If the Mets are going to get back where they want to be, the biggest swing this offseason may not come from the rotation at all.
New York’s plunge since that improbable run to the NLCS two years ago has left David Stearns with plenty to sort through, but the club’s most obvious path forward starts with the same area that carried so much of the load this year: the bullpen. The Mets finished the regular season with a 3.76 ERA, tenth-best in baseball, yet their relief group spent much of the season working overtime because the starting staff couldn’t consistently cover innings.
That issue has been building for a while. For a second straight year, the rotation struggled to work deep into games, and the numbers were brutal: Mets starters averaged only 4.88 innings per start, the worst mark in baseball. Even with Nolan McLean standing out, New York doesn’t appear poised to solve the problem by simply loading up on more starting pitching.
The bullpen, meanwhile, was one of the few steady pieces during the first half of the season, with Luke Weaver, Brooks Raley, and Huascar Brazobán providing important innings before the Mets moved those relievers. After that, the relief picture changed fast, and the group looked a lot different in the second half.
What makes this especially interesting is the way the postseason has unfolded. Teams have leaned hard on bullpens, and the Milwaukee Brewers have shown exactly how that can work. In their run to the National League title, the Brewers had just one starter throw at least five innings in a postseason game, when Logan Henderson worked five innings against the San Diego Padres in Game 2 of the NLDS.
Then came the sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers, and Milwaukee’s relief corps took over. Led by Aaron Ashby and Trevor Megill, the Brewers’ bullpen allowed only five runs over 21.2 innings and posted a 2.08 ERA.
Ashby was especially sharp, giving up no earned runs across 12.1 innings while striking out 11. Megill was just as dependable, throwing five postseason appearances without allowing an earned run.
Looking ahead to 2027, the Mets’ rotation appears to have three young names at the front: Christian Scott, Zach Thornton, and McLean. The rest of the group is still unsettled, but the bigger point is clear - even with questions in the rotation, a strong young staff can be paired with a fortified bullpen to help a team reach October and keep pushing once it gets there.
The Mets have a lot of issues to address, but the clearest one is where the attention should go first.
In Other News...
Mets Look Ready To Move On From Mark Vientos For Good
Mark Vientos has become one of the more obvious names to watch as the Mets look ahead, especially with several clubs around the league trying to patch holes at first base or designated hitter. Arizona, San Diego and Cleveland each make some sense as landing spots because each has a need that Vientos could help fill, and for a team looking to trim costs, his profile could be attractive enough to keep in the conversation even without a big market bidding war.
For the Mets, the bigger picture is less about one specific trade partner than the sense that a change may be coming sooner rather than later. None of the interest being floated is confirmed, and theres no official transaction on the board yet, but the fit with those three teams does underline how movable Vientos could be if New York decides to keep reshaping the roster around other priorities. [Read more 🡒]
Mets Reunion Could Shape The Next Step For Several Key Bats
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His possible return comes at an important moment for a group of bats that still need direction, especially after the Mets moved on from director of hitting Jeff Albert after the regular season. If Long ends up back in the organization, his presence could have real impact on the development paths of players like Brett Baty, A.J. Ewing and Jared Young, which is why this interview could matter well beyond a routine coaching search. [Read more 🡒]
Mets Took A Big Center Field Gamble And Fans Can Finally Judge It
When the Mets made the move to bring in Luis Robert Jr. to man center field, the idea was straightforward: stabilize a premium defensive spot and get more offense out of it. Instead, back issues sent Robert to the Injured List for a significant stretch, and A.J. Ewing quietly went from fill-in to everyday center fielder while the club waited for the original plan to sort itself out.
By the time Robert was ready to return, the Mets had already made their choice about where the long-term value was. Ewings role only grew in Roberts absence, and the organization ultimately let Robert go on waivers to the Orioles rather than hold onto a player tied to a $20 million option. It left New York with a clearer picture of the gamble it took in center field, even if the final evaluation will keep unfolding from here. [Read more 🡒]