It Ends in LA, the Mets fall short to the Dodgers, 4-2

Mets players look in disappointment, via Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

The Cinderella Story ends in LA. The Mets were defeated by the Los Angeles Dodgers, 4-2, in the NLCS and will head back to Queens to regroup for this offseason. Nobody, and I mean nobody, expected the Mets to make such a deep playoff run. Many didn’t put them past the Wild Card round and pushed the Dodgers to six games in the NLCS. This postseason run is nothing to be disappointed about; this Mets team showed major promise for the future. The team is only one ace and another big bat away from being a legit World Series contender. 

The Mets have a crucial offseason ahead of them with 11 players set to hit free agency and pitcher Sean Manaea with a player option, who could opt for a better contract after a big postseason. 1B Pete Alonso is the big fish among those players set to hit free agency, as well as Jesse Winker, Luis Severino, Harrison Bader, Jose Quintana, Jose Iglesias, and JD Martinez. Out of all of those players, Pete Alonso is the one who they must re-sign. There are players who will be available for free agency, but the Mets must retain their stars. Closer Edwin Diaz has an opt-out for this season; he’s another the Mets can’t lose. 

The big fish this offseason is Yankees OF Juan Soto, and if there is anybody that can outbid the Yankees… it’s Mets Owner Steve Cohen. The Mets are arguably one more big bat, excluding pitching, away from the World Series. The thought of a Lindor, Soto, and Alonso offense is nasty, with Brandon Nimmo and Mark Vientos batting under them. Pitcher Max Fried from Atlanta will also be a free agent, the big fish in the pitching market. The Mets have a chance to turn it all around this offseason, and Owner Steve Cohen will be active. He is inevitable. 

To be continued…