As you know, the New York Mets reached an agreement on a $78 million deal to sign Starling Marte
The offseason may have only just got going, with the World Series being clinched by the Atlanta Braves a matter of weeks ago, but the New York Mets have wasted no time in adding to their roster.
The Mets completed last season with a sedate 77-85 losing season that saw them 11 games back from NL East winners, the Braves, and as a result, made it five successive seasons without making it to the postseason and as such trades to improve their roster are well needed.
Of course, the Citi Field side doesn’t currently have a manager, with Luis Rojas failing to secure an extension of his contract, though they did manage to appoint general manager Billy Eppler to help get things rolling ahead of significant changes before the next season rolls around. One thing is for sure, all this chopping and changing is having an effect on the New York Mets’ odds for next season, where they can currently be picked up for a tempting (+1500).
Eppler has wasted no time in getting Marte on the roster, with the outfielder securing a four-year deal worth $78m and offers the Mets an experienced and dynamic player who, at 33, still has good years in the tank and could be a great place to start when it comes to New York Mets cleaning house.
Marte will likely feature as the primary center fielder, with Mark Canha to his left and Brandon Nimmo to his right. It’s a move that means that Michael Conforto is likely to have played his last game for the Mets.
Canha comes in on a two-year deal worth $26.5m, and infielder Eduardo Escobar is also on his way in to boost the Mets options; he comes in on a $20m contract. They are all part of a move to overhaul the Mets’ offense and will greatly improve their outfield options, and that will suit whoever comes in to take the managerial reins.
The Mets were continuing to track Javier Baez before he signed a new deal with the Tigers, and all of these moves show that owner Steve Cohen was not kidding when he said he was ready to put his money where his mouth is as he sets about orchestrating a real change in personnel at the ball club.
One player who won’t be coming to join the Mets is Steven Matz, with the actions of the pitcher’s agent causing much consternation with Cohen, who took to Twitter to blast his representatives;
“I’m not happy this morning. I’ve never seen such unprofessional behavior exhibited by a player’s agent. I guess words and promises don’t matter.”
Cohen then shocked everyone after the Matz debacle by doing what was thought unthinkable.
He signed Max Scherzer to a landmark three-year deal worth $130 million, giving Scherzer a record $43.3 average annual value. Boom.
That move alone is such a massive boost to the Mets, and then one wonders who Cohen has lined up to take the manager spot, with Buck Showalter being tipped as a strong option to consider. We’ll soon find out.
