A record $340MM payroll couldn't even guarantee the Mets a playoff spot, as the Reds edged New York out of a wild card berth via tiebreaker on the final day of the regular season. The near-miss was the final insult after a disastrous second half, leaving the Amazins with plenty of roster decisions and perhaps some bigger-picture questions to answer during what is sure to be a busy offseason.
Guaranteed Contracts
- Juan Soto, OF: $643.125MM through 2039 (player opt-out after 2029 season, but Mets can override opt-out by adding $40MM to final 10 years of contract)
- Francisco Lindor, SS: $192MM through 2031 ($5MM deferred annually)
- Brandon Nimmo, OF: $101.25MM through 2030
- Sean Manaea, SP: $50MM through 2027 ($7.75MM deferred annually)
- Kodai Senga, SP: $42MM through 2027 (Mets receive $15MM club option for 2028 if Senga misses at least 130 consecutive days due to elbow injury/Tommy John surgery)
- Clay Holmes, SP: $25MM through 2027 (Holmes can opt out after 2026 season)
- Jeff McNeil, 2B/OF: $17.75MM through 2026 (includes $2M buyout of $15.75MM club option for 2027)
Option Decisions
- Edwin Diaz, RP: $18.5MM player options for 2026 and 2027 seasons (Diaz must decide on both options this offseason; if he remains, Mets hold $17.25MM club option for 2028 season with $1MM buyout)
- Pete Alonso, 1B: $24MM player option for 2026 (Alonso has already stated he is opting out)
- Frankie Montas, SP: $17MM player option for 2026
- A.J. Minter, RP: $11M player option for 2026
- Brooks Raley, RP: $4.75MM club option for 2026 ($750K buyout)
- Drew Smith, RP: $2MM club option for 2026
2026 financial commitments (assuming Diaz and Alonso opt out): $201.625MM
Total future commitments (assuming Diaz and Alonso opt out): $1,105,875,000
Arbitration-Eligible Players (service time in parentheses; projected salaries courtesy of MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz)
- Luis Torrens (5.105): $2.2MM
- Tyrone Taylor (5.093): $3.6MM
- David Peterson (5.089): $7.6MM
- Nick Madrigal (5.087): $1.35MM
- Tylor Megill (4.031): $2.6MM
- Max Kranick (3.011): $1MM
- Huascar Brazoban (2.170): $1.3MM
- Francisco Alvarez (2.164): $2.4MM
- Reed Garrett (2.143): $1.4MM
- Non-tender candidates: Madrigal, Kranick, Megill, Garrett
Free Agents
- Diaz (if he opts out), Alonso, Starling Marte, Ryan Helsley, Cedric Mullins, Gregory Soto, Tyler Rogers, Jesse Winker, Ryne Stanek, Griffin Canning
In almost a direct inverse of their magical 2024 season, the 2025 Mets looked like arguably baseball's best team over the first two and a half months before the bottom fell out. The club was 45-24 at the end of play on June 12, but Friday, June 13 ended up being the start of a Citi Field horror movie --- New York posted just a 38-55 record the rest of the way, leading to increased panic in Queens as it became apparent that the season was slipping away.
Several coaches are already on the way out, including pitching coach Jeremy Hefner and hitting coaches Eric Chavez and Jeremy Barnes. But, manager Carlos Mendoza is staying, and president of baseball operations David Stearns isn't being fired two seasons into his tenure after owner Steve Cohen pursued Stearns for years. Cohen has already issued a public apology for how the Mets' season ended, and it remains to be seen how the owner will react in the face of such a disappointing result.
If you're assuming the reaction will be "Cohen spends another fortune in free agency," that can't be ruled out. Last winter's record-breaking Juan Soto contract notwithstanding, Stearns' usual strategy in free agency is to aim for shorter-term and relatively less expensive deals on the open market. This approach simply didn't work in 2025, and during his wrap-up press conference earlier this week, Stearns took responsibility for not doing enough to reinforce his pitching staff either last winter or during the season when the rotation fell apart.
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Bellinger for $800MM.
Exactly $200MM higher payroll than the Reds, what a shame.
