What Do the Mets NEED Most Before Spring Training? | Evaluating Roster Need Post Core-Teardown

50 comments

1. As far as I’m concerned, I love what Davide is doing. He’s cleaning house with the old guard that didn avoids them win, and he’s finally committing to the young core. That’s exactly how teams win now.

   People forget how many teams succeed by bringing up young players together. These guys already know each other. They came up through the minors together, they’ve played in AAA together, they trust each other, and they’ve got each other’s backs. That familiarity matters. It’s not some abstract idea — it’s real chemistry.

   Just think about it: Francisco Alvarez, Brandon Sproat, Nolan McLean, Jonah Tong, Carson, Ewing, and Brett Baty. All former AAA teammates. A year and a half, maybe two years ago, these guys were playing together when Brett and Francisco were sent back down. You’re talking about three pitchers, two outfielders, and two infield spots. Seven potential starters who already know how to play together.

   That’s huge.

   I’m also convinced that David Stearns has zero interest in handing out long-term contracts to players over 30 — and I agree with him. He’s clearly cleaning house. And honestly, I don’t care if Pete is the all-time home run leader for the franchise. He’s not worth $155+ million for five or six years. He just isn’t.

   They tried to get Diaz back, but he clearly wanted to go to the Dodgers. That’s not on the Mets. And moving on from Brandon was the right move at the right time — he’s getting older, his defense is slipping, and the injuries are piling up.

   So when people start talking about trading for older infielders or giving five-, six-, or seven-year deals to 34-year-old pitchers, it makes zero sense. Why would you do that when you already have young, strong, fast, talented players — who already played together — coming up?

   Why would you trade Carson or Ewing for that? It’s ridiculous.

   This is how you build something sustainable. Let the kids grow together. Let them win together.

2. Good morning Ryan. I agree , we need so much still

3. Who said Carson Benge is going to be in the lineup? Kid’s not ready yet. Has a long way to go.

4. If the Mets sign Imai and Okamoto, it’s solves ALOT of their major issues, and only costs them money.

5. Why are we comparing the complete roster of 25 to one in the middle of an offseason in 26? Also you are very strongly defending a status quo that didn't work.

6. Merry Christmas and Happy holidays Ryan! I love your podcasts! Totally agree with you! Spring Training is six to eight weeks away!!!! Mets have tons to do !! I want a 2025 end of year surprise !!!

7. Ryan, I love the show but I think you’re stirring the “it’s a rebuild” crowd too much.
   Do you seriously think Stearns/Cohen brought Soto in only to completely say “eh let’s just enter a 3-5 year rebuild window”.
   It’s a retool more than anything and that’s fine. The expectation will still be to make playoffs.

8. Win or Fire Stearns

9. This team still has more holes than a 10 pound block of swiss cheese. Stearns has a lot of work to do if he wants to avoid a 500,000-1,000,000 drop off in attendance.

10. We NEED a left fielder and a top line pitcher!! I don't want a left field platoon!!

11. There is no way we’re talking about bringing in bassist over Valdez right now…

12. I’ve listened to every locked on Mets podcast every morning, Ryan this entire episode was probably your worst takes in almost every category. I’ll basically forget this episode ever happened and I’ll move on to Mondays episode 🤣

13. What did last years lineup show you,had some games when they scored tons of runs but couldn’t score if they fell behind early,no clutch hitting

14. Good morning everyone I hope everyone had a merry Christmas and I wish everyone a happy new year and LGM

15. How’s Chicago Ryan? I hope you don’t get sick

16. Sterns not going enough years to get valdez gonna sign another bp turned starter type and the reds of gonna be our big bat signing maybe roberts jr then bunch of dumpster fill ins

17. Not up to snuff is a understatement

18. New gm

19. Austin Hays is a joke 😂

20. Dumpster diving Stearns ruined our team fire 🔥 him uncle Steve

21. Didn’t we get a draft pick when we lost Diaz? So what’s the big deal about signing a FA pitcher and losing a pick ? We need pitching

