The Mets may need help at the plate, but a total remake of the lineup in 2027 looks a lot less likely than it did after last winter’s churn.
That’s the basic tension facing David Stearns. New York got uneven production from its position players in 2026, and injuries plus badly timed slumps kept the group from ever really settling in.
Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing gave the organization something real to build around, but the bigger picture still wasn’t good enough.
Even so, the path to major change is tighter than it seems.
Start with the roster math. Assuming the current CBA structure stays intact and the 26-man limit remains in place for most of the year, with a maximum of 13 pitchers, the Mets are working with 13 spots for position players. Some of those are already spoken for.
Behind the plate, Francisco Alvarez and Luis Torrens look set. That removes two more openings before the infield picture even comes into focus.
On the left side, the Mets could have Bo Bichette and Francisco Lindor locked in as everyday starters if Bichette opts into his contract. Over on the right side, Jorge Polanco, Marcus Semien, Jared Young and Brett Baty round out the group. Polanco is under contract through next season, Semien runs through 2028, Young’s breakout gives him real traction, and Stearns’ recent praise for Baty makes his place seem secure.
By the time you add those six infielders and two catchers, the Mets are already at eight position players. Fold in the projected outfield of Soto, A.J.
Ewing and Carson Benge, and New York is up to 11. Then factor in Mark Vientos and Ronny Mauricio, both out of options, and the Mets reach 13 offensive players under club control before bringing in anyone from outside.
That’s why the window for a real shakeup is so narrow.
And it’s not as if the Mets are likely to simply rerun the exact same group that managed only 74 wins. Better health from Lindor, Soto and Polanco would help, and Bichette could be more comfortable in his second year in Flushing.
But Semien’s contract doesn’t look movable, and Stearns has shown he’d rather avoid eating money if he can help it. That leaves Mauricio and Vientos as the clearest places to create room if the Mets want to change the mix.
The most obvious outside adds would be right-handed bats at first base and in the outfield. A reunion with Tyrone Taylor could address the outfield, especially after Nick Morabito didn’t look ready for a meaningful big league role during his late-season audition. The bigger winter upgrade would come from a first baseman who could either share time with Young or handle the job every day.
After an offseason already defined by turnover, some stability might actually work in the Mets’ favor. The offense got more cohesive as the year went on, even if it never became complete. So while the lineup has flaws, expecting a dramatic overhaul again this winter just doesn’t line up with the roster they’re carrying into 2027.
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Seattle is now back to looking for a direction in what could be a shortened offseason, and the vacancy comes with the usual pressure that follows a change at the top. For Mets followers, Mendozas brief appearance in the Mariners process is another reminder of how quickly the managerial carousel keeps spinning around baseball. [Read more 🡒]