Depending on one’s religious beliefs the month of December stirs feelings about what’s under the Christmas tree, what eight days of gifts could arrive or even the lighting of a mix of red, green and black candles for seven nights. For Mets fans, the big December interest is starting today in Orlando when the Winter Meetings take place at which team front office personnel, player representatives and media converge to find out who’s arriving, who’s leaving and whether or not the December holidays will be happy or stressful for team followers.
For David Stearns and Steve Cohen the expectations for roster reworking are already well known. The 2025 season falling one game short of a playoff experience was indeed a very tough pill to swallow and the massive departure of free agents opens up all kinds of needs that must be addressed.
Starting Pitching
If the season opened today the Mets would have a great many folks vying to be part of the five man force taking the mound. Right now the have Sean Manaea, Kodai Senga, David Peterson, Clay Holmes and Nolan McLean leading the pack. Backing them up are Jonah Tong, Brandon Sproat and Christian Scott. That’s eight men for five slots. The question is whether the club would be better off moving Senga or Peterson to open up for new arrivals as Manaea’s contract is pretty much unmovable.
Relief Pitching
The Devin Williams signing didn’t really surprise anyone. The Mets needed to hedge their bets about an Edwin Diaz departure and the great familiarity Stearns had with Williams during their days in Milwaukee suggested it was an easy fit. The question that remains is what else the Mets are going to do with the bullpen. Rumors exist that the are interested in late season addition Tyler Rogers returning but there are many other options as well.
Left Field
Thus far there has been precious little dialog regarding who will patrol the former Brandon Nimmo spot anchoring where right handed hitters drive the ball. Perhaps the most interesting name that has come up a few times is Steven Kwan of the Guardian who has been in the league for four years and has won a Gold Glove during each of them. The diminutive Californian has modest power, hits for a career .281 average with 10+ HRs and 20+ stolen bases. At age 27 now he’s a long term solution who wouldn’t cost a fortune in salary and could likely be acquired in trade. He wouldn’t become a free agent until 2028.
Center Field
Here’s where most media and fans have obsessively debated the best of the best approaches to solving this long term dilemma. Obviously either Kyle Tucker or Cody Bellinger could be signed to patrol out there but hey will both cost megabucks. Harrison Bader wouldn’t be nearly as expensive but despite his good offensive numbers in 2025 he’s never been known as much of a threat with the bat. Trades could happen and we’ve all heard rumors about people (including Byron Buxton).
First Base
This one is the big black hole. Until the Pete Alonso return or departure happens the Mets don’t have a lot of options. Mark Vientos is not consistently proven nor is he a good glove. Ryan Clifford is likely not ready to advance to the majors. That’s about it. Consequently alternatives will have to be considered. FAs include Nathaniel Lowe and Ryan O’Hearn. Others are older and not folks around whom you build for the future unless you’re looking for a bridge to Clifford. Trades here might need to happen as well if Alonso seeks greener pastures elsewhere.
Designated Hitter
While the Mets still have not identified an effective DH since the rule changed for the National League. The general rule of thumb is to find a poor defending slugger to create an offensive force in the lineup. One interesting free agent option moving in another direction is Luis Arraez, a poor fielder but a career .317 hitter with two Silver Sluggers, three All Star appearances and three batting titles. He’s ending a $14 million deal with the Padres and at age 27 could be a bargain to provide excellent set-up offense for the middle of the order hitters.
Veteran Trade Pieces
We all know the names. Jeff McNeil is likely on the block. Kodai Senga’s numbers would make him appealing to other clubs. David Peterson’s inconsistency is frustrating but his low price would probably mean there are other teams who would be interested. Mark Vientos is a man without a position unless you’re planning on him for first base or DH.
Prospect Trade Pieces
Here’s where it gets tricky. The Mets minor league structure contains several appealing prospects who might be required in trades for veterans to help fill team holes. It’s phttps://xpeng.com.my/x9.phpretty safe to say that other than Carson Benge most of the others could be had for the right price.
