What time does the ticker-tape parade start?
You can’t call them the fourth-place Mets any longer. With Sunday’s 3-2 victory over the Brewers at Citi Field to conclude the 2013 season, these became — ready for this? — the third-place Mets. Strangely, the victors declined to celebrate with champagne.
“We’re still going home,” said David Wright, who played for four straight Mets teams that finished fourth in the NL East beginning in 2009. “I guess finishing third in the Central would have been good this year, because they’re going to the playoffs. [Third] is just one of those little things, if you want to use that to feel better about yourself, that’s fine.”
It marked a second straight 74-88 season for the Mets, extending a playoff drought that dates to 2006. The organization will begin looking toward next season on Monday, with a noon press conference at Citi Field to announce manager Terry Collins’ return for 2014 along with the members of his coaching staff. Collins has agreed to a two-year contract.
Then comes the business of the Mets, who have at least $55 million coming off the books, (it could be as high as $70 million depending on how Jason Bay’s deferred money is calculated), trying to find additional pieces for next year.
“We’ve got a different frame of mind going into spring training,” Collins said. “It’s no longer money issues hanging over our head, it’s no longer ‘Are we going to get this guy?’ They are going to be here and now our goal is to get out of the gate and show our fans what we’ve been talking, there’s meaning to it.”
The foremost goal will be trying to boost a lineup that was near the bottom of the National League in most offensive categories. Shin-Soo Choo and Jacoby Ellsbury are among the attractive names on the free-agent market, but the Mets could also look to deal top pitching talent for an offensive presence.
Wright, Daniel Murphy, Travis d’Arnaud and Juan Lagares would seem like safe bets to continue in starting roles for next season, with question marks at the corner outfield spots, shortstop and first base.
“As far as hitting goes [at Citi Field], you’ve got to get guys that can spray the ball, go all fields, not just all-or-nothing type,” Wright said. “We’re getting there. Daniel Murphy is a perfect example. I think he fits the bill perfectly as far as he’s a pure hitter, can use all the fields and use to his advantage all that room out there in the outfield.”
Barring a trade, Zack Wheeler, Jon Niese and Dillon Gee figure into next year’s rotation plans, with the Mets are still uncertain about Matt Harvey, who is attempting to rehab the torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. The Mets could look to sign a proven innings-eater such as the Reds’ Bronson Arroyo to bolster the rotation.
Bobby Parnell and Vic Black will be among the returning bullpen pieces, with it likely the Mets will attempt to re-sign veteran LaTroy Hawkins (the team has already expressed interest, according to sources).
“Are we happy where we are? Not even close — because we should have won more games,” Collins said. “We were in position to win more games and we didn’t do it.
“We’ve been talking about 2014 for two years, everybody got to see the pieces. The talk is pretty much over now. It’s time to go get it done on the field.”