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The New York Mets are a franchise that perpetually exists on a roller coaster. All franchises have their ups and downs, but for the Mets, they seem to race through those peaks and valleys, as they have become very unpredictable over the past few years.
In 2022, the Mets won 101 games behind NL Manager of the Year, Buck Showalter. In 2023, the Mets traded Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer as part of a stunning fire-sale, and Showalter was out as the manager after just two seasons.
President of Baseball Operations David Stearns entered the picture ahead of the 2024 season and immediately went to work on piecemealing a roster that was in bad shape after the mid-season teardown.
The Mets got off to a slow start, found a winning combination once the calendar turned to June, riding an incredible surge of momentum into Game 6 of the NLCS.
Expectations were sky-high for 2025, as the Mets gave the Dodgers a run for their money in October, then stole Juan Soto from the Yankees in free agency. The Mets opened the season with the best record in baseball through the first 60 games, before the rug was pulled out from under them in the middle of June.
Come Game 162, the Mets were in a fight for their playoff lives, needing to beat the Marlins and for the Reds to lose to make the playoffs. The Reds did lose, but so did the Mets. Falling to their division rival, who celebrated the spoiler feat as if they had won a playoff series.
When a team loses in that fashion, heads are going to roll. For the Mets, they chose the heads of basically everyone on their MLB coaching staff except manager Carlos Mendoza. The Mets hope some new voices will help, but at the end of the day, roster construction is everything.
If you check with the fan base right now, Mets fans wouldn’t mind a similar overhaul to the roster as they got with the coaching staff. Really, though, the Mets are not as far away from a winner as some fans might think.
With a few select moves, the Mets could have everything they need to make the postseason again, and make a deep run once they get there.
They still have Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor, top prospect Nolan McLean is going to be a betting favorite to win the NL Rookie of the Year, and there is plenty more help on the way in the Mets’ burgeoning farm system.
There are boxes the Mets need to check off this offseason to have a roster that is ready to compete atop the National League again in 2026.
Let’s dive into what the Mets need to accomplish this winter.
1. Re-Sign or Replace Pete Alonso
The New York Mets are not the Moneyball A’s, who need to recreate Pete Alonso in the aggregate. This is a team that consistently runs a $350 million payroll, which is due to take care of their own as he takes his second crack at free agency.
Last time around, a market never materialized for Alonso, which led him to sign a two-year, $54 million contract with an opt-out after the first season. Alonso made the most of his pillow contract and is now declining the $24 million player option to look for his long-term deal.
There are a couple of factors that prevented Alonso from getting such a contract last winter that no longer exist this time around. For one, Alonso no longer is saddled with the qualifying offer, something that does keep some teams from pursuing top free agents.
Teams also knew Alonso was approaching a milestone with the Mets, as he was on the verge of breaking their franchise home run record. Pair the QO with Alonso’s unfinished business in New York, and then add in a bit of a down-year in 2024, and it is understandable that he didn’t get any long-term offers.
This time around, Alonso is coming off a much better season, with all of his batted ball data pointing up instead of down, as Alonso proved he can still be one of the best overall hitters in the game.
There were six hitters in baseball who finished the 2025 season with 80 extra-base hits. Shohei Ohtani led the pack with 89, then came Aaron Judge (85), Cal Raleigh (84) and Kyle Schwarber (81). Finally you had Alonso and Corbin Carroll both get exactly 80.
That list very well could include the top two MVP finishers in each league. Meanwhile, Alonso won’t even get the most MVP votes on his team, but he was every bit as valuable as Soto to the New York Mets lineup in 2025.
When Soto was struggling to find his clutch gene in his first year in blue and orange, Alonso came through time and again.
With the Mets on the verge of elimination in Game 161, Alonso rifled an RBI double in the first inning, then hit a solo homer in the third. The Mets carried that momentum to a 5-0 victory.
Two weeks prior, the Mets season felt like it was hanging by a thread when they were in the midst of an eight-game losing streak, which Alonso snapped by hitting a three-run walk-off homer in extra innings.
I understand the inclination to change up the roster after a down season, but getting rid of your best clutch hitter and run-producer might not be the way to do it.
Pete Alonso should be the Mets’ top priority this offseason, because replacing him is going to be a very difficult task.
Free Agent Targets: Josh Naylor, Munetaka Murakami, Alex Bregman
First, let’s address the elephant in the room: Alex Bregman is not a first baseman.
