The Mets are in a better position heading into 2025 than they have been in previous years with a strong core of players.
The calendar may have flipped to 2025, but the New York Mets still have much to celebrate when reflecting on 2024. Following an underwhelming 2023 season, the Mets defied preseason expectations (including ours) by winning 89 games, clinching a playoff spot, and reaching the NLCS. Owner Steve Cohen is set to do even better this coming season, but the Mets have already accomplished a great deal. Here are the players who greatly contributed to the fun 2024 Mets.
Offensive Sparks
In no way was 2B Jose Iglesias the best player in Queens, but he is directly responsible for turning the season around. Iglesias was a minor league signing who joined the big league club in May, and brought a catchy song along with his positive energy. But make no mistake, Iglesias didn’t stick on the roster just because of the clubhouse vibes. He also had possibly the best season of his career while boosting a thin keystone position. Iglesias hit .337 and with an .830 OPS while collecting a career-high 3.1 WAR.
Iggy would be considered the most important player on the Mets if they didn’t already have an MVP candidate. SS Francisco Lindor carried the team on his back and hit them to the playoffs with a grand slam on the last day of the regular season. With still-great defense and his best year at the plate compared to the rest of the league, Lindor had 6.9 WAR. He finished second in MVP voting.
It is very possible that 1B Pete Alonso has played his last game as a member of the Mets. But if that is the case, he gave it his all and left one more lasting memory. With his celebratory pumpkin sitting in the clubhouse, Alonso hit the winning home run in the Wild Card series off an elite closer. Even though he did not have his best season, Alonso still showed plenty of power and played in every game. Whether he returns to Citi Field or not, Alonso will forever be one of the most beloved players in team history.
Surprises on the Mound
While Alonso’s future is in doubt, the Mets have already resigned one member from last season. SP Sean Manaea is back for three more years after pitching to his best ERA in a full season. He posted a 3.47 in 181.2 innings, good enough to earn some down-ballot Cy Young votes. In the second half, Manaea lowered his arm angle to mimic SP Chris Sale, and the change is reason enough that Manaea can continue his improved performance after a couple disappointing forays to the NL West.
SP Luis Severino won’t be coming back, but he too lived up to his one-year, prove-it contract with the Mets. Following a dreadful 2023 with the New York Yankees, Severino ended up leading the Mets with 182 innings, and his 3.91 ERA was a massive improvement. The pitching development is showing with Manaea and Severino they can turn starters around, which gives fans hope they can do the same with SP Frankie Montas.
Since his debut in 2020, SP David Peterson had been a backend starter at best, only occasionally showing flashes of something more. He finally broke out in 2024 with an excellent 2.90 ERA in a career-high 121 innings. His improvement came from the lowest walk and home run rates of his career while doubling the run value of his sinker and slider and turning his changeup into a plus pitch. With a more questionable rotation in store, the Mets will rely on Peterson more in 2025.
Praise the Decision-Makers
While the players are the ones who actually win games, they need to be put into a position to succeed. The decision-makers deserve some love for turning the franchise around so quickly. Steve Cohen, of course, is willing to spend to win, but just as important was bringing aboard David Stearns to run the show. Stearns has lived up to his promising reputation by applying smaller-market restraint to a large-market budget. He has made a number of shrewd moves while also having the latitude to pay up for superstars. Beyond Manaea and Severino, OF Jesse Winker was a sneaky-good addition at the trade deadline.
Despite the strong track record of previous manager Buck Showalter, Stearns picked his own man to lead the clubhouse. Carlos Mendoza had been a Major League coach in New York for many years, and he became the perfect fit to guide the Mets. From an outside perspective, it is almost impossible to judge managers since so much of their job is closed off from the public, but Mendoza has clearly been a steady hand. He seems to be connecting with a fun and diverse roster and finished third in Manager of the Year voting as a result.
The Mets will have higher expectations in 2025 by aiming for a division title and a World Series appearance, but regardless of the coming year, Queens can always celebrate the 2024 team that made fans believe again.
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