22. Our bullpen is the walking wounded the tj squad

23. I’m hoping for the best but expecting the worst

24. Mont Ass was a waste of money

25. Great Commentary Ryan. Team Still Looks Like The Marlins.

26. Valdez would be a good addition if we could get him for a 4 year deal

27. I already miss Jeff 'Squirrel' McNeil 💗 ❤😢

28. Great Mets teams had a Cast of Characters 😊😊

29. Bassist Sounds Good.

30. I wish my wife loved me as much as Ryan loves Pete Alonso.

31. Thank you Ryan ❤❤❤❤

32. Cope. The biggest upgrade this team needs is the front office.

33. Wait Palonco is clutch look at his BA in late innings with runners on. Mets had 1 game winning hit in the 9th inning or later and that was the end of the year! Pete is all or nothing. Look at Chris Davis that’s Pete.

34. This team was a horrible offensive team last year. They were not clutch. Don’t try to rewrite history. You can’t judge the team right now until all the parts are in place. The old needed to go. It’s about winning and the old couldn’t win.

35. A new GM?

36. Nobody was paying Alonso what he wanted except for the stupid Orioles. They have a history of over paying for talent and it hasn’t worked. Their was no other team

37. Ryan, I agree that Bellinger is a must. We need a good 1B too. Polanco can’t be the 1B because he hasn’t played there and Stearns wants run prevention. So Polanco only makes sense as DH, or 3B if Baty doesn’t hit – a real possibility. And go back and listen to your own podcasts from early in the offseason – they MuST get a front line starter who can pitch deep into games. The main reason for the collapse was the starters were gassed after 4 innings! That has not changed. Peralta and Megill’s brother. I like McLean, but Sproat and Tong have not proven anything yet. McLean barely has, in fact. He’s not the ace until he has a track record for a full season at least. The Mets need at least one very good or great starter. Two would be better. They are chasing the Dodgers remember.

38. They haven't completely hit bottom yet. That will play out for years. Soto will be on the payroll until 2040. (Impossible to salary dump $750M). Teardown Teardown

39. A new GM.

40. If you gave framber 40 mil per even with 8 mil deferred, why would he opt out? No one is giving a 3.5 era pitcher more than that. IMO.

41. I still would give a shot to Imai and Okamoto on realistic contracts no more than 5 years with opt outs.

42. Lindor is the cancer that needed to be removed. The Mets will never win a championship with that guy on the team.

43. Dude Jeff McNeil sucks… if he didn’t the Mets could have gotten something meaningful in a trade

44. A team would be nice.

45. Even a blind man could see what the Mets' most dire needs are, so there's nothing to discuss here. The real discussion is whether Stearns is right in playing hardball with the targeted free agents, waiting patiently for their price (mostly the number of years) to drop into the range he's willing to pay. Only time will tell. If the prices drop and he gets Valdez, Tucker and Bellinger (or reasonable facsimiles thereof) at a bargain, then he will be praised as a genius. If they sign elsewhere at full market price and the Mets fill the pitching and outfield slots with internal prospects, this team won't win more than 70 games in 2026. We shall see.

46. The Mets definitely need to add to their outfield. I believe that they need to swap out Tyrone Taylor for a younger player with more upside like Denzel Clarke. Clarke is a great defensive outfielder with a lot of offensive upside. His numbers at AAA suggest that he has the chance to be an everyday outfielder. Carson Benge and AJ Ewing are great players and are the future of the Mets.

47. I'm very high on the young pitchers on the farm. Jack Wenninger and Jonathan Santucci could make the rotation by the middle of next year. Santucci would have been a first round pick if he had not had some injuries.

48. Lol at how delusional you are for trades.

49. Why is all of this “absolutely necessary” conversation necessary? Stay away from free agent starting pitching. Grow your farm system for pitching. Best trade chips possible for sure. Only 2 moves necessary to make this a playoff team again. Bellinger: 5 years, $150 million. Mets get: Pivetta, Morejon; Padres get: Vientos, Santucci, Acuna. Doneski

50. Please no Bellinger. He's a flawed player asking 3 times what he's worth.