How can Mets add needed influx of power to offense during 2022-23 offseason?

For large swaths of the 2022 season, as the Mets were winning series after series before eventually winding up with a record of 101-61, their offense was a well-oiled machine.

That offense helped carry them at times, and only four teams scored more runs in 2022 than the Mets' 772. Those teams? The Los Angeles Dodgers (847), Yankees (807), Atlanta Braves (789), and Toronto Blue Jays (775).

But the Mets didn't pound their opponents.

Instead, they often made opposing starting pitchers sweat early while getting their pitch counts up and forcing them out after four or five innings. They went the other way when needed. They shortened up in RBI situations. They made productive outs. They capitalized a lot with runners in scoring position. 

And, yes, they mixed in some home run power, most often from Pete Alonso or Francisco Lindor, and wound up hitting 171 home runs as a team. That ranked 15th in MLB, which was quite literally in the middle of the 30 teams.

The teams in the top six in homers during the 2022 season were the Yankees (254), Braves (243), Milwaukee Brewers (219), Houston Astros (214), Dodgers (212), and Philadelphia Phillies (205). Like the Mets, all of those teams made the playoffs this season -- except the Brewers, who came up just short.

Now, while the Mets' offense was very good in 2022, their lack of power hurt badly at times.

Without enough power in the lineup to offset cold snaps with timely extra-base hits, there were stretches during the season when the Mets' offense went into prolonged funks despite their contact-heavy approach. And it was a big reason why they came up an eyelash short in their NL East race with the Braves.

Then, in the playoffs against the San Diego Padres, the Mets' lack of extra-base hit thump -- and especially their inability to hit homers -- helped do them in.

The Mets hit two home runs in their Game 2 win. But in Game 1 and Game 3 (both losses), they hit one home run total, and it was a garbage time blast by Eduardo Escobar when Game 1 was already a blowout in the Padres' favor.

This is not to say that things begin and end with the home run. They don't. But too often in 2022, the Mets lacked the ability to turn the game with one or two swings when their offense wasn't clicking.

The Braves had that ability, but one can argue it also helped do them in since selling out for so much power led to a ton of strikeouts and contributed to a quick playoff exit against the Philadelphia Phillies. In Game 4 of the NLDS, Atlanta hit three solo homers. But they couldn't score in any other way as they were rolled over by the Phillies and eliminated from the playoffs.

In an ideal world, the Mets will bolster their offense this offseason with guys who have more thump. But that doesn't necessarily mean signing someone like Aaron Judge or adding a masher at DH. Home runs are nice, but so are doubles -- and players who can provide a good amount of both would be ideal additions.

The Mets' aim should be to have an offense in 2023 that falls somewhere between their contact-heavy lineup of 2022 and the Braves' homer-happy one.

How do they do that?

Unless the Mets are planning an overhaul to their offensive core (they shouldn't and very likely will not be), they'll have only a few avenues through which they can tweak the offense while adding more power.

Back will be Alonso and Lindor (who, as noted, are their best power producers). Also back will be Starling Marte, Jeff McNeil, Eduardo Escobar, Mark Canha, and perhaps free agent Brandon Nimmo.

That's likely five of nine starting players (Alonso, Lindor, Marte, McNeil, and Nimmo), and perhaps two (Escobar and Canha) who are used less regularly.

And the first way the Mets might be able to inject some power is from within.

One player who should help in a big way is Francisco Alvarez, who will likely be the Mets' starting catcher on Opening Day or soon after. His power potential is massive, as we saw for most of 2022 while he was in the minors and late in the season when he made his debut with the Mets. But they'll need more than Alvarez, who -- while his ceiling is incredibly high -- cannot be relied on to be a savior in his rookie season.

Another way the Mets can attempt to add extra-base hit power from within is by using the lefty-swinging Brett Baty as part of a third base platoon with Escobar (who mashes lefties).

When it comes to who the Mets could target via free agency or trade, there are plenty of big names.

The first, and most obvious, is Judge. But while it's fun to imagine Judge going from the Bronx to Queens and crushing homers into the Promenade level at Citi Field in Mets orange and blue, it remains hard to see it happening.

But again, the Mets don't necessarily need more guys who are primarily mashers. They need guys who are going to hit for more power overall, and it would be just fine if that came via a mix of homers, doubles, and triples.

Enter pending free agents Trea Turner or Carlos Correa?

The Mets might not splurge on a player like Turner if Jacob deGrom is back on a massive deal. But if deGrom leaves, all kinds of different avenues could open up.

Turner, 29, has a career OPS of .842 and is coming off a season where he slashed .298/.343/.466 with 21 homers, 39 doubles, four triples, 100 RBI, and 101 runs scored.

Turner also has experience at second base (he started 48 games there for the Dodgers in 2021), so the idea of him and Lindor in the same middle infield is not crazy.

In a world where the Mets add Turner, McNeil could shift to left field or third base.

If the Mets are looking to add power via the DH spot, options could include free agents Jose Abreu and J.D. Martinez. But both players have red flags attached. In the case of Abreu, it's his down 2022. In the case of Martinez, it's his health.

How about a trade?

This guy's name will keep coming up until he's either traded or extends with the Los Angeles Angels (which seems unlikely), so here's his name again ... Shohei Ohtani.

The Mets, with a starting rotation that is in flux with the exception of Max Scherzer and an offense that needs some punch, would be an ideal fit for Ohtani. Who wouldn't be?

The question, of course, is whether the Angels will make him available and what he might cost. Unless a potential trade comes with a window to sign an extension, the Angels will be trading one year of Ohtani. That means he should cost less than the Padres recently gave up for Juan Soto. But how much less?

As the Mets enter what could be their most compelling offseason ever and look to add more thump to their offense, there are lots of different paths they can take.