The first half of the offseason didn’t provide all the answers for a Mets team that had a lot to prove in 2024. Repeatedly, club officials have referred to 2024 as a “bridge” year that will allow the Queens team to focus. As their farm matures – as well, they hope – they compete for a spot in the playoffs. It remains to be seen how effective that plan will be. Till now only a part of it has been established in its place.
So, there are expectations throughout the season, as well as many pending questions that will be defined over time. This normally quiet holiday week provides an opportunity to reflect on where the Mets are headed in 2024.
The biggest questions to solve before spring training
How will the Mets deepen their rotation?
The team made an acquisition earlier this winter, signing pitcher Luis Severino in November and adding pitcher Adrian Houser just before Christmas. Both pitchers suffered serious injuries, as did Colombian José Quintana. David Pietersen, who has played consistent innings in the last two years, is likely to be out for several months as he recovers from a hip injury.
Players ready for revelation season
At age 21, catcher Francisco Álvarez was still quite “green” when the Mets recalled him to the Major Leagues in April. Similarly, the Venezuelan rookie showed flashes of excellence and displayed better defense than expected.
But he finished with a .209/.284/.437 offensive line, so he has plenty of room to improve. Now, with over a full year of service time and a little more physical maturity, Alvarez is exactly the type of player who could become a star in 2024. The Mets will give him every opportunity to do so.
Likely to follow in 2024
For a team that needs all the help it can get, Mike Vasile is particularly interesting. Selected in the eighth round of the 2021 Amateur Draft, Vasil excelled in his first experience at a higher level of the minor leagues last season, posting a 3.71 ERA in 10 starts at Double-A Binghamton.
Although Vasil, the Mets’ No. 9 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, struggled after being promoted to Triple-A Syracuse midseason, he has emerged as the pitching prospect most likely to make a significant impact in 2024. With good performance in the spring, he could set himself up to make his major league debut during the first half of the campaign.
A forecast for the new year
The Mets will be better in 2024 than 2023.
Frankly, it’s not too much to ask. Based on run differential, the Mets’ expected (Pythagorean) record this year was 80–82, five games better than their actual mark of 75–87. They will have Puerto Rican closer Edwin Diaz again and are expected to continue accumulating pitchers in January. Young players like Alvarez, Brett Batty and Mark Vientos will have their chance to shine.
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