May 3, 2023; Detroit, Michigan, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Max Scherzer (21) walks off the field after giving up six runs in 3 1/3 innings against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. It was Scherzer's first game back after serving a ten game suspension. Credit: Lon Horwedel-USA TODAY Sports
MLB: Game Two-New York Mets at Detroit Tigers
(New York) — The New York Mets are officially the laughingstock of baseball again.
It is clear the team is no longer trying to win this year – but they’re seemingly punting on next year, too, and maybe even 2025.
Max Scherzer telling Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic that he had talked to owner Steve Cohen and GM Billy Eppler – asking them straight out if the team is rebooting and ready to compete in 2024.
“I talked to Billy. I was like, ‘OK, are we reloading for 2024?’ He goes, ‘No, we’re not. Basically, our vision now is for 2025-2026, ’25 at the earliest, more like ’26. We’re going to be making trades around that.’
“I was like, ‘So the team is not going to be pursuing free agents this offseason or assemble a team that can compete for a World Series next year?’ He said, ‘No, we’re not going to be signing the upper-echelon guys. We’re going to be on the smaller deals within free agency. ’24 is now looking to be more of a kind of transitory year.'”
That was enough for Scherzer in deciding to waive his no-trade clause before he was sent to the Texas Rangers.
The Mets also agreed on Tuesday to trade Justin Verlander to the Houston Astros for outfielders Drew Gilbert and Ryan Clifford.
“It’s an honest conversation between both sides and understanding what both sides were trying to want. You know, we went into the season with high expectations, rightfully so. We had a very good, very good team, unfortunately, we didn’t play up to it,” Scherzer told reporters in Texas.
“Because of where everybody is at within their contract situation, age, everything, Billy and Steve had to do a different vision now. The math changed on them. They wanted to be able to flip guys for prospects.”
You almost have to give the Mets front office credit. They managed to shatter an MLB record for payroll and just eight months later blew it all up.
It’s quite obvious Steve Cohen and Biller Eppler have no plan and are as clueless as ever.