19 comments:
Nice recap this morning, Captain
I want to leave these meetings with a HEALTHY (with no or limited injury history) high level starter to anchor the 2026 rotation
Another reliever
A short-term left fielder
I'm willing to wait out both Alonso and Diaz, though another reliever will help if Edwin goes buh-bye
I believe the Mets top priority is either an SP1 or SP2
Arraez played mostly FIRST BASE last season. His WAR #s over the past few years have been pretty paltry, despite the average hovering near .300. Pass.
Mack’s got a pretty good strategic plan there. I just hope David finishes his major deals this week. I. like Mel Brooks, have High Anxiety when the roster is unsettled. Let’s get it all done and wrap it and put a bow on it.
IMO
The 2026 season will be first determined by what the opening day rotation is
Wins are so much more easy to obtain if you limit the amount of runs scored against you
The Imai window closes on January 2nd; it is reasonable to expect things to heat up soon. It isn’t prudent to prospect hug too much, but I’m not sure any pitcher on the market is worth what the price will be, especially ones with red flags like a very bad second half last year. I’d rather deal with Michael King, but again, how healthy is he? Why not just wait for Skubal? Sign Imai, and wait. If you want to trade, Cole Regans would be a good get.
For the hitters, of course Tucker is a good hitter but I don’t like having all these long contracts. I don’t like Bellinger’s Yankee Stadium inflated stats, but next year rhe only hitter available will be Acuna. Sign Alonso, and see if you can trade for someone.
Do you think the Mets have solved the mystery of how they had the best record in baseball after two and a half months and then one of the worst in baseball for three and a half all while being relatively healthy? Yes, the pitching sucked which is why I don’t want Peterson back, but did Manaea get healthy? Did Senga get healthy? How much workload will Holmes be able to carry?
I happen to agree with everybody today.
Mack, you're spot on, we need a SP1 or SP2. The problem is the FA market doesn't cut it for me. Valdez...meh. The length of contract is ridiculous. Also, how can you discount his awful last 2 second half's. He looks like the second coming of Manaea in three years...PASS.
I would take a flyer on King on a short term deal.
Gus, I agree on the Bellinger stance. Been saying for a while his home and away splits are horrible.
The Alonso and Diaz market seems to be shrinking. The problem I see with replacing Alonso is...who else out there is better defensively??? I say this because I don't know, not being sarcastic.
Is anybody open to replacing Diaz with Fairbanks?
The current team doesn't have what is needed in 2026
Aging starters will continue to break down
Kids aren't ready
Right now I l8ke McLean and Holmes
Nothing else
I would start off Syracuse with:
Tong
Sproat
Wenninger
Santucci
Thornton
Short term hire five more pitching coaches to work with them as soon as pitchers/catchers report
Fairbanks would be a great addition
Joe, I am. I don’t trust Diaz. His only dominant years were walk years. He doesn’t hold runners on and I’m afraid of him losing a tick off his fastball as he ages. He then will become like Kenkey Jansen or Craig Kimbrell. I don’t want to be holding the bag on him.
That's why I would stand firm on 3 years...stand firm.
At least Jansen was serviceable the last few seasons, Kimbrell free fell.
I would make Baty available in the right deal
For a Skubal or Mackenzie Gore
I would sign Kind and Imai
I also like Fairbanks instead of Diaz. Too bad they didn’t trade some young talent to Rays before he got released?
I also like a trade for Contreras for 1st base
I would also call Oakland about Severino and trade Manaea and throw in some money to bring the contract somewhat even.
I like your Severino Idea. I would just even out the commitment, 2m a year.
People keep bringing up Contrares, but I don't think he's better defensively than Alonso. Plus, you would have to give up prospects for him...no thanks.
Gore has the same numbers as Petterson...pass.
