The New York Mets are coming off one of the most frustrating seasons in recent history. On July 27, the Mets were 62-44 with a 94.2% chance of making the postseason and 54.9% to win the NL East, per Baseball Reference. A 19-35 finish to the season, including a loss in the season’s final game, resulted in another 2007-like collapse.
While the 2025 season wasn’t kind to the Mets, the offseason hasn’t offered much solace. Franchise icon Pete Alonso leads a lengthy list of departed players. With an offseason that appears to lack a cohesive vision to those outside the organization, pressure could be ramping up on the Mets’ president of baseball operations, David Stearns.
MLB Insider Ken Rosenthal seems to think so.
“The Mets, because they’ve deconstructed, they are under a great deal of pressure,” said Rosenthal on the December 26 episode of the Fair Territory podcast. “President of baseball operations David Stearns is under a great deal of pressure to show he can win with this kind of payroll. He did it in Milwaukee, but he hasn’t done it in the way the Mets have wanted so far.”
Since Stearns took over after the 2023 season, the Mets have fielded payrolls of $333.2 and $338.5 million according to Cots Contracts. In both years, the Mets have either been first or second in MLB. With the Dodgers potentially building a dynasty with a similar payroll, the pressure is on Stearns to keep up.
Recapping the New York Mets’ Offseason So Far
GettyThe defining moment of the Mets’ offseason was watching their all-time home run leader, Pete Alonso, sign with another club.
Losing franchise stalwarts Pete Alonso, Brandon Nimmo, Edwin Diaz, and Jeff McNeil certainly stings. Alonso left for a $155 million deal with the Orioles, Diaz went to the Dodgers for $69 million, while Nimmo and McNeil were dealt to the AL West.
However, it’s also important to take note of who they’ve added. Their best move this offseason was poaching Devin Williams from their crosstown rival. Despite his 4.79 ERA, the underlying metrics for Williams paint him as one of the game’s best relievers. The Mets did a great job of using the $18 million they saved, turning it into another quality reliever in Luke Weaver.
One consequence of the Nimmo trade is the addition of Marcus Semien. The trade resulted in the Mets taking on a bigger short-term salary gain, but ultimately long-term flexibility. Semien is an upgrade defensively over McNeil and offers more power, but is also 35. The primary concern is Mets are gambling on an aging player to be a key part of their lineup.
The one move that has everyone scratching their heads is the Jorge Polanco signing. Polanco agreed to a two-year, $40 million deal, with the idea of splitting time between first base and designated hitter. It’s an experiment that needs to work out, because Ryan O’Hearn was available for $29 million.
The Mets also tried to land Cardinals first baseman Willson Contreras, per The New York Post‘s Jon Heyman. Contreras ultimately went to the Red Sox in exchange for Hunter Dobbins and a pair of pitching prospects.
What Should the Mets Do for a More Successful Offseason?
GettyFramber Valdez would be the perfect free-agent addition to the Mets rotation.
The Mets still have rotation concerns going into 2026. Nolan McLean is primed to anchor their rotation for the foreseeable future, but their depth is questionable. Roster Resource projects their starting five to be McLean, David Peterson, Kodai Senga, Sean Manaea, and Clay Holmes.
However, don’t expect them to roll into the 2026 season with that rotation. In that Contreras report from above, Heyman added that the Mets are one of three teams pursuing free-agent left-hander Framber Valdez. Valdez and McLean would give the Mets a strong 1-2 punch at the top of their rotation.
With the Giants and Orioles as the other two teams, there’s no reason to be outbid. MLB Trade Rumors and the FanGraphs median crowd source predict Valdez to get a five-year deal in the $140-150 million range.
The Mets also checked in on Ketel Marte. MLB-ready pitching prospects are a strength of the Mets’ farm system, with Christian Scott, Jonah Tong, and Brandon Sproat as trade chips. However, the Diamondbacks have remained steadfast in wanting multiple MLB-ready starting pitchers headlining a superstar return.
Another free agent the Mets have been linked to is outfielder Austin Hays. Heyman reported on December 23 that the organization has discussed him internally with interest.
There is an opening in the outfield following the Nimmo trade. Carson Benge, one of the Mets’ top prospects, is a candidate. Hays would complement Benge’s left-handed bat, and gives the Mets a reliable left field option if Benge needs more time in Triple-A.
In a competitive National League East, the Mets can’t afford another season like 2025. The Mets sought out Stearns, looking for him to provide a similar impact as Andrew Friedman has had for the Dodgers. However, the results haven’t been remotely close since the two franchises clashed in the 2024 National League Championship Series. Another playoff miss could put Stearns on the hot seat.
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