253 / .765)
- INF Jose Iglesias (.337 / .829)
- OF Harrison Bader (.236 / .657)
- DH J.D. Martinez (.235 / .406)
As of Saturday, Mets ace Sean Manaea intends to opt out of his $13.5 million contract to test the waters of free agency this offseason. The Mets will likely extend the one-year $21.05 million Qualifying Offer to the left-hander.
Qualifying Offers and Big Bats
Of the bats on the roster, QOs could most likely be extended to Alonso and Winker, as well as starting pitchers Severino and Quintana.
Postseason Pete
Pete Alonso is at the top of the free agency class this offseason, with many teams likely to extend offers. As a homegrown pillar in the Mets organization, the idea of Alonso signing elsewhere doesn’t sit well with Mets fans. Pete can return, as he and Stearns have expressed a mutual interest in the slugging first baseman slugger returning to Queens.
“I love this team. I love this organization. This fanbase has treated not just myself, but my family so, so well,” Pete said when speaking with MLB after NLCS Game Six. “We’ll see what happens. We’ll cross that bridge when we get there. But I love New York. I love this team. I love playing in Queens. This group is really special, and the memories that we’ve created together are just, wow. This is why we play baseball,” he added.
Alonso’s value to the club stems from offensive productivity and his appeal to the wholesome aspects of the Mets Organization. The 2024 season, with all its gimmicks, showcased how vital baseball’s “romance” is to this particular fanbase. The Polar Bear, the Playoff Pumpkin, #LFGM, Pete Alonso is the guy.
If there were an organization that could shell out the expected heavy-hitting contracts to not only keep their guys but also fill in the gaps where it’s needed, it’s the New York Mets. After this postseason run, Alonso is like Benny “The Jet” Rodriguez from “The Sandlot” to Mets fans. He’ll likely opt out of the player option and decline the QO as he is projected to sign a five-year-plus contract with a projected minimum of $175 million, something the Mets can afford while also pursuing other arms, as well as free-agent outfielder Juan Soto.
Juan Soto Seeking Substantial Sum
Juan Soto is a generational talent with a career average of .288 and a .953 OPS. The 26-year-old is undoubtedly a power hitter, but his longevity in the field has become a topic of discussion. Soto is beyond worth his projected contract floor of ten years for $500 million offensively, but it should be noted that his defensive approach is lacking in comparison. He is young and certainly in his prime; he will be expected to become a DH in the back end of his prospective contract years. His consistent power in the Mets’ lineup could be the missing piece that takes them all the way. As the most sought-after free agent, the Mets will likely be his top postseason offer. It’s already been reported that the Mets have checked in on the free agent.
Pitching, Please
Considering the 42 walks the Mets’ pitching staff allowed in the NLCS, it is evident that starting pitchers and bullpen arms are needed.
Notable Upcoming Free Agents – Pitchers (2024 Regular Season ERA):
- RHP Luis Severino (3.91)
- RHP Ryne Stanek (4.88)
- LHP Jose Quintana (3.75)
- RHP Drew Smith (3.06)
- LHP Brooks Raley (2.80 – 2023)*
- RHP Phil Maton (3.66)
- RHP Adam Ottavino (4.34)
The top prospective starting pitchers on the free agency ticket include Baltimore Orioles RHP Corbin Burnes, San Francisco Giants LHP Blake Snell, Los Angeles Dodgers RHP Walker Buehler, or Atlanta Braves LHP Max Fried.
In the land of pitching, it’d be ideal for the Mets to land RHP Corbin Burnes or LHP Blake Snell. Over the 2024 season, Burnes went 15-9 with a 2.92 ERA over 194.1 IP. The right-handed All-Star is likely seeking a multi-year deal, anticipating a contract offer of at least $170 million for a minimum of five years.
Having opted out of a remaining $30 million contract option, Snell is likely seeking long-term stability with a compensating value over $75 million. The lefty battled injury at the start of the 2024 season but finished with a 1.53 ERA over 14 starts and would also be a solid addition to the starting rotation.
Cash Stacked in Queens
It could feel unrealistic for Mets fans to look at this offseason through a small-market lens when it comes to putting up comparable record-breaking contracts like that of the Dodgers’ dual threat Shoehei Ohtani. New York Mets owner Steve Cohen is the richest in Major League Baseball with a net worth north of $21.3 billion, and Stearns confirmed in his postseason press conference that no contract amount will keep the Mets from acquiring what they need.
“I envision us taking advantage of that opportunity and being aggressive in certain spaces,” he reiterated. It’s exciting for this organization to flex a budget of this size, especially when “Pretty much the entirety of the player universe is potentially accessible.”
