Bo Bichette and Jorge Polanco are new as the Mets try to win their first division title in more than a decade. Bichette has missed 130 games the last three years due to injury. That has to be a concern for Mets fans. 2024 was particularly awful for Bichette. Not only did he miss half of the team’s games, but he also hit .225. Shortstop, Francisco Lindor is dealing with his own injury, a broken hamate bone suffered February 13. Jorge Polanco hit 30 home runs last year, which was a career high. He also struck out 55 fewer times than the year before. If New York has played its cards right, Polanco’s 12th year was the year he really figured out the game. At 32, that would be a good time to do it. He was designated hitter last year for most of the year, but a second baseman before that. He led the league in errors in 2021. Can he give the team more options by improving his defense? The infield already has a ton of options. Marcus Semien once led the league in errors. Three years later, he led it in fielding percentage. With Lindor and Bichette, Polanco, and Brett Baty, the Mets should be able to keep their infield rested and healthy. Carson Benge hit .366 in 14 games last year. There is nothing to say he can sustain that. You can pencil Juan Soto in for 40 homers and 100 runs batted in. With Bichette, Semien, Lindor and Polanco’s power, this team should bludgeon opponents.

On the mound, Freddy Peralta could be the most important off-season signing in Major League Baseball. He’s been a solid second starter his entire career for Milwaukee. Last year, he was an ace (17-6, 2.70 earned run average). Nolan McLean was fast-tracked through the minors. His ERA has actually improved as the quality of the opposition has improved. He struck out 57 and walked just 16.in his eight starts last year. Clay Holmes had not started a game until last year, when he started 31. His numbers were on par with Peralta’s career marks. David Peterson is a lefty and a decent fifth starters. His career walks and hits per inning pitched (1.38 WHIP) is way too high. Kodai Senga is a number two if he is healthy. He had 22 starts last year, but only one the year before that. The bullpen looks really good. Sean Manaea gives them a sixth starter. Luis García isn’t terrible. His 4.08 career ERA is the second-worst of the staff. Richard Lovelady is a lefty. He and his career ERA of 5.35 will likely be shipped out first, if he continues to give up more than a run every two innings.

Forecast: This team looks stacked. They could very well meet the Dodgers in the National League Championship Series. 96 wins.