The Mets enter the offseason with work to do, and the path forward may not be limited to the top of the free-agent market. After missing the playoffs for the second straight year, New York is expected to chase impact additions, but with an already expensive roster, the trade route looks especially appealing for filling out the edges without blowing up the budget.
That’s where a few lower-cost targets come into focus. The Mets need help at first base after getting fifth-worst production there, with a .690 OPS, and David Stearns made that clear during his end-of-season press conference. They also need a right-handed bat to help balance the lineup, which puts Jake Burger of the Texas Rangers on the radar.
Burger brings real pop. He hit 28 home runs, 23 doubles, and drove in 90 runs this past season, finishing with a .228 average, a .723 OPS, and 1.5 fWAR.
He also showed he can handle first base, posting a +1 OAA in 2026. With two more years of team control and a profile that comes with some inconsistency at the plate, he shouldn’t require a massive return in a trade.
For New York, he could fit as part of a platoon with Jared Young and help patch a major hole without a huge financial hit.
The bullpen is another area that needs attention, especially after the Mets dealt away four of their most trusted high-leverage relievers at the deadline. One possible answer is Miami Marlins right-hander Bender, who is entering his final season of team control and looks like a natural trade candidate.
Bender has been one of the few constants in Miami’s constantly changing roster picture, and he backed that up with a strong season. Over 34.1 innings, he posted a 2.62 ERA, struck out 41 batters, and finished with a 0.96 WHIP.
His low three-quarter arm slot makes him especially tough on right-handed hitters, and he held them to a .149 batting average in 2026. For a Mets club looking for a dependable late-inning arm, he checks a lot of boxes.
Another reliever who fits the bill is Hentges of the San Francisco Giants. Like Bender, he’s in the final year of his deal, and he offers a different look from the left side. The 6-foot-8 southpaw gets 7.1 feet of extension with a mid-90s four-seam fastball, and he just turned in a solid first season in San Francisco with a 3.19 ERA, 41 strikeouts, and a 1.64 WHIP across 36.2 innings.
Hentges has also been effective at limiting damage contact, with a 30.1% hard-hit rate according to Baseball Savant. The concern is obvious: his 14.5% walk rate is near the top of baseball. But his frame and extension give pitching coaches something to work with, and the Mets have reason to believe Justin Willard and Daniel McKinney could help unlock more.
New York needs at least one experienced left-hander after moving Brooks Raley and A.J. Minter, and right now Nate Lavender and Cionel Perez are projected to be the only realistic Opening Day options. Adding Hentges would give Andy Green another useful weapon in his first season as the full-time manager.
In Other News...
Mets Offseason Plan Could Finally Address A Longstanding Infield Problem
The Mets offseason could soon get a lot more interesting if John Harpers SNY projection proves accurate. He sees New York targeting Clay Holmes, Michael King and Teruaki Sato, a mix that would address pitching depth while also hinting at a broader infield reshuffle. The most intriguing part of the idea is Satos potential fit at first base, which would give the club another possible answer to a spot that has lacked a clear long-term solution.
There is also the ripple effect that comes with any first-base move, because the Mets already have prospects for third base and could be looking at a different alignment if the roster breaks the right way. Harpers piece even raises the possibility of Bo Bichette moving across the diamond to third, though that remains speculative. For now, the bigger takeaway is simple: New York may finally have a path to solving an infield issue that has lingered for a while, even if the exact shape of that fix is still coming into focus. [Read more 🡒]
Mets Offseason Rotation Plan Could Force A Risky Ace Debate
The Mets are headed into an offseason where the rotation could shape everything else they do, and the market is already looking tricky. Using the Freddy Peralta trade as a warning sign, the club is weighing the cost of chasing starting pitching on the trade market versus the price tag that comes with a top free-agent arm, especially with salary cap concerns potentially in the background.
Tarik Skubal sits near the center of that debate because a pitcher of his caliber could change the ceiling of the staff, but the Mets may still need to add two starters even if they land him. That leaves the front office trying to thread a narrow needle: improve the rotation enough to matter in 2026 while avoiding the kind of expensive move that can limit the rest of the roster build. [Read more 🡒]
Daniel Duarte Just Forced His Way Into The Mets Bullpen Conversation
Daniel Duartes path back into the picture has been a long one, and it started with simply getting healthy again after an elbow injury wiped out his 2024 and 2025 seasons. The right-hander signed a minor league deal, pitched well for Team Mexico in the World Baseball Classic, and then carried that momentum into a strong 2026 campaign with the Mets.
Even with a hamstring injury late in the year, Duarte put together career-best numbers during his time in New York and made a convincing case that he belongs in the conversation for 2027. For a bullpen that will always be looking for reliable arms, his comeback season gave the Mets something they did not have before: a legitimate internal option worth keeping in mind. [Read more 🡒]