A season stuffed with OMGs and Grimace memes got here to an finish this weekend when the Dodgers toppled the Mets in a 10-5 win that propelled L.A. to a World Sequence showdown and left the Mets waiting for the 2025 marketing campaign. New York’s roster is teeming with veteran free brokers, and president of baseball operations David Stearns and his workers can have their work minimize out for them in reshaping the roster this offseason. A number of outgoing Mets free brokers made clear they’d have curiosity in returning, together with some growing older vets who’re stepping into the latter levels of their profession.
Designated hitter J.D. Martinez joked “pickleball” when requested what the longer term held for him (video hyperlink through SNY). The 37-year-old slugger stated at the start, his future consists of heading dwelling to be together with his new daughter, who he has barely seen since she was born in September. Past the household time, Martinez made clear that he hopes to proceed his taking part in profession however provided that groups take the initiative. “I’m not going to return again as a result of I’m begging to return again,” stated Martinez. “I’m going to return again as a result of it is smart. On the finish of the day, time is essentially the most useful factor.”
Presumably, meaning there’s a worth level at which Martinez received’t really feel compelled to decide to additional time away from his rising younger household. However the slugger additionally lately appeared on the Baseball Isn’t Boring podcast and instructed host Rob Bradford that frustration over a basic lack of curiosity final offseason led him to ponder retirement.
“I felt prefer it was simply an ungainly 12 months,” stated Martinez (video hyperlink). “Right here I’m, the group’s breaking in 5 days, and I don’t actually have a group but. Your mind goes right into a bizarre mode, the place you’re like ’Am I taking part in? Am I not? Am I taking part in? Am I not? Is that this it? Am I retired? … We weren’t asking for something that, on the time, I really feel like different gamers hadn’t gotten.”
Martinez went on to say that he waited all offseason for affords to materialize and “100%” thought of retiring, even telling his greatest buddy: “I believe this it. I’m staying dwelling. That is dumb. I’m begging for a job, and I had a .900 OPS final 12 months.”
Heading into the 2024-25 offseason, Martinez received’t be coming off the identical sort of marketing campaign he loved with the Dodgers in 2023. Throughout his lone 12 months in L.A., he bashed 33 homers and hit .271/.321/.572 in 479 plate appearances. Martinez was nonetheless a clearly above-average bat this previous season, however a sluggish begin after signing late (March 23) and a dismal end to the season left him with a .235/.320/.406 batting line. That was about eight p.c higher than common, by measure of wRC+ (108).
An optimist may toss out a sluggish two weeks to begin the season and overlook that end to see that from mid-Could by late August, Martinez hit .251/.336/.459 with 16 homers in 387 plate appearances, however groups received’t be so charitable as to simply write these struggles off and focus solely on his peak in-season manufacturing. Martinez did observe that he’s inspired by his batted-ball metrics regardless that the final word manufacturing wasn’t consistent with his greatest work, and to his credit score, he maintained wonderful marks by way of exit velocity, barrel charge and hard-hit charge. He additionally reduce on his career-worst 2023 strikeout charge and improved his stroll charge to its highest stage since 2019.
Teammate Jose Quintana was extra direct and extra easy in his intentions to return subsequent 12 months. The 35-year-old lefty instructed reporters (hyperlink through ESPN’s Jesse Rogers): “I’m wholesome. I really feel good. I need to attempt yet one more time to win a championship. This was the closest I’ve been in my profession. Sooner or later I’m going to get the chance.”
Quintana, 36 in January, pitched 170 1/3 innings of three.75 ERA ball for the Mets in 2024 — the second season of a two-year, $26MM free agent deal. His 18.8% strikeout charge and eight.8% stroll charge don’t essentially help that stage of success, however Quintana was a dependable supply of innings and has a prolonged monitor report of high quality rotation work within the majors. Beginning pitching is at all times in demand, and he has a great likelihood at commanding one other eight-figure wage on a one-year deal — if not potential to discover a related two-year deal to the one he simply accomplished.
Age issues aren’t as outstanding for 32-year-old Sean Manaea, who’s all however a lock to say no a $13.5MM participant possibility in quest of a multi-year deal in free company. Manaea has signed back-to-back “show it” offers, so to talk, signing consecutive two-year offers with opt-out alternatives. He opted out of his take care of the Giants following the 2023 season, will choose out of his Mets deal subsequent month, and is now lastly in place to command the kind of lengthier multi-year deal that’s eluded him thus far in free company. The Mets will very seemingly make him a qualifying supply, however even with draft compensation connected to his title, Manaea may command a three-year pact this time round.
The left-hander pitched a career-high 181 2/3 innings, plus one other 19 within the postseason. His common season ended with a 3.47 ERA, 24.9% strikeout charge and eight.5% stroll charge. He was hit laborious in hia remaining begin — the one which ended the Mets’ season — however held opponents to 5 runs in 17 innings throughout his first three postseason begins (2.65 ERA).
Time will inform whether or not Manaea is again in New York, however the southpaw emphasised how a lot he beloved his time with the group and known as the 2024 marketing campaign one of the best season of his profession (hyperlink through Christina De Nicola of MLB.com). “I really like my time right here,” stated Manaea. “I really like New York. I really like the group. I really like all of the individuals right here. Positively give it a few days, let the physique relaxation after which we’ll go from there.”
Along with the trio of Martinez, Manaea and Quintana, the Mets will even see Pete Alonso, Luis Severino, Harrison Bader, Brooks Raley, Adam Ottavino, Jesse Winker, Jose Iglesias, Drew Smith and Ryne Stanek all develop into free brokers after the World Sequence.
