Mets vs. Royals: Early Odds for 2016 World Series Rematch

The Kansas City Royals resiliently took down the New York Mets in five games to capture their first World Series title in 30 years after coming so close a year prior.

The Royals trailed the Mets in all five games and became the first team in history to win three World Series games when behind in the eighth inning or later, according to Dave Skretta of the Associated Press—embodying a redemption course after losing the Fall Classic in seven games to the San Francisco Giants last postseason.

Kansas City never slumped all season, losing four straight games only three times and never dropping consecutive games in the playoffs. They could lose a few key free agents this offseason, but the Royals are tied as favorites to represent the American League again in 2016, per Odds Shark. 

The Mets contended on the biggest stage a year or two earlier than anticipated, and Vegas believes they won’t slow down next season. With the Royals and four other teams, the kings of Queens are listed with plus-1,200 odds to win it all in 2016.   

But everyone will supposedly be chasing the Chicago Cubs, who sit atop the bookmarks alone at plus-1,100. With the offseason already underway, here’s a look at the early odds to win the 2016 World Series:

Team	Odds
Chicago Cubs	+1,100
Kansas City Royals	+1,200
Los Angeles Dodgers	+1,200
New York Mets	+1,200
St. Louis Cardinals	+1,200
Toronto Blue Jays	+1,200
Washington Nationals	+1,200
Houston Astros	+1,400
Pittsburgh Pirates	+1,400
Texas Rangers	+1,400
New York Yankees	+1,800
Boston Red Sox	+2,000
Cleveland Indians	+2,000
Detroit Tigers	+2,000
Los Angeles Angels	+2,000
San Francisco Giants	+2,000
Seattle Mariners	+2,500
Tampa Bay Rays	+3,300
Baltimore Orioles	+4,000
Minnesota Twins	+4,000
Arizona Diamondbacks	+5,000
Chicago White Sox	+5,000
Cincinnati Reds	+5,000
Miami Marlins	+5,000
Milwaukee Brewers	+5,000
Oakland Athletics	+5,000
San Diego Padres	+5,000
Atlanta Braves	+10,000
Colorado Rockies	+10,000
Philadelphia Phillies	+20,000

The Mets have their youthful rotation headlined by high-velocity starters Matt Harvey (age 26), Jacob deGrom (age 27) and Noah Syndergaard (age 23) locked up for the next three years, and Zack Wheeler will also return from Tommy John surgery at some point next year.

Cliff Corcoran of Sports Illustrated noted that the Mets will be a threat in the National League for the foreseeable future: "Assuming they are not adversely affected by the dramatic innings increases they endured on the way to the pennant, the Mets’ young pitchers should keep the team in contention for years to come."

Potential voids in their lineup, however, could be an immediate pitfall.

A team source told Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News that the Mets don’t plan on re-signing playoff sensation Daniel Murphy, and a league executive also told Jon Heyman of CBS Sports it'd be shocking if the Mets re-signed trade deadline superstar Yoenis Cespedes, who’s expected to command roughly $120-150 million.

That pair accounts for the second and third spots in what was a rejuvenated second-half lineup—the underrated catapult for New York's surge to and through the playoffs. 

The Royals are in a similar boat. Outfielder Alex Gordon is expected to decline his $14 million option, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, who also reported the Royals “already know they will not be trying to retain Johnny Cueto,” the high-price free agent acquired at the deadline. Per Sherman, Kansas City is expected to go after Gordon, 31, and versatile defenseman Ben Zobrist, 34. 

First baseman Eric Hosmer knows the grim reality is that neither could be back and that the Royals could be going for their third straight pennant with a completely new look, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today:

"

I think we all know the reality of the business side of the game. We all release that these opportunities don’t come often.

I think we all realized how special it is to have another chance of accomplishing this goal, because there’s plenty of teams in the past that have come close to winning the World Series, and the next year, you just don’t get those same group of guys back.

"

Despite potential winter makeovers, both teams have incredible depth and newfound experience across the board to assuredly be contenders. 

Immediate odds may like the Mets and Royals to return, but long-term trends suggest that could be a stretch. The World Series has featured a rematch eight times since its inception in 1903 but only once since MLB expanded its postseason in 1969, according to Baseball-Reference.com. That came in 1978, when the New York Yankees—the famed Bronx Bombers bunch—won their second straight title over the Los Angeles Dodgers. 

Whether the Mets and Royals defend their league pennants or not—health and competition will determine that—they'll each be in the hunt.