The Mets’ offseason has already taken shape around one big idea: they need a move that changes the entire look of their rotation.
After missing the playoffs for a second straight year, the pressure is squarely on David Stearns to alter the story heading into 2027. The free-agent board offers a few headline names - Tarik Skubal, Randy Arozarena, and incoming Japanese star Teruaki Sato - but nothing about that group guarantees a clean path to a deal.
That’s why the trade market suddenly looks so attractive, and why Tampa Bay Rays ace Drew Rasmussen stands out as one of the most intriguing options who could actually be available.
Rasmussen has spent the postseason forcing people to notice. In four October starts, the right-hander has thrown 24.2 innings with a 2.19 ERA, 27 strikeouts, and a 0.97 WHIP.
That October run only reinforces what he did during his 2026 All-Star season, when he logged a 2.67 ERA, 174 strikeouts, and an elite 4.8% walk rate over 30 starts. According to Baseball Savant, that walk rate sat in the 97th percentile.
It was his second straight All-Star season, and another year that should put him in the mix for American League Cy Young votes. There just aren’t many starters who can bully lineups and work deep into games the way Rasmussen can, and that kind of profile makes him a premium target.
The timing also matters. Rasmussen could be a trade candidate this offseason, especially with Tampa Bay likely to pick up his $20 million club option.
He has one year left before reaching the open market, which means his trade value may be as high as it will ever get. Given the Rays’ track record with star players, he could be the next name they move before paying top dollar.
For the Mets, the fit is obvious. They need a frontline starter, and Rasmussen would give them one in a hurry.
New York does have some promising arms in place. Nolan McLean is expected to finish near the top of NL Rookie of the Year voting and could even get some Cy Young consideration. But Christian Scott, Zac Thornton, and Jonah Tong are still question marks, and going into next season with that many young, inexperienced starters would carry real risk.
That’s what makes the appeal of Rasmussen so clear. If he landed in Queens, the Mets’ rotation would go from uncertain to a real strength almost overnight.
The one obvious concern is the medical file. Rasmussen has undergone two Tommy John surgeries, and that history can’t be ignored.
Still, the recent trend has been encouraging. Over the last two seasons, he has made at least 30 starts in each one and set a career high with 172 innings in 2026.
At 31, he’s finding his stride as a starter and building a case as one of the better pitchers in the game.
The Mets are expected to chase Skubal if he reaches the market, but if they come up short, Rasmussen would be about as strong a fallback as they could hope for. And if New York really wants to go all-in for next season, there’s always the possibility of getting both.
Of course, none of this comes cheap. A trade for Rasmussen would likely require several top prospects, much like last offseason when the Mets dealt Jett Williams and Brandon Sproat for Freddy Peralta.
That’s where the real decision sits for Stearns and the front office. They’ve made clear the importance of maintaining a strong farm system.
But there’s also the pressure to build a roster that can win now. How they weigh those priorities may decide just how aggressive this offseason becomes.
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Duncan previously worked as the bench coach for Double-A Binghamton and crossed paths with players who are now part of the Mets mix, including Francisco Alvarez, Brett Baty and Jefferson Rojas. For a club trying to get more consistency from young bats, that kind of familiarity can matter, especially when the pressure rises and the adjustments become as important as the at-bats themselves. [Read more 🡒]
Mets May Need To Break From David Stearns Usual Playbook
The Mets have been keeping tabs on Japanese slugger Teruaki Sato, a Hanshin Tigers star who is expected to be posted to MLB, and the interest makes sense given what he just accomplished in NPB. Sato won the Triple Crown and has built a reputation as a potent offensive player, the kind of bat that can change a lineup in a hurry even before he has taken a big league at-bat.
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Mets Hitting Coach Search Is Raising An Uncomfortable Question
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For a staff candidate, this is about more than swings and mechanics. The Mets need help finding a voice that can steady an underperforming lineup, but they also have to convince people the job comes with enough stability to make it worth taking. In the meantime, the open question is whether the right coach sees a chance to help fix the offense or sees a situation that still looks too unsettled to trust. [Read more 🡒]