Posted January 03, 2018 at 11:30 AM | Updated January 03, 2018 at 12:05 PM
By Abbey Mastracco | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Mets fans were hoping for a very happy new year, but instead they're getting ... well, pretty much the same. It's been an exceptionally slow offseason and that's only to be expected for a team that either can't or won't spend money. The Mets do have talent, but there are also a lot of questions surrounding much of that talent.
Here are 18 things to watch for in 2018.
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John Raoux | AP Photo
1. Mickey Callaway
He has big ideas when it comes to pitcher utilization, some that may even conflict with the Mets' own big ideas on the same subject. He's turned around pitching staffs and groomed a two-time Cy Young Award-winner in Corey Kluber. Plus, he's young, charismatic and his facial hair has already won over Noah Syndergaard.
But the one thing Mickey Callaway doesn't have is any managerial experience. Neither does anyone on his staff, for that matter.
It's a bold, new world in Flushing and if Callaway brings success, he'll be the new king of Queens.
Washington Nationals v New York Mets
Elsa | Getty Images
2. Will David Wright play again?
The longtime Mets' captain is determined to play again and his clubhouse presence is badly needed. As NJ Advance Media previously reported, one top spine doctor who is familiar with David Wright's treatment said there's no reason to predict doom-and-gloom. But for a third straight year, Wright will come into spring training as the Mets' biggest question mark.
At this point, the Mets will take what they can get from him, whether that be at third base, first base or just in the clubhouse holding one of the youngest teams in baseball accountable. Callaway has said he plans to lean heavily on Wright for advice and communication with those young players. If he doesn't play, the Mets will continue to collect insurance on his contract.
Atlanta Braves v New York Mets
Al Bello | Getty Images
3. What does Matt Harvey have left?
Callaway and new pitching coach Dave Eiland convinced the Mets not to trade Matt Harvey last month at MLB Winter Meetings, though it didn't look like a trade was going to materialize anyway. The new Mets staff wants to see what they can do with the once-dominant ace. The hope is that he has fully recovered from his 2016 thoracic outlet syndrome surgery after an extended rehab process cost him much of his dismal 2017 season.
It's a walk year for Harvey, who put up a career-worst 6.70 ERA in 2017, so he'll be pitching for a job this year, but who knows which version of Harvey the Mets will get.