OT: New York Mets 2025-2026 Off Season Thread
- Thread starter Knight Shift
- Start date
It's time for my annual postseason Mets roster analysis, where we look how the season ending 40 man roster is constituted. It's actually 48, as it includes the 60 day IL. Kinda long, but please stay with me.
I) PLAYERS UNDER CONTRACT (9)
Clay Holmes
Francisco Lindor
Sean Manaea
Jeff McNeil
A.J. Minter**
Frankie Montas**
Brandon Nimmo
Kodai Senga
Juan Soto
** Player option which I assume will be exercised.
Much has been written about all the money coming off the payroll. That may be true, but there's still a ****-ton of money still on. Almost $200 million. ($195.8M to be exact, using Luxury Tax Base as the metric.) To put into perspective, that would rank 15th in MLB total payroll. That's for nine guys, one of whom won't play.
I'm looking forward to Minter's return to top form. We really could use him. Everyone else is pretty much a known commodity, for better or worse. Mostly better. McNeil and Senga may be possible trade candidates, depending on how much money Cohen is willing to eat.
II) PLAYERS WITH CLUB OPTIONS (2)
Brooks Raley
Drew Smith
Mets have a $4.5M option on Raley which IMO is an absolute no-brainer. This will be the first roster decision they will need to make, and possibly the easiest. They have a $2M option on Smith. I guess their decision will depend on how they think his rehab is going.
III) FREE AGENTS (10)
Pete Alonso**
Griffin Canning
Edwin DIaz**
Ryan Helsley
Starling Marte
Cedric Mullins
Tyler Rogers
Gregory Soto
Ryne Stanek
Jesse Winker
** Player opt-out which I assume will be exercised.
Obviously the key guys here are Alonso and Diaz. Alonso will be back if Stearns and Cohen show him the love, but I am not sure they will. My guess is whoever offers five years gets him. I expect Diaz to return. I wouldn't be surprised if they negotiate an extension before he gets to free agency. The other player of interest on that list is Rogers. Although I suspect he left his heart in San Francisco, and will return there. Maybe they take a flyer on Canning again. Could do worse I guess.
IV) ARBITRATION ELIGIBLE (9)
Francisco Alvarez
Huascar Brazoban
Reed Garrett
Max Kranick
Nick Madrigal
Tylor Megill
David Peterson
Tyrone Taylor
Luis Torrens
Peterson and Taylor will certainly be tendered, as will the two catchers. I'm guessing Brazoban will too. The other guys are all injured or coming off injury and I have no idea what the Mets will decide to do.
V) PRE-ARB TEAM CONTROL (18)
Luisangel Acuna
Brett Baty
Alex Carrillo
Justin Hagenman
Ronny Mauricio
Nolan McLean
Dedniel Nunez
Jonathan Pintaro
Dylan Ross
Hayden Senger
Christian Scott
Brandon Sproat
Jonah Tong
Mark Vientos
Brandon Waddell
Austin Warren
Danny Young
Jared Young
Interesting list. You've got:
Obviously this list is not complete. There are guys who are not yet on the 40, some of whom you know, some you don't (unless you have been reading @Zak57 reports!). But by this time next year, you will know them. Or maybe you will learn of them when/if they are traded.
Anyway, this list of 48 will be culled to about 30, to allow for:
Thanks for staying with this!
I) PLAYERS UNDER CONTRACT (9)
Clay Holmes
Francisco Lindor
Sean Manaea
Jeff McNeil
A.J. Minter**
Frankie Montas**
Brandon Nimmo
Kodai Senga
Juan Soto
** Player option which I assume will be exercised.
Much has been written about all the money coming off the payroll. That may be true, but there's still a ****-ton of money still on. Almost $200 million. ($195.8M to be exact, using Luxury Tax Base as the metric.) To put into perspective, that would rank 15th in MLB total payroll. That's for nine guys, one of whom won't play.
I'm looking forward to Minter's return to top form. We really could use him. Everyone else is pretty much a known commodity, for better or worse. Mostly better. McNeil and Senga may be possible trade candidates, depending on how much money Cohen is willing to eat.
II) PLAYERS WITH CLUB OPTIONS (2)
Brooks Raley
Drew Smith
Mets have a $4.5M option on Raley which IMO is an absolute no-brainer. This will be the first roster decision they will need to make, and possibly the easiest. They have a $2M option on Smith. I guess their decision will depend on how they think his rehab is going.
