The Mets’ front office just got a new voice, and that could matter fast.
On Wednesday, New York reportedly hired Derek Falvey as a senior advisor to baseball operations, where he’ll work alongside David Stearns. It’s a notable addition for a team staring down a crucial offseason after several of last winter’s biggest moves didn’t deliver the way it hoped.
Falvey brings a deep résumé and a long track record in Minnesota. He spent nearly nine years with the Twins, including a run as president of baseball operations before the two sides mutually agreed to part ways ahead of the 2026 season. During that stretch, he built a reputation for sharp talent evaluation and for making bold calls when the moment called for it.
Some of his biggest swings in Minnesota included trading Luis Arraez for Pablo Lopez, signing Byron Buxton to a long-term deal, and identifying Joe Ryan as the centerpiece return in the 2021 Nelson Cruz deal with the Tampa Bay Rays.
That last move may end up being the one that matters most to the Mets now.
New York is hunting for an ace to pair with Nolan McLean atop the rotation, and the free-agent prize sits at the very top of the market in Tarik Skubal, who is expected to command the largest contract ever handed to a starting pitcher. If that path doesn’t work out, the trade market becomes the next obvious lane.
That’s where Ryan enters the picture.
The right-hander is one of the names most often mentioned as a possible winter trade candidate, and he’ll be heading into the final season of his contract with Minnesota. The 30-year-old has grown into a star for the Twins, and his 2025 numbers show why he’s drawing attention: 26 starts, a 3.86 ERA over 138.2 innings, 151 strikeouts, a 1.18 WHIP and a 3.75 FIP.
He hasn’t put together the one signature Cy Young-level season yet, but the profile is still tempting. There’s a sense that another gear may be waiting in the right setting, which is exactly why he fits the kind of pitcher the Mets could chase.
Falvey’s arrival gives New York something extra in that pursuit. He knows the Twins organization well after nearly a decade there, and those relationships could help the Mets understand what Minnesota values in a deal and how to shape a package that fits.
Just as important, Falvey has direct history with Ryan. He was there from the moment Ryan arrived in the organization in 2021 and watched him climb in Minnesota, giving him a close read on the pitcher and on what might still be unlocked.
This kind of front-office crossover has worked before. Stearns has already shown a willingness to reach back to a former organization, making a deal with the Brewers for Adrian Houser and Tyrone Taylor during his first Mets offseason. He also landed Freddy Peralta in last winter’s ace hunt, even if the move didn’t ultimately break the way New York wanted.
If Falvey pushes Ryan as a target this winter, the Mets may have more than just interest on their side. They could have the inside track.
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