2024 Pre-Season Profile: New York Mets

 #18

The New York Mets went from being the best team money could buy and a legit World Series contender to selling at the Trade Deadline.  Are they ready to climb the mountaintop in 2024?

2023 Predictions

#3 - 1st in NL East, lose in NLCS

MIH - Brandon Nimmo

MIP - Kodai Senga

PTW - Francisco Alvarez

FP - A closer named Diaz will lead the Mets in saves in 2023.

2023 Results

#23 - 75-87, 4th in NL East

Highest WAR (Position) - Francisco Lindor

Highest WAR (Pitcher) - Kodai Senga

The Mets won the award as the most disappointing season in the league.  They had thrown so much money at so many top players trying to put together and All Star roster, and it just didn't work.  The Edwin Diaz injury during the World Baseball Classic didn't help either.  There were some bright spots, as Japanese import Kodai Senga showed he's the real deal.  Phenom catcher Francisco Alvarez showed signs that he could be the star they were hoping he would be in the next couple years.  However, when you have to give up and trade both Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer mid-season to help reset your roster, it's not a good year.

Additions / Subtractions

The most notable change was the replacement of manager Buck Showalter with Yankees bench coach Carlos Mendoza.  In terms of the roster, no more huge splashes for the Mets, at least not this year.  They signed starters Luis Severino and Sean Manaea to stabilize the rotation.  Center fielder Harrison Bader is another smaller signing to fill a hole.  Then there was last minute addition J.D. Martinez as the team's full time DH.  All of these are solid moves, but when the Mets were printing money the last couple off-seasons, it's a little underwhelming.

Most Important Hitter

Pete Alonso

One of the more interesting storylines of the off-season was the move that wasn't made.  Pete Alonso is entering the final year of club control with the Mets, and he is set to be a free agent at the end of the season.  There was plenty of talk about the Mets either signing Alonso long term or trading him to continue their step back and reset.  Instead, Alonso is playing in a contract year.  Will he sign long term?  Will he be traded mid-season if the Mets are irrelevant?  Anything is possible.

Most Important Pitcher

Edwin Diaz

Losing Edwin Diaz in that freak celebration injury pre-season last year dealt a bigger blow than anyone anticipated.  Not only is he the Mets closer, but he is also a spark plug and source of so much energy.  The Mets also chose to replace him internally instead of trading for another closer.  Now he's back, but is he truly back to being the most dominant closer in baseball?  If he is, the whole bullpen works.  If not, this Mets bullpen gets really thin really fast.

Prospect to Watch

Luisangel Acuna

The Mets sport the 13th best farm system in baseball, thanks almost entirely to their Trade Deadline moves last season.  Three of their four Top 100 Prospects were acquired mid-season last year.  Two of these prospects have a chance to make an impact in 2024, and the most intriguing of those is Luisangel Acuna.  This 22 year old middle infielder is the younger brother of reigning NL MVP Ronald Acuna and was acquired last season in the Max Scherzer trade to the Rangers.  In many ways, he looks like a mini version of his brother.  He doesn't have the same power at just 5'8", but he can definitely still hit.  He is also a strong defender up the middle.  The Mets seem pretty set at second and shortstop with Francisco Lindor and Jeff McNeil, but it will be a big storyline when this phenom makes his debut for more reasons than one.

2024 Prediction

3rd in NL East

When the 2023 roster wasn't working, the Mets knew they needed to take a step back and build a more sustainable winner.  They have done that, but they also knew it meant they were probably sacrificing the 2024 season in the process.  With that said, there is still way too much talent on this roster for them to be bad.  The Mets should be much better this year than last year.  They are also in a very top heavy division with two juggernauts that they hope to join very soon.

Fearless Prediction

Pete Alonso will be traded mid-season, and then sign a free agent deal with the Mets in the off-season.

This may be a wild prediction, but it feels like a very Mets thing to do.  By the Trade Deadline, the Mets may be ready to give up enough on the season to trade their first baseman, especially if he is having a good season and could bring back a good haul of prospects.  So then Pete Alonso becomes a free agent and signs with the highest bidder.  Well, that sounds like it would be the Mets.  So they get the prospect package and the star signed long term.  It doesn't happen often (Yankees pulled it off with Aroldis Chapman a few years back), but it feels like a situation that could play out here.

