The New York Mets approached the offseason with numerous tasks to address following a lackluster season that fell short of playoff contention.
On Tuesday, there was no sign of that list shrinking.
Despite securing free agent reliever Devin Williams, the Mets still face a significant gap in their bullpen. This urgency is heightened by All-Star closer Edwin Diaz choosing to opt out of his contract. Although discussions were underway to retain Diaz, reports surfaced revealing his agreement to join the Los Angeles Dodgers, the reigning World Series champions.
Consequently, the Mets are now tasked with finding a suitable replacement for Diaz. Additionally, they have another significant decision looming.
“With Edwin Diaz heading to the Los Angeles Dodgers on a three-year, $69 million deal, the Mets’ bullpen strategy has been forced to shift, compelling the front office to focus on retaining Pete Alonso, their homegrown talent,” Manny Gomez noted for NJ.com. “This offseason, Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns has demonstrated that emotional ties won’t dictate his decisions, as evidenced by the late November trade of beloved outfielder Brandon Nimmo.”
The absence of both Diaz and Nimmo next season intensifies the Mets’ need to reconnect with Alonso, especially to appease their dedicated fanbase. While Stearns may prioritize logic over sentiment, manager Carlos Mendoza seems to hold a different perspective.
Without Diaz or Nimmo returning next year, the pressure has built on the Mets to reunite with Alonso, at least if they want to keep their long-time fans happy. And while Stearns might not be particularly sentimental, it seems like manager Carlos Mendoza is.
Shortly after news surfaced that Diaz had agreed to join the Dodgers, the manager was asked if he wants Alonso back. And he had a clear two-word response:
“Of course,” Mendoza said, during an appearance on MLB Network Radio.
“You’re looking at a guy that, as a manager, you don’t have to worry about who’s going to play first base and who’s going to be hitting in the middle of your lineup,” Mendoza added. “Of course we want him back and we’ve been, as an organization, pretty vocal about it. But also understanding that there’s a process and he earned that right, again, for a second year, where he’s looking out there and we’ll see what happens here.”
Mendoza was referring to Alonso’s prolonged free agency last winter, which ultimately saw him return to the Mets on a short-term deal, excel during the season and then opt out of that contract to test free agency again. Now he will be after a longer-term contract and it’s unclear if the Mets will be willing to invest one in him.
But with Diaz now heading to Los Angeles, perhaps the Mets feel like they need to come back to Queens with at least one of their long-time stars returning.
