The New York Mets entered this offseason with plenty of questions and, so far, not many answers. After locking up Juan Soto last winter with a jaw-dropping 15-year, $765 million deal, the expectation was clear: build a contender around one of the game’s elite talents. But after finishing 2025 with a middling 83-79 record and missing the playoffs for the second time in three seasons, the Mets have taken a surprisingly cautious approach - and it’s left fans scratching their heads.
Instead of doubling down on their investment in Soto, the Mets have seen more talent walk out the door than come in. Key contributors like Ryan Helsley, Cedric Mullins, Tyler Rogers, Pete Alonso, and Edwin Díaz have all departed via free agency. Díaz landing with the Dodgers - a team the Mets are supposed to be chasing in the National League - only adds salt to the wound.
The trades they’ve made haven’t exactly moved the needle, either. Brandon Nimmo was dealt to the Rangers in exchange for Marcus Semien - a solid veteran, sure, but not a game-changer at this stage of his career.
Then came another head-scratcher: Jeff McNeil shipped to the A’s for a pitching prospect, Yordan Rodriguez. It’s a move that might pay off down the line, but it doesn’t help Soto and the Mets win now.
Free agency hasn’t brought much more clarity. Jorge Polanco is on board, likely as a designated hitter, but he doesn’t come close to matching the offensive production lost with Alonso’s exit. Devin Williams joins the bullpen after a rocky stint with the Yankees, and while the talent is there, his recent form doesn’t exactly inspire confidence.
The Mets did swing big for Kyle Tucker, reportedly finishing as a finalist alongside the Blue Jays. Their offer - four years, $220 million - was aggressive, but the Dodgers swooped in with a $240 million deal to land the All-Star outfielder. Missing out on Tucker stung, but the Mets responded by making a splash of their own, signing Bo Bichette to a three-year, $126 million deal - a price tag that raised some eyebrows.
Bichette brings talent, no doubt, but his fit is murky. With shortstop and second base already occupied, the Mets are expected to slot him in at third - a position he’s never played at the major league level.
It’s a bold move, and it comes with risk. The roster still has glaring holes, particularly in the outfield, where left and center field remain major question marks.
The pitching staff, too, is far from settled.
With spring training creeping closer, the Mets’ offseason feels incomplete. They’ve added pieces, but none that scream “contender.” And with the Braves and Marlins both poised to be factors in the NL East, standing still isn’t an option.
One name still floating in the free agent market? Cody Bellinger.
He’d be a fit in center field and would bring left-handed power to a lineup that could use it. But after committing so much money to Soto, the question becomes whether the Mets are willing - or able - to spend big again.
The clock is ticking. Soto’s prime years are here and now, and the Mets can’t afford to waste them.
If they’re serious about chasing a World Series, it’s time to act like it. So far, this offseason hasn’t matched the urgency that their situation demands.