A contingent of more than 50 Mets players, coaches, front-office members and alumni will come together Saturday for a fan fest.
Also in attendance at “Amazin’ Day” will be the elephant (rather than a Polar Bear) in the room.
Pete Alonso’s absence will hang over the proceedings as the slugger, and one of the faces of the franchise, remains unclaimed in free agency, with rumors swirling concerning the Blue Jays.
The Mets have made offers but not yet reached the asking price for Alonso, who is down to just a few suitors as many other clubs have pounced on different first basemen.
Without Alonso, the Mets would lose an invaluable clubhouse presence who has been a leader since arriving in 2019.
And without Alonso, they would have to replace a strong lineup presence who has slugged more home runs than anyone except Aaron Judge since his call-up.
At the Citi Field gathering, owner Steve Cohen and president of baseball operations David Stearns are expected to speak to fans as part of a panel, although neither is set to directly answer questions from media.
That duty largely will fall upon manager Carlos Mendoza, who will be faced with queries such as:
If not Alonso, who’s the first baseman?
Would Mark Vientos, who played a passable but not excellent third base last season, move across the diamond to free up third base for a free-agent signing or a spring competition?
The Post’s Joel Sherman reported Vientos (and Brett Baty) have been asked to get reps at first base this offseason.
Would Mendoza prefer Vientos, who emerged in a large way last season, continue to learn at third, where his bat is even more valuable?
If not Vientos, would Mendoza want to see Jesse Winker — a corner outfielder who this week said he is “comfortable” at first — get some reps?
Is Mendoza intrigued by Jared Young, a 29-year-old who signed a split deal with the Mets after destroying pitching in South Korea last year?
What do the in-house, third-base options look like?
Vientos is the wild card, but the Mets have a crowded group of promising if unproven prospects behind him.
How does Mendoza feel about the offseason for Baty, a former rising star of a prospect who has received chances at the major league level and has yet to hit?
Does he expect Luisangel Acuña, who looked ready for the moment in September last year, to get a look at third with Jeff McNeil healthy at second base?
When will Ronny Mauricio be able to resume his career?
The now 23-year-old earned a cup of coffee in 2023, then tore his ACL the following offseason and required a second surgery to remove scar tissue in late July.
Will Mauricio get the green light for spring training?
Are the Mets comfortable with their rotation depth?
The Mets have the makings of a strong starting five in Sean Manaea, Kodai Senga, David Peterson, Frankie Montas and Clay Holmes.
But they often will use a sixth starter, which is where the questions begin.
How is Paul Blackburn progressing following an October procedure for a cerebrospinal fluid leak repair?
Do the Mets believe there is untapped potential in Griffin Canning, a former top prospect who pitched to a 5.19 ERA with the Angels last season?
Does the club think Tylor Megill turned a corner during a strong September?
Will Jose Butto be looked at as a starter or reliever?
Which of the starting pitching prospects has had a particularly encouraging winter?
The answers to these questions should telegraph how aggressive the Mets become the rest of the offseason in adding further rotation depth.
Are the Dodgers beatable?
The Mets will have to fight for a playoff spot in one of the best divisions in baseball, and yet it feels as if the National League revolves around one team in the West.
The Dodgers, who knocked the Mets out in six games in last year’s NLCS, have the makings of a historically powerful team — one that won the World Series and has only grown more loaded.
Returning from injury will be Shohei Ohtani (the pitching version) and Tyler Glasnow.
Blake Snell, Roki Sasaki, Tanner Scott and Kirby Yates, among others, have been added. On paper, there is no weakness.
Carlos, how are you going to beat them?
