Mets are not done yet: Takeaways from Carlos Mendoza, David Stearns at Winter Meetings

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — This season's Winter Meetings will always be one for the Mets' Carlos Mendoza and David Stearns to remember.

The only other time that Mendoza attended Major League Baseball's Winter Meetings came in 2017 in Orlando, Fla., when the New Mets manager had just joined the Yankees coaching staff. Six years later, the spotlight on Mendoza has grown.

After his media availability with the New York reporters, he's pulled into a one-on-one with a member of a Spanish-speaking media. Then, it's front and center under the bright lights with MLB Network.

The 43-year-old is now in the charge of trying to mold a championship baseball team.

"I'm just excited to get to know quality people," Mendoza said. "I feel like every day I keep meeting people and personalities. So I don't know that I would say anything that surprised me so far, but just conversations with players, front office people, staff, putting together the coaching staff has been exciting."

Carlos Mendoza: Our first impressions as he's introduced as NY Mets manager

Stearns, the Mets' new president of baseball operations, has been a regular participant of the Winter Meetings over the last decade as the general manager of the Brewers. But that came with a tighter budget. Now, with Steve Cohen helping to provide financial resources, Stearns can view the negotiations and trade discussions through a different lens.

"There are very different elements of this job than the jobs I've held previously," Stearns said. "And that's exciting. That's fun. It gives us more opportunities, more options, and I'm enjoying that."

As the MLB Meetings got underway in Nashville, Tenn. on Monday, here's what the new leaders of the Mets had to say about the needs of the team:

Gaps in the outfield and third base?

Nearly a year ago, the Mets made an eight-year, $162 million commitment to Brandon Nimmo. So far this offseason, they brought back DJ Stewart back on a one-year, $1.38 million deal.

But the uncertain health of Starling Marte, who played 86 games last season as he dealt with groin and neck injuries, along with migraines, has the Mets seeking outfield depth.

"I think our outfield situation, we could stand to add an outfielder there. There’s no question," Stearns said. "That can take different paths: it can be more defensive oriented, it can be someone who we view as a bat-first player.

"I do think there are options on free agency and trade that we're working through and we'll continue to evaluate that."

Stearns said he sees Jeff McNeil more in second base, but did not want to pencil him in to one specific position. Stearns added that Marte did not get the work in that he had hoped coming off double groin surgery ahead of 2023. Mendoza said he plans to visit Marte down in the Dominican Republic.

"I think he's in a much better spot now. He's eager to get going. He feels strong," Stearns said. "And so we're never going to know until we get into the season for players who are bouncing back from injury but everything I've heard so far is very positive."

Stearns said that the team is not looking to add at third base, where Brett Baty, Mark Vientos and Ronny Mauricio could preside, and believes the job can be filled internally. Recent addition Joey Wendle is slated to move across the diamond.

"I think it is important for us organizationally to learn about our younger players and to provide them opportunities at the major league level," Stearns said. "Again, that doesn't have to be all on Opening Day."

Aiding Luis Severino's resurgence

The Mets were in pursuit of right-hander Luis Severino before Mendoza came on board, Stearns said. However, the duo's familiarity does not hurt.

Severino and Mendoza's roots are both set in the Yankees organization. And now the pair will look to make some waves together in Flushing.

"He went through a lot, but the one thing is he wants to take the ball. Whenever he can, he wants to take the ball," Mendoza said. "He's a competitor. We have seen it in the past, in the biggest stage, right, in New York. Biggest moment, he wants to be there, he wants to compete and that's what we are all excited about."

Severino has dealt with a scattering of injuries over the last five seasons. Last season, his start was delayed due to a right lat strain and he missed the final month with a high-grade left oblique strain.

Severino, who was 4-8 record with a 6.65 ERA and 1.65 WHIP in 18 starts last season, also dealt with a lat strain in 2022 preceded by Tommy John surgery in 2020 and a rotator cuff injury in 2019.

Stearns said he believes that Severino understands the importance of this season, which comes with a one-year, $13 million contract. The Mets are hoping some changes to Severino's training programs and an understanding of what has caused past injuries can help him stay on the field this season.

"I think he’s putting in the work this offseason," Stearns said. " And I think he's working tremendously hard this offseason to put himself in a place where he can stand out. He was very motivated to do so."

Need for depth in the pitching staff

One of the first areas that Stearns cited in building as strong a team as possible was his "run prevention group."

Stearns knows that the Mets will need to build depth to have a successful 2024. He needs to prepare for all variables to take place.

"I tend not to look at it in individual chunks. I tend not to say, ‘OK, we can count on this guy for 30 starts. We're counting on this guy for 20 starts,’" Stearns said. "It's more we know we're going to need eight to 10 of these guys over the course of the season and how do we best prepare ourselves?"

Stearns went as far to say that for the Mets, "at least one more (starter) is needed." The bullpen will also be addressed in a variety of different ways.

"You can never have enough pitching, right?" Mendoza said. "Dave is pretty busy. We added Seve. Obviously (Jose) Quintana, (Kodai) Senga, (Tylor) Megill, a lot of the guys. But we're going to need arms. To get through 162-plus (games), you're going to need the depth, and we'll see where it ends up."

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NY Mets: Carlos Mendoza, David Stearns talk offseason plans