The Mets' phones are ringing off the hook regarding their "untouchable" starting pitchers, but perhaps they should consider answering the call.
Sure, the Mets arms are mainly the reason for the club winning its first NL pennant and making it to the World Series for the first time in 15 years, but with vast improvements needed in the middle of its lineup, New York could make a big trade.
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The Amazin's offense ranked 28th in the MLB with 310 runs prior to the All-Star break, but after trading for Yoenis Cespedes, Juan Uribe and Kelly Johnson, the Mets turned things around. With those new additions, coinciding with the returns of David Wright and Travis d'Arnaud from injury and the call up of Michael Conforto, the Mets lineup churned out 373 runs in the second half, tops in the NL.
With Cespedes, Uribe and Johnson all hitting free agency, the Mets could use a high-caliber bat. Daniel Murphy, who set an MLB playoff record by hitting homers in six straight games and knocked seven balls out of the park during New York's run, is also likely to leave. The Mets extended the second baseman a qualifying offer, but he'll likely decline it by Friday's deadline and test free agency.
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The Mets have a tremendous young core in the starting rotation with 2014 All-Star Game starter Matt Harvey, 2014 Rookie of the Year Jacob deGrom, flamethrower Noah Syndergaard, Steven Matz and Zack Wheeler, who will return in the summer from Tommy John surgery.
DeGrom and Syndergaard appear untouchable, while Matz is still somewhat of an unknown and doesn't have the type of MLB experience to warrant a huge return on the market.
Harvey and Wheeler, however, should be considered. The Mets could try to go the free agency route to shore up the lineup, but they would in all likelihood be outbid by teams more willing to fling cash.
Harvey gave the Mets a huge headache with his innings restriction controversy down the stretch, and though he pitched well in the playoffs, the Mets may have burned the bridge with his agent Scott Boras. With the righty due to hit free agency in 2018, New York could look to deal him in the coming years instead of risking losing him for nothing.
Wheeler was about to be dealt along with Wilmer Flores in a trade to the Brewers for Carlos Gomez, which ultimately was called off at the last minute, so he's certainly a consideration too. Mets pitching is a "hot commodity" at the GM meetings, but the team is steadfast in its approach of preserving its young arms.
"Our holes, I don't think, are as glaring as they were," said assistant GM John Ricco at the GM meetings per MLB.com. "That's not to say we can't improve. We certainly have to improve and be better next year."
To get back to the World Series and potentially to win it all, they may need to consider answering the phone.
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