Keep Canning. Let the rest walk There are still really great players on the team. Getting new coaches will help.
Getting new coaches will help. Unless, of course, it doesn’t.
Senga to pen or if contract allows, opt out? Can’t rem his contract structure. Holmes should be traded before arm gives out next year.
That leaves Peterson, McLean, manaea, sproat, new top end guy.
Tong, canning to minor contract, and three more canning like guys. All minors as backups.
Sproat and Tong haven’t proved that they’re ready. Start them in AAA next year.
New ace is McLean
I agree on a new Ace but Holmes to the BP , I would try and trade Senga and Peterson , try to trade for Skenes ( Sproat, Peterson, Vientos and a minor leaguer) than sign Framber Valdez,
Rotation: Skenes, Valdez, McLean, Manaea and Tong
They would have at least a dozen other teams competing for Skenes if the Pirates make him available.
I love when people try to buy a guy like Skenes with their 3rd best pitching prospect, an oft injured starter with one solid year, a struggling infielder and random prospect. You aren’t getting Skenes for the B guy (ie Vientos over Baty or Sprout instead of McLean).
Start with Baty, McLean and your top 2 prospects, that’s a start for Skenes.
While I agree the proposal is absurd, McLeann is probably the one (and only) prospect they won’t move, even for Skenes.
Patriot: *SPROAT. He’s not the jolly green giant. 🤣
I see Holmes moving to the bullpen or getting traded is he’s not happy with that move. Alonso is going to determine what the appetite is for a SP, but right now the ace is McLean and that’s a good thing. I see the rotation right now as:
McLean
Peterson
Senga
Manaea
Sproat
Close things out:
Holmes
Diaz
Not sure if they go after an ace with what’s tied up (not saying they shouldn’t) and money will probably get heavily allocated to the bullpen. 3B and CF need to be addressed possibly 1B if Alonso doesn’t return.
Trades are always an option, but I see a limit in impact if it involves any of their pitching prospects since Cohen is a believer in the development of their own. One interesting and potential player I can see coming back in a deal for multiple reasons…
DeGrom.
Ace. Elder mentor. Expensive (Rangers looking to drop), could be cheap due to his contract, and lastly Is NY proven. Bring him back and I can see Alonso signing due to FOMO (joking…sort of).
DeGrom clearly doesn’t wish to play in NYC and won’t return of his own accord. He made his choice in free agency, as he had every right to do.
Getting rid of Hefner will help with the walks, he couldn’t have cared less that no one could throw a strike. Mendoza still sucks but hopefully new coaches make him less embarrassing. He managed them into so many losses. Stanek walked everyone. Garrett walks everyone.
Keller didn’t finish poorly and would be a #2 likely with Mets.
2carlos15,
Very silly comments on Hefner..
Reed Garrett is facing 1, if not two elbow surgeries – one to move a nerve, and also has torn UCL.
The Mets should fortify their bullpen, that should be the top priority. Honestly, I’d resign Diaz, Helsly (even though he did bad for them but I’d take chance, he throws 104mph), Tyler Rogers, and Gregory Soto. Give these guys a full season, sign some veterans, and they would easily have a top 3 bullpen
I agree on Helsley. He started coming around at the end. But I’m not sure he wants to be here. Some of these guys are going to walk because of all the changes to the coaching staff. The unknown can be worse than the guys already in the room.
Helsley will walk because he wants a closer gig. I’m pretty sure he’ll get at least a 3-year offer for say $14M+. I think the only way he stays is if Diaz gets too expensive to retain.
@JoeBrady I honestly don’t think his market will be that much different then Devin Williams. Both elite closers coming off of down years, with Williams probably having a better finish. Personally, I think both players are going to want to get some form of a 2 year deal with an opt out, probably as you said in the 14 million per year range, but I can even see them getting less
So does he walk if the Mets offer that same deal to be a setup guy? I doubt very seriously that Diaz gets to free agency even if he does opt out. The Mets aren’t letting him walk.
Roll call! Yoenis Cespedes!
Diaz may get an extension before he can opt-out.
