A notable New York baseball insider has offered up a pair of major predictions for the New York Mets‘ pitching staff in the new season. Unfortunately, they offer great and terrible news for a pair of key players.
We are just hours away from the start of the Mets 2025 season. And there is a great deal of excitement surrounding the team. After making a stunning run to the National League Championship Series in October, there is a belief that the organization has turned a corner, and the club is set up to be a playoff contender for years to come.
However, they are aiming much higher than a second-straight playoff appearance in 2025. New York has one of MLB’s largest payrolls, and owner Steve Cohen is hoping for his first World Series appearance as the club’s boss this fall. Yet, the Mets have one clear weakness: Their pitching staff.
The starting rotation has already been hit hard by injuries this spring. But while they wait for Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas to eventually make their season debuts next month, SNY MLB insider John Harper believes that Opening Day starter Clay Holmes could be a huge surprise for the team this season.
“Holmes’ dominance in Florida is among the happiest developments for the Mets so far in spring training. Making them look smart for the decision to sign him as a free agent and convert him from a reliever to a starter,” he wrote. ‘I don’t think it’s a fluke either.
“He’s added an effective change-up to his reliever arsenal. And has begun complementing his turbo-sinker with a four-seam fastball up in the strike zone. What about stamina? Well, when Seth Lugo made a similar conversion upon signing with the San Diego Padres in 2023, he threw 146 innings in his first year there. No reason Holmes can’t do that and earn an All-Star nod along the way.”
MLB insider predicts Edwin Diaz loses job as New York Mets closer in 2025
Unfortunately, Harper did not have all positive predictions when it came to the New York Mets staff. Closer Edwin Diaz struggled at times with his control and confidence in 2024. The 31-year-old’s once electric stuff has continued its decline this spring. That is why the MLB insider predicts the $102 million closer will lose his job during the 2025 MLB season.
“Diaz’s strong finish in 2024 made it easier to forget his up-and-down season,” Harper wrote. “But his shaky spring has resurrected concerns about whether he can still be an elite closer. His velocity has been down slightly. And his inability to prevent baserunners from stealing at will against him is looming as a potentially costly problem.
“Dedniel Núñez, meanwhile, returned this spring from the flexor tendon injury that shut him down after he emerged as a surprise bullpen weapon in 2024, throwing 98 mph again,” he added. “If Diaz can’t regain his 2022 dominance, in his second season back from knee surgery, the Mets could be better off with Núñez closing and Diaz in a setup role.”
That could leave New York with a very expensive and unhappy setup man and questionable closer in a season with World Series aspirations.
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