Photo: New York Mets/AP
So much for new Mets owner Steve Cohen’s money luring the likes of George Springer, Trevor Bauer and J.T. Realmuto to play for the Mets.
The Mets struck out on all of them. Springer decided to sign with the Toronto Blue Jays, the Mets signed James McCann with the idea Realmuto wasn’t that interested and Bauer signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers. They couldn’t even get Brad Hand to sign with them as he signed with the Washington Nationals.
The Mets’ acquisition of Francisco Lindor and Carlos Carrasco turned out to be the highlight of their offseason. Mets fans expected more than that after Cohen was hyped up as the savior since he would spend.
Who knows if then-disgraced Mets general manager Jared Porter would have made a difference if he was not fired for harassing a then-female media member?
It came down to this: The Springers, Realmutos and Bauers of the world did not feel the Mets were a World Series contender for them to sign with them.
This is not to say the Mets failed this offseason. They had a productive offseason signing guys like Trevor May, James McCann, Aaron Loup, Albert Almora and Jonathan Villar along with the big acquisition. They made moves that should make them better.
But in New York, fans want other teams’ stars to sign with their team. They are drawn to stars, not B-level players. Springer, Realmuto or Bauer would have galvanized the Mets fanbase. They would have sent a message to other free agents the Mets are the place to be.
Instead, Cohen and Mets fans received a sobering reminder of how far the Mets have to go until they get the big names.
The Mets are not a World Series contender. I am not even sure if those free agents would have made a difference. The Atlanta Braves, San Diego Padres and Dodgers represent the class of the National League. One of those three teams will likely play in the Fall Classic.
The best the Mets can do is make the playoffs as a wild-card contender. Even that’s not a guarantee since the Miami Marlins, Philadelphia Phillies and Nationals are as good as the Mets. In the Nationals’ case, they may be better than the Mets with that lineup and starting rotation. Remember they won the World Series just two years ago.
The premier free agents want to play for a team that is a sure bet to play in October.
Maybe the Mets can be that destination one day. Now is not the time. The Mets need to build a culture where winning matters and it’s all about baseball. Under the WIlpons, it was anything but that.
Too much nonsense being leaked by then-Mets COO Jeff Wilpon about the players made the Mets clubhouse a tough place to work. The lack of trust from ownership to players was palpable. It turned out to be a distraction, and players hated it, especially since playing and performing are hard enough as it is.
It took awhile for the Dodgers to get players to come playing for them. They recruited free agents for years with nothing to show for it. The World Series championship changed everything that helped them get Bauer.
It’s not a bad thing for the Mets that free agents spurn them. Championship teams come from making smart trades and building through a strong farm system. Free agency comes to supplement the team as final pieces. This Mets team is far from a finished product.
The Mets should focus on building a foundation before worrying about getting the best free agents in the market.
For all intents and purposes, this season serves as a transition year with Cohen getting a first taste of how to operate a baseball team. There will be trial and error he has to go through.
When the Mets start making plenty of playoff appearances and winning the World Series, then the free agents will come.
The Mets can focus on building a winning season that would convince their impending free agents Michael Conforto and Lindor to remain as Mets for a long time.
Now if they can’t do either of that, then it becomes a problem.
