The New York Mets surprised many around baseball in 2024 by finishing the year just two wins short of reaching the World Series. Now that they’ve added outfielder Juan Soto to the mix on a record-breaking $765 million deal, catcher Francisco Álvarez is feeling confident about his squad’s chances in 2025.
Mets pitchers and catchers began reporting to the team’s spring training complex in Port St. Lucie on Monday. Álvarez said a personal goal of his for the upcoming season is to win the World Series. The young backstop also sent out a warning to the Los Angeles Dodgers and the rest of MLB, saying, “I think we are the best lineup in baseball.”
Baseball Prospectus’ PECOTA projections have the Dodgers as heavy favorites this season, giving them a 20.3% chance of winning the World Series for the second straight year. The Mets will be fighting with the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies in the National League East, but PECOTA likes their chances of reaching the postseason for a second consecutive year.
New York is projected to win 91 games this season. While the Mets are expected to finish behind the Braves, Baseball Prospectus gives them an 88.0% chance of returning to October.
Álvarez, who turned 23 years old in November, will be looking to put it all together at the plate this season. After hitting 25 home runs with 63 RBI and a .721 OPS in 2023, he slugged 11 homers with 47 RBI and a .710 OPS in about 90 fewer plate appearances in 2024.
