Do Mets plan to compete for World Series in 2024?

It seems current Texas Rangers ace Max Scherzer was spot on about New York Mets owner Steve Cohen essentially punting on 2024 with 2025 in mind. 

"On July 28, Cohen informed (Scherzer that New York) was not planning a free-agent spending spree this winter -- certainly, nothing like the $498.1M they guaranteed in the 2022-23 offseason -- and was targeting 2025 as the beginning of its next window," ESPN's Jeff Passan noted for a piece published Wednesday. "At that point, Scherzer decided he would not stand in the way of a deal that landed him in a desirable spot." 

After Scherzer agreed to waive his no-trade clause to join the Rangers from the Mets ahead of the Aug. 1 deadline, he revealed he was told by New York general manager Billy Eppler that the club's vision "now is for 2025-2026" and that the Mets consider the 2024 season "to be more of a kind of transitory year." The same day Scherzer's comments to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic went public, the Mets traded future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander to the Houston Astros. 

Cohen clearly heard and read concerns from Mets fans regarding the team's approach for 2024, as he vowed in a letter sent to season-ticket holders that he intends to field a "formidable" team next year. That, however, was before USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported that the Mets could put both beloved slugger Pete Alonso and All-Star closer Edwin Diaz on the trade block this coming offseason. 

Alonso was the subject of trade rumors throughout the club's struggles this summer, as the 28-year-old remains eligible for free agency after next season. Diaz, meanwhile, signed a five-year, $102M contract with the Mets after the 2022 campaign and is still recovering from the serious knee injury he suffered in March. 

Larry Brooks of the New York Post mentioned Tuesday that Cohen may already be "considering a pivot for the offseason" upon learning about reactions to Scherzer's initial post-trade comments. If Passan is accurate about Cohen "targeting 2025" as the Mets' next championship window, the owner may find that pockets of fans will also wait until then to make returns to Citi Field following one of the most disappointing seasons in franchise history.