He is, however, an excellent defensive third baseman and a star who could fill Alonso’s void, while being a leader in ways that maybe Alonso cannot.
The Mets want to get better defensively, and shedding Alonso’s glove at first while picking up Bregman’s at third could improve their run prevention.
They would still need to find a first baseman, but considering how well Brett Baty transitioned from third base to second base, first base might not be too tough a task for him. Mark Vientos has played some first base in the past, and top prospect Ryan Clifford is waiting in Triple-A.
Swapping Bregman for Alonso would be about changing the fabric of the team, but it would leave the Mets without another 40-HR bat in the middle of their lineup.
More traditional free agent replacements at first base include Josh Naylor, who will be considered the second-best first baseman in this free agent class, and Munetaka Murakami, a 25-year-old Japanese slugger who is expected to be posted in international free agency.
Trade Targets: Yandy Diaz, Willson Contreras
If the Mets decided to replace Alonso on the trade market, Yandy Diaz and Willson Contreras stand out as players who could be on the block.
There is also a world in which the Mets pursue Contreras or Diaz, in addition to bringing Alonso back, as they could have room at DH if they trade Mark Vientos (more on that later).
2. Re-Sign or Replace Edwin Diaz
For everything we said about Pete Alonso, the Mets find themselves in a very similar position with Edwin Diaz. With an opt-out looming in his contract, Diaz turned in his best season since 2022, his last time playing in a contract year.
Diaz pitched to a 1.63 ERA, with a 0.87 WHIP and 98 strikeouts in 66 1/3 innings pitched. It was his second year in a row striking out 38% of the batters he faced, as Diaz remains one of the best closers in baseball.
Last time Diaz was due to enter free agency, he never actually made it to the open market, re-signing with the Mets in their five-day window to negotiate following the 2022 World Series. Maybe the Mets can come to terms with Diaz early again this year.
If not, Diaz stands to be the top closer on the open market. Behind him, there are some intriguing names, but none would be a better fit than just re-upping with Diaz.
Free Agent Targets: Robert Suarez, Raisel Iglesias, Devin Williams
Robert Suarez is likely to be seen as the second-best closer in this free agent class, coming off a season where he led the NL in saves with 40, and pitched to a 2.97 ERA.
Raisel Iglesias got off to a horrendous start with the Braves in 2025, before really coming on strong. And Devin Williams had a bad year with the Yankees, but has a great track record to fall back on.
3. Acquire an Ace to Headline the Mets’ 2026 Rotation
If there is one thing the Mets need to add this offseason that they did not have in 2025, it’s an ace.
Rookie Nolan McLean looked the part of an ace down the stretch, but the Mets would be wise to grab a veteran who can shoulder that burden, pushing McLean down more towards the middle of the rotation.
Sean Manaea and Kodai Senga have each had stretches in recent years where they have looked the part of an ace, but they, too, would benefit from not having the burden of having to be that for this team in 2026.
Trade Targets: Tarik Skubal, Freddy Peralta, Sandy Alcantara, Joe Ryan
The name generating all of the headlines right now is Tarik Skubal and rightfully so. He will soon be a back-to-back Cy Young winner, who is at the absolute apex of his career.
The Tigers only have one year left of team control, and if they have no intention of making him the highest-paid pitcher in baseball, they would be wise to explore their options on the trade market.
Beyond Skubal, Freddy Peralta is also in the last year of his deal, and past history would suggest that Milwaukee will entertain moving him as well.
Sandy Alcantara and Joe Ryan were each big names floated at the trade deadline, who ultimately stayed put. With two years left of team control on each, there is every chance they will get moved this offseason.
With one of the best farms in baseball to trade from, and the lack of a clear-cut ace on the free agent market, the Mets may have better luck shopping for their ace on the trade market.
Free Agent Targets: Dylan Cease, Framber Valdez, Michael King, Shane Bieber
If the Mets go the free agent route, Dylan Cease stands out as the type of arm they could target who has the highest possible upside. Cease has been up-and-down over the years in terms of run prevention, but he always gets his innings and his strikeouts.
Cease has racked up at least 32 starts and 200 strikeouts in each of the past five seasons. That is something no other MLB pitcher can say.
On the other side of the spectrum, Framber Valdez has been one of the best groundball pitchers in baseball, who doesn’t need to rack up an incredible volume of strikeouts to be effective.