That would be a great move if that happens
Off-season Outlook: LOLMETS
They don’t need a total makeover, but they do need to acquire a reliable #1 or #2 starter. If McLean doesn’t get hurt spinning the ball he could be that eventually. They should re-sign Diaz if his demands aren’t too unreasonable even though he’s lost a few miles off his fastball. I’m wondering if they can turn Senga into an effective reliever, he just doesn’t seem to have the makeup for a starter. And Peterson is the most puzzling unless he just hit a wall because of the innings, and I might consider him for the BP too. Tong needs more time in AAA, but maybe he’ll be ready by the ASB. Otherwise I think that Holmes, McLean, Sproat, and a bounce back season from Manaea will be fine with a couple of additions.
They have plenty of hitting, it just needs to be more consistent. If Pete and Boras start out looking for $200 mil I’d move on right away to find a glove first option who can give them 25 HR and call it a day, and put the leftover $$ into pitching. I would even consider bringing back Marte on a 1 year deal as DH/bench bat because of the intangibles he brings.
I think that it’s all very fixable, and doesn’t require a total overhaul.
I like the Senga and Marte off season potential moves. If Senga doesn’t want to prepare for bullpen work they should move on and come to an acceptable agreement to let him go back to Japan. Same with Marte. If he wants to play in the field, let him walk. Let Alonso walk, and sign O Hearn. Alonso is a not a team player. There was a lot smoke about Alonso last year about not being a team player. He was advised to keep it under the radar this year though.
What are you talking about lol. Love to hear the source for that one.
a Glove first 1B that has 25 HR and available? I dont think there were even 10 1B that hit 25 HR last season in total let alone available and good with the glove. Outside of Alonso the only ones with 20 HR+ that might be available Walker Contreras in trade or I believe Naylor is a FA.
@Flyby As for me, I just want a GG CFer with a .900 OPS.
On a cheap one year deal.
@SteveAdamsEsq As a feel pitcher, Senga’s worst innings are his first and third inning.
He was leading the majors in ERA among all qualifiers as of Pete’s bad thrown on June 12th. That’s the opposite of a guy you want to turn into a reliever—his highest, best use is to give him as many innings as he can pitch. If nothing else, if you found he could only go four innings a start, you’d make him a four inning Opener.
That the Mets shoved him back onto the roster on July 11th embarrassed the entire organization. He wasn’t remotely ready, but Stearns had bungled the starting pitching so badly they threw Senga into the breach because there wasn’t anyone else and Stearns wanted to preserve McLean’s rookie status in the hope of getting a tweener pick in 2026. It was ridiculous, and it was why the Mets missed the 2025 postseason.
They did something similar with Manaea, having him pitch with bone chips in his throwing elbow, and with Peterson, who had a dead arm after 130 innings—but they kept shoving him to the mound even so.
I would have prescribed an off-season outlook that consists of heavy drinking.
Vientos Mauricio and Acuna are all out of options after this season. I believe Vientos was already out of options but dont quote me on that. Baty will be out of options as well.
Acuna doesn’t have options left, but still keep him around on the bench. Mauricio with his saved option and Vientos should help in a trade for pitching.
Why not Soto at 1st base?
@Rob66 If he’s willing to do it, is the big question.
Soto according to Statcast is one of the worst corner OFers in MLB, with only Nick Castellanos noticeably worse.
The SBs in 2025 show Soto has the brains and discipline to pull off the switch. That he’s now as slow as Alonso won’t be a hindrance at 1B. Soto’s got the arm strength and accuracy to make even the 3-6-3 DP fairly easily. Maybe he’ll feel sufficiently embarrassed as an OFer to volunteer to make the move.
Either way, he’d significantly improve the Mets defense by being roughly average at 1B while leaving room for a competent defender in RF.
Uncle Stevie thought his money could win his championships …. Wrong!
@extreme113 –
That’s not quite accurate.
The plan since he bought the team is to build the farm for long term success, and complement with free agents. Mets have been relying on free agents while waiting for farm to develop which it now is. ESPN in August ranked it #1 even after trading 10 prospects at the deadline.
I think they need one starter who can avg 6+ innings, even if not a #1. The more interesting issue to me not discussed here yet but was discussed in end of season wrap ups is how do they ensure a better defense on the field in 2026. Definitely a priority.
