NEW YORK (AP) — By pairing Max Scherzer with Jacob deGrom, the New York Mets figured they aced their offseason.
Then spring training dealt them a dreaded hand — when both got injured during the final week of camp.
“With time, things heal,” new general manager Billy Eppler said in Florida.
New York can only hope so.
First came the frustrating news about deGrom, who didn’t pitch after July 7 last season due to a sprained elbow. Imaging showed a stress reaction on his right shoulder blade that caused inflammation. He won’t throw for up to four weeks and is likely out at least through May.
“He’s disappointed. We’re disappointed. Everybody is sharing in the disappointment right now. Nobody’s immune to that,” Eppler said.
The next day, Scherzer was scratched from his scheduled outing in a simulated game because of a right hamstring issue and said he wasn’t sure when he would pitch again.
The 37-year-old Scherzer and deGrom, 33, have combined to win five Cy Young Awards. Boasting that 1-2 pitching punch, the Mets were carrying enormous expectations (and a soaring payroll) into 2022 after their latest winter overhaul — on the field and off.
Buck Showalter takes over on the bench, back in the Big Apple to manage his fifth major league team.
All-Star starter Chris Bassitt joins the rotation, and newcomer Starling Marte brings speed and power to the outfield.
Bassitt was acquired from Oakland via trade, but Scherzer, Marte, outfielder Mark Canha, third baseman Eduardo Escobar and reliever Adam Ottavino all arrived in an offseason spending spree orchestrated by Eppler.
Extremely eager to win, second-year owner Steve Cohen reached into his deep pockets and committed nearly $260 million to those five free agents during a winter bonanza that positioned the Mets to have baseball’s second-largest payroll (more than $250 million) behind the Los Angeles Dodgers.
“Steve has a mission,” said shortstop Francisco Lindor, signed to a $341 million contract.
But it’s hardly the first time New York has looked flush on paper before opening day — regardless of the price tag.
Regular underachievers lately who have been consistently derailed by injuries, the Mets are coming off their fourth losing season in five years and 10th in the last 13. They’ve made the playoffs twice in the past 15 seasons and haven’t won the World Series since 1986.
The competition looks tough atop the NL East, where the second-place Phillies beefed up and the World Series champion Braves appear loaded. New York spent 103 days in first place last season — the most ever for a team that finished with a losing record (77-85).
“This was a good club for quite a while last year,” Showalter said. “I kept telling the players about the people who were here before but aren’t here — those are good baseball people. That’s how fleeting it can all be.”
MOUND MEN
If the Mets are minus Scherzer in addition to deGrom for a while, the 33-year-old Bassitt probably becomes their top starter. Bassitt made a remarkable recovery last year from a frightening line drive to the face.
Veteran right-handers Taijuan Walker and Carlos Carrasco also hold spots in the rotation. Carrasco is coming off elbow surgery and Walker had offseason knee surgery, both essentially clean-up procedures.
Right-hander Tylor Megill and lefty David Peterson are the most likely options to fill in after that. Megill went 4-6 with a 4.52 ERA in 18 starts as a rookie last year. Peterson is 8-8 with a 4.64 ERA in two major league seasons.
WELCOME BACK
Robinson Canó returns at age 39 after sitting out last season while serving his second PED suspension.
“He’s maybe one of the happiest guys in camp,” Showalter said. “He’ll be the first to tell you that (his problems) were self-inflicted. But you can tell, him being away from this has put him in a good spot this spring.”
Canó could fit at DH, where the Mets have several options including J.D. Davis, Dominic Smith and first baseman Pete Alonso.
“The way you look at your bench with the DH is totally different. Actually, if anyone has the potential to benefit from that rule change, we’d be up there in the conversation,” Showalter said.
ON THE REBOUND
Lindor looks to bounce back from a mostly dreadful Mets debut at the plate last season, when the four-time All-Star batted a career-worst .230.
Second baseman Jeff McNeil and catcher James McCann also hope to rediscover their swings in a disappointing lineup that was too reliant on Alonso (37 HRs, 94 RBIs, .863 OPS) last year.
NEW LOOK
While the Mets certainly added some high-profile newcomers, they also lost plenty of firepower in free agency. Gone are outfielder Michael Conforto, infielder Javier Báez, accomplished starting pitchers Marcus Stroman and Noah Syndergaard, and veteran relievers Aaron Loup and Jeurys Familia.
Pitching coach Jeremy Hefner was the only coach retained on the new staff under the 65-year-old Showalter, a proven winner who also has managed the Yankees, Arizona Diamondbacks, Texas Rangers and Baltimore Orioles. He replaces Luis Rojas, let go after two losing seasons as Mets skipper.
BLAST FROM THE PAST
Cohen, a longtime Mets fan, has shined a spotlight on the franchise’s history since buying the team in November 2020.
This season, the Mets plan to unveil a Tom Seaver statue at Citi Field, celebrate the 10th anniversary of Johan Santana’s no-hitter, retire Keith Hernandez’s No. 17 jersey (on July 9) and bring back Old-Timers’ Day (on Aug. 27) for the first time since 1994.
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AP freelance writers Bill Whitehead in Port St. Lucie, Florida, and Chuck King in Jupiter, Florida, contributed to this report.
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