JUST BASEBALL - Mock Mets Picks at 1.27 and 3.91

 

JUST BASEBALL  -  2026 Mets Picks in 1^st and 3^rd round

https://www.justbaseball.com/mlb-draft/mlb-draft-top-college-prospects/#entry-135479

1.27. Carson Tinney – C

HT/WT: 6’3/220 | Bat/Throw: R/R | School: Texas | Hometown: Castle Pines, CO | Projected Age: 21.3

Tinney’s journey through collegiate baseball has been a unique one to date. Originally from Colorado, Tinney ventured to Notre Dame to start his career, but a torn ACL in 2024 kept him sidelined.

He had some struggles to start 2025, but he became one of the hottest bats in the country during the second half. After falling short of the postseason, Tinney is now at Texas, where he’ll replace Rylan Galvan for the Longhorns.

Tinney’s power is among the best in the country, grading out as potentially double-plus at the next level. There’s a lot of pure strength in his frame, but Tinney generates solid bat speed and leverage in his swing. He hits the stitches off the baseball routinely, plus his ability to pull the baseball in the air is a huge plus. He’s a guy who will mash mistakes.

The hit tool will lag behind the power, admittedly. He’s a patient hitter with the ability to draw a copious amount of walks, and he handles velocity decently, but he struggles to adjust to off-speed pitches and runs high whiff rates on them. Even if Tinney is a .220 hitter, odds are that Tinney is capable of hammering 30+ home runs. That’s still valuable.

Behind the plate, Tinney has an incredibly strong arm and throws out runners consistently. He can be slow out of the crouch, which is a problem that plagues larger backstops, though the arm strength helps ease those woes. Hunter Goodman is an easy comparison to make here, and it’s certainly a plausible outcome.

 

3.91 - Jacob Bean – RHP

HT/WT: 6’3/185 | Bat/Throw: R/R | School: Louisville | Hometown: Middlefield, OH | Projected Age: 21.2

After pitching sparingly as a freshman, Bean made fifteen starts for Kent State in 2025, posting a 4.20 ERA across 75 total innings. He turned that success into a commitment to Louisville, where he’ll face a big test in the ACC as a part of the Cardinals’ rotation in 2026.

At 6-foot-3, 185 pounds, Bean is roughly how you draw them up. It’s a long, projectable body with fantastic athleticism on the bump, moving freely with a whippy right arm and excellent extension. He gets his arm on time with big scapular retraction, and while there’s some violence at release, it hasn’t affected his strike-throwing ability much.

The fastball isn’t a big bat-misser, but an uptick in velocity may unlock another gear for him. Bean tends to sit in the 90-93 MPH range, reaching back for 95-96 MPH when he needs it. The pitch shape can fall into the “dead-zone” bucket at times, though he’s shown the ability to generate quality carry with moderate tail through the zone.

His mid-80s curveball is the moneymaker, though. While he doesn’t post elite spin rates, it’s a true hammer with immense depth and sweeping action. He’s still learning to harness it and land it for strikes regularly, but it’s a plus pitch with some shape manipulation. He kills spin on a low-80s change-up that features a ton of depth and fading action, too.

There will be a need for some additional polish, especially with his fastball and change-up, but there aren’t many breaking balls better than Bean’s.

MACK - Top 28 - Prospects - #27 - C - Daiverson Gutierrez

 

The excitement about the Mets' prospect pipeline has been building year over year as the team improves their domestic and international scouting.  Many of the Mets' picks are being discussed throughout baseball, so Mack has boiled it down to the top 28 to give the readers a glimpse into the team's future.  This series will run for 28 days, counting down from #28 to #1.  The entire list can be viewed by clicking "2026 Top 28 Prospects" on the top menu bar.

27.    Daiverson Guerterrez

GROK –

Daiverson Gutierrez is a promising young catching prospect in the New York Mets organization.

He's a Venezuelan-born player, signed as an international free agent in January 2023 at age 17. The Mets made him their top priority that signing period, giving him a $1.9 million bonus—which was about a third of their international budget that year. This was a significant investment, drawing comparisons to their earlier big signing of fellow Venezuelan catcher Francisco Alvarez.