III) FREE AGENTS (10)
Pete Alonso**
Griffin Canning
Edwin DIaz**
Ryan Helsley
Starling Marte
Cedric Mullins
Tyler Rogers
Gregory Soto
Ryne Stanek
Jesse Winker
** Player opt-out which I assume will be exercised.
Obviously the key guys here are Alonso and Diaz. Alonso will be back if Stearns and Cohen show him the love, but I am not sure they will. My guess is whoever offers five years gets him. I expect Diaz to return. I wouldn't be surprised if they negotiate an extension before he gets to free agency. The other player of interest on that list is Rogers. Although I suspect he left his heart in San Francisco, and will return there. Maybe they take a flyer on Canning again. Could do worse I guess.
IV) ARBITRATION ELIGIBLE (9)
Francisco Alvarez
Huascar Brazoban
Reed Garrett
Max Kranick
Nick Madrigal
Tylor Megill
David Peterson
Tyrone Taylor
Luis Torrens
Peterson and Taylor will certainly be tendered, as will the two catchers. I'm guessing Brazoban will too. The other guys are all injured or coming off injury and I have no idea what the Mets will decide to do.
V) PRE-ARB TEAM CONTROL (18)
Luisangel Acuna
Brett Baty
Alex Carrillo
Justin Hagenman
Ronny Mauricio
Nolan McLean
Dedniel Nunez
Jonathan Pintaro
Dylan Ross
Hayden Senger
Christian Scott
Brandon Sproat
Jonah Tong
Mark Vientos
Brandon Waddell
Austin Warren
Danny Young
Jared Young
Interesting list. You've got:
- The four young guns (including Scott). Will they all still be here in training camp?
- The four young infielders. There isn't room for all of them, is there?
- A potential diamond in the rough in Ross.
- A couple AAA guys at the ready in Senger and J. Young.
- A bunch of interchangeable pitchers, some who will be non-tendered, others whom we'll see next year.
Obviously this list is not complete. There are guys who are not yet on the 40, some of whom you know, some you don't (unless you have been reading @Zak57 reports!). But by this time next year, you will know them. Or maybe you will learn of them when/if they are traded.
Anyway, this list of 48 will be culled to about 30, to allow for:
- Players not yet on the 40 man who will need to either be added to the 40, or be made available in the Rule 5 draft.
- Re-signing our own free agents
- Signing other free agents
- Trades and waiver pickups.
Thanks for staying with this!
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Of course you want to fix those areas. Here is the problem…
1B- Pete’s offense is so far above anyone that could be available, who plays 1B for us that would make the team better?
2B- yes, if we could get rid of McNeil, that would be ideal. But, we have kids like Acuna, Baty, Mauricio already in place to take that spot. The only very good defensive player of those 3 is Acuna. But his bat isn’t there.
3B- Baty/Vientos/Mauricio. One of them will be starting there but none considered great defensively
SS-No worries
LF- Nimmo will be there and unless we make a blockbuster trade- no way that changes
CF- this is tge position we have tons of defense. But it is an automatic out
RF- Soto, not changing anytime soon
C-Torrens is great defensively but a liability with the bat
what are the realistic moves to improve defense but also make the team better?
Well at least you have this all by yourself, lmfao. Who's your Daddy?Nothing to see here. Bring everyone back! What could go wrong?
The first domino has fallen. Catching instructor Glenn Sherlock has retired. Whether this decision was purely voluntary, I cannot say.
Great, I always knew that was the issue.
Remember this board's righteous indignation about seven years ago, when the Mets foolishly traded their can't miss prospect, Jarred Kelenic? I do. My exact words (I think) were "We will curse this day for years to come."
Well maybe not so much. Atlanta waived him off their 40 man. He cleared waivers and is now a free agent. I'd be shocked if he gets anything more than a minor league deal with a camp invite. And we got Edwin Diaz.
Speaking of whom, Atlanta also 86'd Edwin's kid brother Alexis. He too cleared waivers. Just two years ago, some considered his future brighter than Edwin's.
Well maybe not so much. Atlanta waived him off their 40 man. He cleared waivers and is now a free agent. I'd be shocked if he gets anything more than a minor league deal with a camp invite. And we got Edwin Diaz.
Speaking of whom, Atlanta also 86'd Edwin's kid brother Alexis. He too cleared waivers. Just two years ago, some considered his future brighter than Edwin's.
I'd pick up both of them, seriously I would unless they have injuries that will effect them.
That is certainly not crazy. I think they will each have their choice of non-guaranteed offers. I wouldn't offer either a guaranteed MLB contract, and if anyone does, they will take it.
Kinda like football recruiting, where you might not think a kid is worth a scholarship, but you'd happily take him as a walk on. Although that is all entirely different now, so bad example.
