The New York Mets lost the final game of the regular season, cementing their early postseason exit before it even began. New York invested a lot into this team, and yet, they came up well short of their goal.
With the Mets now looking ahead to an offseason rife with change, the Mets will be looking to improve multiple areas of the roster, as the front office reevaluates the team after a disappointing collapse.
One of the key areas to focus on is the pitching staff. The rotation, especially, was a huge component of why the Mets collapsed, and as Andy Martino of SNY.tv writes, the Mets will look to aggressively address the pitching woes this winter.
Mets are expected to aggressively address pitching struggles in the offseason
"On the pitching side," Martino writes. "Don't be surprised if the Mets are aggressive off this debacle in trying to acquire an ace."
Not only will the Mets be addressing their pitching issues this winter, but they will also look to add a star pitcher or an ace in the offseason.
There are some intriguing free agent options, like Ranger Suarez, Framber Valdez, Dylan Cease, and a few others. But if the Mets need to swing a trade for an ace-level starter, that's also an option for New York.
If the Miami Marlins finally decide to trade Sandy Alcantara, the Mets might be willing to pay an in-division tax to land the former Cy Young winner. Also, if Paul Skenes were to become available, the Mets would be more than willing to spend a fortune on the 2025 Cy Young favorite, even if it costs some of their young pitching talent.
More: Met's Juan Soto set to pass Mickey Mantle in incredible stat to create an unbeatable MLB record
Brandon Sproat, Jonah Tong, and Nolan McLean all flashed this season in their rookie years for New York. But relying on them and a shaky Kodai Senga isn't a place where the Mets want to end up once again next season.
The Mets are expected to add an ace to their pitching staff this offseason, as their current rotation was a huge reason for the team's second-half collapse.
Targeting players like Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas in free agency isn't enough for the Mets to contend. They need to add an ace, and will be aggressive in their pursuit of such a player.
This is an encouraging report from Martino, as the Mets are willing to spend more on this team, even after all of the investment that Steve Cohen and David Stearns have made into the club.
With Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor, and a few other key pieces, this Mets team can easily be a top contender next season with a strong winter. To be considered a threat, they'll need to add a front-line ace to their rotation, and Martino's report indicates the Mets are more than willing to do just that.
More Mets News:
- This ridiculous stat will have Mets fans praying for a playoff spot
- Mets make firm Brett Baty decision after trade rumors
- Mets expected to replace struggling Cedric Mullins with veteran
- Mets expected to keep Carlos Mendoza despite disastrous collapse
- Mets' Juan Soto earns base-stealing accolade from MLB insider Jeff Passan