The Mets were expected to be a sleeper contender in the NL East behind the Nationals this year. But a playoff team seemed to be an unrealistic expectations by Mets fans, despite the belief that the team could compete with its young starting pitching. If the plan was to build toward truly contending in 2016, the Mets jumped ahead a year in that development, thanks to that strong pitching and a vastly disappointing performance from the Nats. Getting past the Dodgers and Cubs in the NL playoffs only increased the appetite for a championship in Queens. New York seems like it became a Mets town in 2015. (Yankees fans might scoff at that.) With a team built to succeed in the present and future, that could hold true for years to come.
Preseason Prediction: With everything going right — players staying healthy and performing to expectations — this could be a second-place team. But a third-place finish looks more realistic to me. If the pitching develops as expected, helping the Mets to an over-.500 finish, perhaps that will give ownership the motivation it needs to give Alderson more financial resources to work with. And maybe the GM will also be willing to use some of those young arms to improve other areas of the roster. This season could be an important step in the Mets’ progression toward contention. Plateauing or regressing would be the true disappointment. (Ian Casselberry, Feb. 26)
NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 17: Matt Harvey #33 of the New York Mets reacts after closing out the top of the seventh inning against the Chicago Cubs during game one of the 2015 MLB National League Championship Series at Citi Field on October 17, 2015 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
What Went Right: The development of the Mets’ young pitching was supposed to be what pushed them into contention, and that’s indeed what happened.
Jacob deGrom followed up his NL Rookie of the Year season with another strong year, compiling a 2.54 ERA and 205 strikeouts in 191 innings. Noah Syndergaard was called up in mid-May and lived up to his advance hype, striking out 166 batters in 150 innings with a 3.24 ERA. And in his first season back following Tommy John surgery, Matt Harvey sought to regain his place at the Mets’ ace. With a 2.71 ERA and 188 strikeouts in 189.1 innings, he reminded everyone why he was such a big deal to begin with. That trio was largely responsible for the Mets breaking away from the Nationals in the NL East and fueled the team’s run to the World Series.
A big criticism of GM Sandy Alderson and team ownership was the reluctance (or refusal) to sign an impact offensive player, someone who could join Lucas Duda in crushing balls out of the park. While limited finances prevented the team from getting such a hitter in free agency, Alderson finally got his man at the trade deadline. And as the saying goes, the third time was the charm.
After striking out on attempts to acquire Carlos Gomez and Jay Bruce, the Mets got Yoenis Cespedes from the Tigers and he transformed the team’s offense, boosting them to a +82 run differential in August and September. In just 57 games with the club, Cespedes hit .287 with a .942 OPS, 17 homers and 44 RBI, prompting discussion over whether or not he should be considered for NL MVP.
What Went Wrong: David Wright was limited to 38 regular season games due to spinal stenosis, leaving the Mets without their captain and the lineup with no production from third base. In Wright’s absence, Eric Campbell hit .197 with a .607 OPS. Trade pick-up Juan Uribe batted .219/.301/.430. The Mets’ offense already struggled without Wright, with no everyday player other than Daniel Murphy hitting above .270. (At least until Michael Conforto and Cespedes joined the team.) Duda and Curtis Granderson supplied the only home run power before Cespedes brought his big bat to town.
Other than Jeurys Familia, who established himself as the team’s closer in light of Jenrry Mejia’s PED suspensions, the bullpen was a major question mark. Familia was outstanding, appearing in 76 games, compiling a 1.85 ERA, 86 strikeouts in 78 innings and racking up 43 saves. But there wasn’t much behind him. Tyler Clippard and Addison Reed were acquired late in the season to bolster the late-inning relief corps, but neither pitcher was reliable during the postseason, leaving Collins little choice than to hope his starting pitcher could throw seven innings, while Familia went two innings.
NEW YORK, NY – JULY 29: Wilmer Flores #4 of the New York Mets looks on in the dugout in the ninth inning duirng the game against the San Diego Padres at Citi Field on July 29, 2015 in Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
Most Surprising Player: Wilmer Flores beat out Ruben Tejada for the starting shortstop job in spring training, based on his bat. For the most part, he justified that decision. The 23-year-old showed surprising power, slugging 16 home runs, which was third among Mets everyday players before Cespedes came along. Maybe the Mets didn’t need to trade for someone like Troy Tulowitzki. However, Flores’ .263 average and .703 OPS weren’t eye-popping. Between that and defense at shortstop that cost the Mets -10 Defensive Runs Saved, the door was open for Tejada to regain his job late in the season.
But Flores was also the featured player in arguably the most pivotal point of the Mets’ 2015 season. GM Sandy Alderson had reportedly made a deal for Brewers outfielder Carlos Gomez, trading Zack Wheeler and Flores to Milwaukee. Well, that was news to Flores, who learned of the supposed deal while he was still on the field. He was overcome with emotion, believing he was leaving the only team he’d been with since he was 16 years old. In that moment, Flores became a folk hero to Mets fans. Look at how badly he wants to stay here! It didn’t hurt that he hit .306 with an .843 OPS in August.
Most Disappointing Player: The Mets pounced on Michael Cuddyer soon after free agency began, making for one of the more inexplicable moves of the offseason. Yes, the Mets needed a corner outfield bat. But a two-year contract for a player who would be 36 before opening day? When healthy, Cuddyer can hit, but he played only 49 games in 2014. Knee and wrist injuries limited Cuddyer to 117 games, but his .259 average and .699 OPS were hardly what the Mets needed from a corner outfield spot.
Fortunately, the team was able to overcome Cuddyer’s lack of production with the performance of rookie outfielder Michael Conforto and the acquisition of Cespedes, which turned out to be spectacular for the lineup. During the postseason, Cuddyer was a virtual non-factor, getting starts against Clayton Kershaw and Jon Lester, but batting a combined 1-for-6. If the Mets re-sign Cespedes, it’s difficult to see where Cuddyer fits in on next year’s team.
LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 09: Jacob deGrom #48 of the New York Mets pitches in the seventh inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game one of the National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium on October 9, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
The Future: With Harvey, deGrom and Syndergaard all coming back, along with Steven Matz and the likely return of Wheeler, the Mets’ starting staff should be just as good, if not better, than it was in 2015. With the Nationals possibly sliding, the Marlins an uncertain proposition, and the Braves and Phillies set to occupy the bottom of the division, the Mets should again contend for a NL East title and wild-card spot.
Whether or not this team can return to the postseason might depend on what Alderson does about the lineup. Will the Mets re-sign Cespedes? That would seem to be a priority, but if other teams throw mega-contracts at the outfielder, the Mets might opt to take their chances with Conforto in left field, Juan Lagares in center and Granderson in right, with maybe some fledgling hope that Brandon Nimmo is ready to contribute later in the year. But given what a difference a true slugger like Cespedes made, and very few viable alternatives in free agency, the Mets really need to bring him back.
Another offseason priority will be shoring up that bullpen behind Familia. (Forget re-signing Daniel Murphy, as popular as that might be with fans. Dilson Herrera is ready to take over at second base, and that money can be better spent elsewhere on the roster.) Will Bobby Parnell be brought back following a disappointing, injury-plagued season? Could Rafael Montero be moved to relief or will he be in the starting rotation mix? Mejia is almost certainly gone after his multiple suspensions. Maybe a starter will be traded for bullpen help (if that’s not needed to acquire an outfielder).
The arms are certainly there to make a deal, and the Mets are absolutely in position to be a power in the NL for the next few seasons if the front office and ownership continue to add the right pieces.
