People familiar with the New York Mets’ filling of roster gaps after signing Juan Soto in the richest contract in sports history say the club plans to be “aggressive but smart.”
Such language suggests that the Mets will take their chances with some of the talent available on the market, but may want to avoid being locked into another long-term deal. Therefore, there appears to be a preference for the short term, even in some cases where the average annual value is large.
This could mean the Mets would prefer homegrown star Pete Alonso to return on a shorter deal than to give up outright if Alonso’s desired numbers continue long-term. For pitcher Sean Manaea, who wants to re-sign, this could mean balking at a five-year, maybe even four-year deal. And that might mean they want Walker Buehler, who is a good fit for them, on something like a one-year deal with options rather than a straight multi-year contract.
The Mets signed Soto to a 15-year, $765 million contract last week, emphasizing in bold letters owner Steve Cohen’s willingness to spend money for what he wants.
But what Cohen wants most is to be a perennial winner, not a team that goes through major ups and downs.
So while the team’s winters are always difficult to predict as opportunities sometimes arise unexpectedly, it wouldn’t be surprising if the rest of the Mets’ offseason reflects a more cautious approach.
Steve Cohen (left) attracted attention by paying Juan Soto, but David Stearns’ future moves are expected to be more restrained. (Al Belo/Getty Images)
In Soto, the Mets saw a generational player and saw it as a rare opportunity to show off to him. He is 26 years old and one of the most prolific batsmen in the game. They will continue to look for ways to supplement a roster that includes star Francisco Lindor, veteran Brandon Nimmo and breakout player Mark Vientos. But just because they’ve committed so much to Soto doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll fill other holes by any means necessary.
The Mets had several splurges a few years ago, with mixed results at best. Within a year, they experienced success. The following year required a transition. That’s why Cohen hired David Stearns as president of baseball operations to run the business with a focus on viability.
There are reasonable trade options for the Mets. Especially if they don’t match up with free agents like Manaea, Buehler, Nick Pivetta or someone like that. There’s no guarantee that Dylan Cease of the San Diego Padres or Framber Valdez of the Houston Astros will be traded, but both pitchers appear to be working with the Mets’ plans. Both are scheduled to become free agents at the end of the season. So both will be motivated to have big seasons. Either way, the Mets could see their opportunity.
Other opportunities to upgrade your pitching staff may include club-managed starting pitchers. Garrett Crochet, 25, is a prime example. The Mets signed a deal with the White Sox for Crochet before Chicago traded him to the Red Sox, indicating a willingness to part ways with high-end talent in their farm system. But talks between the Mets and White Sox only go so far. Because the Mets didn’t want to part with what the White Sox wanted and ultimately received (several top prospects). This process served as a data point for learning how Stearns works with the Mets.
After leading the Mets to the NLCS in his second year, Stearns landed his three biggest contracts with the club. Naturally, that includes Soto and Frankie Montas (two years, $34 million) and Clay Holmes (three years, $38 million). In Holmes’ case, Stearns used the money to win over other teams interested in turning the All-Star reliever into a starter. Still, that’s not exactly similar to giving someone like Alex Bregman another year. It’s more important to attack someone based on a process and act confidently within guided parameters. Veteran agents often praise Stearns for his ability to gather information, spot market trends, and make decisions. It’s not easy for him to have a bad contract that ends up going wrong.
While the Soto deal highlights Cohen’s capabilities, what next number will feature the performance of Stearns and his front office?
(Top photo by Juan Soto and David Stearns: David Dee Delgado / Getty Images)
