5 bold predictions that could define the Mets’ 2025 season ft. Losing the NL East

Modified Jan 02, 2025 17:34 GMT

MLB: New York Mets-Press Conference - Source: Imagn

The New York Mets were the MLB's darling team last year. From an abysmal start to within a couple of games of the World Series, the team shocked the world. Then it went out and added the premier free agent of a lifetime, Juan Soto. Here are five bold predictions for 2025.

Bold predictions for the Mets in 2025

5) Juan Soto gets worse

Juan Soto had a truly ideal set of circumstances in 2024. He was hitting in a lefty-friendly, neutral to hitters and pitchers ballpark. He is now in a much harder ballpark for hitters to thrive in, so a step back is expected.

He is a generational talent, but so is Aaron Judge. Having Judge behind him undoubtedly helped lead to the best year Soto has had by far (excluding the shortened 2020 season). Expecting Mark Vientos to provide the same protection is asinine, so Soto should regress a bit in 2025.

4) No Mets starter has an ERA under 3.75

The Mets feature an interesting starting rotation. Kodai Senga, David Peterson and Sean Manaea headline it. Aside from Senga, there aren't many true household names. Most of these players have had good years, but many might have higher ERAs than they'd like without an overall strong rotation.

Additionally, adding Clay Holmes as a starter is a bold choice. He was highly volatile as a reliever, as sometimes he was as lockdown as anyone and other times he couldn't record outs. He's too volatile to have that good of a season as a starter.

3) Losing the NL East

How does a team that went to Game 6 of the NLCS and added Juan Soto not win their division? It would be a huge surprise, but the division the Mets play in is stacked. The Philadelphia Phillies won it by a few games last year, and they haven't gotten any worse.

The Atlanta Braves, however, are probably the true threat. A combination of an incredible amount of injuries and several down years from stars led to a Wild Card berth, but the Braves will be healthier and better in 2025. That makes it hard to imagine the Mets winning the division.

2) The Mets win it all

Despite the above predictions, the Mets will still be a great baseball team. They made it to Game 6 of the NLCS without Juan Soto. They'll presumably bring Pete Alonso back, giving them a strong lineup to contend with anyone.

The NL is so deep that any team can make it out, so it wouldn't be a surprise if the Mets got the best of the field, and if they make it, they can win it. They have the star power to do so.

1) Francisco Lindor wins MVP

Shohei Ohtani is the reigning MVP and he's going to pitch again in 2025. There's no reason he won't be the MVP again, but at some point, voter fatigue has to set in. Francisco Lindor had his best shot in 2024 but fell short of Ohtani.

There are other candidates in the NL, including a strong one on Lindor's team: Juan Soto. Lindor is probably the third-best player of those three, and Mookie Betts, Elly De La Cruz and others will probably enter the fray. That said, Lindor is an excellent player who could put together another MVP-worthy season.

Edited by Ribin Peter