The big picture around the Mets this offseason starts with first base, where the club is staring at a 2027 question that still doesn’t have a clean answer. After a 2026 mix of mostly underwhelming options, that spot is already shaping up as one of the major issues on the docket.
There’s also movement on the coaching side. Cubs assistant hitting coach John Mallee is one of the candidates for the Mets’ hitting coach opening, and he has built a close connection with MVP frontrunner Pete Crow-Armstrong in recent years.
Elsewhere in the division, Dave Dombrowski is searching for ways to bolster the Phillies outfield while also keeping veteran players fresh in 2027.
Around the league, Brewers assistant GM Matt Kleine has emerged as a serious contender for the Astros’ general manager vacancy.
This year’s World Series has been defined by one simple reality: no matter who comes out on top, the champion will be winning it all for the first time. That alone makes this Fall Classic stand out from the usual script.
It’s also a matchup shaped by identity. The Brewers have built their run on understanding exactly who they are and buying into their style of baseball, as Sal Frelick put it. The Rays, meanwhile, have followed a different path, using a distinctive approach to go from early-season long shots to American League champions.
For sportsbooks, either outcome would be a problem, though the Brewers would be the worse result for the house.
There are individual storylines tucked inside the series, too. Jacob Misiorowski arrives with a chance to show the kind of dominance he flashed during the regular season on the biggest stage. Milwaukee’s potential title would also be a rare accomplishment in the current structure of postseason sports.
On the Tampa Bay side, the timing of the ALCS win may prove especially useful, giving the Rays a chance to line up their rotation just right and fully rest the bullpen. And as the old saying goes, Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither were the Tampa Bay Rays.
One final wrinkle: Brandon Woodruff’s return to the field would be a strong story, especially as the longest-tenured Brewer, but league rules may keep that from happening.
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
The Mets are at a familiar crossroads on the hitting side, with the club scheduled to meet with Kevin Long about a possible role on the staff. Long is no stranger to Queens, having guided the lineup during the teams 2015 World Series run, and he arrives on the market after being let go by the Phillies following five seasons in Philadelphia.
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 🡒]