David Stearns didn’t leave much mystery about the Mets’ offseason plans on Monday. New York still has plenty to sort out - first base, the rotation, the bullpen - but second base might be the one spot where help is already in the building.
That’s the big takeaway from Stearns’ end-of-season press conference: the Mets believe they have internal answers, and a few names are already in the mix to take hold of the job in 2027.
The most obvious and most frustrating name is Marcus Semien. It’s hard to imagine Mets fans being thrilled to see him listed here after his first season in New York went so poorly.
In 139 games, Semien hit .215/.280/.340 with 15 homers, 49 RBI and a 74 wRC+. His .620 OPS was the second-worst mark among qualified Major Leaguers, and his defense slipped badly after he won a Gold Glove in 2025.
His -9 OAA ranked among the worst at the position, and he finished with a -0.5 fWAR.
Even so, the Mets still owe him two more years and $56 million, which keeps him in the conversation whether fans like it or not. He could get the first crack at the job next season, but the leash figures to be short if the production doesn’t improve.
One player who could push his way into the picture quickly is Jett Rojas. The 21-year-old came over from the Chicago Cubs in the trade that sent Clay Holmes and Tyrone Taylor the other way, and he immediately became the Mets’ top prospect.
His bat did the talking fast. In 118 at-bats at Double-A Binghamton, Rojas hit .280/.336/.593 with nine homers, eight doubles and 29 RBI.
After a late-season promotion to Triple-A Syracuse, he homered in each of his first three games.
Across all levels, Rojas finished at .274 with 27 home runs and an .843 OPS. His offense is the calling card, but he’s also handled the infield well, including time at second base.
Even with only six Triple-A games under his belt, he could still be in the Opening Day mix, especially given Stearns’ track record of moving prospects fast. Carson Benge and A.J.
Ewing both reached the majors after playing fewer than 25 Triple-A games.
There’s one wrinkle hanging over Rojas, though: the looming MLB lockout. As Will Sammon of The Athletic noted, the Mets need to add him to the 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft. If that lockout stretches into the 2027 season, he wouldn’t be able to play minor league games while it’s in effect.
Brett Baty is another possible fit, and unlike some of the others on this list, he’s already shown he can catch fire for meaningful stretches. Over his final 40 games, Baty hit .293 with five home runs, 23 RBI and a .907 OPS. He had a similar run in the second half of 2025, which fueled hope that a real breakout was coming in 2026.
That full-season leap never quite arrived. Baty ended the year at .236 with 11 homers, a .680 OPS and a 91 wRC+.
Still, with no locked-in starter at second, he could work his way into the job if he gets off to a strong start. Defensively, second base also looks like his best fit; he posted a 3 OAA there, his top mark at any position.
Then there’s Ryan Voit, who turned heads in a big way. The Mets’ Minor League Player of the Year for 2026, Voit broke out across High-A Brooklyn and Double-A Binghamton, batting .273/.371/.431 with 13 home runs, 24 doubles and 45 stolen bases in 105 games.
The 21-year-old, taken 38th overall in the 2025 draft, has already outperformed plenty of expectations. He’s drawn praise for his plate discipline and a short, compact swing that lets him adjust to different situations.
He hasn’t reached Triple-A Syracuse yet, but his Double-A production suggests he isn’t far behind Rojas in the pecking order. And unlike Rojas, he doesn’t need to be added to the 40-man roster this offseason to stay protected from the Rule 5 Draft, which gives the Mets more room to let his development continue if the lockout complicates things.
The least familiar name for most fans may be Pitre, who arrived from the Tampa Bay Rays in the Freddy Peralta trade at the deadline. He’s a different kind of hitter, one built around contact, patience and getting on base rather than trying to slug his way into the lineup.
That approach showed up all season. Across every level, including Triple-A Syracuse, Pitre hit .306/.420/.427 with six home runs, 22 doubles and 35 stolen bases.
He walked 80 times and struck out only 58 times, which tells you plenty about the kind of hitter he is. Among the minor league options here, he also has the most Triple-A experience, which could make him the first one called on if the Mets need a second-base answer in 2027.
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