My Off-Season Wishlist

By: Patrick Gorman 11/10/2024

With the season officially coming to an end it is now time for the long grueling winter, but for some this is considered the hot stove season. Baseball off-season will always be my favorite out of all the sports because it can be unpredictable and of course the team that I root for are now big players every winter. I am going to name my wish list for this year's off-season.

Juan Soto

I will never forget seeing Juan Soto play for the first time live and he hit a ball off of Seth Lugo that still hasn't landed in 2019. I said to myself "this is why they let Harper walk because they have someone even better". Ever since Steve Cohen bought the team we always heard that his wallet is equivalent to some mob boss type figure. That he can give anyone an offer that they can't refuse. We have yet to see him actually do this, but Juan Soto is the player where he needs to put his money on the table and flex his financial might. The Mets have plenty of money coming off the books and only have two long term deals in Brandon Nimmo and Francisco Lindor on the books for years to come. Let's also not forget Soto's numbers at Citi Field are great and has proven that he can handle the pressure in New York. This will come off harsh, but if Steve Cohen doesn't have the highest offer for Soto, then when will he use the mob boss type money on a generational talent?

Christian Walker

Regardless if we bring in Juan Soto or not I think Christian Walker is the right move at first base. I simply am not comfortable giving Pete Alonso a long-term deal. I am at the point of my fandom where I have no emotional attachment to any homegrown guys and that includes Alonso. I will always be thankful of Pete's postseason heroics, but I can't justify giving Pete the deal he desires when Walker is cheaper and provides better defense than Pete. Pete Alonso will always hold a special place in me, but Walker is a better short term option especially with prospect Ryan Clifford two years away.

Walker Buehler

Walker Buehler in the 2024 Postseason turned the clock back five years into the ace caliber pitcher he was before injuries took a toll on his body. This is a guy that I think New York can get on a one year prove it deal to reset his value/market just like how they helped Luis Severino reset his market and most likely will decline the QO. Buehler will be an intriguing arm to watch in this free agency.

Roki Sasaki

The Japanese flamethrowing phenom is set to be posted for MLB teams to sign him with their international signing money. What that means is that Sasaki will be signed with the fraction of cost he is really worth and like Ohtani will have to go through the arbitration process. David Stearns did indeed fly to Japan not too far back to scout Sasaki, but this signing out of the others I have mentioned is a pipe dream especially with what the Dodgers are building over there with Ohtani and Yamamoto it seems inevitable that he will be a Dodger in 2025.