After missing out on Carlos Correa, the Mets still have some worthwhile moves they can make with the money they had allocated for the star shortstop.
After the New York Mets missed out on Carlos Correa, who landed with the Minnesota Twins earlier this afternoon, fans can take solace in knowing they are still improved from last season. Fortunately, the Mets are owned by super owner Steve Cohen, and the money dedicated to Correa’s contract can still be used to further fortify an already bolstered roster.
The Mets currently have a projected payroll (including arbitration and tax figures) of $358 million. If Cohen had ever cared about luxury tax penalties, he would never have allowed himself to be in this situation in the first place. Credit to an owner that doesn’t care about spending and is focused on winning. Initially, the Mets were set to dedicate an AVV of $26.25 million to Correa. Let’s look at three ways those funds can be allocated elsewhere.
3. The Mets can sign Jesus Aguilar
At last year’s trade deadline, the Mets found themselves in a predicament regarding their rather top-heavy farm system. They needed a right-handed bat to help mash southpaws but were either forced to overspend with a top prospect or needed more to pique other teams’ interest over other offers. Enter Jesus Aguilar.
In 2022, Aguilar signed a one-year deal with the Miami Marlins after recording a line of .261/.329/.459 with 22 HRs and 93 RBIs. That deal was worth only $7 million. He went on to have a down year between Miami and Baltimore post-trade deadline, producing an underwhelming .235/.281/.379 while amassing just 16 HR and 51 driven in.
For a role primarily platooning with Daniel Vogelbach at the DH position and occasionally taking reps at first base when Pete Alonso needs a day off in the field, adding in an extremely cheap Aguilar could be a solid fit. He owns a career 108 wRC+ against lefties, which is nothing to write home about, but given the price of his upcoming contract, the Mets can add depth to their lineup while addressing a need with a projected league-average bat.
Furthermore, Aguilar owns a career hard-hit rate of 38.2 percent. The number drastically dropped in 2022, averaging 29.7, while his unsurprisingly medium contact rose to 52.0 percent. His career 35 percent ground ball rate and 41.1 percent of batted ball events being to the pull side should help him to see a slight uptick in batting average in 2023.
Aguilar is the cheaper option. If the Mets do further open the checkbook, Trey Mancini is another option that could be in the mix. Analytically, he should hit for a higher average than Aguilar, but with a career 112 wRC+ against lefties, the price difference leaves much to be desired.
2. Mets can sign more bullpen weapons
Another way the Mets can add strength to their 26-man roster is by stacking their bullpen full of elite weapons. There are still several names available that GM Billy Eppler can target in free agency to help put his team over the top. As it turns out, the Mets were recently linked to LHP Zach Britton, who I am failing to understand their interest in. Britton is a couple of years removed from being an elite reliever, posting a combined 6.16 ERA over the past two seasons in which he has only recorded 19 frames.
Britton has been bogged down by injuries the last couple of seasons, so taking a flier on him produces more risk than necessary for an organization that is happy to blow past the luxury tax. In which case, the Mets can shift focus to Andrew Chafin. Since 2021, where he has spent time between Chicago, Oakland, and Detroit, the southpaw, formally dubbed “The Sheriff,” has posted a 2.29 ERA in his last 126 innings.
They don’t have to stop with Chafin, either. Some other names to consider, who, with Chafin will collectively still cost less combined than Correa by himself:
- Matt Moore (1.95 ERA, 74 IP in 2022)
- Brad Hand (2.80 ERA, 45 IP in 2022)
- Michael Fulmer (3.39 ERA, 63.2 IP in 2022)
After resigning Edwin Diaz and Adam Ottovino, along with the additions of Brooks Raley and David Robertson, the Mets are already in excellent shape relief-wise. Adding a dominant name like Chafin will further help boost a bullpen that was third in ERA in the National League with an ERA of 3.55.
1. The Mets can forget about Carlos Correa and reload for 2024
Above all else, if Cohen decides there is nothing left viable to spend on this winter, he may elect to save that money from Correa’s contract and save it for next winter. Looking at the list of Mets free agents next season, David Robertson ($10 million) and Carlos Carrasco ($14 million) are unrestricted.
After that, it will be interesting to see what the front office does with Mark Canha and Eduardo Escobar (combined $21,166,668), who both have club options for 2024, along with club options for Brooks Raley and Darin Ruf ($10 million combined).
Assuming Max Scherzer has another incredible season, his decision to opt out of the remaining year of his deal with a price tag of $43.3 million will be the talk of the latter stages of the season. Should Scherzer’s departure come to fruition, there is a potential for up to nearly $120 million coming off the books.
This includes the contract of Robinson Cano, as his $20 million will be freed up as well. The Mets already have the resources to do whatever they want, but they certainly will be just as active next winter.
Perhaps the most coveted free agent of all time, Shohei Ohtani, will be testing the market after his deal with the Los Angeles Angels expires at the conclusion of the 2023 campaign. There have been rumblings that the LA Dodgers have had a particularly quiet offseason primarily due to preparations to land Ohtani. Still, the Mets will be right there to outbid them every step of the way, and it won’t come down to a money factor but rather him deciding where he wants to play.
Never rule out the scenario of a Scherzer extension and going big for Ohtani, either. Needless to say, the Mets are primed for World Series contention for years to come.