A season stuffed with OMGs and Grimace memes got here to an finish this weekend when the Dodgers toppled the Mets in a 10-5 win that propelled L.A. to a World Collection showdown and left the Mets looking forward to the 2025 marketing campaign. New York’s roster is teeming with veteran free brokers, and president of baseball operations David Stearns and his employees could have their work lower out for them in reshaping the roster this offseason. A number of outgoing Mets free brokers made clear they’d have curiosity in returning, together with some growing old vets who’re stepping into the latter phases of their profession.
Designated hitter J.D. Martinez joked “pickleball” when requested what the longer term held for him (video hyperlink by way of SNY). The 37-year-old slugger mentioned in the beginning, his future contains heading dwelling to be along with his new daughter, who he has barely seen since she was born in September. Past the household time, Martinez made clear that he hopes to proceed his taking part in profession however provided that groups take the initiative. “I’m not going to come back again as a result of I’m begging to come back again,” mentioned Martinez. “I’m going to come back again as a result of it is sensible. On the finish of the day, time is probably the most worthwhile factor.”
Presumably, meaning there’s a worth level at which Martinez gained’t really feel compelled to decide to additional time away from his rising younger household. However the slugger additionally lately appeared on the Baseball Isn’t Boring podcast and advised host Rob Bradford that frustration over a normal lack of curiosity final offseason led him to ponder retirement.
“I felt prefer it was simply an ungainly 12 months,” mentioned Martinez (video hyperlink). “Right here I’m, the workforce’s breaking in 5 days, and I don’t also have a workforce but. Your mind goes right into a bizarre mode, the place you’re like ’Am I taking part in? Am I not? Am I taking part in? Am I not? Is that this it? Am I retired? … We weren’t asking for something that, on the time, I really feel like different gamers hadn’t gotten.”
Martinez went on to say that he waited all offseason for gives to materialize and “100%” thought of retiring, even telling his greatest pal: “I feel this it. I’m staying dwelling. That is dumb. I’m begging for a job, and I had a .900 OPS final 12 months.”
Heading into the 2024-25 offseason, Martinez gained’t be coming off the identical sort of marketing campaign he loved with the Dodgers in 2023. Throughout his lone 12 months in L.A., he bashed 33 homers and hit .271/.321/.572 in 479 plate appearances. Martinez was nonetheless a clearly above-average bat this previous season, however a sluggish begin after signing late (March 23) and a dismal end to the season left him with a .235/.320/.406 batting line. That was about eight % higher than common, by measure of wRC+ (108).
An optimist might toss out a gradual two weeks to start out the season and overlook that end to see that from mid-Might by means of late August, Martinez hit .251/.336/.459 with 16 homers in 387 plate appearances, however groups gained’t be so charitable as to only write these struggles off and focus solely on his peak in-season manufacturing. Martinez did word that he’s inspired by his batted-ball metrics regardless that the final word manufacturing wasn’t in step with his greatest work, and to his credit score, he maintained glorious marks by way of exit velocity, barrel price and hard-hit price. He additionally reduce on his career-worst 2023 strikeout price and improved his stroll price to its highest stage since 2019.
Teammate Jose Quintana was extra direct and extra simple in his intentions to return subsequent 12 months. The 35-year-old lefty advised reporters (hyperlink by way of ESPN’s Jesse Rogers): “I’m wholesome. I really feel good. I wish to attempt yet another time to win a championship. This was the closest I’ve been in my profession. At some point I’m going to get the chance.”
Quintana, 36 in January, pitched 170 1/3 innings of three.75 ERA ball for the Mets in 2024 — the second season of a two-year, $26MM free agent deal. His 18.8% strikeout price and eight.8% stroll price don’t essentially help that stage of success, however Quintana was a dependable supply of innings and has a prolonged observe file of high quality rotation work within the majors. Beginning pitching is all the time in demand, and he has a great likelihood at commanding one other eight-figure wage on a one-year deal — if not potential to discover a comparable two-year deal to the one he simply accomplished.
Age issues aren’t as distinguished for 32-year-old Sean Manaea, who’s all however a lock to say no a $13.5MM participant choice seeking a multi-year deal in free company. Manaea has signed back-to-back “show it” offers, so to talk, signing consecutive two-year offers with opt-out alternatives. He opted out of his take care of the Giants following the 2023 season, will decide out of his Mets deal subsequent month, and is now lastly in place to command the kind of lengthier multi-year deal that’s eluded him thus far in free company. The Mets will very seemingly make him a qualifying provide, however even with draft compensation connected to his title, Manaea might command a three-year pact this time round.
The left-hander pitched a career-high 181 2/3 innings, plus one other 19 within the postseason. His common season ended with a 3.47 ERA, 24.9% strikeout price and eight.5% stroll price. He was hit laborious in hia closing begin — the one which ended the Mets’ season — however held opponents to 5 runs in 17 innings throughout his first three postseason begins (2.65 ERA).
Time will inform whether or not Manaea is again in New York, however the southpaw emphasised how a lot he liked his time with the group and known as the 2024 marketing campaign the most effective season of his profession (hyperlink by way of Christina De Nicola of MLB.com). “I really like my time right here,” mentioned Manaea. “I really like New York. I really like the group. I really like all of the folks right here. Positively give it a few days, let the physique relaxation after which we’ll go from there.”
Along with the trio of Martinez, Manaea and Quintana, the Mets can even see Pete Alonso, Luis Severino, Harrison Bader, Brooks Raley, Adam Ottavino, Jesse Winker, Jose Iglesias, Drew Smith and Ryne Stanek all grow to be free brokers after the World Collection.
