2023 New York Mets season

The 2023 New York Mets season was the franchise's 62nd season in Major League Baseball, their 15th at Citi Field, and their third under majority owner Steve Cohen.

The Mets entered the 2023 season with high expectations after finishing the 2022 season with a 101–61 record. However, the season was a major disappointment with injuries to key players, poor performances from players such as Starling Marte, Max Scherzer, and Jeff McNeil, and controversy within the organization and around players. The Mets fell below .500 in early June and became sellers on the August 1st Trade Deadline. On September 21, the Mets sealed their fifth losing season in seven years when they suffered their 82nd loss of the year, 5–4, to the Philadelphia Phillies. In doing so, New York became the fourth team in Major League history to suffer a losing season one year after winning 100+ games, joining the 1986 Cardinals, the 1971 Reds, and the 1932 Cardinals.

On the following day, September 22, the Mets were eliminated from playoff contention for the sixth time in seven seasons. The Mets finished the regular season 75–87, giving them a fourth-place finish. On October 1, the Mets announced one year after Buck Showalter won NL Manager of the Year, that they had fired Showalter as manager following the season.^[1] On October 5, Billy Eppler would resign as Mets General Manager.

Offseason

Rule changes

Pursuant to the CBA, new rule changes will be in place for the 2023 season:^[2]

• institution of a pitch clock between pitches;
• limits on pickoff attempts per plate appearance;
• limits on defensive shifts requiring two infielders to be on either side of second and be within the boundary of the infield; and
• larger bases (increased to 18-inch squares);

Transactions

2022

• November 9 – re-signed relief pitcher/closer
  no-trade clause.^[3]
• November 10 – claimed left-handed pitcher Tayler Saucedo off waivers from the Toronto Blue Jays.^[4]
• November 15 – claimed right-handed pitching prospect Stephen Ridings off waivers from the New York Yankees.^[5]
• November 18 – signed right-handed pitchers
  Elieser Hernandez from the Miami Marlins in exchange for minor league right-hander, Franklin Sanchez, as well as Jake Mangum. The Mets also claimed right-handed pitcher William Woods off waivers from the Atlanta Braves.^[6]
• December 5 – signed three-time Cy Young Award right-handed starting pitcher Justin Verlander from the Houston Astros to a 2-year, $86.7-million contract, which includes a $35-million vesting option for 2025. The Mets also acquired left-handed pitcher Brooks Raley from the Tampa Bay in exchange for left-handed pitcher Keyshawn Askew.^[7]
• December 9 – signed right-handed relief pitcher David Robertson from the Philadelphia Phillies to a 1-year, $10-million contract.^[8] The team also signed left-handed pitcher José Quintana from the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 2-year, $26-million contract^[9]
• December 10 – re-signed centerfielder Brandon Nimmo to an 8-year, $162 million contract.^[10] The team also signed right-handed pitcher Kodai Senga from the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks to a 5-year, $75-million contract.^[11]
• December 15 – signed veteran catcher Omar Narváez from the Milwaukee Brewers to a 1-year $8-million contract with a player option for 2024 worth $7-million (a deal worth up to $15-million if he exercises that option).^[12]
• December 20 – re-signed right-handed relief pitcher Adam Ottavino to a 2-year, $14.5-million contract.^[13]

2023

• January 14 – re-signed first baseman
  salary arbitration.^[14]
• January 18 – re-signed catcher Tomás Nido to a 2-year, $3.7-million contract, which covers his remaining arbitration years. He will earn $1.6-million in 2023 and $2.1-million in 2024.^[15] The Mets also signed outfielder Tommy Pham who was a free agent after his stint with the Boston Red Sox, to a 1-year, $6-million contract.^[16]
• January 27 – re-signed utility player Jeff McNeil to a 4-year, $50-million contract extension which includes a club option for 2027 that could increase the total value to $63.75-million.^[17]

Regular season

Transactions

2023

• May 4 – signed right-handed relief pitcher Dominic Leone to a Major League contract. The deal is worth $1.5 million prorated for the time he missed (actual value is closer to $1.2 million).^[18]
• May 9 – signed catcher
  Gary Sanchez to a Minor League deal. If he makes the Majors, he will earn $1.5 million, and another $1.2 million in incentives.^[19]
• June 11 – signed first baseman/designated hitter Luke Voit to a minor league contract.^[20]
• June 16 – signed outfielder Rafael Ortega to a minor league contract.^[21]
• June 23 – traded infielder
  Landon Marceaux. Mets are reportedly paying Escobar's salary down to the $720K league minimum.^[22]
• July 3 – acquired right-handed relief pitchers Trevor Gott and Chris Flexen from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for left-handed pitcher Zach Muckenhirn.^[23]
• July 27 – traded closer David Robertson to the Miami Marlins for two Florida Complex League rookies, middle infielder Marco Vargas and switch-hitting catcher Ronald Hernandez.^[24]
• July 29 – traded starting right-handed pitcher Max Scherzer to the Texas Rangers in exchange for infield prospect Luisangel Acuña.^[25]
• July 31 – traded outfielder Mark Canha to the Milwaukee Brewers for right-handed pitching prospect Justin Jarvis.^[26]
• August 1 – traded starting right-handed pitcher
  Jeremiah Jackson.^[29] Acquired right-handed relief pitcher Phil Bickford and left-handed relief pitcher Adam Kolarek from the Los Angeles Dodgers for cash considerations.^[30]

Source:[1]

Pitching

Yellow background = team leader in category^[b]

Note: W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; SV = Saves; IP = Innings pitched; H = Hits allowed; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; HR = Home runs allowed; HBP = Hit by pitch; BB = Walks allowed (bases on balls); SO = Strikeouts; WHIP = Walks + hits per inning pitched

Source:[2]

Farm system

Notes

References

External links

• 2023 New York Mets season at Baseball Reference