Michael King and Shane Bieber are pitchers who have flashed ace upside in the past, who are coming off seasons in which they weren’t healthy. If the Mets could get either on a short-term deal, they should jump at the possibility.
4. Build a Bridge to Diaz
Even if the Mets re-sign Edwin Diaz, their bullpen mix behind him is nearly non-existent.
They have Brooks Raley set to return on an affordable $4.75 million club option, and A.J. Minter will return on a $11 million player option. Minter is coming off a torn lat muscle that required surgery, but his injury happened early in the season, so he should be good to return early in the 2026 season.
Beyond Raley and Minter, there is a whole lot of uncertainty in the Mets pen. They have Reed Garrett, Max Kranick, Dedniel Nunez and Danny Young all going down with Tommy John surgery at different points during the 2025 season.
Drew Smith rehabbed with the Mets from his Tommy John surgery this year, and could return on an affordable $2 million club option. Adbert Alzolay signed a two-year, minor league contract with the Mets that essentially amounted to the same thing.
Rehab with the team in 2025 to make a potential big league impact in 2026.
Flamethrowing pitching prospect Dylan Ross was added to the 40-man roster at the end of the season and should play a role, as could Huascar Brazoban (who somehow still has two options despite being 36 years old).
The New York Mets actually have more options than what is showing on the surface, but they need some stability too. Adding two veterans who can pitch in leverage as set-up men to Diaz is ideal.
Free Agent RHP Relievers to Target: Tyler Rogers, Emilio Pagan, Kyle Finnegan, Luke Weaver, Seranthony Dominguez, Chris Martin, Phil Maton
A reunion with Tyler Rogers would be great for the Mets, but a reunion with Rogers and the Giants may be more likely. If Luke Weaver wants to make the move to being a starting pitcher, he could follow the Clay Holmes blueprint, but the Mets could use him pitching in leverage more.
Last year, the Mets made a real mistake turning down a $7.75 million club option on Phil Maton, only to bring back Ryne Stanek for $4.5 million instead. Stanek had outperformed Maton in the playoffs in 2024, but Maton had been far better during the larger sample size of the 2024 regular season.
In 2025, Maton again proved to be the better pitcher. He pitched to a 2.79 ERA over 61 1/3 innings pitched, compared to Stanek, who pitched to a 5.30 ERA in 56 innings pitched. A reunion with Maton could be a nice fit to add a high-floor reliever who can be counted on across a long season.
Free Agent LHP Relievers to Target: Taylor Rogers, Gregory Soto, Danny Coulombe, Caleb Ferguson
The Mets have a few good lefty options in their pen with Raley and Minter, but both are in their 30s and coming off major injuries. For Raley, he is entering his first full season healthy coming off TJ, as he made 30 appearances for the Mets in the second half. Minter will be fresh off the lat surgery.
Adding a third veteran lefty to the bullpen mix would be a wise move for the Mets. Gregory Soto’s time with the club was a mixed bag, but he still has electric stuff and has been a durable leverage arm for a long time.
If the Mets can’t get Tyler Rogers to return, they could nab his left-handed twin brother instead.
The Mets do a very good job shopping for relief arms within the margin, as they have gotten great production from the arms they shuttle back and forth between Syracuse and the big leagues.
Still, this bullpen needs some real influx of talent, considering all the arms they have lost to injuries and will have to replace in free agency.
5. Trade an Infielder to Clear Up the MLB Roster
The New York Mets on in their fourth year of trying to figure out what they are going to get from Brett Baty, Mark Vientos, and, to some extent, Ronny Mauricio.
Baty and Vientos each debuted at the end of 2022 and played roles during the 2023 season. Mauricio was a September call-up in 2023 and figured to play a big role in 2024 before he tore his ACL playing winter ball in the Dominican Republic.
Vientos enjoyed a breakout season in 2024, then regressed in a major way in 2025. Baty won the job and then lost it to Vientos in 2024, only to have his own breakout in 2025. Right now, Baty is slated to be the Mets’ starting third baseman. Vientos likely factors more in at DH.
Mauricio could be the Mets answer at third base but between the lost season due to the injury, and being blocked by Vientos and Baty, he has yet to get extended run in the starting lineup at the big league level. Speedy infielder Luisangel Acuna only complicates the matter further as he is now out of options, which all but locks him into a utility role off the bench.
