Reese Kaplan -- The Clock is Ticking and Much Needs to be Done

Mack is pretty confident that what you see is likely what you’re going to get and 2026 is a transition/practice year to line up for competitive play in 2027.  That conclusion is a valid one but as the rose-colored glasses wearing friends keep telling me, it’s still six weeks to Spring Training while it is entirely possible a lot of things can happen between now and then.

First of all, let’s take a look briefly at the well known needs.  The Mets may or may not be done at first base with Jorge Polanco and/or Mark Vientos.  They now have Marcus Semien at age 35 playing second base.  Superstar Francisco Lindor returns to play shortstop and the mighty optimists believe that Brett Baty is the 26 year old answer to man third.  Francisco Alvarez hopefully with healthy hands returns behind the plate.  Juan Soto hits very well and tries hard not to embarrass himself in right field.

For now the center field and left field positions are very much up in the air.  Everyone this side of former a Milwaukee Brewers executive respects Tyrone Taylor as a 4th or 5th outfielder but not as a starter.  Currently there is no one slated for left field at all.

On the pitching side of things it’s pretty grim.  How many of you remember the early season injuries or late season necessity to promote not one, not two but three minor leaguers out of both desperation and need when the known starting rotation imploded?  The plan going into 2026 right now includes that same starting rotation the Mets used in the middle of the year.  You have in no particular order Sean Manaea, Kodai Senga, David Peterson, Clay Holmes and the only successful September call-up, Nolan McLean.  Everyone seems to like the latter two options but have serious questions about the first three.  Not a single starting pitcher has been added to the mix.

In the bullpen things are better than they were last year is indeed everyone is healthy and performs as expected. Devin Williams had a highly forgettable 2025 season but was certainly among the best in the game for his entire career before that.  A.J. Minter is a formidable pitcher who hopefully is ready to pitch regularly.  Brooks Raley when healthy has been a great player for the Mets.  The latter day Luke Weaver posted decent numbers for the Yankees while being horrific prior to that.  Huascar Brazoban may be the pitcher he was with the Marlins or he could continue to be the same as he’s been with the Mets.  The remaining few slots are AAAA players who could get innings in blowouts but not likely to make significant contributions. 

So who’s still out there in free agency that could provide notable contributions to scoring runs?  Again in no particular order:

• Cody Bellinger
• Kyle Tucker
• Luis Arraez
• Bo Bichette
• Alex Bregman
• Eugenio Suarez
• Harrison Bader
• Marcell Ozuna

On the pitching side of the equation there are many options if you feel like digging deep into your pockets to pay for what might or might not make sense:

•  Framber Valdez
•  Ranger Suárez
•  Nick Martinez
•  Chris Bassitt
•  Zac Gallen
•  Zack Littell
•  Patrick Corbin
•  Erick Fedde
•  Justin Verlander
• David Robertson
• Jakob Junis
• Tyler Kinley

Yeah, trades are going to have to be made.