MLB Standings 2023: Projecting New York Mets' win total in the season

The New York Mets were one of the most dominant teams in baseball last season. With 101 wins, 2022 marked the first time since 1988 that the team finished with more than 100 wins in a season.

Although much of the roster is still the same, some key roster moves pertaining to pitching have improved the team further. It looks very likely that this team could finish 2023 within the 105-110 win category, potentially setting a franchise record.

2022 saw the team open up to a massive lead within their division, the NL East, they were eventually caught by the Atlanta Braves. The Braves were seen as the team the New York Mets had to beat to show that they were the powerhouse of their division.

" The Braves and Mets finish the regular season with identical 101-61 records. It's just the 2nd time in MLB history that two teams finished the season (prior to tiebreaking games/series) tied atop their division or league with 100+ wins." - ESPN Stats and Info

Although the Braves and New York Mets finished the year with an identical record, the Braves captured the NL East title by virtue of their run differential. The Mets were then disposed of by the San Diego Padres in the NLCS, which was seen as a massive disappointment after such a momentous season from the Mets.

Ever since New York financier and billionaire Steve Cohen took over ownership of the team in 2020, he has made a point of dishing out lucrative contracts. On the eve of the 2022 season, he signed Max Scherzer to a record-setting contract worth $43 million per season, the highest in history.

The New York Mets also re-signed Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso, a pair who were responsible for 57 home runs between them the year before. The Mets had the best batting average with a team number of .259. They also scored 772 total runs — the third highest in the NL.

The area where the New York Mets may have underperformed is pitching. The team had the seventh-highest ERA in the league and surrendered the 20th-most. Although these numbers are not dreadful, they need to be better.

It is for this reason that this offseason has been about pitching. The jewel of the offseason acquisitions from the Mets has been the signing of Justin Verlander. Verlander was signed to a two-year deal worth $86 million, matching Scherzer's record of the prior year. Verlander won the 2022 AL Cy Young Award as a member of the World Series champion Houston Astros last year.

"The Mets are reportedly close to re-signing closer Edwin Diaz, per @BNightengale" - Fox Sports: MLB

Additionally, the New York Mets signed multi-time NPB All-Star Kodai Senga to a five-year deal and traded to obtain Jose Quintana from the St. Louis Cardinals. The team also re-signed their star closer Edwin Diaz to a five-year deal worth $102 million, making Diaz the highest-paid relief pitcher ever.

Pitching could be the key to a 110-win New York Mets season

The Mets had an excellent regular season in 2022. Now that they have one of the best pitching lineups in modern history, it is not impossible to conceive that the team could surpass 110 wins this season. Their main competition will be staying ahead of teams like the Atlanta Braves in a division that is only getting more competitive.