MACK - IN FOCUS - Fan Survey, Top Relievers, Matt Allan,de Oca, Brett Banks, Lockout, Cody Belliger, Richard Lovelady, Drew Smith, Carlos Delgado

 

Mets fan survey results

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Offseason

What should be the Mets’ No. 1 priority this winter?

Acquiring a top-of-the-rotation starter

55%

Retaining Edwin Díaz

21%

Retaining Pete Alonso

16%

Acquiring a two-way center fielder

7%

This aligns with the earlier answer on blame for this past season.

 

Mets fan survey results

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6757524/2025/10/29/mets-fan-survey-results-2025/

How would you like the Mets to approach Alonso?

Make him a Met for life

43%

Offer him a short-term, high-AAV deal to return

48%

Let him walk

9%

The multiple-choice answers for these questions can be tough to word. Between “Make him a Met for life” and “Let him walk” is a large range of contract offers; in the past, I’ve called it “Offer market value,” but then almost every fan says the team should offer market value.

Matt Allan, Bryce Montes de Oca headline Mets minor leaguers to elect free agency

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Allan was once viewed as one of the next big things in the organization.

The youngster battled numerous injuries over the years, though, and he wasn’t able to return until this past season.

He threw 20.0 innings between Brooklyn and St. Lucie before being shut back down.

Montes de Oca was an up-and-coming bullpen arm who shone during his time in big-league camp and then made his debut during the 2022 season.

He throws extremely hard and possesses big-time swing-and-miss stuff, but struggles at times with his command.

The 28-year-old underwent Tommy John surgery in 2023, and after making just 13 rehab appearances, he had an additional procedure in August of 2024.

 

Ernest Dove          @ernestdove

Mets RP prospect Brett Banks has finished his time in winter ball and will continue on with his normal offseason routine. His time in AFL is highlighted by his 13 Ks in 6 inn, lead by his improved slider developed with help from Mets minor league coaching staff.

 

Lockout Q&A

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6785115/2025/11/07/mlb-free-agency-contract-injuries/

How do you think the potential post-2026 lockout will affect the free-agent market? I think teams might be hesitant to hand out any long-term deals without having any sense of where the sport might be headed in terms of salary cap/floor, leading to a depressed market that drags into January/February, only further fanning the flames of a lockout. —David P.

The short answer is that I don’t know. The 2020-2021 offseason was the last one a year ahead of a CBA negotiation, and that landscape was likely affected more by COVID than anything else. (There were more one-year contracts that winter than usual.) The 2015-16 offseason was also one year ahead of a labor negotiation, but there was far less strife at the time and almost no thought of a work stoppage. (There were more five-plus-year contracts that winter than usual.)

In making my projections, I operated as if it would be a normal offseason. I derived that stance from what happened in late November 2021, when, with a lockout days away, we saw Max Scherzer set a ne record for average annual value and the Rangers dish out $500 million to Corey Seager and Marcus Semien. I had thought that players would settle for lesser deals just to be signed ahead of the lockout; that dynamic didn’t fully materialize then, and so I’m skeptical it would show up now.

It would not surprise me, however, if several teams cited the looming lockout as a reason to rein in expenses, and there could be a couple of recent big spenders who do less this year, which would bring some prices down. (The aforementioned Rangers appear to be one of them.) But I am cynical enough to think that most teams pointing to the lockout are teams that don’t spend much in free agency anyway.

Might we see more one-year deals? Sure, but that’s been a trend regardless of labor issues of late: Ten teams signed nothing but one-year contracts last winter. The Pirates haven’t signed a multi-year free agent since 2017. The Guardians and Brewers haven’t handed out a three-year deal since 2017 and 2018, respectively.

One thing I should add: Among baseball reporters, I tend to be optimistic about the 2027 season. I would be very surprised if the result of those labor negotiations involves a salary cap.

 

Ranking Four Best Landing Spots for Cody Bellinger in Free Agency

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New York Mets

The Mets need to add to their offense and find another reliable outfielder. Bellinger fits perfectly. As noted, he provides solid defense at all three outfield spots and can play first if needed. New York’s center fielders ranked 27th in OPS (.598) during the 2025 season while slashing .210/.284/.314. An upgrade is sorely needed.

Additionally, Pete Alonso’s knockdown, drag-out free agency saga last season could have left some bruises and might lead both parties to walk away this winter. If that happens, the Mets will need to find a power bat. Bellinger has a career 144 wRC+ at Citi Field and would have no problem fitting in.

 

NY Mets roster reunion bumps Richard Lovelady down the depth chart, at least for now

https://risingapple.com/ny-mets-roster-reunion-bumps-richard-lovelady-down-depth-chart-jose-castillo?utm_campaign=FanSided+Daily&utm_source=FanSided+Daily&utm_medium=email&sc=82d672a86cde6b6d07b4ea29d553f634ede83f891ca0ec31d65e9e38eb81eba0

Jose Castillo is back with the Mets after a very weird 2025 season

Castillo was terrible with the Arizona Diamondbacks, allowing 8 earned runs in 6.1 innings. He’d combine to surrender just 6 more during his time with the Mets, Seattle Mariners, and Orioles.

The numbers are deceiving at first glance. In 15.1 innings with the Mets, where he spent just under half of his time in 2025, he had a 2.35 ERA. His 11.2 K/9 rate and 3.5 BB/9 were suitable. His biggest problem was the 21 hits allowed.

Castillo had immense reverse splits, batters slashing .368/.448/.491 against him in 67 chances. Righties had plenty of luck against him, too. They batted .264/.341/.431 in 82 plate appearances.

Drew Smith

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Look at the current staff board and it comes into even sharper focus. By declining Smith’s $2 million option after already eating the rehab year, the Mets effectively chose a roster spot over a relatively cheap lottery ticket in a bullpen that just watched Tylor Megill and Reed Garrett undergo Tommy John and project to miss 2026 entirely, with arbitration decisions still looming around them.

This is not a team clinging to sunk costs or hoping good vibes carry rehabbing arms into meaningful roles. It’s a front office signaling that if you can’t help in 2026, your grip on a 40-man seat is weak at best, and they’re willing to build fresh depth rather than defaulting to known names.

MACK – right now, the Mets pen is pretty lean of big names. Let’s hope Mr. S spends some time here in the off-season.

 

                       (PC - MACK)

Mets steal Carlos Delgado from the Marlins in a trade

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On November 24, 2005, the Mets traded three players and some cash to obtain Carlos Delgado from the Florida Marlins (that’s what they were called back then). Delgado’s first season in New York was 2006 and the Mets made a run all the way to game seven of the NLCS in a large part because of his bat. He hit 38 home runs and drove in 114 in 2006, added another 24 home runs in 2007 and 38 more in 2008. His slash line while in Queens was .267/.351/.506 and 104 home runs. Up until Pete Alonso, Delgado was the most impactful bat to ever play first base for the Mets.