@RodKanehlJesseGonder the big issue is who is really available? If you take the worst 5 teams, Pirates, Whitesox, Rockies, Nationals, and Angels who is an ace like pitcher that is available? Paul Skenes? I doubt the Pirates would trade him. The only option besides Skenes is Mackenzie Gore that would intice me
Move Soto to 1B, if he’ll do it.
That improves two positions significantly. Bring in Benge in CF and pair him with someone like Bader (or go get the real thing), while bringing in Williams and supporting him with McNeil, giving you young, plus gloves in center and at second.
You’re stuck with Nimmo in LF, but he was average there according to Statcast, and Alvy’s defense is probably around average now. The big key is not bringing back Alonso with his demand to play in the field, and moving Soto to a position (1B) he’s actually suited to.
Baty at 3B and Lindor at SS at 32 will be a little above average on the left side of the IF making the team above average but not great in the field. Who they’ll get to play RF will make a significant difference, and it also lets them play two CFers in CF and RF in late innings—something they can’t really do with Soto.
Very thoughtful comments Jack. Agree with most. With Benge unproven and Bader just an avg hitter, the OF offense could take a hit. I’m not sure they would move Soto to 1B in year 2 of 15 yr contract but it’s an interesting idea. Not re-signing Pete could be a bad optics move with the fan base. Maybe move Pete to DH if he’s willing? Put Clifford at 1st?
Bats are fine ,, pitching stinks except McLean
–To restore 2024’s chemistry a lot of Mets fans want to trade away everyone except Soto and Lindor when the only players of note missing from the 2025 iteration who were present in 2024 were JDM, Iglesias, and the non-performing Winker. If chemistry was the problem, you only need to add 2-3 players of the right type to fix the team—you don’t have to get Nimmo to waive his NTC, you don’t need to dump the useful Squirrel for a middle reliever, and so on.
–Jett and Benge have yet to succeed in AAA. That’s not a prerequisite, but both have been bad enough there that it’s an open question whether they’re ready to move to MLB in 2026 even with good STs.
The Mets could go with a Benge / Bader tandem in CF, with the understanding that Benge will probably supplant Bader sooner or later, while Taylor comes back exclusively as the 5th OFer. The Mets can also go with Williams as their primary 2Bman, with McNeil on hand to take playing time as warranted by Jett’s performance.
— Pete’s line from May 6th through the end of the season was .253/.311/.485 for an OPS of .796 those last 5 months, during which he was worth less than 1 bWAR thanks to the bad OBP and defense. If that’s the guy you want to pay $150 million to, you deserve everything that happens to you.
If the Mets sign Alonso, they’re not actually signing Alonso. They’re signing the upgrade he offers for his age 31-35 seasons over what Ryan Clifford would produce, where the average upgrade projects to something less than 1 WAR per season over 5 years. If you want to get that for $125-140m, see the end of the previous graf.
—-In the overall, the Mets need to…: figure if Soto’s willing to move to 1B or otherwise solve the position, integrate Benge and Williams into the MLB roster, add a TOR capable of pitching 180 innings, build most of a bullpen including a closer, figure out if they can get 120 innings from Peterson in 2026 or if the dead arm they gave him will last well into the new seasion, and figure out how to move on from Nimmo in LF over the next several seasons.
McLean, TOR in trade or FA, and Holmes make for a good 1-2-3. If Manaea’s healthy he’s a solid MOR. Senga won’t bring back enough in trade to compensate for his upside, but they shouldn’t count on him as more than rotation depth. Sproat might be ready in May or June, Tong by late summer. They rate to be well fixed for starting pitching but they do need that durable TOR addition.
After watching Stearns’ bullpen work in 2024 and 2025 I expect to be horrified again in 2026. That Cohen didn’t compel him to hire an experienced GM with a pedigree in pitching is a real shame, and it’s going to hamstring the Mets again. .
Sign Littel, trade one of Benge/Jett for Lodolo, Trade Sproat or Tong for Hoerner
Let Alonso and Diaz walk.
Trade for Fairbanks and Crooks, sign Naylor.