Mets owner Steve Cohen threw his financial weight around in the club’s reported 15-year, $765 million contract with superstar outfielder Juan Soto. It’s a true inflection point for the franchise, not only in luring him away from the crosstown Yankees, but also in the continued efforts of rehabbing of the image of the Mets. Cohen has already helped take them from consistent punchline to a trip to the NLCS and the largest contract in sports history. What could possibly be next?
The Mets are off to a great start in securing Soto, but there’s still work to be done as the club attempts to win their first World Series since 1986. Here’s a look at each area of the team as it stands today.
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Mets projected lineup with Soto:
Francisco Lindor – SS
Juan Soto – RF
Brandon Nimmo – LF
Mark Vientos – 1B
Starling Marte – DH
Jeff McNeil – 2B
Francisco Alvarez – C
Brett Baty – 3B
Tyrone Taylor/Jose Síri – CF
The big question at this point is what the future holds for Pete Alonso. Had Soto stayed with the Yankees or went to the Red Sox or Blue Jays, a reunion with Alonso would have made all the sense in the world for the Mets. Now, it’s a bit trickier. How much is Steve Cohen willing to spend? Would the Mets be better served to address multiple areas with their club rather than make another hefty investment into one player?
If the Mets decide to move on from Alonso, they could pivot to Mark Vientos at first base and give another chance to former top prospect Brett Baty at third base. It’s worth noting that Baty has been mentioned in trade rumors, so the Mets have options in terms of roster construction outside of purely looking at the free agent market. The Mets also have young players like Luisangel Acuna and Ronny Mauricio waiting for opportunities.
The Mets recently acquired Jose Síri from the Rays, presumably filling the role that Harrison Bader filled in 2024. As of today, he appears likely to share center field duties with Tyrone Taylor. With Brandon Nimmo and Soto serving as everyday pillars for the Mets’ lineup, this could mean Starling Marte will see most of his at-bats out of the designated hitter spot. The 36-year-old Marte is owed $19.5 million in the final year of his contract and could be a palatable trade option for another team if the Mets eat some of the salary.
RELATED: What do the Yankees do after missing out on Soto?