The Big Money Mets, Mr. Cohen is ready to spend… Soto, Alonso and Burnes?

Mets Owner Steve Cohen, OF Juan Soto, OF Luis Robert and SP Corbin Burnes

The 2024 season was a beacon of hope for Mets fans. After a disastrous 2023 season, and a disastrous beginning to the 2024 season, the Mets bounced back. They not only made a late playoff push, but went as far as the NLCS and were two wins away from a World Series appearance. The Mets proved that they are about one batter and one Ace away from being a championship team. Owner Steve Cohen is one of the richest owners in sports, and with this free agency class, expect the billionaire to outbid everybody. Since owning the Mets after purchasing them in 2020 from the Wilpons, Steve Cohen has truly shown what a sports fan would do if they were the owner of their team. He’s acquired and re-signed primetime talents like SS Francisco Lindor and RHP Edwin Diaz. For every good move, he’s had a bad one like the deals of SP Max Scherzer and SP Justin Verlander, who both did not work out with the Mets. However, Cohen has vowed to create a paradigm shift in New York baseball and bring honor back to the Mets. With marquee players like OF Juan Soto, SP Corbin Burnes, SP Blake Snell and 2B Alex Bregman being available, Cohen will finally be able to get his players. Yet, before that he’ll have to make a decision on his own:

• 1B Pete Alonso, expected AAV: $28M

• SP Sean Manaea, expected AAV: $19.5M

• SP Luis Severino, expected AAV: $15M

• SP Jose Quintana, expected AAV: $10M

• DH J.D. Martinez, expected AAV: $9M

• OF Harrison Bader, expected AAV: $7M

• OF/DH Jesse Winker, expected AAV: $3M

• 2B/SS Jose Iglesias, expected AAV: $4M

• RP Adam Ottavino, expected AAV: $2M

• RP Ryne Stanek, expected AAV: $3.5M

• RP Phil Maton, expected AAV: $4M

Let’s say hypothetically, Steven Cohen wanted to stay under the $300M threshold, the Mets will have a little under $150M to spend this offseason as they only have $151M on the books. Baseball be ready because this billionaire is going to outbid you for your best players. The team’s biggest needs is elite starting pitching, bullpen help and outfielders. That is perfect because this free agency class is loaded with all of those positions, here’s who I think they should target with the $150M Steve Cohen will be working with.

• OF Juan Soto: 15 years, $750M ($50M AAV)

  • This just feels obvious. I think Soto re-signs with the Yankees but if the Mets truly stick to the rumors and actually pay $50M more than any other offer, it’ll be hard to believe that Soto would turn that down. I think he stays in New York, whether it’s the Yanks or Mets but Steven Cohen is the man with the open checkbook. However, I think the Mets need Soto way more than Soto needs the Mets. This team needs to swing as hard as they for Soto as he’d be the perfect piece to their lineup. He fills the need for an outfielder and adds another premier bat to accompany SS Francisco Lindor, and the next signing...

• 1B Pete Alonso: 8 years, $236M ($29.5M AAV)

  • People think that Pete’s value isn’t that high but I strongly disagree. He’s proven his clutch ability in the playoffs and he’s a Boras client. I don’t see him taking a paycut for anybody and he will cash in on the incredible postseason he had. This will be another bidding war between the Yankees and Mets with likely the Mariners as the dark horse. I see a big payday with Alonso in Queens.

• SP Corbin Burnes: 6 years, $200M ($33.3M AAV, with additional club option for additional season)

  • This player has Mets written all over him. Burnes is considered to be big fish in the market, alongside Blake Snell, and Burnes is the exact piece the Mets desperately need. It’s a match made perfectly.

• Ryne Stanek, 2 years, $8M

  • Stanek proved to be a decent bullpen in the postseason and I can see him returning.

• RP Phil Maton: 1 year, $5M

  • Maton was good for the Mets after being traded from the Rays, played badly in the postseason but I can see him returning to help this bullpen.

• 2B Jose Iglesias: 2 years, $6M ($3M AAV)

  • Iglesias was a key part of this team’s chemistry and his song “OMG” has become a part of the Mets culture, he must be back in Queens.

• SP Jose Quintana: 2 years, $23M ($11.5M AAV)

  • Quintana served as a good pitcher and could return in the middle part of the rotation on this new Mets roster. I could see comeback for another go.

• RP Blake Treinen: 2 years, $14M ($7M AAV)

  • Although the age isn’t great, Treinen is still a really good reliever in 2024. Mets are in desperate need of relief pitching, this is a key player for that.

• RP A.J. Minter: 1 year, $3M

  • Another good bullpen piece

• SP Matthew Boyd: 1 year, $4M

  • A veteran coming off a good season to add some depth to the rotation

This all comes down to $150.3M, a tiny bit over the $300M threshold but these are really good upgrades for the Mets. I’d say they could sign both Burnes and Fried/Snell but I don’t know how much Cohen wants to invest. The trio signing of Soto, Alonso and Burnes is incredible. Even if they don’t sign Soto, they can pickup another pitcher or Teoscar Hernandez. The trade market could also be huge for them:

Mets Receive: OF Luis Robert and SP Garrett Crochet

White Sox Receive: SP Christian Scott, OF Drew Gilbert, 3B Jacob Reimer, SS Jeremy Rodriguez

This trade is one that has been circulating around the Mets fanbase as it would provide great pitching depth and solidify a strong outfield. Although they’re trading two top ten prospects, it evens out. SS Rodriguez is a shortstop and you have Lindor for the next 7 years. Trading OF Gilbert evens out because you get Luis Robert, and you get to keep Jett Williams. This trade would shape the lineup and rotation to look like this:

Lineup:

1. SS Francisco Lindor

2. RF Juan Soto

3. 1B Pete Alonso

4. CF Luis Robert

5. 3B Mark Vientos

6. LF Brandon Nimmo

7. DH Sterling Marte

8. SS Luisangel Acuña

9. C Francisco Alvarez

Rotation:

1. RHP Corbin Burnes

2. LHP Garrett Crochet

3. RHP Kodai Senga

4. LHP Matthew Boyd

5. LHP Jose Quintana

The pitching would have true potential, especially if Senga finds his groove. The Mets could be deadly and dethrone the Dodgers if they capitalize on this offseason. This is what a championship roster looks like. Steve Cohen can feel the opportunity arising, I expect him to capitalize.