Background and profile:

• Born: September 11, 2005 (age 20 as of 2026)
• Height/Weight: 5'11", around 205-206 lbs
• Bats/Throws: Right/Right
• Position: Catcher

Scouts have noted his tools for the position, including slightly above-average power potential, arm strength, and average fielding/arm grades in early reports. He's seen as having the raw ingredients to potentially become a starting MLB catcher, though he's still early in development with a long road ahead (ETA often projected around 2029 or later).Professional career so far:

• 2023 (age 17-18): Assigned to the Dominican Summer League (DSL Mets). He struggled in 50 games, hitting .186/.321/.244 with 2 HR, but showed some patience with 22 walks (though high strikeouts at 36).
• 
  
• 2024 (age 18-19): Major turnaround after mechanical swing adjustments—the Mets reworked his setup for better mechanics. He dominated early in the DSL (.300+ with strong plate discipline), then moved to the Florida Complex League (FCL Mets) where he hit .317/.463/.537 in 15 games with power and walks. He got a brief taste of full-season ball at Single-A St. Lucie late in the year but struggled (3-for-27 with high K's), likely due to age and inexperience.
• 
  
• 2025: He progressed further, including time at Single-A St. Lucie, where he hit his first affiliated home run (solo shot highlighted by MLB) and showed doubles power. Overall minor league stats across levels showed improved contact, power flashes, and plate discipline (e.g., combined .259/.396/.435 in a 2024 sample, with more extra-base hits).

As of early 2026 rankings (e.g., Amazin' Avenue's Top 25 Mets Prospects for 2026), he's slotted around #24 in the system—a solid but not elite ranking, reflecting his youth, position value, and ongoing development needs (especially behind the plate and refining his hit tool).He's a high-upside catcher with power/arm potential, but like many international signees at his age, he's a project with plenty of growing pains ahead. The Mets are handling his workload carefully to build him up gradually. If he continues progressing, he could climb higher in future lists.

RVH - A look at the 2026 Starting Pitching

 

A Rotation Built for Reversion, Not Reinvention

When teams talk about “bounce-back” seasons, it usually sounds like hope dressed up as analysis.

That’s not what the Mets are doing with this rotation.

This staff isn’t being asked to become something new. It’s being asked to return to something it has already shown — with better health, better sequencing, and more rational usage. To deliver ~100 more innings than 2025.

That distinction matters.

---

The Difference Between Reversion and Reinvention

Reinvention is risky:

• New arm slots

• New pitch mixes

• Velocity chases

Reversion is quieter:

• Health restored

• Timing re-synced

• Workloads normalized

The Mets’ rotation is built around the second path — and supported underneath it.

---

Where the Reversion Lives (MLB Layer)

Kodai Senga

Senga’s issue has never been stuff. When his lower half is synced, his movement profile is still among the most uncomfortable in baseball.

The question isn’t dominance — it’s efficiency.

If his sequencing holds:

• At-bats shorten

• Walks normalize

• Six innings become routine instead of aspirational

That alone changes the shape of games.

---

Sean Manaea

Manaea doesn’t need to rediscover velocity or deception. He needs his delivery working as a system again.

When his lower half drives the motion:

• The fastball has more life

• Command tightens

• Pitch counts stabilize

He’s not a frontline ace. He doesn’t have to be. He’s a stabilizer.

---

David Peterson

Peterson’s 2025 wasn’t a mystery. It was a workload problem.

He was asked to absorb stress innings early, often, and without relief. That’s not sustainable.

Better usage doesn’t make him great (although he was an All-Star). It makes him usable longer.

---

Freddy Peralta

This is the anchor. Peralta isn’t here to be perfect. He’s here to:

• Soak up innings

• Miss bats

• Prevent rotation collapse when others wobble

• Provide leadership

That’s the point of the trade.

---

The Part That Actually Makes This Sustainable

This rotation doesn’t exist in isolation.

Behind it is organizational starting-pitching depth, layered across levels so the Mets don’t have to overextend anyone to survive the season.

Not a ranking. A coverage map.

