By Denis Engel
In order to construct a 2024 roster, one must first evaluate the talent on the 2023 team to identify needs and weaknesses. A close look at the white board of current Mets reveals this: There’s a lot of talent on this team. There is room for improvement to be sure, but not nearly as much as a mid-70’s win total would suggest. There is a lot to discuss here, so, let’s get to it. For the purposes of this article, I have put the 2024 projected contract value next to the player’s name.
Here goes.
Let’s start with the Infield:
1B: Pete Alonso ($25M). 40+ HRs, 100+ RBI’s. Enough said. David Stearns/Billy Eppler would be crazy to trade him. Reports have it that they agree on the annual salary, just not the number of years. Bite the bullet here: you’re still paying Bobby Bonilla and the deferred payments to Max Scherzer will stretch will into the next decade. Alonso has been durable. If the manager can rest him enough to keep him fresh throughout the season(s), he’ll be an asset for many years.
2B: Ronny Mauricio ($750K)/Jeff McNeil ($10.25M). I like the way Mauricio plays at 2B. His offensive potential is almost unlimited. No one hits the ball harder. He needs to develop consistency. Once he does, look out. You can put McNeil anywhere on the field and he’ll shine. The decision about who is on second will depend on the answer to the question about third: and quite simply, I don’t know. Brett Baty looks frustrated at the plate. He is better than advertised at the position, but he’ll never be mistaken for a Gold Glover. Mark Vientos is absolutely lost in the field. I say keep Mauricio at second.
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