2023 Pre-Season Profile: New York Mets

 #3

The New York Mets continue to try and buy their way to championship.  Will winning the offseason result in winning in the postseason in 2023?

2022 Predictions

#4 - 1st in NL East, lose in NLCS

MIH - Francisco Lindor

MIP - Max Scherzer

PTW - Brett Baty

2022 Results

#9 - 101-61, 2nd in NL East, WILD CARD, lost in Wild Card Series

Highest WAR (Position) - Jeff McNiel

Highest WAR (Pitcher) - Max Scherzer

This is how good the National League has been recently.  The New York Mets won 101 games in 2022.  Yeah, that was good for 2nd in the division.  They lost in the Wild Card Series to the Padres, who you can argue were the more talented (and maybe higher spending) team.  Then, the eventual NL champ was the 3rd place team from their own division.  With the type of overhaul the Mets had before the 2022 season, it sometimes takes a year or two for the team to come together and play well as a unit.  With that said, they still won 101 games.

Additions / Subtractions

Well, with new Mets owner Steve Cohen, since the Mets didn't win the World Series, it meant he didn't spend enough money.  So he opened up the pocket books again.  First, the Mets kept some of their own that were entering free agency by re-signing closer Edwin Diaz and outfielder Brandon Nimmo to huge deals.  Then, they signed a second 40 year old pitcher to a contract paying $40 million per year.  Last year it was Max Scherzer.  This year it was Justin Verlander.  They signed veteran Jose Quintana and Japanese import Kodai Senga to bolster the rotation even more.  Reliever and former closer David Robertson was signed to deepen the bullpen (and possibly close now that Diaz is out for the year).  Catcher Omar Narvaez was signed to be an offensive-minded catcher.  They also found themselves in the middle of the Carlos Correa saga as they jumped in and agreed to a deal with the superstar shortstop after the Giants questioned his medicals.  Then when the Mets questioned his medicals, both sides backed out of the deal, and he ended up back in Minnesota.  The only real significant subtractions were starters Jacob deGrom, Chris Bassitt and Taijuan Walker, but they were more than adequately replaced.

Most Important Hitter

Brandon Nimmo

Brandon Nimmo had a career year in 2022, which just happened to be his contract year.  He cashed in to stay with the Mets, signing an 8 year $162 million deal.  However, it was only the second time in Nimmo's seven year career he has played in more than 100 games.  The production has always been decent when he is on the field.  The problem is he has to be on the field.  Was 2022 starting a new trend of health, or an anomaly in a career riddled with injuries?  The Mets have a potent middle of the order with the likes of Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso, but they are counting on Nimmo to be on base for them to drive in.

Most Important Pitcher

Kodai Senga

The Mets have a lot of money invested in their starting rotation.  The amount of money they are paying the comination of Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander more than 9 teams' entire rosters.  However, most of the money invested in the rotation was spent on established older pitchers.  The one step they took to solidify part of their rotation passed this year and next was signing Kodai Senga.  The 30 year old Japanese star signed a 5 year $75 million deal with the Mets.  These Japanese players are definitely hit or miss.  Senga has some serious talent.  The question is ... will he be the next Masahiro Tanaka or the next Yusei Kikuchi?  If he is closer to Tanaka, then the Mets have an ace that will be around long after Scherzer and Verlander retire.

Prospect to Watch

Francisco Alvarez

On top of spending all this money, the Mets also boast a top ten caliber farm system, highlighted by one of the best prospects in all of baseball, 21 year old catcher Francisco Alvarez.  The reason the Mets signed a short term stop gap at catcher this offseason was to leave room for Alvarez to break out.  This kid showed all through the minors some elite pure power, slugging 24 homers in 2021 and 27 homers in 2022.  He got a taste of the big leagues at the end of last season, and although he is starting 2023 back in the minors, he will be brought up soon to be another centerpiece of the heart of the Mets batting order.

