The New York Mets shocked the baseball world with a trip to the 2015 World Series.
After so many years of sub-par performances, the turnaround came much quicker than most expected. And while it was fun to watch, it has now put the Mets in a place they’ve rarely been: the favorite.
NEW YORK METS
+946 to win 2016 World Series
+475 to win NL Pennant
The Mets followed up a run to the World Series by getting even better. They surprisingly re-signed their star center fielder and improved their lineup by adding veterans and depth.
But their success last year wasn’t just about Yoenis Cespedes, it was centered on their sterling starting rotation, and that quartet of aces is still around and could be even better this year as the Mets start 2016 as title contenders.
There may not be a better rotation in all of baseball. Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard and Steven Matz are all young, talented and hard throwers. The Mets rode this staff all the way to the World Series.
Harvey should be even better in his second season back from Tommy John surgery, and he was already plenty good in 2015. And deGrom has proven that he is a dominant ace, too, mixing his mid-90s fastball with a lethal slider.
Syndergaard could have the best pure stuff of any pitcher in the sport, regularly hitting triple-digits with his fastball and finally harnessing his off-speed pitches. Matz is injury-prone, but when he’s healthy, the Mets have a lefty who can match up with almost anyone.
And Zack Wheeler should be back sometime in June from the Tommy John surgery he underwent last March. Until then, his spot in the rotation will be kept warm by Bartolo Colon, who is still fooling hitters with a high-80s fastball at age 43.
Other than Jeurys Familia in the ninth inning, there are question marks in the bullpen. After just one full season in the role, Familia has developed into one of the more dominant closers. But who can say for sure who will set up for him?
It took a while but the Mets brought back Cespedes. That gives the team its slugger in the middle of the lineup. Cespedes will play center field and give the Mets the fearsome right-handed hitter they needed.
The middle infield also upgraded offensively with second baseman Neil Walker and shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera. The Mets struggled to score runs last season before the acquisition of Cespedes led a second-half surge and the hope is to avoid those issues this season.
Cabrera is not much of a defender, but the Mets clearly prefer offense to defense. With two switch hitters in the lineup now, the Mets have more versatility. Defense, however, could still be a worry.
It’s hard to predict what David Wright will bring in 2016 because the Mets don’t even know. He came back to play on a semi-regular basis after being diagnosed with lumbar spinal stenosis, but this season will be the bigger test to see how Wright holds up to spring training and beyond.
He has played just one full season since 2011, and while he’s the face of the franchise, Wright hasn’t lived up to his $138 million deal. He’ll probably miss a few games each week, with a mix of backups sliding in at third, but Wright should still be able to hit for average, if not his usual power.
The Mets have dynamic starting pitching, and that alone makes them contenders. But their lineup should be even deeper and better than it was last year, which means they should avoid the pitfalls of last season.
Key Additions: 2B Neil Walker, SS Asdrubal Cabrera, RP Antonio Bastardo, OF Alejandro DeAza.
Key Losses: 2B Daniel Murphy, OF Michael Cuddyer, 3B Juan Uribe, SP Jonathon Niese.
With the National League East weak and probably the worst division in baseball, the Mets should emerge into the playoffs. And their first championship in 30 years isn’t such a crazy thought. In fact, they are a favorite at +475 to make it out of the National League.
Prediction: 95-67
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