The New York Mets’ ownership has done their part to bring the team to the playoffs. Now it is up to the players to deliver.
Steve Cohen has done what he does best. Jacob deGrom and Chris Bassitt left? Justin Verlander, Kodai Senga, and Jose Quintana are coming in. Edwin Diaz and Brandon Nimmo signed long term deals to stay in New York. The bullpen is improved and should make a difference. Even the signings they did not make, Carlos Correa specifically, generated headlines. But none of that will matter if they cannot pass the Atlanta Braves.
New York Mets still projected to finish behind Atlanta Braves
The Braves did not sit still this offseason. They continued to lock in pieces to their core while adding talent via the trade market. Sean Murphy should make a major difference due to his excellent arm as the running game may be more important. The bullpen is better. And those young players are another year older. It is not a surprise that Fangraphs still projects the Braves to win the division with a 56.0% chance. In fact, the Braves have the best chance of winning the World Series according to Fangraphs at 14.6%.
There is always hope. Although the Braves have won the division for five consecutive years and are favoured to do so once more, those games are not played on paper or in a simulation. The players need to set foot on the diamond, a place where the Mets hope that their big names and talent can make a difference.
Instead, the Mets may need to worry about actually closing out a season. They have led the division for majority of the past two years only to watch everything crumble down the stretch. With a strong Braves roster, along with an improved Phillies team, that path is just going to get more difficult. Nonetheless, the expectation is not just a division title – it is for the Mets to win a championship.
The New York Mets are not content with winning the offseason. However, if they are going to win the division, they have to get through the Atlanta Braves first.
NL East predictions:
1. Braves
2. Mets
3. Phillies
4. Marlins
5. Nationals
Our AL East, AL Central, and AL West predictions
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