The tribes and tribulations of being a Mets fan is a true character development. From the highs to the very lows, it is an expectation of nature that the Mets will struggle mightily at times. But with the one of a kind season that 2022 highlighted it was only a promise of a dream that 2023 would have the same results. It seemed difficult to imagine what the future for 2023 could hold, with minor injuries and slow stretches at the beginning of the season has led to another fruitful season gone down the drain for the Mets.

How do you describe a team with such high expectations and failing to meet them at every level. It’s humility to say the least. The Mets had it all coming into this season and with one fatal Puerto Rican WBC celebration led the domino affect to fall as our star closer Edwin Diaz would be out for the entire season. It seemed like the postseason was still in our grasp but when everyone else in the bullpen had to step up in higher leverage situations it made a small problem even more drastic. 

The regret of not bringing in stable relief arms and relying on a rotation of guys in our minor leagues created more struggles down the road. From Jeff Brigham to John Curtiss to Dominic Leone. None of them proven stars to fight the odds and take the last spot in the bullpen as the embarrassment fills the roster. With the season tumbling down and the Mets literally just needing 3 more wins to be safely up for contention the Mets failed at another potential winning season and thus led to the fire-sale. Starting off with Eduardo Escobar to star closer David Robertson to lefty specialist Mark Canha to having the star pitching duo Verlander and Scherzer traded to the AL West. Flash forward the Mets are 0-5 since the deadline and the future of this season doesn’t seem bright at all. 

But with a fire sale brings hope for the future, and hope there is. In just a week the Mets replenished their farm system from mediocre to one of the top ten farm systems. With what usually takes years for teams to build up their farm system the Mets simply used the one week between the deadline to build a strong core for the future. After the deadline the Mets have a completely reinvented top 30 farm system and 5 prospects in the top 100. But who exactly has built up the Mets from displeasing underachievers to serious future contenders is none other than Billy Eppler. 

As much as he gets hated on for doing his job, he has made a few spectacular moves in his time as Mets GM and his best came from this past deadline where he traded 7 Mets into 10 prospects for the future. With their farm already heating up with first round pick of last year Jett Williams making headlines as a speedy shortstop and upcoming catching phenom Kevin Parada flashing the leather and bat down in Brooklyn. The Future looks awfully bright for Queens, just pray it all goes according to plan. 

The Mets scored the #40 overall prospect from the Rangers in Luis angel Acuna, after shipping Max Scherzer off to the Rangers. Luis, brother of Braves superstar Ronald Acuna is now in the NL East where he’ll be able to regularly compete against his brother. Ronald even credited his brother as more athletic than he was at his age, and at only 22 years old it looks like Luis could be a major call up by next year for sure. He had over a .315 average and stole over 43 bags this season with the Double A Rangers Affiliate. He looks to fit well with the Mets as he matches the criteria for most of the Mets hitters; make contact, get on base and steal bags.

The Mets also received the Astros #1 and #3 OF prospects to help out their depleting OF depth after sending Verlander back to Houston. Ryan Clifford a 19 year old slugger who is shaping up for an early call-up and Drew Gilbert who is currently crushing it with the Brooklyn Cyclones. The once intimidating Mets 1-2 rotation punch quickly became fire fuel for the two AL contenders in the AL West during a heated race to the postseason.

Does it suck that the Mets no longer have those two on our team? Yes, it definitely doesn’t feel right but that doesn’t mean the future isn’t bright. We as Mets fans have seen the insufferable become reality, just keep your head up and hope for the best. At the end of the day Mets fans can finally sleep at ease knowing the power our team could possess in a few years and that we will finally have two capable power bat catchers among the crew.