Mets Still Looking To Add To Rotation, Outfield

Bo Bichette was a somewhat unexpected addition to the Mets roster, so much of the team’s original offseason wishlist remains in place even after Bichette’s three-year, $126MM deal with New York earlier this week.  According to The Athletic’s Will Sammon, the Mets remain on the hunt for rotation help, as well as “a versatile outfielder who can handle center field and support the corner spots.”

Looking at the list of available free agent outfielders, Mets target Cody Bellinger is the ideal fit for the team’s needs.  Sammon reports that the Mets are still in on Bellinger, but only for the type of shorter-term (and presumably higher average annual value) contract Bichette received.  This could be an issue since the hang-up between Bellinger and the Yankees seems to be a matter of contract length, with Bellinger wanting a longer deal than the five-year pact in the $155MM range that the Yankees reportedly have on the table.

Bellinger’s first two free agent contracts were a one-year deal with the Cubs worth $17.5MM in guaranteed money, and then a three-year, $80MM deal with Chicago that included opt-outs after each of the first two seasons.  Bellinger passed on his first opt-out opportunity but changed teams anyway last winter when the Cubs traded him to the Yankees, and he then opted out last fall in the wake of a 4.9 fWAR season that saw him hit .272/.334/.480 with 29 homers over 656 plate appearances for the Bronx Bombers.

It isn’t a surprise that Bellinger is looking for some stability with his next deal, and coming off a solid platform season, the former NL MVP and agent Scott Boras have been aiming high in search of a seven-year deal.  Whether the Yankees, Mets, or any team will match that ask remains to be seen, but in the Mets’ case, it would run counter to the team’s recent preference to sign players to shorter-term contracts.  Perhaps a very large AAV (i.e. Bichette’s deal, or the four-year, $220MM deal the Mets reportedly offered to Kyle Tucker) would get Bellinger to budge, though if so, he could potentially see if the Yankees would also offer a similar pact if Bellinger has a preference to just return to his former team instead of another change of scenery.

Among other free agent outfielders, Harrison Bader is the only option that can truly be a defensive asset in center field.  On the trade front, Sammon suggests the Astros’ Jake Meyers, the Cardinals’ Lars Nootbaar, or White Sox center fielder Luis Robert Jr. could be possibilities for the Mets, and both Nootbaar and Robert have been linked to New York already this winter.

Bellinger could also chip in at first base when he isn’t in the outfield.  With Francisco Lindor returning at shortstop, the Mets’ revamped infield will also consist of Marcus Semien at second base, Bichette at third base for the first time in his pro career, and Jorge Polanco at first base for the first time in his pro career (save for one late-game cameo with Seattle last season).  The designated hitter spot is open, so any of these veterans could be given the occasional DH day for partial rest and to give any of the Mets’ backups some playing time.

Sammon writes that New York views Brett Baty as a candidate to bounce around the diamond as a backup at second and third base, left field, and some first base if necessary.  Mark Vientos, Luisangel Acuna, and Ronny Mauricio are also on hand as further infield depth.  Any of the depth options could be dealt, of course, if the Mets view trades over bigger-ticket free agent signings as a better way to address their needs.

Turning to the pitching front, Sammon cites the Nationals’ MacKenzie Gore and the Royals’ Kris Bubic as two starters who could be “trade possibilities” for the Amazins, “though both are considered long shots” to be acquired.  Within a Mets rotation full of health question marks and inexperienced arms, Bubic or especially Gore could be a stabilizing force.

Gore has been more good than great over his three seasons with Washington and might still have more upside, while the 2025 season represented the first time Bubic truly looked like a frontline arm.  Bubic posted a 2.55 ERA, 24.4% strikeout rate, 8.2% walk rate and 47.2% ground ball rate over 116 1 /3 innings with Kansas City last year, before a rotator cuff strain cost him the last two months of the season.  Gore is arbitration-controlled through the next two seasons, while Bubic is a free agent next winter.

Nats president of baseball operations Paul Toboni is known to be asking for a ton in return for Gore, and it could be that the Mets might have to pay a particular premium since they are one of the Nationals’ NL East rivals.  Bubic’s impending free agency has made him perhaps the most logical trade candidate out of the Royals’ group of starters, but the outfield-needy Mets don’t match up too well with a K.C. team that also needs outfield help.  One of New York’s infielders could theoretically be a fit for the Royals at second base, but the Royals appear to be giving Jonathan India a shot at a bounce-back year.

The door isn’t necessarily closed on the Mets signing a prominent free agent starter, though one might expect that the team would again prefer such a pitcher on a shorter-term contract.  For pitchers like Framber Valdez (who has been linked to the Mets) or Zac Gallen who rejected a qualifying offer, the Mets would need to surrender two 2026 draft picks and an additional $1MM in international draft pool money to sign either player.  New York already gave up that bounty to sign another qualified free agent in Bichette, and Sammon says the Mets wouldn’t be entirely adverse to giving up more QO-related penalties again for Valdez or Gallen, if the money was right.