Some New York Mets insiders have a big update on if the team’s shocking fire sale at the 2023 MLB trade deadline could have a serious effect on their chances of landing free agents in the future.
Over the last week, the New York Mets have been one of the biggest stories in baseball, and not for the reason many fans would have expected a few months ago. After a disappointing showing this season, the organization was not buyers at this year’s deadline and instead were sellers.
Related: Five takeaways from an odd MLB trade deadline period
While there were rumblings for some time that the franchise might ship off second-tier talent like closer David Robertson, or outfielders Mark Canha and Tommy Phan, the chances of them trading some of their biggest names seemed highly unlikely. However, when push came to shove, the Mets boldly pulled the trigger and surprisingly traded expensive aces, Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander.
In the deals, the team agreed to pay a large chunk of the pitcher’s remaining contracts so that they could land better prospects. That surprising shift from spending record sums for stars to making moves to bolster the farm system had a new layer added to it on Tuesday night when Scherzer claimed he was informed by owner Steve Cohen and general manager Billy Eppler that the team was now looking toward 2025 to be a contending team again.
New York Mets record (2023): 50-57
That revelation isn’t completely surprising since the New York Mets now have a retained salary total for former players that is higher than their payroll for 2024. The organization’s switch from contender to a mild rebuild is still shocking nevertheless and one has to wonder if it will turn away potential free agents over the next few offseasons.
On Wednesday, The Athletic’s New York Mets reporters Will Sammon and Tim Britton wrote about the free agent ramifications of the team’s trade deadline fire sale, since the duo claimed the word around MLB heading into this season was that Cohen and Eppler had turned the organization into a “destination that representatives wanted their players to consider.”
Well, surprisingly, nothing really has changed when it comes to the team’s perception in the open market. Many around the industry reportedly don’t believe that the direction shift will affect New York’s chances in free agency if they are still willing to pay fair rates, because as one agent told The Athletic writers, “Money talks.”
The Mets are unlikely to make major moves in MLB free agency this winter but will still need to fill holes in certain areas. So it will be interesting to see how they approach the offseason with an owner that is feeling new pressure but still remains the richest in the sport.