MLB / Near-MLB

• Freddy Peralta

• Nolan McLean

• Kodai Senga

• David Peterson

• Clay Holmes

• Sean Manaea

Triple-A Coverage

• Christian Scott

• Jonah Tong

• Brandon Waddell

• Jack Wenninger

• Jonathan Pintaro

• Justin Hagenman

Double-A Pipeline

• Will Watson

• Jonathan Santucci

• Zach Thornton

• And the rest…

That’s not a list of “future aces.” It’s a list of credible innings. And that’s the point.

---

Why This Changes Everything

Because of this depth:

• Short IL stints don’t become emergencies

• Fatigue doesn’t force pitchers past their limits

• Development doesn’t get sacrificed to survive June

The Mets don’t need all of these arms to hit. They need enough of them to exist.

That’s how you avoid spirals.

---

Why This Rotation Works as a Group

Individually, none of these pitchers guarantees success.

Collectively, they don’t need to.

The Mets aren’t betting on:

• Four career years

• Perfect health

• April dominance

They’re betting that two or three normal outcomes, supported by layered depth, are enough to carry the season.

That’s how modern rotations survive years, not just starts.

---

The Bigger Picture

This rotation doesn’t scream upside. It whispers resilience - with upside potential.

And over 162 games, that usually matters more.

---

Next: why Mark Vientos still matters — and why the Mets don’t need him to become a star for this roster to work.

Reese Kaplan -- When Will the Roster Be Completed?

It’s January 31st and Spring Training begins for pitchers and catchers on February 11th, just 12 days away.  On the former the Mets have made incomplete changes to the rotation and ongoing juggling in the bullpen.  On the catcher front the team has secured the services of former Dodgers backup Austin Barnes who is a stellar receiver though not much of a hitter.  Little bit little things are coming together despite ongoing issues still not resolved.

Mack recently opined that it was Steve Cohen’s green light to empty his pockets that helped turn David Stearns’ losing offseason into a more competitive one.  Is his job done?  No, of course not.  There is still no experienced left fielder, not definition of who the DH is going to be and players at the infield corners who have never played those positions before as part of the new run prevention philosophy.

Right now everyone is waiting with bated breath to find out whether never-before-outfielder Brett Baty is going to be assigned to left field, will young rookie Carson Benge advance to a starting role out there, or will they obtain someone new lest they rely on Tyrone Taylor as an everyday member of their lineup?

The latest interesting rumor had the Mets offering up a couple of very hot prospects in Jonah Tong and Ryan Clifford to obtain another center fielder in Byron Buxton from the Minnesota Twins.  While it would certainly be welcome to add that kind of offensive and defensive player to the current mix, it seems a rather steep price to pay for someone who rarely logs a full season worth of play due to injuries, but at a tad over $15 million per season if he waives his no trade clause he would provide a three year solution in the outfield until becoming a free agent after the 2028 season. 

Many of us sighed a huge breath of relief that the San Francisco Giants offered up a two-year deal to former Met Harrison Bader.  He is a great fielder and had his finest offensive season in 2025 split between Minnesota and Philadelphia but his career numbers suggest it could be an outlier. 

Most of the other names that pop up as possible targets are either platoon types or older players not expected to do at least 150 games (think Starling Marte).  It is possible one of the undefined players like Baty or Vientos could go to land a solid outfielder but it would not be in the magnitude of Buxton though it would likely cost a bit less in salary. 

For now the club going into Spring Training has a number of things to observe.  How does Bo Bichette do his best Brooks Robinson impression?  How does Jorge Polanco do his best Keith Hernandez?  Who will win the top five starting rotation spots?  Who will make the bullpen?  Who will be on the bench?  Who will be the DH?  Who will be in left? 

The work took a long time to get to where we are today...much improved over where the club was a month ago but still not completed.  I keep watching the headlines for Mets-related changes in anticipation of the final few moves being consummated.  So far all I hear is the sound of crickets.

MACK - Top 28 Prospects - #28 - CF - Cleiner Ramirez

 

The excitement about the Mets' prospect pipeline has been building year over year as the team improves their domestic and international scouting.  Many of the Mets' picks are being discussed throughout baseball, so Mack has boiled it down to the top 28 to give the readers a glimpse into the team's future.  This series will run for 28 days, counting down from #28 to #1.  The entire list can be viewed by clicking "2026 Top 28 Prospects" on the top menu bar.

