The Mets closed the regular 2024 season with a record of 89-73, tied for second place with the Braves and six games behind the Phillies. After a mediocre first half of the season, they splurged with a record of 47-20 in July, August and September, and then went on to defeat the Brewers and Phillies in the playoffs before falling to the Dodgers in six games.

The Mets captured the big prize of the off-season by signing Juan Soto for mega dollars without seriously straining owner Steve Cohen’s over-sized bank account. Soto adds considerable strength to a line-up also featuring Francisco Lindor, who led the Mets in almost every batting category with a mix of power (29 HRs, 91 RBIs) and speed (39 doubles, 29 SBs). Fan favorite Pete Alonso should still have a couple of decent years of productivity left in his lumbering soul, and Brandon Nimmo plus an emerging Brett Baty (is that a great baseball name?) round out the strength of the team.

It’s the starting rotation of SeanManae, Luis Severino, Kodai Senge, Clay Holmes (being converted into a starter) and the much-lamented Frankie Montas that gives Mets fans congregating in the pizza parlors in Queens much agita. Edwin Diaz is a top-notch closer and, being a year away now from arm surgery, he should return to his best form.

Prediction: Soto helps the Mets flash past 90 wins to claim first place in the division. But they will fail again in the fall as the rotation disappoints in October when coming up against the best line-ups.

On to the Bronx Bombers. The Yankees completed a fine 2024 regular season with a record of 94-68, advanced to the World Series, but disappointingly fell to the Dodgers in five games. The off season saw Juan Soto take a golden Brinks limo across the RFK Bridge to Queens, but brought in a quartet of players in starter Max Fried, closer Devin Williams, CFer Cody Bellinger and 1B Paul Goldschmidt, thus strengthening the team in several areas.

However, spring training proved to be an unmitigated disaster, losing ace Gerrit Cole for the season, Rookie of the Year Luis Gil for at least the first three months, and the ever brittle Giancarlo Stanton for who knows how long?

The irrepressible Aaron Judge returns to anchor RF after posting an incredible .322 BA, 58 HRs, 144 RBIs and 133 BBs last year. Bellinger and Goldschmidt will provide protection in the line-up. Top prospect Jasson Dominguez will patrol LF, joining the youthful core of Anthony Volpe at shortstop and Austin Wells behind the dish. Ben Rice has a chance at a breakthrough as Stanton’s replacement as DH.

The bullpen will need to be the key to the pitching staff, given the injuries to Cole and Gil, and new closer Williams is a strong addition to an already very solid corps.

Prediction: It will be very difficult for the Yanks to replicate last year’s success, given the injuries and the strength of division rivals Boston and Baltimore. Yankee fans remain quite fussed about manager Aaron Boone’s propensity for brain lock in key situations. Only another miraculous season by Judge and strong contributions by the younger players will enable the Yanks to slip into the playoffs, but there will be no series in the Bronx this October.