Mock War Games for the Mets Offseason
Tarik Skubal (Jason Miller/Getty Images)
The Mets are 425-385 since Steve Cohen bought the club in October 2020, and they have yet to win the NL East. Cohen & Co. traded for Francisco Lindor and extended him, which at this point should be considered a successful move in hindsight. With the acquisition of Max Scherzer and a few others, Cohen was able to get 101 wins out of his club in 2022, but things fell apart after that. The front office had depleted the farm system early on in the regime to trade for Major League talent, but with David Stern, they shifted toward rebuilding the farm system. Still, it’s hard to justify missing the playoffs to carnivorous Mets fans, when you spent $765M on superstar Juan Soto just last offseason. It was clear the Mets were missing an ace, and their other starters largely ran out of gas in the second half (5.31 ERA post All Star break). Polar bear Pete is a free agent, as is closer Edwin Díaz. Steve had to pay over $86M in luxury tax this season, after paying over $97M in 2024. How long will he be willing to put up with taking financial losses having no NL division titles to show for being in the red all these years? Here is what the Mets need:
Acquire a frontline starter
Kodai Senga finished 7th in the NL Cy Young in 2023, his rookie year. He has a 3.00 ERA since coming over from the NPB, but he’s also only started 23 games in two years. Clay Holmes and David Peterson had solid seasons, while Nolan McLean dazzled with a 30.3% K rate and 60.2% GB rate in eight starts as a rookie. Nevertheless, it was clear to the Mets and the rest of the baseball world that the $340M+ roster was lacking an ace. The Mets have two paths here of course, sign or trade. Tarik Skubal, the best pitcher in the American League and arguably in the MLB, could be available in a contract year as the Tigers are unlikely to extend him. The Mets have the talent to trade and can write a big enough check to extend Tarik, but costs required could be too rich for David Stern. There are a few other options via trade, namely Freddy Peralta and Joe Ryan. Peralta is only owed $8M next year, so mid-market and small-market teams will clamor to add a frontline starter for such an affordable price. Joe Ryan has a 3.50 ERA in 306 innings over the last two seasons, and he’s under control for two more seasons. Given the extra year of eligibility, he would cost more than Freddy despite being a tier below him. The Twins will trade Joe Ryan, whether it’s this offseason, the trade deadline, or next year. The Cardinals are in a similar situation, making Sonny Gray available. However, Sonny is 36 and his 4.28 ERA is his highest in seven years.
Via free agency, Dylan Cease and Framber Valdez are two of the top options stateside. Tatsuya Imai is the big international newcomer, and probably the best fit for the Mets. While the Mets could use a guy like Cease or Framber, they can take a shot for ceiling and youth since they have plenty of starting pitcher depth and middle rotation guys like David Peterson. Imai is only 27, throws in the high nineties, and will be out of many teams’ reach due to the price tag. He’s barely over 150 pounds and only 5’9”, so there is a chance he has durability issues going forward. He’s had control issues in the NPB, but he seems to have cut down on those walks considerably in the last couple seasons. If he can throw strikes at the MLB level, he has a chance to be a Cy Young contender.
Replace Pete Alonso in the lineup (or bring him back)
From the outside, resigning Pete may seem like the obvious move here. That said, he’s a client of Scott Boras, who always challenges clubs and negotiates toughly. The negotiations last year put a sour taste in Cohen’s mouth, and it’s more likely than not that Pete is wearing different colors in 2026. It’s possible the Mets move Vientos to first and try to get a complete third baseman like Alex Bregman, but Bregman is already 32. Murakami will command more years because of his youth, but like Imai, he would give the Mets access to the Japanese market. Additionally, he’s a third baseman by trade, and would likely be a defense improvement over Pete at first base once he gets acclimated. Okamoto is another option from the NPB, he’s three years older at 29 and less prodigious, but can play third base at an adequate level. Via trade, third basemen are hard to come by right now. Nolan Arenado is coming off one of the worst seasons of his career, while the Twins are looking to trade their oft injured former number one pick, Royce Lewis. The first base market has more options– Yandy Díaz of the Rays is available with a .301/.379/.461 line over the last four seasons.
Rays Yandy Diaz Hitting 2022-2025 (Baseball Reference)
Get a center fielder
The Mets’ center fielders hit .210/.284/.314 this year, which was near the bottom of the league. The Cedric Mullins trade deadline acquisition didn’t work out, and Tyrone Taylor was brutal at the plate in 2025. Carson Benge, their first round pick in 2024, is considered the center fielder of the future. They likely need more of a stopgap veteran than a long term solution, making Luis Robert Jr. an option. He won’t cost much, since he’s not three seasons removed from his breakout season in 2023. The White Sox picked up his $20M option, which would have been a no brainer before this season. Roberts has now been mediocre in 2024 and 2025, but it’s hard not to dream of him returning to All Star form. He’s only 28 years old, and a five tool player. If he does have a big year, it’d be a home run of a trade for David Stearns and the Mets. As far as free agents, a reunion with Harrison Bader isn’t out of the question, but he’ll be expensive coming off a career year. Cedric Mullins could be brought back, but he only hit .182 in 42 games for the Metropolitans. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Mets open the checkbook for prime Trent Grisham, but I currently have him projected to their rivals in Philly.
Sign a high leverage reliever, or two
Similar to Alonso, I don’t see the Mets bringing back Díaz. I have him going to Toronto, who visibly needed a shutdown closer in the World Series. Díaz is one of the best in the league right now, but there are other options. In my top 50 free agents article last week, here is what I said on Robert Suarez; “Suarez saved 36 games last year, and closed 40 out this season. His four-seamer was 98.6 MPH this year, and his K rate was improved from 2024. 34 is often regression time for starters, but it’s really not old for a guy tasked with getting six outs at most, and usually three. The Mets are probably losing their closer and need a reliable guy to shut the door in the 9th.” Devin Williams is an option on the higher end in the free agent class, as much of his struggles in the Bronx can be attributed to a low strand rate. It wouldn’t shock me to see the Mets grab Williams or Suarez, and then grab a second tier guy like Emilio Pagán or Tyler Rogers to pitch the 8th. Via trade, Garrett Cleavinger of the Rays is an elite lefty option but I don’t see the Mets giving up prospects for relievers when they have seemingly endless cash at their disposal.
Robert Suarez Pitching 2022-2025 (Baseball Reference)
