Mets GM on Bryce deal: 'We can beat any team'

JUPITER, Fla. -- As the news rippled through Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium on Thursday that Bryce Harper had reportedly agreed to a 13-year, $330 million contract with the Phillies, Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen sat impassively watching his team win a 3-2 Spring Training game over the Cardinals. Van Wagenen never seriously pursued Harper in free agency. Nor did he harbor realistic expectations that Harper would land outside the National League East.

If Harper’s record-setting deal changed national perceptions of the Phillies or the NL East, count Van Wagenen among those who disagree.

"I believe that we can beat any team, any time," Van Wagenen said, "and no player signing is going to change that mindset."

Of course, baseball is a sport in which the worst teams often beat the best. Asked more specifically if the Mets remained, in his eyes, the division’s top team, Van Wagenen snapped: "I think I’ve already answered that."

Whether the GM was referring to his previous answer, or to his December proclamation that the Mets "are the favorites in the division right now," wasn’t entirely clear. What is clear is that Van Wagenen, manager Mickey Callaway and the rest of the Mets hold more confidence in their club than one signing can shake.

"I feel like we stack up great," outfielder Michael Conforto said. "Our lineup's long. I feel like our pitching is great, as it's been in the past. We bolstered the bullpen and we play great defense. We have the potential to compete. We've just got to do the right things. We've got to stay healthy. We've got to execute."

Added Conforto: "We're just focused on us. We feel good about the guys that we have and we're excited about it. All that stuff is just white noise."

Still, the Mets understand they play in baseball's toughest division, which just grew even more competitive. Before Harper signed, Baseball Prospectus' PECOTA model projected the NL East as MLB's only division to feature four teams with winning records. The Mets placed second with an 87-75 projected record, while the Phillies tied for third at 85-77. PECOTA's forecasts should only tighten once Harper's signing becomes official.

Projection models, however, are far from infallible; baseball games are played on the field. The Mets know that and, having faced Harper frequently over the first seven years of his career, at least have an idea of how to attack him. If anything, the Mets may be better prepared to face him than ever this season, with two left-handed starters -- Steven Matz and Jason Vargas -- in their rotation and at least two lefty relievers in their projected bullpen. Along with free-agent signing Justin Wilson, the Mets are likely to carry at least one of Daniel Zamora, Luis Avilan or Hector Santiago on their Opening Day roster.

"We have a scouting report on Harper," Callaway said. "We've faced him before. ... it will be fun."

While it's possible the Mets could still improve by adding a pitcher such as Dallas Keuchel or Craig Kimbrel, it remains exceedingly unlikely. The Mets have already increased last year’s Opening Day payroll by roughly 5 percent, and haven’t given any indications that they intend to go higher.

Vargas, their current fifth starter, made his spring debut Thursday, moving past a leadoff homer to pitch two effective innings. He said afterward that he wouldn't be insulted if the Mets acquired a piece prominent enough to push him out of the rotation, though that doesn't appear likely at this time.

"As I've said many times before, we will always be working, we'll always be finding ways to improve our team," Van Wagenen said. "We're never going to sit on our hands. But I can just repeat what I continue to say, which is we really like our team, we like our depth, we like our versatility and we think we're going to be able to win a lot of ballgames."