It’s been over a month since our world series hopes were ended in dramatic fashion. Game six of the NLCS against the Dodgers is a memory that stains the overall success this team had in 2024. Loosing 10-5 in a game against the biggest powerhouse of the MLB with our ace on the mound. A tough pill to swallow as the thoughts of the ‘what ifs’ erode my core. What if Kodai Senga doesn’t start in game one against the Dodgers, what if Mendoza doesn’t start ice cold JD Martinez in the NLCS and sticks it out with Jesse Winker who had been flaming hot up to that point. These thoughts will live in my head forever with no answer to come to because that is just what baseball is.

However there was really no chance the Dodgers were going down with the team they had. But the Mets put up a fight and frankly showed they were the second best team in the playoffs after recording 2 wins against the inevitable World Series champs while the AL Pennant winner Yankees could barely record one win. We must look towards the next season and if there is anything that 2024 has shown us is that this team has heart and are a hell of a lot better than we give them credit for.

But none of this would have happened if not for Francisco Lindor putting the Mets on his back and completely transforming the mindset of this team. If there is anyone on the team that should be the next captain of the Mets it should be Francisco Lindor. He not only came in second place in the MVP race to Shohei Ohtani but he won a silver slugger and led this team all the way to the NLCS with an insane game four grand slam against the Phillies that had the Mets record its first playoff clinching series at home since the park opened in 2009. If not for Ohtani’s insane historic season Lindor would have easily won the award.

But now it is the offseason and Uncle Steve and David Stearns are hungry to add more talent their ball club. The Mets have $180 million coming off the books this year for a payroll standing at $122 million right now. Alot of our payroll was taken up by dead contracts such as James McCann, Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer to name a few. Scherzer and Verlander who combined for $86 million per year for the Mets

The Mets are going to be spending money this off season do not forget it. We have spent well over a billion already since Cohen took over as majority owner so why would this year be any different. Let’s acknowledge the two elephants in the room: Pete Alonso leaving to free agency and a generational 26 year old modern Ted Williams hitting the market. And unfortunately I think if it was between the two the Mets are going to have to let Alonso go. With the reports going out it is clear Alonso played his last game with the Mets and they have no interest in giving a contract in his favor when he’s a one tool hitter going on the wrong side of 30.

Thats why the Mets are doing everything they can to bring Juan Soto to the Mets. Cohen has all the money in the world and the richest owner in baseball. Clocking in now at 21.1 billion dollars there is no one that can get in Cohen’s way in terms of money. He must do everything he can to recruit the star to the other side of New York and help the Mets win its first title since 1986. You can see the impact Soto has on a team, with such a stacked resume it’s no surprise he helped lead the Yankees to their first pennant since 2009. It only makes you think what type of success he would have in Queens. Whatever it takes. Whatever it takes. Whatever it takes.

If we give Juan Soto a $60 million contract AAV for 13 years the Mets will still have $120 left to match last year’s payroll which means they can also sing Corbin Burnes for $30 million and another impact bat like Christian Walker, Willy Adames or Alex Bregman. The Market will play itself out once Juan Soto makes his decision but one thing is for certain the Mets are going to make serious noise this offseason and are not afraid to put it all out on the table for 2025.