The Offseason
Jeurys Familia was signed before any other options, despite there being choices that anyone would rather have. Zach Britton was indeed more expensive, however, he could serve as a closer and nullify the need for an Edwin Diaz trade and Adam Ottavino was clearly better and cheaper. It might be easy to say now- given Familia’s 7.81 ERA- however, it was also apparent at the time.
Taking on 5 years of Robinson Cano was always going to be a gamble, due to his advanced age and PED past. This was the cost to acquire a stellar closer in Edwin Diaz, although this would be unnecessary if the correct free agent relievers were signed in the first place. Diaz’s rough year is not as troubling as it seems, he will be fine in the long run.
The bigger trouble here is that Van Wagenen saw Cano as an asset, enough so to deal two top prospects away in Kelenic and Dunn. The return was clearly too steep and inexperience may have had something to do with it, considering the restricted funds of the New York Mets.
Mets fans are not dumb, they all had quibbles with different elements of the offseason. They simply chose to put their trust in this team, which looked as though they made an effort to improve. They are always looking for an excuse to get excited with this team because it is nearly an addiction.
A fan becomes hooked upon the taste of success, however, more often than not he or she comes to the realization that those thoughts in the back of my head that had me wary at the start of the year were absolutely justified. It leaves fans wondering why these doubts never crossed the mind of the individuals paid to do so.