David Stearns has never been shy about shopping for value, and the Mets’ president of baseball operations may need that instinct again this winter.
After two straight seasons without a playoff berth, the temptation will be to chase the biggest names on the market. But there are also cheaper paths that could help patch holes on the roster, and a few low-cost free agents stand out as fits for the Mets’ needs.
One option is a familiar one in Michael A. Taylor, who could slide into the kind of fourth-outfielder role teams always seem to need.
With Juan Soto, A.J. Ewing, and Carson Benge projected as the outfielders of the future, there still appears to be room for a veteran who can handle all three spots and provide some pop off the bench.
Taylor did exactly that last season, appearing in 97 games and posting an .827 OPS.
Taylor was sent to the Cubs in the Clay Holmes trade, but a reunion is possible if Stearns wants to bring him back while continuing to develop Jefferson Rojas, the organization’s number-one prospect acquired in that deal. Cristian Pache, who filled that fourth-outfielder role in Taylor’s absence, was recently designated for assignment, which only adds to the case for a player who already knows the organization and would come cheaply.
The bullpen is another area where a bargain could make sense, and Andrew Burke checks a lot of boxes. He’s coming off one of the strongest seasons of his career, leading the National League with 77 pitching appearances while putting up a 2.30 ERA and striking out 74 batters.
At 30, he’s also younger than Brooks Raley, who is 38 and has dealt with injury problems in the past. Raley also struggled after the Mets traded him to the Phillies at the deadline.
Burke has shown he can do more than just survive one good year, too. He posted a 3.36 ERA with the Angels in 2025, and his 2022 season with the Rangers was even better, when he finished with a 1.97 ERA. Spotrac projects him at four years and $16 million, with an average annual salary of $4.1 million, a price that would fit neatly into a buy-low approach.
The designated hitter spot is still another puzzle for the Mets, and it may stay that way for a while. Juan Soto is expected to take over there eventually, but not yet, since he still has time in left field ahead of him. That opens the door for Josh Bell, especially with Mark Vientos potentially leaving the organization soon.
Bell hit 21 home runs and drove in 96 runs for a Twins team that underwhelmed last season, production the Mets currently don’t match from any of their full-time DH options. Spotrac projects him for a one-year deal worth $6.4 million, and that kind of short-term commitment is hard to argue with. George Springer is the bigger name, but he would likely cost more than $10 million and appears to be past his peak.
If Stearns wants to keep leaning into the low-risk, high-reward model that worked so well before, these are the kinds of names that make sense. In a winter where the margin for error is thin, the Mets may need value more than glamour.
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Mets Mourn A Franchise Icon From Their First Golden Era
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His place in club lore was already secure long before the team retired his No. 36 in 2021, making him just the third player in franchise history to receive that honor. Koosmans 140 wins and 3.07 ERA speak to the consistency he brought over a long run in Queens, and his passing is a reminder of how much of the Mets earliest success was built on players whose impact still echoes through the organization. [Read more 🡒]