ESPN ranks Mets second-best in MLB team for 2016

The gang over at ESPN believes in the 2016 Mets. Despite the lack of faith from sources like, say, USA Today, Dave Schoenfeld pegs the Mets for a 94-68 record in the upcoming season. That would be the second-best in baseball behind the buzz-saw that is the pre-season Chicago Cubs, whom just about everyone alive thinks are the best team in the game right now.

Re-signing Yoenis Cespedes is, rather obviously, listed as the club's biggest offseason move. The hype surrounding the Met rotation is massive, and that's reiterated here. With Noah Syndergaard being named the most intriguing player on the roster and two rotation-mates—Matt Harvey and Jacob deGrom—being two of the best "stuff" guys in the game, plus a full season of Steven Matz and the return of Zack Wheeler, it's undeniably deserved.

Relying on Bartolo Colon until Wheeler returns, plus potential defensive shortcomings, are the concerns most people have with the roster, and Schoenfeld is no different. However, despite the potential downsides, the Mets slide in at second in baseball in the rankings. Winning more games than they did last year is cited for all these reasons. By these rankings, the Mets would be lined up for a rematch with the Dodgers in the NLDS after winning the division by six games over the Nationals. That would be fine by us.