Mets owner Steve Cohen was trying to convey some semblance of promise for next season, while preparing fans for what could be a lean few years.
In a text message sent to The Post’s Jon Heyman, the Mets’ billionaire owner appeared to hint at what the organization’s new path forward would be after a disappointing 2023.
“We will be competitive in ’24 but I think 25-26 is when our young talent makes an impact,” Cohen wrote. “Lots of pitching in free agency in ’24. More payroll flexibility in ’25. Got a lot of dead money in ’24.”
The message appeared to back up what Max Scherzer had told The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal on Tuesday about what Cohen and Mets general manager Billy Eppler had told him about the team’s plan moving forward.
Essentially the Mets viewed 2024 as a transition year and did not plan on going after the “upper-echelon guys,” Scherzer said he was told.
“We’re going to be on the smaller deals within free agency. ’24 is now looking to be more of a kind of transitory year,’” Scherzer added.
The Mets seemed to follow that plan leading up to the deadline on Tuesday as they sold off two future Hall of Fame pitchers and several other veteran pieces that were expected to help lead New York’s NL ballclub to a World Series.
Instead, the Mets were focused on adding prospects to help the club down the line.
The Verlander trade netted the Mets Houston’s top prospect in 22-year-old-outfielder Drew Gilbert and its No. 4 prospect, outfielder Ryan Clifford.
Gilbert in particular a piece that could fit into Cohen and Eppler’s plan down the line.
“Gilbert is a well-rounded CF, contact approach that gives you good at-bats and uses the whole field. Above avg runner, solid defender in CF, above avg arm strength. He’s a grinder and a good all-around player, reminded me of Brett Gardner,” one evaluator told The Post’s Joel Sherman.
The Scherzer deal landed the Mets Double-A infielder Luisangel Acuña, the brother of Braves star Ronald Acuña.
They added 23-year-old pitching prospect Justin Jarvis when they traded Mark Canha.
And in the deal that sent David Robertson to Miami, the Amazins’ acquired a pair of 17-year-old prospects in infielder Marco Vargas and catcher Ronald Hernandez.
“I’m really excited about the acquisitions that we made,” Eppler said during a virtual availability with reporters after the deadline. “We’re just trying to restock and reload the farm system. You have to go through a little pain to get where we want to go, but I feel that the organization is making strides towards a better future.”