New York Mets fans are already losing it after the team let Pete Alonso and Edwin Diaz walk in MLB free agency this week. A new report on the moves that could be coming soon is likely to intensify their frustration.
This has been a nightmare week for Mets fans. Heading into the offseason, they knew it was possible they could lose All-Star closer Edwin Diaz and team great Pete Alonso on the open market. But with the richest owner in the game, they hoped Steve Cohen and the front office would do the right thing and make sure both were back in Queens next year.
They didn’t. Diaz is headed to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Alonso will take the I-95 down to Maryland to play for the Baltimore Orioles for the next five years. Mets supporters are trying to be calm and patient, and are hoping that president David Stearns has some big moves under his sleeve. However, that may not be the case.
Following the Alonso news, Will Sammon of The Athletic reported that the organization is taking a very “disciplined” approach to the offseason, and the loss of the two All-Stars will not change that strategy. While he admits star free agents Kyle Tucker and Cody Bellinger could be top targets, the team is more likely to address needs on the trade market.
New York Mets interested in Lars Nootbaar
Although they have one of the best farm systems in the league and can make a blockbuster deal, Sammon reports the club prefers “need-for-need trades involving major-league players.” This probably means deals to move Jeff McNeil and Kodai Senga for another team’s veteran of equal or lesser value.
Sammon mentions that particular approach to improve the roster is not going to blow Mets fans’ hair back. Especially after he offered up a couple of likely or rumored outfield targets.
“For example, the Mets hold some interest in St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar, league sources said,” Sammon wrote. “More speculatively, San Diego Padres outfielder Ramón Laureano would present another match. Those are just a couple of names out of many possibilities.”
It has already been a bad week for New York Mets fans. The idea of following up the big losses with the addition of Lars Nootbaar is going to make this an even worse holiday season for many in Queens.
