"League Shattering" "Stearns collecting mid players" - Mets fans unenthused as team claims Max Kranick off the waiver wire

It's been an interesting offseason, to say the least for the New York Mets. After their record-breaking free agency last year, New York has been relatively quiet in comparison this time around. That being said, the team has been active, with their most recent move coming on Friday when they claimed Max Kranick off of the waiver wire.

The 26-year-old right-handed pitcher, who was placed on waivers by the Pittsburgh Pirates, caught the eye of the New York Mets front office. Kranick has limited action in the MLB, appearing in a total of 43.2 innings in 2021 and 2022. Over that span, Kranick posted a 5.56 ERA with 36 strikeouts and 22 walks.

While Kranick has yet to reach his athletic prime and there is potential for him to become an effective pitcher at the major league level, some fans feel that move is rather uninspired. The fanbase has been clamoring for a major splash this offseason, some that the Kranick addition is not.

After being heavily linked to the likes of Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, some fans feel that the move for Max Kranick is an indication of where the franchise currently stands.

Some fans have even taken to social media to mock the decision with reactions varying from simply asking who Kranick is to others claiming that the move was league-shattering.

Some fans have used their social media platforms to criticize New York Mets President of Baseball Operations, David Stearns. A group of the more aggressively disappointed fans called the claiming of Kranick another in the growing list of mid-tier players added by Stearns and the front office.

A closer look at some of the moves the New York Mets have made this offseason

While some of New York's roster moves this offseason may not carry the weight or gravitas of a Shohei Ohtani or Juan Soto, fans cannot say that the team has stood still. Through a combination of free agent signings, trades, and waiver claims, New York has reshaped their roster heading into the new campaign.

So far this offseason, the Mets have signed former New York Yankees free agents Harrison Bader and Luis Severino, as well as Sean Manaea, Jorge Lopez, Austin Adams, and Joey Wendle.

The team also landed Adrian Houser, Tyrone Taylor, and Yohan Ramirez in a pair of trades. When it comes to the waiver wire, the squad added the aforementioned Max Kranick, Cooper Hummel, Diego Castillo, and Tyler Heineman.