New Mets owner Steve Cohen obviously won the press conference the other day with his opening remarks. Mets fans could hardly contain their glee, listening to words that they had longed for and waited to hear for years, now finally coming from the man who had taken over control of their team.
Like, say, this quote: "One team wins the World Series every year, so that's a pretty high bar. But if I don't win a World Series in the next three-to-five years – I would like to make it sooner – then obviously I would consider that slightly disappointing. I'm not in this to be mediocre, I want something great."
Or this one: "You build champions, you don't buy them. We've got a great core on this team, and we're going to get better and I plan to make the investments we need to succeed. We want to win now, but we're also building for the long term."
And the cherry on top: "I can promise you we're going to act like a major market team. Are we going to act like drunken sailors? No. What I do believe is this is a major market team and it should have a budget commensurate with that."
But former GM and newly named Team President Sandy Alderson had the key takeaway of the day, and not when he was tossing bouquets towards just named NL Cy Young winner Trevor Bauer to possibly come join two-time Cy Young winner Jacob deGrom at Citi Field. It was, rather, when he said this: "We now can emphasize the acquisition rather than the cost."
When translated, that basically eradicates the word "monitoring" from the Mets' vocabulary. All too often during the Wilpon regime, the Mets would "monitor" the negotiations on free agents or star players who were on the trading block, but never actually jump in to make a move unless the bidding came down to their level, which was usually below market value due to budget concerns. Alderson was frustratingly forced to pinch pennies and watch from the sidelines, while also taking the bullets for ownership way too often. Now, with Cohen taking over, Alderson could exhale and say, no longer, no more.
The Mets need starting pitching help, and it's a good thing Marcus Stroman was listening to Cohen's press conference. He became an instant believer and accepted the Mets' $18.9 million qualifying offer. Stroman is a ground ball machine when on, inducing grounders on 57 percent of balls put in play against him while averaging 7.5 strikeouts and 2.5 walks per nine innings pitched. He alone doesn't answer all of the Mets' rotation needs, but adds a quality piece somewhere between deGrom at the front and impressive rookie southpaw David Peterson towards the rear.
While the other owners in baseball were probably quite happy to hear that Cohen and the Mets wouldn't be spending like "drunken sailors," you can certainly make a case that this might be a year to do it if so inclined. The three marquee free agents all fill areas of need for the Mets - catcher (J.T. Realmuto), centerfield (George Springer) and starting pitching (Bauer). Nothing against Springer or Bauer, but if it's me, I'm starting with Realmuto, and here's why: the Mets have a large hole at catcher.
Tomas Nido right now is No. 1 on the depth chart, and their top prospect, Francisco Alvarez, is at least two years away. Realmuto is the best player at his position by far, period. He’s a five-tool player with great athleticism who had a career-best .840 OPS this year, and he’s a catcher with speed. Check out video of the Mets-Phillies game from September 7 this past season: bases loaded, Realmuto on first, Jean Segura doubles into the LEFT, not right, field corner…no misplays in the field, and Realmuto scores from first base. How many catchers have that kind of speed?
In addition, he handles a pitching staff well, and has improved yearly as a pitch framer. There is a significant drop-off to the next catcher (no offense, James McCann), and Realmuto has a presence that you can't quantify or calculate. The Mets get a leader not only on the field but also in the clubhouse, and the clincher? It's a Phillies fan's worst nightmare - Realmuto chugging up the Turnpike from Citizens Bank Park to Citi Field!
Look, Springer checks a lot of boxes as well: excellent defense in centerfield, a righty bat to balance a lefty-prevalent outfield, a proven high-level postseason performer with power, and a Connecticut native to boot. And Bauer? Two Cy Young award winners in the same rotation? No more need be said.
But for me, it starts behind the plate.
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