It's fan party time, and the full range of emotions are almost certain to be expressed on an hourly basis. No 1. It isn't all about 2026, except for the fans. For me, this means Skubal is off the table. Too much for too little control; and even then the contract, if you win it next year, is massive. Rational strategy. Wait till next year and reassess. No2. Mets obviously feel Senga is unreliable and has way too high variance for THEM to rely on. Likely to be traded to a team that needs pitching and looking to save. Texas would be my guess. They also don't have a 2nd baseman, and McNeil has only one year left. Their top pitchers, including deGrom are at the tail end of their excellence (and are oft injured to boot). They are a '2026 team.' What can they offer? Jake Myers? Excellent overall outfielder on short term deal. No3. Twins are currently in fantasy world. It's hard to deal with such a team at this point. Can waste a lot of time trying to talk sense to them and lose out on other opportunities. So for me, that's a one conversation call on two options: Ryan or Ryan and Buxton. No 4. I have a different view than most. Mets like to see how the market shakes out, and that worked for them last year with Alonso. I would not repeat that under the current circumstances. I would make offers to Diaz and Alonso, because waiting around is not an optimal strategy at this point since too many other pieces can come off the table in the interim: Diaz's reservation price includes 4yrs. I would offer 3 and mutual option for 4th with buyout. Price would be roughly 24/yr for 3; 20 for 4th; if the answer is no, you have to get in on Suarez/Fairbanks plus Ryan and walk away knowing you did the right thing; For Alonso, the number of serious suitors is small and the best of them is Red Sox. Note Red Sox are looking at 3 players for their right hand bat, and will only sign one: Bregmann, Bichette, Alonso. Alonso's real reservation price is 4 years. I would offer 4 at 30m and mutual option for 5th with buyout; if he is waiting for another offer so be it. No5. Or, I would pursue Schwarber at 4yrs for 120. He does not protect Soto in the same way Alonso does because he is LH bat so he involves changes elsewhere in the lineup.
As for starting pitchers, No 6. I have said from the beginning, I like King via free agency, not Valdez and one trade candidate. Ryan is one mentioned above; Alcantra another, Keller. Lots of talent coming through the ranks. This creates a lot of freedom for reassessing at trade deadline and next year. I like Sproat much more than Tong who as I've harped on needs an east/west pitch to be a successful mid rotation pitcher; and his motion is an injury waiting to happen, biomechanically speaking as his over the top delivery is created by a lot of left lateral bend in the upper spine. Wenninger, Santucci and more including Scott. Time to assess the young guys and watch i they grow by bringing in two reliable starters one with real upside in King
I don't understand the love affair with Tucker. Why hasn't anyone noticed that the injuries he has suffered impact the parts of his body that are most associated with his areas of excellence?
The thing is, if lose Diaz, you can get either Suarez or Fairbanks and Rogers for the same price; and talent coming up that we all know about in the BP; if you lose Alonso, pivoting is a bit harder. You have a potential combination in the minors of Reimer and Clifford, but you don't know if they are up to it. Certainly not this year. What you can do is sign either Bellinger or Bregmann, move Baty to first in the latter case. Myers in CF (see above), Benge in RF, Soto in LF. Taylor 4th outfielder. And no lost draft choices for your free agents and not a lot of prospect chips for any of the potential trades
Jules
You should wrote for Mack's Mets
Email me
macksmets@gmail.com
Let's discuss
Mack
I confess that I am not in love with Diaz and actually prefer a bullpen with Fairbanks, Williams, Minter, Rogers, Raley as the back end 5 with rest filled out by others under control and in the system now, with Scott perhaps as the long man and spot starter.
I do like Alonso because he is not just a run producer, but the best protection we could have for Soto. If not Alonso, who bats behind Soto in 2026? BTW, on the other hand, Soto is great protection for Schwarber if the latter bats second, and the fact that he takes a lot of pitches is a plus for his hitting behind Lindor. Or if no Alonso and Bregman instead, you can have him bat second, but you want Schwarber to get a lot of ABs. The lineup is lengthened and more balanced overall.
I agree with much of what has been said here. I do think that Alonso will be back, likely on a 4-year deal with a mutual option/buyout. Not sure that the Red Sox need him as much as we do, and they have other option. Diaz could go, but I suspect he’ll be back as well. I do NOT want to commit long yrs and big $ to any of the top FA starters (though I can see Stearns signing a mid-level SP who he believes is undervalued), but I think he’ll do what he can to trade for a better SP with 2/3 yrs of control remaining.
Vientos, McNeil, Senga, and Jett are most likely to be dealt, with one of Sproat/Tong possible.
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