The New York Mets and President of Baseball Operations David Stearns have been plenty busy so far this offseason, following one of the more disappointing seasons in recent franchise history. Almost the entire coaching staff, but for manger Carlos Mendoza, has been replaced, and franchise legend Brandon Nimmo has been too. A shocking November, indeed, for a team that missed the playoffs by one game. The team payroll stands at just around $260 million, after all salary arbitration figures and trades are accounted for. So far, the newest additions have been former Rangers second baseman Marcus Semien and former Yankees and Brewers closer Devin Williams. Semien should help stabilize the clubhouse with his leadership qualities and the Mets’ shaky infield defense. Williams’ official role is not known at this point, with the Mets still chasing longtime closer Edwin Diaz, but Williams will help to shore up the back of the bullpen in Queens, despite what was an unlucky season in the Bronx.
Before I start off with the signings or trades I make and for what, I will begin by moving on from Jeff McNeil, Sean Manaea and David Peterson. All three have enjoyed good seasons as Mets but have been too inconsistent to rely on. Jeff has come under increased scrutiny of late for a perceived strained relationship with star shortstop Francisco Lindor. He also could be entering the final year of an extension he signed years earlier. To move the $16 million owed to him in 2026, I would eat half of the contract – or about $8 million. Manaea seemed to be pitching with an injury in 2025 and says he has recovered but I think he would be a fine fit with his former San Francisco Giants ball club so I would also cover half of his contract. He is owed $20 million next season, making that number $10 million. The Giants have already balked at handing a big contract to a free agent arm and Manaea, a player they have familiarity with, at $20-25 million for two years is quite the bargain for them or anyone. David Peterson is owed a projected $8 million in his final year of arbitration. I would offer to pay half of that deal as well because he will be headed to Kansas City with Jeff McNeil. After these moves, the Mets can shave $22 million from what was projected to be a $260 million payroll by Spotrac, giving us a new $238 million price tag before starting this exercise.
What are the Mets getting back for McNeil and Peterson? Well, it would have to include more but I am targeting lefty Cole Ragans. The other piece that would go back to the Royals is shortstop and center fielder Jett Williams – the Mets’ number one prospect . The Semien trade blocks the path at second base for Williams, for the three years that Semien will be a Met for and the emergence of both AJ Ewing and Carson Benge does the same at center field. He is a great prospect, no doubt, but you have to give to get. McNeil slots in perfectly at second base for KC and Peterson fits right into the Royal rotation to replace Ragans. Two former all stars for a combined $12 million, to go with a major league ready and top 50 prospect in all of baseball is not bad at all. In Ragans, the Mets get a diet/lite version of Garrett Crochet and Tarik Skubal, which is darn good. Ragans is someone you have to look under the hood for as he was one of the unluckiest pitchers, not just for last season but in years, with an expected ERA and FIP two runs lower than his actual ERA. Ragans broke out in 2024 but couldn’t stay healthy this year, which is why he is even in discussions to be moved. With only $12 million total owed to him in 2026 and 2027, he is also one of the biggest bargain contracts in the sport after he had his seasons of arbitration bought out. To me, this is the rjght play instead of paying $30 million to Framber Valdez and giving up a pick. For this reason, I would also go after $8 million ace Freddy Peralta, if Ragans cannot be had. Interestingly, I think the same package of McNeil, Peterson and Williams would get a deal done with Milwaukee, if the Mets pay down their contracts as they can and honestly should.
Now that an ace has been acquired for under $10 million, whether it’s Peralta or Ragans, the Mets need one more front-end starter and that pitcher for me is Japanese righty Tatsuya Imai. Imai, favored by some to be a Giant before they splashed water on the possibility (which made me think of Manaea as an option for them), is as confident a player as it gets. He has proudly stated his desire to defeat Shohei Ohtani and the Dodgers, and his belief that the NPB was no longer challenging enough for him because of the hitters there no longer trying to hit home runs off him. I would give him a contract worth $200 million over eight years, which sounds like a lot, but is not even two thirds of what Yoshinobu Yamamoto got in 2023. That comes out to a $25 million average annual value for someone who is only 27 years old. He has similar pitch characteristics to Joe Ryan, who the Twins want the world for. I am aware that Imai has stated that he wants to go to a team with no other Japanese players on it and the Mets having Kodai Senga but Senga is quiet and reserved, so Imai shouldn’t have much of an issue with him, although it is likely Senga is moved next week. To who, I do not know but it would be tough to get me to sell low on a pitcher who had a 3.00 ERA in a season where he ”struggled.” One of the few deals I would take for him is from the Orioles, who are looking for cheap pitching, and for Colton Cowser. Cowser is a plus defender and has a similar swing and stance to Nimmo. Getting Ragans and Imai for a combined $30 million next season without sacrificing the farm or picks is hard to beat. Should Imai not sign, I would set my eyes on Michael King and offer him the same AAV of $25M for 4 years. If that also is not possible, a trade for Luis Castillo is sensible!
