The New York Mets have a clear mission to improve their pitching staff as the General Managers Meetings start this week, and they are looking at Tarik Skubal as the best starter available. Despite the team ending in last place, officials show no desire for a major overhaul like the one executed last winter, yet this focus persists. Everything else is ancillary to the goal of fixing the rotation, according to MLB.com. The club is ready to jump into the proceedings on Tuesday at the Aria Resort & Casino.
A successful bullpen kept the team competitive after August, but the front office knows that relief pitching alone cannot win a division. The Mets went 27-22 after the trade deadline, a stark turnaround from a season where they won only 74 games overall. Prospects were acquired for Luke Weaver, A.J. Minter, Brooks Raley, and Huascar Brazobán after the deadline, while new arms including Nate Lavender and Daniel Duarte appeared to assist the cause. A reeling team’s implosion following Aug. 3 never occurred, per the New York Post. Yet the roster still lacks the starting depth needed to sustain a long season.
The Skubal Question
The Mets are interested in Tarik Skubal. He is about to turn 30 and has a history of arm trouble, but the big-market team in need of starting pitching is willing to take the risk. David Stearns, who should be present to mingle and get conversations started, brings a specific executive approach to these talks. According to Rising Apple, the impending lockout could cause the next couple of days to generate more action than usual.
Clearing the Roster
To make room for new talent, the Mets showed little interest in keeping Mark Vientos around. The player is a non-tender candidate and cannot be on the roster next year, per Rising Apple. The front office has a POBO card that works just the same as a general manager, even though the team doesn’t actually have a GM. This structural quirk allows David Stearns to act with authority while the organization navigates the trade market. A major trade or signing occurring on the Strip would not be surprising.
Despite Francisco Alvarez hovering near greatness, the defensive unit fails to clear essential barriers, rendering his work behind the plate controversial. Because Alvarez does not hit enough for a full-time DH role and the roster structure forbids it, the Mets favor Luis Torrens at catcher. Last year, the Arizona Diamondbacks produced some of the worst offensive numbers from their first basemen and DHs, recording a .636 OPS from first basemen that ranked last in baseball. The .630 OPS from the DH spot was 28th.