2023 Prediction

1st in NL East, lose in NLCS

Somehow, a 101 win team looks on paper to have greatly improved this offseason.  They should win the division, but the Braves and Phillies will definitely make it difficult on them.  Can they go all the way?  Absolutely.  I struggle to see a team with this much turnover again coming together in a way to go all the way.  There's a reason whenever the moniker of "best team money can buy" rarely produces a championship.

Fearless Prediction

A closer named Diaz will lead the Mets in saves in 2023.

It was heartbreaking to see such a moment of joy turn so fast in one fatal misstep as Edwin Diaz tore up his knee in the middle of a joyous celebration with his WBC teammates.  It left the Puerto Rico team dejected and the Mets without a closer for the season.  The Mets have announced they will use a closer by committee to start the season, but you know Steve Cohen won't be content with that.  A trade will be made for a closer, and one of the most likely candidates is Edwin's brother Alexis Diaz.  Currently the closer for the Reds, the younger Diaz was shedding tears on the field watching Edwin be carried off the field.  Wouldn't it be poetic if the Mets used some of their farm system depth to bring him in to fill in for his brother?  The Reds are always willing right now to get rid of established stars for prospect potential.  This seems like too good of a story for the Mets to pass up.

2022 MLB Pre-Season Predictions: #10-1

We may be over a week into the season, but I wanted to finish my predictions before we got too far in.  Here's the top 10!

#10

Philadelphia Phillies

2021 Prediction: #14, 4th in NL East

2021 Fearless Prediction: Joe Girardi will be fired after the season.

2021 Result: #15, 82-80, 2nd in NL East

Most Important Hitter: Bryce Harper

Most Important Pitcher: Ranger Suarez

Prospect to Watch: Bryson Stott

2022 Prediction: 2nd in NL East, WILD CARD, lose in Wild Card Round

Bryce Harper rode a hot second half to the NL MVP.  If he is able to put another season together like that, it might finally be the time for this Phillies core group to make a postseason run.  If not, this will truly be the end of Joe Girardi's run in Philly.  It might also mean the dismantling of this roster.

#9

Los Angeles Angels

2021 Prediction: #16, 3rd in AL West

2021 Fearless Prediction: Justin Upton and Dexter Fowler will be traded for prospects at the Trade Deadline.

2021 Result: #19, 77-85, 4th in AL West

Most Important Hitter: Anthony Rendon

Most Important Pitcher: Noah Syndergaard

Prospect to Watch: Reid Detmers

2022 Prediction: 1st in AL West, lose in Wild Card Round

The success or failure of the Angels all has to do with health.  If Ohtani, Trout, Rendon, and Syndergaard all stay healthy for the majority of the season, then the Angels could surprise everyone and come away with this division.  Can you imagine the hysteria around the league if Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani finally play their first postseason games?  It would only make sense if they lose in the first round.

#8

Seattle Mariners

2021 Prediction: #22, 4th in AL West

2021 Fearless Prediction: The Mariners will have four straight Rookies of the Year.

2021 Result: #10, 90-72, 2nd in AL West

Most Important Hitter: Jesse Winker

Most Important Pitcher: Logan Gilbert

Prospect to Watch: Julio Rodriguez

2022 Prediction: 3rd in AL West, WILD CARD, lose in ALDS

As a Mariners fan, it scares me to place them this high in my preseason rankings.  Maybe that's why I'm predicting them to finish 3rd, but still make the playoffs and get out of the Wild Card Round.  The M's were a surprise success last year and have definitely upgraded the rotation and the lineup.  If everything pays off, the longest playoff draught around should end.

#7

Houston Astros

2021 Prediction: #13, 2nd in AL West

2021 Fearless Prediction: One of the Astros three core players left is playing their last season as an Astro.

2021 Result: #2, 95-67, 1st in AL West, lost in World Series

Most Important Hitter: Kyle Tucker

Most Important Pitcher: Justin Verlander

Prospect to Watch: Jeremy Pena

2022 Prediction: 2nd in AL West, WILD CARD, lose in ALDS

How many times can a team lose a superstar and not skip a beat?  After the 2019 season, Gerrit Cole (3rd in team WAR) signs with the Yankees.  After the 2020 season, George Springer (team leader in WAR) signs with the Blue Jays.  After the 2021 season, Carlos Correa (team leader in WAR) signs with the Twins.  Somehow they keep excelling.  They have to be coming to the end of this magical run though.

