New York Mets fans are understandably concerned about the direction of their team after a significant offseason overhaul.
Since October, the Mets have parted ways with four of their longest-tenured players: Jeff McNeil, Pete Alonso, Edwin Díaz, and Brandon Nimmo. While the additions of closer Devin Williams and infielder/designated hitter Jorge Polanco have been made, many fans remain unconvinced that these moves adequately address the team’s needs.
The Mets, after narrowly missing the playoffs following a second-half collapse, evidently identified a culture problem within the clubhouse. Their response has been decisive, releasing a majority of the veteran players who previously set the tone for the team.
Some Mets fans have expressed concern that the team may not pursue further high-profile acquisitions, particularly after being unwilling to meet the financial demands of Alonso and Díaz in free agency.
However, on Thursday, ESPN’s Jeff Passan offered a different perspective. Responding to a question on Threads, Passan asserted that he believes the Mets are still likely to make at least one significant addition to their roster.
“I’ve written this, but I’ll say it again: It’s OK to be bad, it’s OK to have a bad clubhouse, it’s not OK to have both,” Passan wrote. “This is almost a wholesale jettisoning. And now David Stearns gets a chance to rebuild in his vision. Historically, it has been very disciplined and very practical and very not splashy.
“And while I absolutely expect the Mets to get a big free agent, make a big trade or both, I don’t inherently dislike a team taking its time.”
With the new year just beginning, the Mets have roughly a month and a half before spring training commences. They may even extend that timeline if they are willing to allow a player time to get into form, as they did with designated hitter J.D. Martinez last spring.
Mets president of baseball operations, David Stearns, has faced criticism for the team’s offseason moves. Now, it falls to him to restore fan confidence and build a competitive team in the coming months.