1.#28  -        CF  Cleiner Ramirez

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GROK - 

Cleiner Ramirez is a promising young outfielder prospect recently signed by the New York Mets as part of their 2026 international free agent class (the signing period opens January 15, 2026).

He's ranked as one of the top prospects in the 2026 international class. According to Baseball America, he was the #21 overall prospect in the class.

From recent discussions among prospect watchers and Mets insiders:

He's described as a smaller-built player but generates solid power despite his size.

He's solidly built and viewed as a solid to plus defender.

He transitioned from infield to center field (CF), which aligns with the Mets' needs for athletic outfield talent.

The Mets appear committed to him, even exploring trades for additional international bonus pool money after securing Asigen (who required shifting funds). This suggests Cleiner was a priority signing they wanted to protect and fund.

He's still very early in his pro career—likely debuting in the complex leagues or rookie ball in 2026—and hasn't played professional games yet under the Mets.

As an international signee from the Dominican Republic (common for top IFA talents), his development will be watched closely for his power-defense combo in center field.

For context, this is a fresh signing in the current offseason cycle, so detailed scouting reports and stats are limited until he starts playing in the system.

He's one to follow as part of the next wave of international talent joining guys like the recent draft picks and other prospects.

 

1-9-2026

Daniel Wexler                        @WexlerRules

As previously reported at Baseball America

 Mets signing 2 of the top 50 players in the class

#3 SS Wandy Asigen

#21 OF Cleiner Ramirez when signings become official on 1/15

 Cleiner Ramirez is a highly regarded international baseball prospect from Venezuela, projected as a top outfielder (OF) in the 2026 international free agent (IFA) class.

He's a 17-year-old right-handed hitter known for his excellent bat speed and potential as a power-hitting outfielder, with some sources also listing him as capable of playing infield positions (INF/OF).

As of early January 2026, multiple reports indicate that Cleiner Ramirez is set to officially sign with the New York Mets on January 15, 2026, when the 2026 international signing period opens.

He's considered one of the Mets' top targets in this class, with projections of a signing bonus around $1.3 million, and rankings place him around #23-24 in the overall 2026 international prospect list according to MLB Pipeline and Baseball America.

He's reportedly the brother of Leiner Ramirez, a shortstop who signed with the Mets in the 2024 international class but has been injury-plagued and hasn't played professionally yet.

Cleiner is often highlighted for his athleticism, bat-to-ball skills, and upside in the outfield, making him a promising addition to the Mets' farm system once the deal becomes official.

Ernest Dove - Prospect Profile: Jack Wenninger

Mets Prospect Guru, Ernest Dove, reports on one of the top pitching prospects in the New York Mets development system: Jack Wenninger

For more of Ernest's wisdom and lots of great Mets Prospect Videos subscribe to Ernest's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ernestdove.

You can also catch Ernest on X (formerly known as Twitter). 

Reese Kaplan -- What Kind of Job Has David Stearns Done?

A lof of people are praising the rebuild job David Stearns performed over this off season as a result primarily of landing Bo Bichette and Freddy Peralta.  The other additions received thus far mixed reviews as questions exist over Devin Williams’ ability to handle New York, Marcus Semien’s trend of declining offense, Jorge Polanco’s still projected role at 1st base where he’s never played before, Luis Robert, Jr.’s inconsistent offense and high price tag, and how Luke Weaver may be overpaid for two good seasons across town while many, many more before that were flat out awful. 

Then we need to look at what problems still exist even after the recent flurry of personnel moves.  We’ll temporarily forget the corner infield positions and tentatively latch onto the new truth defensively about Bichette and Polanco.  However, there is still no left fielder and no clearly identified DH.  Yes, both Brett Baty and Mark Vientos are still around but neither has a consistent role identified.  The team is also a bit too right handed at the plate and could benefit from another left handed swinger in the lineup. 

The pitching situation is another matter of debate.  Assuming Jonah Tong and Christian Scott are slated as backups in Syracuse, they still have 6 starting pitchers and need to decide how to juggle them or move one of them in a trade to become a more standard five man starting rotation.  We’ve all done the math and it still appears that David Peterson is the most marketable with a modest salary and only one year of forced payroll commitment for his acquiring team.

