Despite Lack of Moves, 'The Intention Is To Win' For Mets
The New York Mets signaled at the trade deadline last season that they didn't believe they had a chance to win a World Series. While moving Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer wasn't an easy decision, it was the right one for a Mets team that simply couldn't get anything to go their way.
Steve Cohen has spent plenty on free agents in the past, but took a different approach this offseason. They made smaller moves than in years past, adding Sean Manaea, Luis Severino, Joey Wendle, Harrison Bader, and others.
They added guys that, at their best, could be small pieces on a World Series team. However, there wasn't any huge addition.
Cohen is expected to go all out next offseason as he attempts to build the team once again in free agency.
Despite the lack of a move for a star, New York still intends to win. Bader spoke about what he could bring to the team and what his intentions were this season, according to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com.
"The intention is to win. I'm bringing my energy. I know what I'm capable of in terms of helping a team win."
Bader will be the team's everyday center fielder, according to Pat Ragazzo. Brandon Nimmo will play left field, a decision that's the correct one given Bader's defensive abilities.
Bader posted an outs above-average in the 95th percentile and has led the league in that metric from 2018-23.
The Mets enter Spring Training with different expectations than they had last season, but that doesn't change the goal.
Bader and the rest of the roster will have to play hard as they look to be better than they were in 2023.
