The New York Mets are navigating a fascinating offseason, making several notable moves to improve their roster for the 2025 season. One of their biggest additions is superstar outfielder Juan Soto, who will significantly strengthen their lineup. Additionally, the Mets secured a deal with talented reliever AJ Minter, adding depth to their bullpen. To further solidify their pitching staff, they managed to retain Sean Manaea, one of their standout performers from the 2024 season. On top of all that, under the leadership of David Stearns and owner Steve Cohen, the Mets also decided to keep Jesse Winker, who impressed in the postseason with the team. Despite these exciting moves, the Mets are not resting on their laurels and are now setting their sights on more of agent Scott Boras’ clients.
While Pete Alonso could play a crucial role in the Mets’ 2025 lineup, the team has prioritized other areas in need of attention. With or without Alonso, the Mets’ batting order will feature big names like Soto, Francisco Lindor, Mark Vientos, and Brandon Nimmo, all of whom will be integral to the team’s success. Though missing Alonso—also known as the “Polar Bear”—would be a blow to the lineup, it still remains a formidable one with plenty of firepower.
The real concern for the Mets heading into 2025 lies with their starting rotation. While the return of Manaea is a solid move, and Kodai Senga’s continued presence will provide some stability, there are significant questions surrounding the rest of the starting staff. David Peterson posted a respectable 2.90 ERA in 2024, but his performance took a downturn in 2025 with a 5.03 ERA. Frankie Montas is coming off a difficult season, and Clay Holmes hasn’t started a game in the majors since 2018. This leaves the Mets searching for more reliable options to fill out their rotation.
One potential solution could involve reuniting with a familiar face. Stearns, known for favoring a six-man rotation, could benefit from adding another experienced arm to the mix. Currently, the candidates vying for the final spot in the rotation are Tylor Megill, Paul Blackburn, and Griffin Canning. However, the Mets are reportedly eyeing a much more experienced option in Max Scherzer, a client of Boras who has a long history with the team. According to Sports Illustrated’s Pat Ragazzo, the Mets were present at a recent throwing session for Scherzer, suggesting the possibility of a reunion.
Despite Scherzer approaching his 41st birthday in July, he remains a highly effective pitcher when healthy. In his two seasons with the Mets, Scherzer posted an impressive 3.02 ERA and struck out 294 batters over 253 innings. In 2024, while with the Texas Rangers, Scherzer’s performance remained solid despite his limited appearances. He made just nine starts but allowed more than three earned runs only once in those outings, demonstrating his ability to still perform at a high level.
Another veteran pitcher with a comparable skill set to Scherzer is Justin Verlander, who had a brief tenure with the Mets before signing a one-year, $15 million deal with the San Francisco Giants. Scherzer, however, is unlikely to command the same high salary he did when he first joined the Mets. According to Sportrac, Scherzer is projected to earn around $15.2 million for the 2025 season. This makes him an attractive option for the Mets, who could get significant value if Scherzer can replicate the level of performance he displayed in his earlier years with the team.
If the Mets can secure Scherzer’s services again, it could provide them with the experienced arm they need to solidify their rotation and make a strong push in 2025. His addition would bolster an already solid lineup, potentially giving the Mets a competitive edge in the National League East. As the offseason continues, the Mets’ strategy of bolstering their roster with proven stars and adding depth to their pitching staff may just be the formula they need to return to postseason contention.
