Let’s take a look at the New York Mets’ 2024 season, the questions the team must answer this winter and the early outlook for 2025.
Read more: 2024 MLB offseason previews: What’s next for the Padres, Guardians, Phillies and more?
Result after the season
The Mets’ memorable September run continued into October, when the club earned a dramatic wild-card victory over the Brewers before eliminating the Phillies in four games in the NLDS. Their Cinderella run came to an end at the hands of the Dodgers in the NLCS, but the Mets should head into the offseason with their heads held high after being the last team standing from a competitive NL East.
Pete Alonso recorded the biggest hit of the postseason for the Mets when he got Brewers closer Devin Williams deep in the ninth inning of wild-card Game 3 in Milwaukee. The runner-up for New York’s most memorable moment of the postseason would certainly be Francisco Lindor’s sixth-inning grand slam in the series victory over the Phillies in Game 4 of the NLDS. Mark Vientos also deserves a lot of credit, as the rookie led the Mets in home runs (5), RBI (14) and average (.327) in October and was second to only Alonso in OPS (.998).
Sean Manaea was the key piece in the rotation, delivering three strong performances – a 2.65 ERA in his first 17 postseason innings – before faltering in the Mets’ final game of the season, giving up five earned runs in just two innings in the NLCS Game 6 loss to the Dodgers. Luis Severino (3.24 ERA) and Jose Quintana (3.14 ERA) also put up solid postseason numbers, but the Mets’ lack of bullpen depth became a major problem in the longer series.
Things that went well
The Mets showed a flair for the dramatic with their come-from-behind victory over the Braves, clinching a postseason berth on the final day of the regular season. And it was their standout player, Francisco Lindor, who delivered the decisive home run. The shortstop started slowly, hitting .211 on May 29. But he caught fire in the second half (.943 OPS), helping the team move up in the standings. The 30-year-old was also an excellent defender, ranking second among shortstops with 16 putouts above average. Shohei Ohtani will walk away with the NL MVP award, but Lindor is a strong candidate to finish second.
And while Lindor was the Mets’ top contributor, Mark Vientos was the most surprising. The 24-year-old was selected to the minors twice early in the season and had logged just eight at-bats by mid-May. Then he left and boosted the lineup until Lindor got on track. Vientos arrived at the All-Star break with an .896 OPS and finished the season third on the team with 27 home runs.
Things that went wrong
While the offense was one of the best in baseball, New York’s pitching staff was only average. And the blame for that can be divided equally between the rotation and the bullpen.
Luis Severino, Sean Manaea, David Peterson and Jose Quintana were reliable starters, but the final rotation spot was a constant headache. Adrian Houser was supposed to be the answer, but he struggled so much that he was moved to the bullpen in May and released in late July. Prospect Christian Scott couldn’t reach his high ceiling as he struggled (4.56 ERA) in nine starts before being sidelined by an elbow injury that ultimately required Tommy John surgery. And while Tylor Megill had some solid starts, he spent time on the IL, was optioned to the minors twice and had a 5.17 ERA at the end of July.
Closer Edwin DÃaz had some dominant moments, but also some frustrating stretches. He arrived at the All-Star break with a 4.05 ERA and five blown saves before enjoying more success during the team’s surge in the second half. Additionally, three of the top five Mets in total appearances, Adam Ottavino, Jake Diekman and Danny Young, each posted an ERA above 4.30.
Off-season plans
The Mets’ front office has some important decisions to make this season. The left side of the infield is set, with Lindor at shortstop and Vientos in the hot corner. And Francisco Alvarez has hidden the team behind the plate. Jeff McNeil remains under contract as a second baseman, but he hasn’t hit well the past two seasons. With little strength, the 32-year-old often has to reach base to help this team. First base is in turmoil as star player Pete Alonso heads to free agency.
Things are even more uncertain in the outfield. Brandon Nimmo returns at left, but center fielder Harrison Bader and right fielder Jesse Winker are both free agents. Starling Marte has one year left on his contract and can start right away, but he was a poor defensive player in 2024 and has struggled to stay healthy in recent seasons. Add to that the fact that JD Martinez was playing on a one-year deal, and there is a need to add at least two players to the OF/DH mix.
Just like in the outfield, the rotation needs several changes. Severino and Quintana are free agents, and Manaea will likely opt out. Peterson and Megill can hold down two spots, but it’s worth noting that they couldn’t be counted on at times in 2024 and were thrown out of the bullpen in the postseason. Kodai Senga returns after being limited to 5 1/3 innings this year due to shoulder and calf injuries. July acquisition Paul Blackburn is another option, but he has a 4.85 career ERA and has made just 14 starts this year. DÃaz returns to anchor a relief corps that has most of its key members under contract through 2025. But with mediocre results from this group in 2024, upgrades are necessary.
Yes, this winter’s to-do list is a long one for Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns, who must sign at least five players at first base, the outfield, the rotation and the bullpen. The good news is that team owner Steve Cohen has shown a strong financial commitment to building a contender. The resources are available; Stearns just needs to make the right decisions.
Prospects on the horizon
The Mets have had some injury setbacks in their prospect pool, but still have an above-average group. And the best news is that most of their top youngsters could reach the majors next year.
Brandon Sproat made a big splash in his first minor league season, progressing through three levels and finishing the campaign in Triple-A. The 24-year-old has elite fastball speed and an effective secondary offering. Like many prospects, Sproat could use his control to improve, but he’s on track to help the Mets’ rotation by next summer at the latest.
Wrist surgery limited Jett Williams’ development this year, but the 2022 first-round draft pick is still just 20 years old and has already reached Triple-A. He has great speed and uses his strong batting eye to get to base often. Williams is a natural shortstop and is learning to play center field thanks to Lindor’s presence in Queens. Williams is slightly closer to the majors than another outfield prospect in the 2022 draft, Drew Gilbert. The 24-year-old landed in the Justin Verlander trade and fared much better in Double-A in 2023 than he did in Triple-A this year. Still, Gilbert could make a solid 2025 start to a roster spot with the Mets next summer.
Ronny Mauricio was once on track to the Majors, logging 101 plate appearances with the Mets in 2023 before suffering a torn ACL that forced him to miss the entire season. Like Williams, Mauricio is a shortstop who has learned how to work around Lindor’s presence by playing other positions. He should start 2025 in Triple-A, but could soon return to New York as a utility player.
Last but not least, Luisangel Acuña gave the Mets a spark in late September when Lindor was injured. But the 22-year-old shortstop posted a .654 OPS in Triple-A this year and likely needs more time to develop.
Goals for 2025
The 2024 season wasn’t supposed to be a banner year for the Mets, but they still did well to get into the postseason. To take the next step, major upgrades are needed in several places. The Phillies and Braves have two of the best rosters in baseball, which will make it difficult for New York to win its first division title since 2015, even with a huge payroll. Instead, a more realistic goal should be to earn another wildcard spot next year and hope the team becomes popular in October.
Fantasy focus
Just as Lindor leads the Mets on the field, he will be the first player on the team to be selected in the 2025 fantasy drafts. In some leagues, the shortstop will be a Round 1 pick, and if Alonso is not retained , there could be a significant gap until the next New York player is chosen.
DÃaz will be selected within the first ten rounds, while Vientos, Nimmo and Manaea will be mid-round selections. The lack of Mets between Lindor and the next level perfectly illustrates why this team needs some quality additions to compete in the NL East next year.