#6

San Diego Padres

2021 Prediction: #9, 2nd in NL West, WILD CARD, lose in Wild Card Game

2021 Fearless Prediction: The San Diego Padres will win the NL West in 2022.

2021 Result: #16, 79-83, 3rd in NL West

Most Important Hitter: Manny Machado

Most Important Pitcher: Yu Darvish

Prospect to Watch: C.J. Abrams

2022 Prediction: 2nd in NL West, WILD CARD, lose in NLDS

The Padres had an epic meltdown in 2021, going from one of the best teams in baseball in the first half to looking like a mess in the second half.  Now they have one of the best managers in the game, one of the best young stars in the game, and still one of the best storylines in the game.  The Padres are still ready to break out.  They might not win the division this year, but they have to take a step forward.

#5

Milwaukee Brewers

2021 Prediction: #15, 2nd in NL Central

2021 Fearless Prediction: The Brewers will have no offensive players make the All Star Team.

2021 Result: #3, 95-67, 1st in NL Central, lost in NLDS

Most Important Hitter: Christian Yelich

Most Important Pitcher: Corbin Burnes

Prospect to Watch: Ethan Small

2022 Prediction: 1st in NL Central, lose in NLDS

The Brewers rode one of the best pitching staffs in baseball to another playoff run.  They will need a repeat performance from the pitchers, led by reigning Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes, and a resurgence from former MVP Christian Yelich, to make a deep run in 2022.

#4

New York Mets

2021 Prediction: #7, 2nd in NL East, WILD CARD, lose in NLDS

2021 Fearless Prediction: Robinson Cano has played his last game in the big leagues.

2021 Result: #17, 77-85, 3rd in NL East

Most Important Hitter: Francisco Lindor

Most Important Pitcher: Max Scherzer

Prospect to Watch: Brett Baty

2022 Prediction: 1st in NL East, lose in NLCS

If it was possible to buy a championship, the Mets did so this offseason.  Max Scherzer, Starling Marte, Mark Canha, Chris Bassitt ... they definitely spent the most money over the offseason.  Now they have an All Star lineup with an old school veteran manager in Buck Showalter.  They just might have what it takes to make a deep run in 2022.

#3

Chicago White Sox

2021 Prediction: #2, 1st in AL Central, lose in World Series

2021 Fearless Prediction: Tony La Russa wins AL Manager of the Year.

2021 Result: #6, 93-69, 1st in AL Central, lose in ALDS

Most Important Hitter: Luis Robert

Most Important Pitcher: Michael Kopech

Prospect to Watch: Yoelqui Cespedes

2022 Prediction: 1st in AL Central, lose in ALCS

The White Sox have put together a terrific roster that looks ready to make a deep run in the postseason.  They have had some experience the last few years.  Even though they are starting the season with a bunch of injuries, they look ready to take another step forward this year.

#2

Los Angeles Dodgers

2021 Prediction: #3, 1st in NL West, lose in NLCS

2021 Fearless Prediction: This is the last year Clayton Kershaw wears Dodgers blue.

2021 Result: #2, 106-56, 2nd in NL West, lose in NLCS

Most Important Hitter: Cody Bellinger

Most Important Pitcher: Julio Urias

Prospect to Watch: Michael Busch

2022 Prediction: 1st in NL West, lose in World Series

The amount of talent on the Dodgers roster is borderline ridiculous.  To pick anyone other than the Dodgers to win it all should be considered controversial.  It's also extremely boring.  On top of that, the only time the Dodgers actually pulled out a championship during this run was the COVID-shortened 2020 season.  They will be right there again in 2022, but I have them just short once again.

