Brad Penner/USA TODAY Sports
Justin Verlander finished his introductory press conference Tuesday and checked his watch. This was mostly a function of logistics: He had a flight to catch. But it also served as an apt metaphor: Verlander, who will turn 40 in February, and the Mets are on the clock.
GM Billy Eppler likes to talk about sustainability, but New York ran out the third-oldest lineup (29.7 years old, on average) and oldest pitching staff (31.2) last season. Then it added Verlander, lefty starter José Quintana (who will pitch next season at 34), righty starter Kodai Senga (30), righty reliever David Robertson (38), lefty reliever Brooks Raley (35) and catcher Omar Narváez (31). Thirty-eight-year-old Max Scherzer, with whom Verlander will form the most accomplished top-two in the sport, can opt out of his contract after this season. Meanwhile, the juggernaut Dodgers lost shortstop Trea Turner, third baseman Justin Turner and lefty starter Tyler Anderson and have not done much to replace them. The Mets’ time is now.
