PORT ST. LUCIE — Unlike their crosstown rival Yankees, who brought back a virtually identical team and should be penciled in for another 94-win season (maybe even a little better with a full year from Cam Schlittler and a partial year from the great Gerrit Cole), the Mets could easily go either way: boom or just plain boo.
The Mets could be the world-beater their talent (and payroll) would suggest. Or they could repeat the almost unmentionable disaster that was the 2025 season.
Unlike the run-it-back Yankees, the Mets redid their roster, and with some time to absorb the drastic changes, it’s hard to blame them. Even so, their clubhouse is filled with players who could go either way, reason No. 1 the club could also go either way.
This team is undoubtedly talented, which should be the case with a $365 million payroll. The backs of their baseball cards contain some very big years. But in many cases, they are a year (or more) removed from positivity, which explains why last season ranked a debacle. Indeed, there are almost as many question marks as players.
