Well Miami Marlins fans, are you of the glass half-full or glass half-empty persuasion? Or to put it more simply, just how much do you hate the New York Mets. For there's no question that the suffering that started with Miami eliminating them from the playoffs in the final weekend of the season has continued into the offseason for fans of the Metropolitans. Pete Alonso? Gone. Edwin Diaz? Not just gone, but a bleeping Dodger.
Not too concerned just yet. There's a lot of winter left, and the Mets are going to make moves. They have the money and the prospects to add elite talent. It's clear that Stearns believes the Mets' core wasn't good enough after such a disappointing season. Losing Díaz and Alonso -- on top of trading Brandon Nimmo -- is certainly tough to swallow for Mets fans because those three players were so beloved. The Mets aren't going to stand pat.
Amongst the Mets' lengthy to-do list this winter is to address a starting rotation that needs a significant overhaul after last season's collapse. So anything linking former Houston Astros ace and free agent Framber Valdez to Queens would be understandable. According to MLB insider Hector Gomez, the Mets are trying to get a six-year, $200 million deal over the finish line for the veteran right-hander, who is coming off a down year in which he went 13-11 with a 3.66 ERA.
That means significant interest in two of the top talents in Kyle Tucker and Cody Bellinger, both of whom will cost a pretty penny. Bellinger, who spent last season with the Yankees, is projected to receive a shorter-term deal of five to six years, which will come in at a value north of $140 million. Tucker, meanwhile, could secure a decade-long deal worth over $400 million.
Nimmo was drafted by the Mets 13th overall in the 2011 draft, and he's spent his entire career in the Big Apple. The outfielder began his big league career in 2016 and has slashed .262/.364/.438 with 135 home runs in 4,365 plate appearances for a 126 wRC+. His best season, at least in terms of fWAR, came in 2022. At the conclusion of that season, Nimmo signed an eight-year deal worth $162 million.
According to team president David Stearns, rookie center fielder Carson Benge is legitimately in the mix for a spot on the 2026 roster. While the Mets navigate decisions around their veteran roster and long-term core, they are also clearly committed to creating opportunities for younger talent. SNY reported that Stearns emphasized that the club must remain cognizant of rising young players when shaping the major-league team, signaling a shift toward youth development as a key part of the organization's plan.
The Mets had the right idea in making Max Scherzer the highest-salaried pitcher of his generation three years ago. It was easy to envision Scherzer as a co-ace to Jacob deGrom fronting a championship rotation. But the problem with that $130 million contract was the execution. Rather than being the final Cooperstown-worthy piece for a title run, Scherzer's Flushing legacy ultimately is one of failure.
Shortly after they were swept out of the NLCS by the dominant Los Angeles Dodgers, it came out that the Milwaukee Brewers were going to listen to trade offers regarding their ace, Freddy Peralta. Draw up the immediate links to the Mets. The 29-year-old right-hander's value could not be much higher ahead of a 2026 season in which he has a club option worth $8 million before hitting free agency the following winter.
Alonso saying he is seeking a 7 year deal is essentially him saying that he's out of Queens. So if you're Stearns, is the play to go all out for Murakami? Short-term on a Josh Naylor? Or give the keys to Clifford, strengthen up elsewhere like CF, 3B, DH to supplement the offense now you don't have Pete? Or just really go all in on your "Run Prevention" Plan, go get a Skubal or Skenes, sign Valdez or Cease and fortify the defense.
The righthander joins a slew of other Mets pitchers who underwent the procedure this year. Tylor Megill, who is under team control for two more years but could be non-tendered this offseason, Frankie Montas, Dedniel Nunez and Danny Young also had Tommy John surgery. Nunez and Young had the surgery early enough in the season to have an outside chance of pitching next year.