Many prospective trades have been floated usually for extra relief arms with one of the trio of Peterson, Baty and Vientos being sent packing in a one-for-one type of trade.  While the incoming bullpen addition would be welcome, any of these moves does not address the left field nor DH issues.

There are still players out there in free agency who could serve the outfield or DH roles.  Most starting quality outfielders are long gone off the board while role types or platoon partners exist.  

For DH pretty much any kind of solid bat could work such as Marcell Ozuna who at this stage would be a short term investment for moderate money.  Eugenio Suarez is coming off a 49 HR/118 RBI season and has yet to land anywhere.  That kind of production might even make up for his .228 batting average and about 2 weeks from Spring Training perhaps he’d be surprisingly less expensive than he anticipated.

On the pitching side Framber Valdez, Zac Gallen, Nick Martinez, Chris Bassitt, Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander are still looking for jobs.  Relievers David Robertson and Danny Coulombe are still waiting for bidders.  No one is sure

Trades, of course, can still be made and to some extent Stearns may be waiting for key Spring Training injuries on other teams to raise the value of his spare parts.  Waiting continues to be his primary strategy for roster construction.

At this point I’d certainly give him a higher grade than I would have anticipated when the door flew open and a huge multitude of players from the 2025 Mets hit the road after he did nothing successful to address the issues during the team’s long June through September tailspin.  Being charitable the best I can offer up is a B- which is an improvement but until the weird position assignments actually work and the still slew of vacancies are addressed it can’t be any higher.   

MACK - The Friday Report - Trey McGough, Yordan Rodriguez, Tobias Myers, Carson Benge

 

 

Good Morning –

The New York Mets have signed Trey McGough to a minor league contract. The pitcher has 267 strikeouts in 280.2 innings pitched throughout his minor league career.

GROK –

Trey McGough is a left-handed pitcher (LHP) recently signed by the New York Mets to a minor league contract (reported as a two-year deal in some sources).

He was born on March 29, 1998 (age 27), in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, stands 6'3" tall, and weighs around 200 lbs.

McGough was originally drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 24th round of the 2019 MLB Draft out of Mount St. Mary's University.

He has minor league experience across several organizations: Pirates, Baltimore Orioles, Chicago White Sox, and now the Mets.

His career minor league stats include a solid 3.21 ERA over 280⅔ innings, with 267 strikeouts and 93 walks (good control, with a 1.15 WHIP in reports).

He primarily worked as a reliever in the upper minors.

In 2024, he pitched in the minors (including time with Bowie Baysox, Norfolk Tides, and Charlotte Knights) and posted a strong 1.98 ERA over 81⅔ innings before retiring in May 2025 while with the White Sox's Triple-A affiliate.

He came out of retirement to sign with the Mets on January 15, 2026.

He's been assigned to the Binghamton Rumble Ponies (Double-A) as of late January 2026. This signing adds left-handed pitching depth to the Mets' system, likely as organizational relief depth rather than an immediate MLB contributor.

Repertoire

Fastball (four-seam or sinker variant) topping around 92-93 mph.

Offspeed pitches like a changeup.

Breaking balls (slider and/or curveball) in the upper 70s to low 80s.

He's a depth piece for the Mets' farm system—nothing flashy, but a low-risk add with upside if he builds on his 2024 performance.

 

 

Mets Prospect Group      @bkfan09

Love this flyer for the Mets in the Jeff McNeil trade. 2026 could be a breakout  season for Cuban Pitcher Yordan Rodriguez ($400K)

GROK –

Yordan Rodriguez is a young pitching prospect in professional baseball, currently in the New York Mets' minor league system.

He's a right-handed pitcher (RHP) born on January 29, 2008, in Cuba (listed with El Salvador, Cuba origin in some records), making him 17-18 years old as of late 2025/early 2026. Standing at 6'3" (about 190 cm) and weighing around 190 lbs, he has solid physical projection for a pitcher.

Background and Career

So Far, Rodriguez signed as an international free agent with the Oakland Athletics in January 2025 for a $400,000 bonus.

