The New York Mets enter the 2024-25 offseason with more than half of their payroll freeing up. Not only did the Mets have to work on re-signing their own free agents, they must work on signing other free agents, completing trades, and more. Here is a good plan the Mets could execute to make a championship team in 2025.
What the Mets Championship Plan Should Look Like in 2025
Left Field: Brandon Nimmo
The plan shouldn’t change with Brandon Nimmo in 2025. Although he’s able to play the vacant center field, Nimmo will be 32 next season and did well in left field. He had a significant drop in average from 2023, however, Nimmo still hit 23 home runs and drove in a career-high 90 RBIs. Nimmo is still at the peak of his career.
Center Field: Luis Robert Jr.
No, this isn’t an error. Garrett Crochet and Luis Robert Jr. should both be acquired in a trade. The Chicago White Sox want position players, which is where Bret Baty, Ronny Mauricio, and Ryan Clifford come in. Thrown in a prospect and the White Sox might be intrigued. Robert Jr. has struggled to stay healthy in his career. However, when healthy, he is great. This would solve any issues in center field and would help the rotation. Not to mention, the Mets wouldn’t need to sign expensive free agents.
Right Field: Juan Soto
There is no reason to believe that Steve Cohen, whose net is massive, will be outbid by any team. Not only can the Mets afford Soto, but they can also afford Pete Alonso, Juan Soto, and Corbin Burnes. Soto is looking like a Mets player too, as many are already entertaining ideas that Soto will leave the Yankees. An Aaron Judge– Juan Soto is great, but for some reason, a Francisco Lindor-Juan Soto duo feels amazing. The Met’s offseason priority is simple: SIGN SOTO.
Third Base: Mark Vientos
No Alex Bregman, no Willy Adames, and no free agent at third base. The Mets shouldn’t change the position of their newest star Mark Vientos. Vientos hit 27 home runs in 111 games (!!). That is power that is valuable. Of course, Vientos is in 2025’s plans in any situation, but Vientos should remain the Mets’ third baseman because of his performance there later in the season. Vientos actually did well at third later in the season, and keeping him there is a good idea.
Shortstop: Francisco Lindor
This spot was another up for grabs anyway. Moving on.
Second Base: Luisangel Acuna
This is when the Mets need to input a younger star into their plan. Luisangel Acuna deserves recognition for his performance in September. In 14 games, Acuna hit three home runs and hit .308 with superb defense. Acuna also looks like a future Gold Glove winner. Jeff McNeil looked pretty good before a season-ending injury. However, Acuna still deserves to be at second base.
First Base: Pete Alonso
Does Pete Alonso need to give any more hints? He wants to remain a Met. Throughout the season, Alonso refused to even mention leaving. The Mets can, and should sign both Soto and Alonso to long-term deals and build a terrifying team. The Mets need to catch on, they have money, and they have the ability to sign Alonso and Soto.
Catcher: Francisco Alvarez
Francisco Alvarez had a good second half and had an okay season with some heroics. His spot on the team, like Lindor’s, is not up for grabs.
Designated Hitter (DH): Starling Marte
Here is an amazing idea: no J.D. Martinez, Joc Pederson, or Soto at DH. Instead, the Mets should place Starling Marte at DH and recognize that he has issues staying healthy. If Marte has just one fully healthy season, he can probably notch a 20/20 season with a high amount of RBIs and a high average. His ability to hit has never faltered in New York. Allow Marte to stay healthy in New York.
The Terrifying Result:
- Francisco Lindor, SS
- Juan Soto, RF
- Mark Vientos, 3B
- Pete Alonso, 1B
- Brandon Nimmo, LF
- Luis Robert Jr., CF
- Starling Marte, DH
- Francisco Alvarez, C
- Luisangel Acuna, 2B
What about the rotation? The simple solution for the Mets should be resigning a few of their pitchers while acquiring at least one ace in free agency.
- Kodai Senga
- Jack Flaherty
- Garrett Crochet
- David Peterson
- Luis Severino
The sisth man: Paul Blackburn
Instead of trying to get Corbin Burnes, the Mets should very simply focus on re-signing their better pitchers and signing either Flaherty or a cheaper ace, the Crochet trade would be a beautiful sight for the rotation.
In conclusion, the plan for the Mets should be able to make a great team in 2025. This is just a glimpse of what the Mets could do next season. However, this is an example of what the Mets should do next season.
Main Image: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
