Mets GM Brodie Van Wagenen has won over at least one of the franchise's legends.
Dwight Gooden has been closely following his former team's activity throughout the MLB hot stove season and while a little apprehensive at first of the agent-turned-GM, he likes Van Wagenen's aggressive, win-now mentality and approach thus far.
"At first I was a little curious to see how it was going to work out with the new general manager, but so far I like him being aggressive," Gooden told Andy Clayton of the New York Daily News. "I don't know how much of a leash he has - how much (The Wilpons) give him - but so far he's been going great. He seems like a young guy that wants to win and isn't afraid to take chances. He's looking at guys that can help the team now.
"I always thought that in New York you have to win now, you can't rebuild or try to look down the road, you go for it now. They have a pitching staff now - I don't know how long you can keep these guys together - but you have to go for it now."
Gooden gave his stamp of approval on the trade that brought Edwin Diaz and Robinson Cano -- the latter of whom Gooden has a relationship with -- to Queens and also lauded the addition of veteran catcher Wilson Ramos, which invoked memories of when the Mets acquired Gary Carter two years before their 1986 World Series run.
"That put us over the hump," Gooden said of Carter.
Gooden is also a fan of the move the Mets did not make: Holding onto Noah Syndergaard.
"This is just my opinion, but I think his stuff is just as good as deGrom," Gooden said. "I think deGrom is a better pitcher, but Syndergaard probably has better stuff, but he's still learning how to use his stuff. That's a great 1-2 punch. ... I'm glad they kept Thor. ... To me you've got one of the three best rotations in baseball if healthy."
"It doesn't matter how much hitting you have," he added. "If you don't have pitching you don't have a shot."