#1

Toronto Blue Jays

2021 Prediction: #5, 2nd in AL East, WILD CARD, lose in ALDS

2021 Fearless Prediction: The Blue Jays will trade for a closer before Memorial Day.

2021 Result: #9, 91-71, 4th in AL East

Most Important Hitter: George Springer

Most Important Pitcher: Jose Berrios

Prospect to Watch: Gabriel Moreno

2022 Prediction: 1st in AL East, win World Series

No team has been through more adversity over the last two years than the Toronto Blue Jays.  The 2020 season was spent in Buffalo, the 2021 season was split between their Spring Training home, Buffalo, and finally Toronto when COVID protocols allowed the border to be opened enough to let them travel there.  They also play in probably the best division in baseball.  They also have one of the greatest young cores in the game.  They are battle tested, they have a perennial MVP candidate ... as long as their pitching can hold out, they have to be a candidate for the title.  I can see it happen in 2022!

2019 Pre-Season Profile: New York Mets

#12

The New York Mets made several unconventional moves this offseason that set them up to try and win now.  Will this lead them to the playoffs in 2019?

2018 Predictions

4th in NL East

The Mets rotation will not see one trip through feature Syndergaard, deGrom, Harvey, Matz, and Wheeler again.

2018 Results

77-85, 4th in NL East

The Mets, under rookie manager Mickey Callaway, struggled through 2018.  Their main struggle was scoring runs, as the Cy Young winning ace could only squeeze out 10 wins.  Outside of Jacob deGrom, the Mets were about as inconsequential as could be last season.  As for my prediction around the rotation, I am not sure if they ever made it through one time with those five, but the fact that Matt Harvey was out of town barely a month into the season shows that I was onto something.

Additions / Subtractions

The Mets had one of the most fascinating offseasons.  It all started with their decision to hire an agent, Brodie Van Wagenen, as their new general manager.  He came in claiming to view personnel decisions from a different point of view which was shown in every move they made.  The biggest move was trading outfielder Jay Bruce, along with several top prospects to the Mariners for second baseman Robinson Cano and closer Edwin Diaz.  They also signed veterans Wilson Ramos and Jed Lowrie.  They traded for Keon Broxton, who looks to be their future centerfielder.  Where many teams stay away from veterans these days, Van Wagenen's philosophy seems to be to embrace the veteran to help you win now.  Every acquisition they made, except for Diaz and Broxton, was for a veteran most teams didn't even want to consider because of their age.  However, the Mets knew they needed offense to try and accompany their pitching, and it had to come from somewhere.  The quickest way to get it is through veteran proven commodities.

Most Important Hitter

Michael Conforto

Although veterans like Cano, Lowrie, and Frazier are the names everyone recognizes in the heart of the Mets lineup, their best hitter might be Michael Conforto.  The Mets have been touting Conforto as the future anchor of their lineup for several years, and he has really started to come into his own recently.  He made the All Star Team in 2017 in career year.  Then in 2018, he played his first full season without injury, playing in 153 games and hitting 28 home runs and 82 RBI's.  Although his production has been moving up, he now needs to emerge as a leader.  With veteran hitters surrounding him in the lineup, this might be the year he takes the next step into being the superstar leader the Mets have been waiting for him to be.

Most Important Pitcher

Steven Matz

When Steven Matz burst onto the scene in 2015 for the Mets World Series run, he was quickly touted as the fifth ace in a massive rotation.  Syndergaard and deGrom have definitely come through on that promise.  Matt Harvey, thought to be the best of the group in 2015, is now on his third team in 12 months.  The jury is still out on Zack Wheeler as he was out with injuries for a couple seasons.  Then there is Matz, the only lefty of the group.  He has shown signs of greatness over the last few years, but it has been inconsistent.  2018 was the first season he topped 150 innings in his career, however his ERA+ shows he was slightly under league average in his production.  If the Mets want to be elite, either Wheeler or Matz have to join deGrom and Syndergaard at the top of their rotation.  With Matz being the lefty, he is more crucial to be the one to emerge.

Prospect to Watch

Peter Alonso

One thing with a veteran team is you better have depth.  The Mets do.  Entering the offseason, Peter Alonso was probably slated as the Opening Day starting first baseman.  Now, with all acquisitions, that debut may have to wait (thanks to some injuries, maybe not...).  Alonso is a big presence at first base and at the plate.  Before the end of this season, watch for him to emerge as the everyday first baseman in Queens.

