5 key moves the Mets must consider at the 2024 MLB Winter Meetings ft. Pete Alonso re-signing

Although they had the highest payroll in MLB, the New York Mets were seen as underdogs coming into the 2024 season. However, after a late-season push and a subsequent run to the NLCS, billionaire owner Steve Cohen's club largely silenced the haters.

With the league's GMs set to meet in Dallas this week, improving the roster will be a priority for President of Baseball Operations David Stearns. Today, we are profiling five possible moves that will ensure that the Mets remain competitive.

Five possible moves for the New York Mets at the MLB Winter Meetings

5. Find some support for Francisco Alvarez

23-year-old Venezuelan catcher Francisco Alvarez had a tremendous freshman campaign last year, hitting 25 home runs. Although his power was down in 2024, Alvarez improved his average to .237. However, Alvarez is still very young and would benefit hugely from having a more experienced backstop to split his time with and exchange ideas. Carson Kelly or Yasmani Grandal represent solid budget options for the Mets to diversify themselves at the catching position.

4. Leverage Luisangel Acuna's name

The younger brother of Atlanta Braves superstar Ronald Acuna Jr. is Luisangel, who made his MLB debut with the Mets in 2024. While the 22-year-old performed well in his limited time with the team, there is evidence to suggest that Luisangel's name precedes his talent.

While he's a .258 hitter with just 7 home runs in 131 games in Triple-A, Luisangel's brother was a two-time MLB Silver Slugger at Luisangel's age. With Francisco Lindor and Jeff McNeil set to man the middle infield for the foreseeable future, using Acuna's esteemed last name to cash in on some relief pitching looks like a good move.

3. Sign Corbin Burnes

While it may be hard to believe that New York touted Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer in their rotation just two short years ago, the starting five for the Mets is looking rather neutered.

"Corbin Burnes, Frisbee 84mph Sweeper. 21 inches of horizontal break" - Pitching Ninja

2021 Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes went 15-9 with a 2.92 ERA with the Baltimore Orioles in 2024 before becoming a free agent. A 6-foot-3 right-hander, Burnes will not be cheap, but the Mets need starting pitching, and they are lucky enough to have the funds to compete for the best.

2. Offload Starling Marte

At 36 years old, Starling Marte is a shell of the offensive dynamo that he was during his old days with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Set to become a free agent after next season, Marte may indeed retire after that, diminishing his value for the Mets. Now is the time for New York to invest in the future, so looking to move Marte to an outfielder-hungry team like the Yankees, Red Sox, or Braves looks like the play to cash in on some younger talent.

1. Extend Pete Alonso

The fact that former Rookie of the Year and NL home run champ Pete Alonso has only ever been given one-year deals by the Mets is an elephant in the room. Now a free agent, Alonso is in a position to call his team's bluff. A much beloved Met who is the team's best offensive piece, now is the time to get serious and ensure that Pete Alonso remains a member of the club for a long time to come.

"The moment Pete Alonso became a Met for life" - Dan Bartels