With the Mets having 11 free agents, there will be a host of new faces heading to the Big Apple donning the blue and orange next season. However, there are some intriguing names on the market that have already done so, and we're going to take a look at them and determine whether or not the Mets should bring them back.

Noah Syndergaard, SP, Phillies

After appearing like a lock to return to the Mets after missing all of 2020 and most of 2021 due to Tommy John surgery, Sindergaard he turned down the Mets' qualifying offer and fled to Los Angeles to join the Angels on a 1-year, $21 million deal. He made 15 starts for the team and posted a 3.85 ERA in that span before being traded to the Phillies, where he appeared in 10 games and posted a 4.12 ERA.

Syndergaard, one of the best Mets starters of the past decade, is simply not the pitcher he once was. His speed has dropped significantly and his strikeout numbers have dropped to 6.35 for nine. He was still effective in 2022 and posted a 2.2 Fwar on the year, but it wouldn't make much sense for the Mets to seek a reunion when they have more need for forward starters, which Syndergaard no longer is. .

Justin Turner, 3B, Dodgers

For most of the last decade, Turner it was a case of “what could have been” for the Mets. After spending parts of four seasons with the franchise and slashing .267/.327/.371 from 2011 to 2013, he was not drafted and subsequently signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers before the 2014 season. The rest is history, as he spent nine seasons in Los Angeles that earned him two All-Star appearances, a World Series ring and 34 fWAR while slashing .296/.375/.490.

Turner had a solid 2022 campaign, slashing .278/.350/.438 to go with 2.4 fWAR and 123 wRC+. However, he will be 38 at the start of next season and his defense has dwindled tremendously, with -2 outs above average last season.

His power has also dwindled, as he posted his lowest slugging percentage as a Dodger in 2022 and his home run total dropped to 13 of 27 just one season ago. He's shaping up to be more of a designated hitter this day in age, and with both Brett Batty Y eduardo escobar towing as capable options in the hot corner, it's hard to see how Turner would fit into the roster.

Michael Conforto, OF, FA

The last two years have been a roller coaster for Comfortable. After a stellar 2020 campaign that earned him MVP votes, he refused a $100 million offer from the Mets in his contract year and decided to bet on himself. That turned out to be a mistake, as he had an offseason in 2021 in which he slashed .232/.344/.384 to go with 1.4 fWAR. He then turned down the Mets' offseason qualifying offer and proceeded to go unsigned for the remainder of 2022. after injuring his right shoulder.

It seems Conforto's legacy has been tarnished due to recent events, but there are still reasons the Mets would be interested in bringing him back if brandon nimmo signs elsewhere. Over the course of his career with the Mets, he was one of the top corner outfielders in the league, slashing .255/.356/.468 while posting 19.3 fWAR and 132 home runs. He would be a low-risk, high-reward signing if it happened and could bring power to a lineup that also desperately needs it.

Brad Hand, PR, Phillies

Hands 2021 was a bit of a whirlwind as he spent time with three different teams and was claimed off waivers by the Mets in September after being released by the Toronto Blue Jays. He finished that year with a 3.90 ERA and -0.1 fWAR, making it his first season with a sub-1.0 fWAR since 2015. However, his tenure in New York was largely successful as he posted a 2.70 ERA in 16 games.

He was able to bounce back a bit in 2022 with the Phillies with a 2.80 ERA in 55 games, but he seems to have overperformed as evidenced by for its 4.40 xERA, 3.94 FIP and 4.90 xFIP. His strikeout and walk by nine numbers dropped to 7.60 and 4.60 respectively, and overall it seems his best days are behind him.

Despite their dire need for bullpen arms and lefties in particular, the Mets should be able to find better fits elsewhere on the free-agent market or through trade.

Michael Wacha, SP, Red Sox

wacha The one-year stint with the Mets in 2020 was something of a failed experiment. He made eight starts and seven appearances resulting in a 6.62 ERA, 5.15 FIP and 0.0 fWAR. He also struggled with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2021 before having his best season in years with the Boston Red Sox in 2022. With Boston, he made 23 starts and amassed 1.5 fWAR to go with a 3.32 ERA while reestablishing himself as a capable and efficient starting.

However, he's shaping up more as a back-end starter, and there simply isn't an inherent need on New York's roster for that type of pitcher like Syndergaard is. Both parties are likely to find better options and opportunities elsewhere.

Michael Fulmer, PR, Twins

The main piece of the Yoenis Cespedes trade, Fulmer he found early success with the Detroit Tigers as a starter and even earned American League Rookie of the Year and All-Star honors in his first two seasons. After undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2019, transitioned to the bullpen in 2021 and has since become a borderline elite weapon, posting a 3.17 ERA and 2.2 fWAR in 117 games since. His 2022 performance wasn't nearly as impressive as his 2021 performance, but he still proved to be a reliable middle reliever with a 3.35 ERA.

Given that the Mets are tasked with essentially rebuilding their entire bullpen, bringing in Fulmer would make a lot of sense.

Brandon Drury, INF, Parents

Drury he was one of the breakout stars of the first half with the Cincinnati Reds, slashing .278/336/.528 with a 133 wRC+ during that stretch. He later traded to the San Diego Padres at the trade deadline and took a step back after moving to a more pitching-friendly environment, but still held his own with a .238/. 290/.435.

Drury played on a limited basis with the Mets in 2021 and slashed .274/.307/.476. The main draw of him in regards to his return to New York is his ability to hit lefties, who he slashed .299/.329/.626 this year, as well as his power at hit 28 home runs this year. He also played five different positions in 2021, adding some coveted versatility to the mix.

However, there is no clear path for him to earn consistent playing time on the field, and he would likely establish himself as a platoon designated hitter if he returned. The Mets should be interested here, but the main question is whether or not Drury would accept a likely part-time role when he's going to get starting opportunities on the open market.