Keys to victory
Tap into potential: With a new forward-looking approach and emphasis on building the foundation of the organization, the Mets’ free agency haul paled in comparison to the prior two seasons when they brought in Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander. Both of those players were traded at last season’s deadline to bring in Top 100 prospects in position players Luisangel Acuña, Drew Gilbert and Ryan Clifford. Instead, the Mets front office is hoping that veterans Luis Severino and Sean Manaea can return to form and play key roles in their rotation. Severino has had an injury-ravaged few seasons. Manaea shifted between starter and reliever for the Giants in 2023.
Third wheel: The front office, led by president of baseball operations David Stearns, is committed to seeing what he has for the future. That means that second-year players Brett Baty and Mark Vientos are expected to see the majority of the team’s opportunities at third base. The players, both 24, scuffled offensively through their first full season with the Mets.
Return of
The Mets’ 2023 season was flipped on its head when Edwin Diaz suffered a torn patellar tendon in his knee during a celebration in the World Baseball Classic. The Mets closer was coming off a dominating campaign in which he notched 32 saves and struck out 118 batters of the 235 he faced. Now, the elite closer is back to full health and tormenting batters this spring. He will look to aid a bullpen that finished with the ninth-worst ERA in MLB a season ago.