He made his pro debut in the Dominican Summer League (DSL) with the DSL Athletics in 2025, where he pitched 15.1 innings across several appearances (likely relief outings early on), posting a 2.93 ERA, solid strikeout numbers (around 11.7 K/9), and good but not elite command.

In December 2025, the Mets acquired him from the Athletics in a trade that sent veteran infielder Jeff McNeil (plus cash) to Oakland. He's now assigned to the Mets' DSL affiliate (DSL Mets Blue).

Scouting reports highlight him as a promising teenage arm with starter potential, listed among notable international prospects (e.g., top 20 in some Athletics rankings pre-trade). He's viewed as a long-term developmental project with upside due to his age and tools.

Repertoire and Stuff

His pitching arsenal stands out for someone so young, showing advanced feel and power for his level:

Fastball: Primary pitch sitting 91-95 mph, with reports of touching up to 96 mph. It's a plus-velocity offering for a 17-year-old.

Slider: A key secondary pitch, thrown in the 79-83 mph range with high spin (around 2650 rpm noted in some breakdowns), suggesting good shape and sweep potential.

Other pitches: Reports mention a curveball and changeup with good mixability and feel, supporting a starter profile rather than pure relief. The overall package combines pitchability (command/feel) with exciting stuff.

He's still very early in his career (just one pro season in rookie ball), so expect further development in velocity, consistency, and pitch refinement as he progresses through the minors.

No MLB debut yet—he's years away, but the tools make him an intriguing name to watch in the Mets' system. 

 Thomas Nestico        @TJStats

Tobias Myers (acquired by NYM) is a depth arm who spent 2025 is a hybrid role split between MLB and AAA

His carrying trait is a high-riding fastball which struggled to produce positive results in 2025 and a deep array of secondaries. Two intriguing traits the Mets can play with

MACK – Paul Articulates asked me who I thought was going to be the biggest surprise on the 2026 Mets. I told him this guy.

I’m still not sure what role he will plan but I expect Mets fans to be very happy with this “throw in” in the Freddy Peralta deal.

 

Keith Law – Top 100 Mets Prospects

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6985939/2026/01/26/top-mlb-prospects-2026-keith-law-konnor-griffin/

#18    Carson Benge    OF

2025 Ranking: NR

The Mets’ 2024 first-round pick, Benge was a two-way player at Oklahoma State who gave up pitching when he signed — smart move all around — and really took off last year after making a small adjustment at the plate to stop rolling his front ankle. He’s an excellent athlete with very quick hands and more power than his home-run total (15) would imply, getting to some more power as the season went on with plenty more to come if he continues to adjust. Because of the way he strides and lands and the start of his hand movement, he can end up having to make a huge move to get the barrel into the zone, flying open as a result and, especially early in 2025, rolling his front ankle because he can land too closed. The more he loosened that up — and he did improve it between April and June — the more he could get to his pull side without having to overexert, and he has easy plus power that way. He showed more advanced swing decisions last year than I expected, with excellent pitch recognition, although he gets way, way too aggressive with two strikes. He’s a center fielder now and could end up an above-average defender there, with plus defense in right field his absolute floor, as he has a cannon for an arm that used to produce mid-90s velocity in relief. I’m more of a believer now that I’ve seen him make some adjustments at the plate, even though there’s more work to do.

 

        TJStats – https://tjstats.ca/2026/01/27/2026-top-100-prospects/#carson-benge

        Carson Benge -

        Scouting Grades

        FV 55   Hit 55/60   Power 50/55   Decisions 55/60   Speed 55/55  

        Defense 50/55

Carson Benge solidified himself as one of the most complete prospects in baseball with an excellent pro debut season where he posted a .857 OPS across 116 games. His profile is balanced with above average tools across the board while manning the outfield. A solid 20.1% Whiff rate paired with a strong 21.9% O-Swing rate helped him maintain a 17.7% strikeout rate while walking at an elite rate. His underlying power metrics indicate he has above-average to plus raw strength, however his flatter bat path and spray tendencies may limit his slugging potential. His above average speed, good route running, and cannon of an arm greatly helps his outlook as a CF. Benge is one of the safer bets to be a MLB regular and looks poised to join the Mets early in the 2026 season.