New York Mets: 2016 Fantasy Preview

N.L. East

New York Mets

Must Own Fantasy Player: Jacob deGrom

Potential Fantasy Bust: Yoenis Cespedes

Prospect to Watch: Steven Matz

The Metropolitans were only outs away from perhaps bringing their third championship to Queens. Unfortunately, it just looked as though the Royals were the team of destiny and as they held off the great October run that the Mets put together. But, heading into 2016, it is hard to find any other team in baseball in a better position to get to the World Series than the Mets.

The Mets could potentially have one of the greatest rotations in baseball history. I am not a fan of exaggerations, but strictly from a talent perspective, there is no reason to think that the Mets could not challenge the famed 1971 Baltimore Orioles staff’s dominance. Now the Mets will not have four 20 game winners like the O’s, because of how baseball has changed, but they could eclipse Baltimore’s day in and day out dominance.

From a fantasy perspective, the top Mets producers will more than likely be their pitchers in 2016. Jacob deGrom, Matt Harvey, Noah Syndergaard, Steven Matz, and the eventual return of Zack Wheeler, will hold ample value this season. deGrom and Harvey will be probably drafted nearly right after each other as both are firmly in the top-15 SP rankings.

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By the time drafts come around this spring, I fully expect Syndergaard’s stock to rise to the point where owners may have to reach to get him, because the K upside is tantalizing. Matz was solid last season before his Lat injury, and he will also be a popular mid round target as owners will flock to own a piece of the Mets rotation without investing a premium pick.

It seems as though the team is targeting Wheeler’s return to be the beginning on July, so if your league has the roster space, he is a fine draft and stash player. If he returns July 1^st for example, those three months that he would be available could prove to be huge asset to a fantasy team’s playoff run, so do not scoff at drafting him in the last round this spring regardless.

There was a large stretch of the 2015 season, where the Mets offense was downright terrible and could not generate any runs. That all changed with the trade for Yoenis Cespedes, and with him showing the desire to want to be in New York, and the Mets willing to pay, he should be solid again in 2016.

He is listed as a potential bust because owners should not bank on another crazy power barrage like last season and his is streaky, so owners will have times where they want to bench him during the season. The rest of the Mets outfield shapes up nicely as well as a rebound from Curtis Granderson and the emergence of Michael Conforto, will surely help the offense. Both players are easily solid mid round picks.

Looking at the infield, it all starts with the Mets captain, David Wright. Wright is past his prime and his back injury is scary, but there were enough flashes last season to allow him to be selected in the mid to late rounds again in 2016. Neil Walker and Lucas Duda seem to be overlooked in fantasy and real life, but both offer solid power production at their positions, so do not overlook them this spring. Asdrubal Cabrera is a low upside MI pick and will probably post another, .240-260 AVG/15 HR season.

Travis d’Arnaud certainly looks the part and has the skill to become an elite catcher in the bigs, but it will come down to his health. When healthy last season, he showed what kind of offensive threat he could be and he will more than likely be a popular sleeper pick.

One other reason the Mets were able to find success last season, was the emergence from relief pitcher, Jeurys Familia. Familia not only solidified the back end of the bullpen, but looked at times as the best closer in all of baseball. With a dominant rotation in front of him, and a high K upside, Familia is primed to have another great season. Addison Reed was better with the Mets last season, but is still too shaky to trust in Holds leagues. Which makes fireballer, Hansel Robles, a guy to watch this season as he has the stuff to step in and be a prime set up man.

In terms of a prospect to watch in 2016, it is hard to find any Mets candidates who are not already at the big league level. Matz is the obvious choice and listed above, as the Mets really do not have a top prospect knocking at the door for the 2016 season. They also have a lot of depth both in the pitching staff and on the bench, so owners may have to look to other teams for an impact fantasy rookie this season.

Next: Chase Headley: Worth a Pick in 2016?

The Mets should be in the discussion as one of the best teams in baseball, as they have all the parts necessary to win the division and make another deep postseason run. They offer a ton of fantasy potential, surely making them a team to watch closely all season.

Looking for more team previews?

NL West: L.A. Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, Colorado Rockies, San Diego Padres, Arizona Diamondbacks

NL East: Philadelphia Phillies, Atlanta Braves, Washington Nationals

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