New York Mets 2015 MLB season preview and predictions

Aug 27, 2014; New York, NY, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Jacob deGrom (48) and starting pitcher Jonathon Niese (49) and starting pitcher Matt Harvey (33) and starting pitcher Dillon Gee (35) sit in the dugout during the eighth inning of a game against the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

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Mar 6, 2015; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Matt Harvey (33) throws against against the Detroit Tigers during a spring training baseball game at Tradition Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Barr-USA TODAY Sports /

Key additions/subtractions

The Mets weren’t exactly the biggest spenders or shoppers in free agency this winter, however they brought in exactly what they needed: hitting.

Enter Michael Cuddyer. Cuddy hit .332/.376/.579 with 10 homers and 31 RBI with the Rockies in just 49 games with the Rockies in 2014 as his season was cut short due to injury. Although his numbers for a short 2014 sound solid, it’s his 2013 totals that make him a huge pickup for the Mets. In a full-season sample in 2013 in Colorado, Cuddyer hit a career-best .331 with 20 home runs and 84 RBIs, earning his second-career All-Star nod along with his first career Silver Slugger award.

Cuddyer joins a Mets team who had just one guy hit significantly over .250 (Daniel Murphy, .289) in 2014. As a team, the Mets hit .239, good for 12^th in the National League.

Another huge addition, which isn’t necessarily an “addition” per say, is the return of ace pitcher Matt Harvey to the starting rotation.

Harvey returns to solidify a starting pitching rotation that didn’t necessarily dominate in 2014, but held its own decently. Only two pitchers recorded more than 10-wins (Bartolo Colon and Zack Wheeler), and also saw one of its own in Jacob deGrom take home the team’s first NL Rookie of the Year award since Dwight Gooden took it home in 1984. Harvey’s return to the starting rotation gives the Mets the potentially dominant staff they’ve been hoping to have since Harvey’s rise in 2013. The Mets rotation could’ve been one of the best in the National League if Zack Wheeler been able to stay healthy, however Harvey’s return still gives the Mets hope.

The Mets lost a few players after 2014 as well, however they didn’t lose anyone all too significant. Outfielder Bobby Abreu retired and pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka decided to return to Japan. Eric Young Jr. was signed by Atlanta after the Mets non-tendered him. For the most part, the Mets bring back just about everyone from the 2014 season, something that could benefit the team this year.

Next: Three players to watch

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