Setting aside the many lottery ticket pitchers that have already been signed to split deals, the Mets made their first major move of the offseason, acquiring CF Jose Siri from the Rays for RHP Eric Orze. Siri, 29, was caught up in the endless Rays shuffle, being pushed out by a younger player (Jonny Deluca will play CF for the Rays in 2025) the second he was due any real money.
Last year, the Mets paid $10M in free agency for Harrison Bader (initially an A-, adjusted to a B+), and they were rewarded with the quintessential Harrison Bader season; elite center field defense (95th percentile OAA per Statcast), middling offense, and a few nagging injuries along the way.