Tom Brennan - What Would It Look Like If You Built a 2026 MLB Team Out of Current Mets Prospects?

HOW GOOD IS OUR MINORS SYSTEM, REALLY?

Being successful in the majors as a team is no joke. 

Competition? Intense.

Just consider how many seasons in their 62 years that the Mets finished below .500.

I did a quick count…33 times. And several more right around .500. 

Anyway, what if someone told you that out of only the current Mets prospects, you had to build an entire MLB team for 2026. No current major leaguers. 

What might it look like?

Remember, I am grading against real major league opposition. Matt Olson, for instance, hit 54 HRs last year. He's first baseman # 1.  The median first baseman of the 20 that had qualifying at bats in 2023 in MLB had output of 22 HRs and 74 RBIs in 150 games.  So, reaching even MLB standard is a high bar. If you were a starting 1B, and hit 12 HRs and drove in 60, you are in the bottom 20% of qualifiers.

And Ronald Acuna Jr. is far better than any Mets player on the list below, because he is truly an elite, potential first ballot Hall of Fame caliber, MLB outfielder.  Being even an average MLB starting outfielder is not an easy task, much less reaching the level of elite.

To win 95 games, your players simply need to collectively be above average.

OK - enough theorizing and ‘splaining - let's roll here.

C - Kevin Parada and Ronald Hernandez - in 2026, below major league average. 

A lot can happen in two years (2024 and 2025) to improve these two, but Hernandez is very young, and could by opening day have the skills of a MLB catcher. Parada could be strong offensively, or so-so, and his arm is not “Johnny Bench”. By 2027, this duo could be average. Of course, by 2027, heralded Yovanny Rodriguez arrives and takes over the starting catching (remember, no Francisco Alvarez exists in this exercise) and likely would take the Mets' 2027 catching to average or higher.

1B - Young Ryan Clifford needs tons of at bats the next two years to be a 25-30 HR, .240 hitting 1B in the majors. Even then, I would only rate him average, with future growth potential.  If he is not ready, due to Ks, for instance, JT Schwartz would man first base and likely do a decent, but below median, starting 1B's job output-wise due to below average 1B power.

2B - Luisangel Acuna will probably be below MLB 2B offense in hits, power, walks, but well above average in steals and defense.  Average overall by 2026.

SS - Jett Williams…close to, or at, All Star caliber by the 2026 season. VERY tough to be an All Star at SS.  But he'd want to be one.

3B - Ronny Mauricio - major league average, if he heals up fully and his fielding improves. 

If you do not want him in this group, since he already has had a few games at the MLB level, Jacob Reimer will be ready for a decent MLB rookie season.  But likely below average for starting MLB 3rd basemen that year, moving to average in 2027, when he'll still be 23.

At some point during 2026, Colin Houck ought to be MLB ready. If so, he will push his way into the line up, and one of the above IFs will get shuffled. That quick of an arrival for Houck, you say? Yes. Here’s why. 

Prior to a few years back, rookie leagues played 60-70 games. Now it’s around 130. You play more, you progress faster.  So, if he stays healthy, he gets into 250 games in 2024 and 2025. And you can likely add in one off-season of AFL ball, too.

Utility infield: 

Five names. If Jeremiah Johnson reduces his Ks and his other tools make him a decent utility infielder. High Ks remain?  Then he doesn't fit the picture. Marco Vargas, Wilfredo Lara, Jeremy Rodriguez as other utility infielders, whichever progresses fastest. Let's not overlook Wilfredo Lara, a teenager in St Lucie in 2023 where he has hit well, with power, good speed and fine fielding.  In 2 years, he might be completely ready.

Outfield:

CF: Drew Gilbert in two years is above average MLB.  

RF: Speedy Alex Ramirez progresses and is by 2026 a decent overall MLB OF, but probably somewhat below MLB average. 

LF: One of the utility infielders above slides over as the 3rd outfielder. Nick Morabito and Rhylan Thomas as fast, high average, fine fielding 4th and 5th outfielders.   Both need more power to elevate their game. Maybe one of those 2 even starts. Overall, a decent, but likely below-average MLB average outfield in 2026. Remember, another team can roll out a Ronald Acuna.

Starting Pitching:

Christian Scott, Mike Vasil, Dom Hamel, Blade Tidwell, Tyler Stuart, and Brandon Sproat will all be pitching in the majors by or before 2026.  Potentially, an average MLB rotation.  If all goes right, better than average. 

Bullpen:

Nolan McLean and Cal Ziegler bring the bullpen heat.  Nate Lavender will be a tough, above average, lefty pen arm. By then, Saul Garcia will morph into an effective lefty reliever, too. Paul Gervase, the strikeout machine 6’10” reliever, will be coming to a relief mound near you with a fistful of Ks. Joander Suarez will be a surprisingly solid pen arm. Raimon Gomez a back-of-the-pen fireballer, perhaps.  Others will emerge for the pen, like Kade Morris, if he does not push his way into the Mets' starter mix.  Me?  That pen feels to be MLB average - or better.

OVERALL?

I think this team would have 65-75 win potential in 2026, 75-85 win potential in 2027.  And boy, would the team salary be low.

Of course, MLB just ranked the Mets system 13th, and I am guessing they too see lots of good quality, but no top 40 overall pitchers or hitters. Stars are the real difference makers, one can easily conclude.

What do you see, folks?