EXCLUSIVE: Atlanta Sports Radio Host Chris Dimino discusses the outlook for free-spending New York Mets in 2023 season
The New York Mets laid waste to the free-agency market this winter behind the financial might of new owner Steve Cohen. The Mets have not won the World Series since 1986 and have won just two titles in their 61-year history.
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Cohen seems bound and determined to change that, committing nearly $500 million to free agents since losing to the San Diego Padres in the 2022 National League Wild Card round.
The New York Mets moved to lock up center fielder Brandon Nimmo and closer Edwin Diaz, then splashed the cash around on pitching, signing free agents Justin Verlander, Jose Quintana, Adam Ottavino, David Robertson and Kodai Senga.
Just how big of a favorite should the New York Mets to be to win the World Series in 2023? Atlanta sports radio host Chris Dimino shared his thoughts on the Mets' chances this season in a division that features the 2022 National League champion Philadelphia Phillies in an exclusive interview with Sportskeeda:
"When you win 101 games and you add Justin Verlander, you should be fine. I think Philadelphia is sneaky good when you get Trea Turner and add him to the list."
And it's more than just the Phillies. Lest we forget that it was the 2021 World Series champion Atlanta Braves, who made some upgrades of their own, that actually won the National League East last season on a tiebreaker after both the Braves and Mets finished with identical 101-61 records.
Philadelphia, the shock NL pennant winner, squeaked into the playoffs as the final wild-card team after an 87-75 regular season.
"This division is going to be good," Dimino said. "This division, not having to play 19 games against each other and beat the crap out of each other, it's perfect for all these teams to not have to play that many games."
Just how big of a pickup is Verlander for the New York Mets?
Verlander, the 2022 American League Cy Young Award winner with the Houston Astros, signed a two-year, $86.6 million contract with the New York Mets, replacing departed hurler Jacob deGrom to help the team maintain a phenomenal 1-2 starting punch with Max Scherzer.
Dimino believes that Houston dealing for Verlander from the Detroit Tigers was arguably the best baseball trade of the past 25 years.
"Verlander is one of those guys, along with Max Scherzer, that are freaks," Dimino said. "You know, it's just it's strange to watch a guy come off Tommy John (surgery) like that."
While Verlander turns 40 next week, Dimino believes it was still a worthy risk to offer the pitcher a contract with an average annual value of $43.3 million.
"And now Steve Cohen is picking up the 39-year-old version of him, $40 million a year, and you kind of go, 'Well, if I had the money, it makes sense," Dimino said.