Amid Mets' potential dream season, pending free agent decisions looming large

Jacob deGrom, Edwin Diaz, and Chris Bassitt are among the Mets likely to hit free agency after the season

8/9/2022, 6:30 PM

As the Mets' potential dream season has reached a higher gear in recent weeks, the following players have been among those who have stood out...

Edwin Diaz, in the midst of a season that could earn him Cy Young and MVP votes.

Jacob deGrom, whose return to Citi Field this past Sunday was among the most electric days in the 13-year history of the ballpark.

Chris Bassitt, whose ability to provide length has been just as impressive as his ability to keep runs off the board.

Brandon Nimmo, who has set the tone at the top of the lineup.

I'm listing the above players here because they have something in common. They're all expected to become free agents after the season.

In addition to Diaz, deGrom, Bassitt, and Nimmo, Taijuan Walker (who seems very likely to decline his $6 million player option) and a large chunk of the Mets' bullpen -- including Adam Ottavino and Trevor May -- are among the others also about to hit free agency.

Taijuan Walker / Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Taijuan Walker / Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

This doesn't mean that the Mets and their fans shouldn't enjoy the ride they're on -- one that hopefully won't end until early November.

At the same time, it's clear that the team could look drastically different next season. And with a significant amount of money already committed to the payroll for 2023, it's fair to wonder how many of their pending free agents the Mets can (and will) retain.

One would think that bringing back Diaz is an absolute no-brainer, especially given the uncertainty elsewhere in the bullpen. I wrote back on May 6 that it was time for the Mets to extend Diaz, and he recently said that he'd like to return.

Then there's Bassitt, whose contract contains a mutual $19 million option for 2023. Perhaps there's a small chance that option is exercised, but it seems very likely that Bassitt would be able to get a deal for three or four years around that average annual value on the open market.

What about Nimmo, who has been a perfect table-setter for the Mets since 2017? Like Diaz, Nimmo is also on record that he's open to an extension.

And then there's deGrom.

I saved deGrom for last because his situation is the most intriguing, and possibly the most difficult to predict.

Jacob deGrom / Vincent Carchietta - USA TODAY Sports
Jacob deGrom / Vincent Carchietta - USA TODAY Sports

Even before returning from more than a year away from a big league mound, deGrom stated (a few times) that he was going to opt out of his contract after this season. And given the relatively low average annual value of the five-year extension deGrom signed with the Mets before the 2019 season, it makes all the sense in the world for him to opt out if he stays healthy.

The best pitcher in baseball deserves to be paid like the best pitcher in baseball. But will that be with the Mets?

DeGrom has stated his desire to be a career Met, and he said in spring training that his plan would be to opt out and stay in constant contact with the Mets, with the hope being to return.

Will the Mets be comfortable giving him something like $180 million for four years, taking him through his age-37 season? Will it take even more than that? Does deGrom, as some rumblings have suggested, have his eye on a more serene location than New York?

And what might happen between now and the end of the season?

It's close to impossible to envision a scenario where the Mets get deGrom locked up before the season ends, but is an in-season extension possible with someone like Diaz or Bassitt?

Aug 4, 2022; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets relief pitcher Edwin Diaz (39) reacts as he steps on first for the final out against the Atlanta Braves during the ninth inning at Citi Field. / Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 4, 2022; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets relief pitcher Edwin Diaz (39) reacts as he steps on first for the final out against the Atlanta Braves during the ninth inning at Citi Field. / Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

When it comes to the offseason, the deGrom domino will likely color much of what the Mets do.

If deGrom does not return, it would be prudent to make a strong effort to re-sign both Bassitt and Walker -- especially with the Mets not having any MLB-ready pitching prospects on the horizon for 2023.

One thing that should help the Mets is the fact that they could have two cornerstone position players -- catcher Francisco Alvarez and third baseman Brett Baty -- ready to be lineup mainstays by Opening Day of 2023 or soon after.

The presence of Alvarez and Baty, who will be making near the league minimum at first, could allow for greater flexibility when it comes to the Mets handing out multiple extensions to some of the players listed above.

For those who will now remind me about Steve Cohen's billions, I'll note that while he can exceed the highest luxury tax levels (and probably will at times), he will not spend with reckless abandon and have a payroll that's perennially in the $300 million range. So tough choices will have to be made.

For now, though, the Mets and their fans should embrace the ride the 2022 team is taking them on. But as that ride continues, the intrigue will build over which of the above core pieces will be in Queens in 2023 and beyond.

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