Add in Jeff McNeil and the Mets are looking at five infielders for two positions on the diamond. Assuming of course that Alonso is re-signed, with Lindor over at short.
The Mets also have to leave the door open for Jett Williams to make a big league impact in 2026, even as soon as Opening Day, as he is well-rounded shortstop prospect who could help the Mets defensively up the middle, will providing more offensive upside and a higher floor than Acuna.
If Williams is the second baseman of the future, the Mets have McNeil as bridge, one which is in the final year of his $50 million contract.
The Mets could shop McNeil on the expiring deal, and very well could move him, but there are also worse guys to have in a bench role. The problem is one of the kids has to push McNeil to the bench first, and its hard for any of them to do that when they are all splitting time.
Trade Candidates: Mark Vientos, Jeff McNeil, Luisangel Acuna, Ronny Mauricio
You will notice one notable exception from the list above, and that is Brett Baty.
Coming off a second half breakout that saw him hit .291/.353/.477, with a 135 wRC+, Baty finally looks the part of being the Mets third baseman of the future. He still needs to sustain that offensive success over a larger sample, but even his full-season .748 OPS is a solid mark for Baty.
Now a plus defender at third and a solid one at second, Baty has the versatility that makes him an easy fit on the Mets roster moving forward. Longtime teammate Mark Vientos is sitting in an entirely different boat on that front.
Vientos looked like the Mets’ next homegrown star in 2024, hitting 27 home runs in 111 regular-season games, before leading the team with 14 RBIs on a deep playoff run in October.
When he was slugging at that high clip, it was easy to stomach his sub-par defense at third. But when he slumped in 2025, those defensive issues stuck out like a sore thumb.
The Mets basically have two choices with Vientos at this point. They can fully commit to him being their DH, resisting the temptation to add another veteran bat in free agency to fill the role, or they can trade him.
If the Mets choose the former and keep him, they know they have a position-less slugger on their roster who will offer very little value if he is not swinging a hot bat. Since Vientos is out of options, it feels like the Mets will have to spend the most time deliberating on his future compared to these other trade candidates.
Mauricio is in a different place because the Mets still retained his option by keeping him on the roster down the stretch in 2025. This means they can park Mauricio in Syracuse as insurance for Baty at third base, and if they don’t have an MLB need for him and he is playing well, they can always flip him in a trade at a later time.
With that said, other teams will value that option on Mauricio as well, so there is every chance the roster flexibility he provides, paired with the wild card nature of his lack of MLB exposure, could bode well for Mauricio in terms of his value on the offseason trade market.
While we can talk about the Mets’ needs at second base, DH, and center field, and potential free agents that can fill those holes, the Mets have to figure out who they want to be a part of their core long-term.
Holding onto prospects, or in this case, young players, too long can back you into a corner. One where you are forced to sell a player at a lower value, because they are not serving your roster in a way that is best for the team, or even best for the player themselves.
Vientos feels like the guy who could best take advantage of a change of scenery, but he also offers that some upside in having a bounce back season in New York. With top prospects Jett Williams and Carson Benge both on the way, potentially as early as Opening Day if either has a hot spring, the Mets need some roster clarity more than they need to make a bunch of additions.
Recap of the Mets Offseason Checklist
The New York Mets are not sitting in as bad of a spot as some would make it out to be.
By fWAR, the Mets have the fourth and fifth-best players in baseball over the past four seasons, with Francisco Lindor’s 25.9 fWAR checking in at No. 4 behind Aaron Judge (37.3), Bobby Witt Jr. (26.7), and Shohei Ohtani (26.6). Soto rounds at the top five with his 23.9 fWAR.
Add in some of the complimentary pieces already on the roster (Brandon Nimmo, Francisco Alvarez, Brett Baty), and one of the best farm systems in baseball with more impact players coming, the Mets are actually sitting in a pretty good spot.
If they re-sign Alonso and Diaz, the Mets will have already done a lot of the heavy-lifting for their offseason. Adding an ace and building out a bullpen behind Diaz are the other clear priorities that this roster needs addressed.
In terms of everything else, the Mets should be opportunistic if they can find a stopgap center fielder to their top prospect Carson Benge, and they could always use another veteran bat, as long as they can make things fit with the glut of young players they currently have on their roster.
The Mets are always one of the more active teams in baseball each winter, and that trend is sure to continue again this offseason.
More must-reads:
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