New York Mets 2017 Team Preview: Additions, Subtractions and Outlook

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Following back-to-back playoff appearances, the New York Mets are going into the 2017 season with hopes it will finally be the season that they are the ones hoisting the World Series trophy. With an arsenal of starting pitchers, and a lineup that could do some damage, it could be another year of October baseball for the Mets.

Last season the New York Mets came into the season buzzing off an appearance in the World Series, and capturing their first NL pennant since 2000. Bringing in solid second baseman Neil Walker, and trading for former All-Star outfielder Jay Bruce (midseason) were moves made in hopes of bolstering the offense for the postseason. While Walker produced as projected, Bruce failed to launch as hoped and will need to return to form for the Mets to compete in 2017.

The strength of the Mets, no doubt, begins and ends with the power arms they possess. Not only in the top-of-the-line starters, but the back-end of the bullpen as well. The ace of the staff is 2016 All-Star Noah Syndergaard, or ‘Thor’ as he is called. Syndergaard is coming off a season where he finished fourth in the NL in strikeouts and third in ERA at 2.60. Syndergaard is quickly entering top five starters in the game territory, and is developing into one of the best in MLB quickly.

Jacob deGrom is another exceptional right-handed thrower who finished 2016 with the most shutouts and complete games in the National League. DeGrom is a bona fide ace in his own right, and may in fact have a stronger season than Syndergaard in 2017. The lefty of the bunch, Steven Matz, had an impressive debut in his first full season, and finished sixth in the Rookie of the Year voting.

The wild cards in the rotation which could separate the Mets from either being a team fighting for a Wild Card Game berth, or a serious World Series contender are Matt Harvey and Zack Wheeler. The former All-Star Harvey is coming off a disastrous 2016 in which he finished with a record of 4-10 and an ERA of 4.86. If he can be anywhere near his 2013 self, in which he finished fourth for the NL Cy Young, it would be huge for the Mets. With the five potentially big-time pitchers under contract through 2018, the team has two more go-arounds to try to get it right. (Harvey is the first due to be a UFA after 2018.)

What will New York need to do to overcome fierce competition from the perennial division favorite Washington Nationals? They will need to regain the form that catupulted them to the Fall Classic in 2015.

Key Offseason Additions

The Mets didn’t make big splashes on names this offseason for players who hadn’t already been wearing the blue, orange and white. No one expects the likes of Tim Tebow to be the ‘savior’ of the team this season. Much of the hopes are reliant on what the team already had in the clubhouse, and were a part of the past two postseason teams.

‘YO Knows’

Bringing back two-time All-Star Yoenis Cespedes was the headline-grabbing move. Most certainly the Mets’ best hitter, the Silver Slugger winner brings stability to the middle of the Mets order, and with the four-year deal he received, he will be the cornerstone of the position players going forward. Becoming the highest paid Met, and second-highest paid outfielder in the game would have an effect on most players. We will see if Cespedes lives up to the dollars.

Bringing Back ‘The Real Deal’

Signing the one-year qualifying offer, Neil Walker returns to the Mets. The veteran switch-hitter who took over the second base position from Daniel Murphy tied a career high in home runs last season with 23. He is also among the game’s most consistent fielders at second base with the fifth best active fielding percentage. With the veteran infield tandem of Walker and Asdrubal Cabrera, it allows Mets manager Terry Collins time to work in young phenom shortstop Amed Rosario.

Wheeler’s Back

After a two-year absence, Zack Wheeler is trying to get back to his 2014 form that saw him lead the National League in shutouts and finish in the top 10 in strikeouts. The Mets are already contenders boasting the best pitching staff in baseball, but getting Wheeler back would be a cherry on top. The limit that the team currently has for Wheeler is 125 innings as JT Teran at Rising Apple reported. He lost 2015 to Tommy John surgery, and last season was shut down after battling a mild flexor strain. Many, including Brendan Kuty of NJ.com, think Wheeler most likely will be used out of the bullpen. I think that he will be effective enough to work his way back into the rotation.

Key Offseason Departures

Bye Bye Bart

Losing Bartolo Colon, or ‘Big Sexy’ as he affectionately became known as in New York, will be difficult to replace. The 22-year veteran had a career renaissance in Oakland in 2012 and 2013 at the age of 40, and it carried over into his time with the Mets. Last season at 43, Colon pitched 191 innings, winning 15 games, and made the 500th start in his career. The former Cy Young Award winner will not be easy to replace by any measure.

De Out of Town

Well-traveled outfielder Alejandro De Aza moved on to the A’s in the offseason. De Aza had a poor 2016. With a career low in batting average, and a WAR rating of -0.4, De Aza’s time in New York had run its course. Oakland will be his eighth team in his nine-year career.

Loney Off to the Lone Star State

James Loney didn’t bring the bat the Mets hoped he would bring when they acquired him last May from the Padres. Loney ended up playing the majority of the year at first, while Lucas Duda dealt with a back injury. The Mets expect Duda to see the field more often this season, with Loney now with the Rangers. A free agent a season’s end, Duda may be the bridge before 2013 first-round pick Dominic Smith gets his opportunity.

Season Outlook

In a perfect world for the Mets this season, the pitching staff is all on its game, and the likes of aging stars Jose Reyes and Curtis Granderson continue to get the job done. Jay Bruce could be the x-factor for the club, as he needs to produce in the middle of the lineup. If he does, the Mets could always trade him, as they continue to hope Brandon Nimmo and Michael Conforto emerge as franchise outfielders. Asdrubal Cabrera also may not be in his position long as the #5 prospect in baseball Amed Rosario could break onto the scene this season, and be the captain of the Mets’ infield for the next decade.

The cornerstone of the Mets since the days of Mike Piazza ended, David Wright is trying to get healthy, and give 2016 a go. (Speaking of Piazza, he likes the Mets’ chances this season, as Michelle Ioannou of Rising Apple explained.) It will be quite the story to watch Wright’s progress as he nears the twilight of his great career.

More from Call to the Pen

Projected Lineup

Jose Reyes 3B
Curtis Granderson CF
Yoenis Cespedes LF
Jay Bruce RF
Neil Walker 2B
Asdrubal Cabrera SS
Lucas Duda 1B
Travis d’Arnaud C

Pitching

Noah Syndergaard

Jacob deGrom

Steven Matz

Matt Harvey

Zack Wheeler / Robert Gsellman

Bullpen

Rafael Montero

Jerry Blevins

Hansel Robles

Fernando Salas

Addison Reed

Jeurys Familia

Next: Marlins 2017 Team Preview

My Prediction

The Mets continue to not be able to get their five starting pitchers dominating at the same time, and struggle in the first couple months. They are able to trade Jay Bruce near the deadline, which opens up opportunities for the young outfielders. Yoenis Cespedes makes good on the investment, and finishes in the top five in MVP voting.

77-85

Third in NL East

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