The rotation then looks like this:
Cole Ragans (Freddy Peralta, if not)
Tatsuya Imai (Michaek King, if not)
Nolan McLean
Kodai Senga
Clay Holmes
Sproat/Tong/Scott
The front four all have ace potential, if they can still healthy, and Clay Holmes is one of the best backend starters in the league. Not putting pressure on Nolan McLean to be the savior of this staff can help him reach his potential and not relying on Senga to be one either will help Kodai too. Brandon Sproat and Jonah Tong are still important parts of the future, but could use some more seasoning in AAA. Christian Scott needs time coming back from injury. The rest of the staff, meaning the bullpen, should be straightforward to figure out. Edwin Diaz must be back and signing Devin Williams was a great move for negotiations with him. Diaz and Williams would be as lethal an eighth and ninth inning combo as it gets and I would sign Diaz for 5 years and $100 million. He has settled into being a closer in New York City, which, as Devin saw, is not easy. The Mets should also bring back Tyler Rogers for 2 years and $20 million, or a yearly salary of $10 million. Diaz, Williams and Rogers all have unique looks with hard to pick up deliveries based on deception. Add Brooks Raley and A.J. Minter, and this a special pen, with five arms capable of shutting you down, provided health of course. Signing Diaz and Rogers would take another $30 million, and we have fixed our pitching staff for $60 million by welcoming two elite starters and two elite relievers.
The bullpen then looks like this:
Edwin Diaz
Devin Williams
Tyler Rogers
A.J. Minter
Brooks Raley
Now onto the offense. Or should I say position players? David Stearns has made abundantly clear that the Mets will be prioritizing defense next season and he was not bluffing – as his swap of Brandon Nimmo for Marcus Semien shows. Semien, of course, just won the Gold Glove at second base, and is widely considered to be among the best defensive infielders in MLB. The beauty of this trade is that he will not have to provide much value with his bat for Marcus to be worth it but I think there is still a lot of bat there, away from Globe Life because of how hard he works. Nimmo was traded to escape his contract but also his defense in left field. With such a dynamic middle infield defensively with Lindor and Semien, bringing back Pete Alonso to play 1B, where he is not adept at, other than scooping the ball, seems ideal but I would sign Cody Bellinger to play first base. This does not mean I let Pete go, however. Quite the opposite really. I get Alonso to DH instead since I think he can become even better there. When he is not having to focus on being playable at 1B, he will get to prepare and spend a lot more time thinking about his at bats. The best thing to happen to Kyle Schwarber was this and he has aged beautifully because of it. What I fail to understand is teams falling head over heels to offer four to five years for Schwarber but not for Pete.
The contract to steal Bellinger from the Yankees should be six years, $150 million and five years, $150 million for Alonso to keep him a Met. The two are perfect together and for the Mets situation. Should there be injury to Mets outfielders, Bellinger can easily shift to the outfield and Alonso to first base. If the Mets want the best defense possible, they should also move Juan Soto to left field. It is a better spot for him with his weak but accurate arm. Top prospect Carson Benge can play right field as Benge used to pitch and his cannon arm is best in there. So who plays center? That would be Mets trade deadline target Luis Robert. Robert has not been consistent with much, but he can still play a fantastic center field. Going to the White Sox is Mark Vientos, who has become the face of bad Mets defense. Vientos would get ample playing time with the White Sox and be able to reach his potential in Chicago where he would not be fighting for at bats and playing time, like PCA did. Brett Baty played a solid third base this past year and a left to right infield of Baty, Lindor, Semien and Bellinger would be a vast improvement. An outfield alignment from left to right of Soto, Robert and Benge is also a significant upgrade from what has been out there recently. Chicago is not paying many players so they should have no problem sending $10 million.
The other reason for Bellinger at first base in 2026 is that it is not going to be permanent. When prospects like Ryan Clifford and Jacob Reimer are ready later next year or in 2027, they can take first base and the Mets can easily move Bellinger out to right field with Benge in center since Luis Robert will be a free agent following 2026. This works out for everyone.
The lineup looks like this:
SS Lindor
LF Soto
DH Alonso
1B Bellinger
CF Robert
3B Baty
C Alvarez
RF Benge
2B Semien
In an ideal world, Benge starts the season in AAA, especially since he struggled there, but with the Prospect Promotion Incentive, it makes sense for him to break camp with the team provided he holds his own in the spring. He would only hit 8th so there would not be too much pressure on him, with the same going for Semien hitting 9th. This is a strong offensive lineup, with lefty and righty balance. It adds $25 million to the payroll for Bellinger, $30 million for Alonso and $10 million for Robert: three MVP caliber, 3, 4, 5 hitters for $65 million. With the rotation, bullpen and offense all completed, the Mets would be adding a combined $125 million in payroll for the 2026 season with the additions of Cole Ragans, Tatsuya Imai, Edwin Diaz, Tyler Rogers, Cody Bellinger, Pete Alonso and Luis Robert, along with Marcus Semien and Devin Williams. The payroll would then be around $360 million, or about $15 million more than Opening Day last year and a trade of Senga would result in that same 2025 payroll. If $125 million seems like too much to spend in one offseason, the Mets spent $160 million on Juan Soto, Sean Manaea, Pete Alonso, Clay Holmes, Frankie Montas, AJ Minter, Jesse Winker, Ryne Stanek and Griffin Canning last winter. A $360 million payroll would be $55M less than the $415 million spent by the LA Dodgers this past season.
And with that, happy Winter Meetings Eve, everyone!
The Draftnik 