2019 Prediction

2nd in NL East

I love what the Mets did this offseason.  They needed offense, and they went out and bought one.  Going after the veterans is not popular these days, but that is more because everyone is more focused on sustainable success.  If you are looking at short term success, it isn't a bad way to go.  Look for the offense to show up and allow their pitching to actually win games this year.  I don't know how sustainable this roster will be after 2019, but they should be fun to watch this season as they come up just short of the playoffs.

Fearless Prediction

Noah Syndergaard will finish higher in the Cy Young voting than Jacob deGrom.

I am a huge Noah Syndergaard fan.  The guy is a freak athlete.  Now that he is healthy again, he has the opportunity this year to show how good he is.  For him to finish ahead deGrom in the Cy Young voting would be quite a feat considering deGrom is coming off of possibly the most dominant season a pitcher has had in the 21st century.  It is hard to repeat that level of success, but his teammate will pick up where he left off.  This seems to be what the Mets have done over the last few years.  Their aces take turns being the best pitcher on the staff.  This year should be no different.

2018 Pre-Season Profile: New York Mets

#21

The New York Mets fought through injuries in 2017 to have a poor season in a poor division.  Will a return of some key pieces and a change in manager bring about a better result in 2018?

2017 Predictions

2nd in NL East, WILD CARD, lose in NLDS

Noah Syndergaard will win the NL Cy Young.

2017 Results

70-92, 4th in NL East

The Mets have built their roster on a dynamic young pitching staff with just enough offense to support it.  Well, when only one of their five aces makes more than 20 starts in the season (including only 7 stars from Noah Syndergaard, the best of the bunch), it sets the team up for failure.  When Thor went down early in the season, obviously my prediction went out the window with his season.

Additions / Subtractions

The Mets made some very interesting moves over the offseason.  First, after trading away Jay Bruce to the Indians mid-season last year, the Mets were able to bring him back.  Then they brought in veterans Adrian Gonzalez and Todd Frazier to man the corner infield spots.  They brought in starter Jason Vargas to bring some stability to their oft-injured rotation.  The biggest move the Mets made was letting manager Terry Collins go and bringing in Mickey Callaway, former pitching coach of the Indians, as their new manager.

Most Important Hitter

Yoenis Cespedes

Like I said, their team is built around their pitching.  However, ever since the Mets traded for Cespedes in 2015, their offense has lived and died with his production.  When he is hot, the Mets are hot.  When he is cold, the Mets are cold.  If the Mets are going to have a successful season, Cespedes needs to be MVP caliber.

Most Important Pitcher

Noah Syndergaard

Before his injury last season, Noah Syndergaard had been emerging as one of the best pitchers in all of baseball.  As such an imposing figure on the mound and with such electric stuff, it is easy to see why Thor is so good.  The Mets are expecting Syndergaard to be back to the freak he was before the injury, and the early returns from Spring Training say he is.  An injury-free season from Thor will make for a much better season for the Mets.

Prospect to Watch

Marcos Molina

One problem with the Mets is they currently have a poor farm system.  No players in their farm system are in baseball's Top 100 prospects, and none of their top 7 prospects are expected to make their debuts in the big leagues in the next year or two.  The best prospect that is closest to the Show is Marcos Molina, a 23 year old Dominican pitcher.  A recent elbow injury derailed some of his progress, and he has a lot of pitchers on the roster in front of him, but a lively arm like his might be able to help out the bullpen down the stretch.

2018 Prediction

4th in AL East

I do not have high hopes for the Mets this year.  A manager that is pitching-centric will help, but I don't know if we will ever see the Syndergaard/deGrom/Harvey/Matz/Wheeler rotation dominate the league like everyone thought they would when they first debuted.  Their offense is relying on comeback years from some aging veterans.  The arms are not going to stay healthy.  Add that to the fact that some of the other teams in the division have young cores that are ready to explode onto the scene, and the Mets will struggle to gain ground.  2018 could be entertaining for the Mets, but not successful.

Fearless Prediction

The Mets rotation will not see one trip through feature Syndergaard, deGrom, Harvey, Matz, and Wheeler again.