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Did any of you see the Padres verbally attacking the umps as they left the field? https://heavy.com/sports/mlb/san-diego-padres/video-altercation-umps-controversial-call/
Strike 3 call was embarrassing , horrendous , joke , ect ect
Players probably saw the chart with the strike zone and confirmed how awful the call was . Yes they’re are some real good ones but way way too many home plate umps are flat out awful and have way too much impact on the game
Magnified by what happened after the call. Merrill had just homered to make it 3-1. After Xander the next two batters were HBP. They would have bases loaded, no body out, down 3-1. Maybe a whole different ending.
Going into the FA season- We know that Diaz/Alonso are the two internal guys we will be making a hard run for. I wouldn't be against short term offers for Rogers/Soto/Winker
Now- we have to target starting pitching and I hope we don't do a "safety in number approach again. We need to get at least one top of the rotation guy.
I do think McLean will be special. Sproat could fit into a 4 spot this year with a high ceiling. Tong needs more seasoning. Peterson - was the end of the year who Peterson is or is he what he was for the previous 1.5 years? I think Holmes will be solid but I don't trust Senga and his 6 man rotation crap just throws things off. Manaea - who knows.
But who is going to be available that could be a 1 or 2?
I love King but he will get a qualifying offer. I am not sold on Cease/Gallen, Valdez could be a good option but I have no idea if he is getting a QO. Bieber/Woodruff, Coming off injuries
My gut tells me- Stearns doesnt go after any of these...
Now- we have to target starting pitching and I hope we don't do a "safety in number approach again. We need to get at least one top of the rotation guy.
I do think McLean will be special. Sproat could fit into a 4 spot this year with a high ceiling. Tong needs more seasoning. Peterson - was the end of the year who Peterson is or is he what he was for the previous 1.5 years? I think Holmes will be solid but I don't trust Senga and his 6 man rotation crap just throws things off. Manaea - who knows.
But who is going to be available that could be a 1 or 2?
I love King but he will get a qualifying offer. I am not sold on Cease/Gallen, Valdez could be a good option but I have no idea if he is getting a QO. Bieber/Woodruff, Coming off injuries
My gut tells me- Stearns doesnt go after any of these...
MLB Pipeline updated its Top 100. Nolan McLean rose to #11. He is the top rated pitching prospect, as the Top 10 are all position players. He will stay on the list for the off-season, and graduate once he pitches two more innings.
The Mets prospects in the Top 100 are:
#11 Nolan McLean
#21 Carson Benge
#30 Jett Williams
#46 Jonah Tong
The Mets prospects in the Top 100 are:
#11 Nolan McLean
#21 Carson Benge
#30 Jett Williams
#46 Jonah Tong
who are the 10 ahead of McLean who had a 2.06 era in the majors this year? Just looked them up- only one guy played at the MLB level, a catcher Basallo. he had 109 AB's .165 BA and 4 HR - McLean comes up, does a Skenes and pitches great in high pressure games...just kind of strange
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Anyone can now come up with some of stat that may even show Judge sucks. lol - heck- these types of stats almost proved Jeter should have just been a DH…
Bottom line- Pete wins more games then he loses and he is a cash cow for the Mets and that becomes bigger at 300/400/500 HR.
Fangraphs also released its season end Top 100. They listed six Mets:
#12 Nolan McLean
#33 Jonah Tong
#51 Brandon Sproat
#59 Carson Benge
#63 Jacob Reimer
#69 Jett Williams
Tong needs at least half of a season in AAA next year before rejoining Mets.
Sproat is a back end starter. He’s nothing special.
The free agent we MUST sign this off season…
nypost.com
Keith Hernandez’s wish as SNY contract expires
Keith Hernandez is going through free agency once again.
nypost.com
Skubal all 18 K’s in playoffs are swinging
Mets could solve that by taking 5-6 strike 3’s right down middle
Mets could solve that by taking 5-6 strike 3’s right down middle
I agree. The outfield, 3B, 2B, catcher, all had defensive shortcomings. There are lots of ways to improve there, and I don't see the team trying to fix its defense by not trying to keep one of its top run producers.
Happy to number you as one of those who doesn't like Stearns for our President of Baseball Operations. Let's see how that works out in the long run.
Why? Are you going to stop following the Mets if Keith is not re-signed? Is anyone?The free agent we MUST sign this off season…
Keith Hernandez’s wish as SNY contract expires
Keith Hernandez is going through free agency once again.
I personally think his act is getting a bit tired. With each passing year, his Archie Bell and the Drells references (to give one example) grow more and more meaningless.