Ranking the Mets' 2022-23 offseason priorities

After their incredibly disappointing end of the regular season, which was followed by a very disappointing playoff exit in the Wild Card Series, the Mets enter perhaps their most compelling offseason ever.

They are in win-now mode, but facing decisions on three huge internal free agents and many others who were key contributors this season.

They have some big prospects who seem ready to contribute.

They will likely have to rebuild a large chunk of the starting rotation.

Here are what the Mets' biggest offseason priorities should be, ranked... 

5. Determine which prospects are ready

As the Mets decide which of their internal free agents they want to bring back, and which external players they want to pursue via free agency and/or trade, making determinations about the prospects they think can help right away (or soon enough) in 2023 should help them lay out their offseason plan.

It is quite clear that Francisco Alvarez is set to be a major part of the Mets next season -- if not on Opening Day, then likely soon after. But after Alvarez tore through Double-A this season before eventually conquering Triple-A and getting a very late-season call-up (and spot on the playoff roster), his time has come.

Alvarez being a key part of the Mets next season should be a boon for a team that is in need of more power in its lineup. And it will be a bonus that Alvarez will be filling an enormous hole at catcher, which was an offensive black hole for much of 2022 -- though Tomas Nido should be commended for his late-season performance.

Beyond Alvarez, Brett Baty is another prospect who might have a big role with the Mets in 2023.

Baty didn't blow the doors off when he was called up in August, but he didn't look overmatched, either, taking strong at-bats and flashing high exit velocities. Perhaps Baty will be part of a third base platoon next season, getting most at-bats against left-handers at third base while Eduardo Escobar gets the bulk of the time against right-handers.

While the Mets' minor league system is on the rise, there likely aren't many players beyond Alvarez and Baty who will make an immediate impact in 2023.

Top outfield prospect Alex Ramirez is still a few years away, and infielder Ronny Mauricio needs to refine his approach at the plate and might be moved to the outfield.

Right-handed pitcher Jose Butto could possibly be a depth option for the starting rotation, outfielder Jake Mangum could battle for a spot on the bench, and reliever Bryce Montes de Oca could be a bullpen option if he can harness his stuff.

4. Replenish the middle of the bullpen

The most important part of a bullpen is obviously the closer, and we'll cover the Edwin Diaz situation in a bit. But regardless of what happens with Diaz, the Mets' bullpen will likely look very different in 2023.

Among the pending free agents are Seth Lugo, Adam Ottavino, Trevor May, and Trevor Williams. And while the Mets might bring some of them back, a good deal of turnover is expected.

Drew Smith flashed late-inning potential in 2022 and is under team control through 2024, so he could play a big role next season. But the Mets are going to need some serious reinforcements

The Mets will also have to decide if David Peterson's future is in the bullpen or rotation.

When it comes to who the Mets could bring in from outside the organization, the list of pending right-handed reliever free agents is highlighted by old friends Michael Fulmer and Rafael Montero, 38-year-old David Robertson, and Kenley Jansen -- who will obviously be very expensive.

Among the lefties are Andrew Chafin, Matt Moore, and Brad Hand.

3. Add power to the offense

As noted above, Alvarez should help bolster a Mets offense that scored the fifth-most runs in baseball in 2022 but was in the middle of the pack when it came to home runs.

Ideally, the Mets' offense in 2023 will be somewhere between the contact-heavy one they relied on in 2022 and the Atlanta Braves offense that is sometimes overly reliant on home runs and strikes out a ton, but overtook the Mets in the NL East despite their sometimes all-or-nothing approach.

With so many of the Mets' offensive core under contract, including Pete Alonso, Francisco Lindor, Starling Marte, Mark Canha, Escobar, and the rising Alvarez and Baty, there isn't tons of room here to add more. And the Mets might re-sign Brandon Nimmo.

But the Mets can attempt to add another power bat who serves as their DH.

Or they could make a trade or two to free up space for that power bat to play somewhere in the infield or outfield.

It should also be noted that Escobar and/or Canha could be part-time players in 2023, which could free up additional at-bats for whoever they bring in.

So, who could the Mets target?

If they're going the DH route, Jose Abreu could be an option, though he had a down power year in 2022.

As far as position players, at the top of the list will be the otherworldly Aaron Judge. But there are other huge names, too, like Nolan Arenado, Xander Bogarts, and Carlos Correa (who all have opt-outs).

1B. Figure out the starting rotation situation

Aside from Max Scherzer, none of the regular members of the Mets' 2022 starting rotation are guaranteed to be back.

Jacob deGrom will be opting out of his contract, and his future is a mystery.

Chris Bassitt will almost certainly not opt-in to his player option and become a free agent, and the same goes for Taijuan Walker.

The Mets hold a $14 million team option on Carlos Carrasco.

If the Mets bring deGrom back, they will be in strong shape, with Scherzer and deGrom atop the rotation and Tylor Megill or Peterson perhaps the No. 5 starter.

In a world where deGrom walks, the Mets will have a ton of work to do. And it won't be easy. Will it involve trying to retain Bassitt? Would they look to make a trade? Would they focus mostly on the free agent market?

1A. Re-sign Edwin Diaz

I ranked this one as 1A just ahead of 1B for the rotation for two reasons.

1. Choosing to re-sign Diaz is painfully obvious, and likely -- he wants to be back and the Mets want him back.

2. It will be a hell of a lot easier than figuring out the rotation situation.

It stands to reason that the Mets can get the Diaz signing out of the way early in the offseason, locking in the best closer in the game who is right in the middle of his prime.

Diaz was one of the best things about the 2022 Mets, and has been nails since the start of the 2020 season.

The Mets know Diaz can dominate under the bright lights of New York, and they know how crucial he is to their success. Get the deal done.