At this point, it looks like it would take an injury from Jason Vargas for this to happen in 2018 (and all of them to get and remain healthy).  It is easy to see a scenario where guys like Matt Harvey or Zack Wheeler end up traded or on other rosters by the end of the season.  With other starters like Seth Lugo and Robert Gsellman in the fold, they are definitely starting pitcher wealthy and could part with some to build up the struggling farm system.  This dream rotation they built seems to be over before it ever really got started.  The encouraging part is the Mets might be better off without it.

2017 Pre-Season Profile: New York Mets

#7

The New York Mets have carried their powerful young starting rotation to the playoffs the last two seasons, almost winning it all in 2015.  Will 2017 bring enough offense to balance their pitching to make another deep run?

My 2016 Predictions

1st in NL East, lose in NLCS

One of the Mets' five aces will go down with Tommy John surgery in 2016.

2016 Results

87-75, 2nd in NL East, WILD CARD, lost in Wild Card Game

My predictions are a lot more accurate than they appear at first glance.  I had their 2016 playoff run coming to an end at the hands of the Giants.  The only difference is they lost to the Giants in the Wild Card Game instead of the NLCS.  Regardless, it was still a very successful follow-up season for a young team after a World Series run the year before.  As for my Fearless Prediction, fortunately none of their great young starting pitchers went down with Tommy John.  With that said, Noah Syndergaard was the only one that pitched a full season.  Jacob deGrom, Matt Harvey, and Steven Matz dealt with different injuries throughout the season, and Zack Wheeler waited till 2017 to make his comeback from Tommy John.

Additions / Subtractions

The Mets are entering 2017 with almost the exact same roster they ended 2016 with.  In fact, the only real change from the start of 2016 is the mid-season deal they made for Jay Bruce.  The other difference is letting veteran Bartolo Colon leave so the youngsters can have the rotation to themselves.

Most Important Hitter

Jay Bruce

The Mets brought Jay Bruce over last season to help provide some pop with Yoenis Cespedes in the middle of the order.  Instead, Bruce had a terrible run over the last few months, hitting just .219 with 8 home runs and 19 RBI's in 50 games.  The Mets considered trading Bruce again in the offseason, but they instead are banking on Bruce to return to his All Star level he showed with the Reds.  He could be the key to waking up a mediocre offense.

Most Important Pitcher

Noah Syndergaard

Every year, the Mets seem to have a different pitcher emerge as the best pitcher of the staff.  In 2013, it was Matt Harvey.  In 2015, it was Jacob deGrom.  In 2016, it was Noah Syndergaard.  Like I said before, Syndergaard was the only one of the Mets' youngsters to pitch a full season.  He is also the only one that hasn't had any injury issues so far in his career.  Before this season starts, one of their aces (Matz) is already on the DL.  They need someone to bring some stability to the staff and string together consecutive strong seasons.  Syndergaard looks to be the one that has the best opportunity to do just that.

Player to Watch

Amed Rosario

The Mets' infield is getting old.  Neil Walker is 31, Asdrubal Cabrera is 31, David Wright is 34 (when he can play), and Jose Reyes is 34 (when Wright doesn't play).  One of these guys is going to lose their job at some point this season to 21 year old prospect Amed Rosario.  Ranked the 5th best prospect in baseball, Rosario is a shortstop by trade, however he could give a spark at any infield position needed this season.  He might be the catalyst for a late season run towards the playoffs.

2017 Prediction

2nd in NL East, WILD CARD, lose in NLDS

The Mets have so much elite pitching, they are near guaranteed to have a spot in the playoffs.  Even if guys get hurt, they have starters waiting for a shot to show that they belong as well.  I see them getting into that Wild Card Game again this season.  This time, they won't get MadBum'ed and make it to the NLDS where their run will come to an end.  They won't get over the hump until the offense get and upgrade.

Fearless Prediction

Noah Syndergaard will win the NL Cy Young.

It is hard to go against Clayton Kershaw for this award, who is one of the greatest pitchers this game has ever seen.  However, Thor has the potential to join him in that category.  This is the year where the Mets' rotation gets that stability it needs as Syndergaard takes his place among the game's elite.