The New York Mets are coming off a season to forget, but that doesn’t mean the franchise doesn’t have talent.
In fact, five New York Mets were named to ESPN’s Top 100 players list recently.
Foremost among them was shortstop Francisco Lindor, who was ranked No. 27.
Lindor was a bright spot last season, as he slashed .254/.336/.470/.806 with 31 home runs and 98 RBI. It marked his fourth season with at least 30 home runs and his third season with at least 90 RBI. He won a Silver Slugger but failed to win another Gold Glove and was ninth in MVP voting.
He is already a four-time All-Star, three-time Silver Slugger, a two-time Gold Glover and has finished in the Top 10 of MVP voting five different times.
Right behind Lindor was first baseman Pete Alonso, who was ranked No. 32. He could be playing his final season in New York. He is being paid $22 million in his final season before free agency, and there is plenty of reason to believe he’ll break the bank this offseason.
For his career he is slashing .251/.342/.528/.870 with 111 doubles, seven triples, 192 home runs and 498 RBI. He’s a three-time All-Star, has won the All-Star Game Home Run derby twice and has finished in the Top 10 of NL MVP voting twice.
The return of Edwin Diaz as closer is vital to the Mets contending again, and he comes in at No. 71 on the list.
Diaz missed all of last season due to injury, but before that he grew into a superstar with 32 saves in 2022 and 205 career saves, including an MLV-leading 57 with Seattle in 2018, one of his two All-Star seasons.
The status of pitcher Kodai Senga is unclear, but in one season he played his way onto the list at No. 75. He is currently out with a shoulder strain and will start the season on the injured list.
Senga finished the season with a 12-7 record and a 2.98 ERA in 29 starts. He struck out 202 and walked 77 in 166.1 innings.
He also earned his first All-Star Game berth, was second in National League Rookie of the Year voting and seventh in Cy Young voting.
The final Mets star on the list is outfielder Brandon Nimmo at No. 91.
Nimmo signed an eight-year, $162 million deal with the Mets that included a no-trade clause. And he’s proven to be worth it. He’s coming off his best offensive season in 2023, as he hit 24 home runs and drove in 68 while batting .274.
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