MLB analyst confident that New York Mets can improve on their win total from last season, under the leadership of Buck Showalter

The New York Mets were touted as one of the best teams heading into the 2022 season. Under the new ownership of billionaire financier Steve A. Cohen, the team acquired stars as if money were no object.

Acquisitions that came before the 2022 season included massive extensions to infielders Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso, as well as spending the kitchen sink on the starting pitching. This was evident by the three-year, $129 million deal inked with starter Max Scherzer. With a stroke of a pen, Scherzer set the record for the highest-paid MLB player ever.

The New York Mets did indeed have quite a season in 2022. They finished with a record of 101-61, marking the first time that the team finished a season with more than 100 wins since 1988.

"'Could they win over 101 games? I believe they could.' Buck Showalter isn't worried about winning 101 games though, he's worried about the endgame. Do the @mets have enough firepower to win the World Series?" - MLB Network Radio on Sirius XM

Former player and current MLB analyst Eduardo Perez weighed in on the prospects of the New York Mets winning 100 games or more. He said:

"Could they win more than 101 games? I believe they could. But they cannot go to sleep against some of the other teams that they will be playing."

His remarks came on MLB Network Radio.

Perez outlined how the New York Mets will be reliant on their star pitching. In addition to 2022 names like Scherzer and Carlos Carrasco, the Mets have made some other huge moves. These include signing three-time Japanese league All-Star Kodai Senga and 2022 Cy Young winner Justin Verlander.

"Mad Max back on the bump @Mets" - B/R Walk-Off

Perez mentioned that the new style as well as long travel times for pitchers in the MLB may be a lot for Senga to handle. Over the years, several Japanese pitchers have failed to adapt to MLB.

Despite their stellar record, the team finished in a statistical tie with their rivals, the Atlanta Braves, in 2022. As such, the Mets wound up in the wild card series, where they ended up losing to the San Diego Padres.

Not the regular season, but rather the playoffs will present the biggest challenge to the 2023 New York Mets

Although the New York Mets were stupendous last year, it made no difference in the postseason. If manager Buck Showalter's team cannot find a way to make it into the advanced stages, then their season will be doomed regardless of whatever regular season results they are able to achieve.