The Mets have plenty of young talent on the way, and Randy Guzman is starting to force his way into that conversation.
He may not carry the same name recognition as Jonathan Santucci or Mitch Voit, but Guzman has climbed quickly since signing for just $10,000 as an international free agent in 2022. He cracked the organization’s Top 30 prospect list this year at No. 21, and his 2026 season suggests that ranking might already be too low.
Guzman put together a 125 wRC+ over 294 minor league plate appearances, a strong enough showing to hint that more progress is coming. Even so, his path is complicated by where he is in his development. He played only seven games in High-A, yet he is already Rule 5 eligible.
That makes him safe for now, but not necessarily for long.
Under Rule 5 draft rules, any player selected has to stay on his new team’s 26-man roster, and if a club wants to remove him, he must first clear outright waivers. Guzman’s limited experience at the higher levels makes him an unlikely target this winter, because he simply doesn’t look ready for the majors yet. But if he opens next season in High-A, moves quickly to Double-A and keeps producing, he could become a much more appealing name by next offseason.
That leaves the Mets with a decision down the road: protect him with a 40-man roster spot or risk losing him. To add him, they would need to believe he is ready.
If he blows the doors off, the choice is simple. If he’s merely solid, the front office has to weigh using a roster spot on a player who may not pan out against the possibility of watching him leave for another organization.
For now, the Mets can probably afford to wait. Still, Guzman’s rise is one they’ll be tracking closely, and with more than a year left before the next real decision point, he has time to keep pushing toward the 40-man roster.
In Other News...
Mets May Have An Under-The-Radar First Base Fix In Minnesota
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Lewis also comes with a familiar connection in Mets executive Derek Falvey, adding another layer to a potential fit between the two clubs. His recent playing history, performance splits and injury track record all make him a complicated target, though, and for now the idea remains just that - a possibility rather than a completed move. [Read more 🡒]
Mets Could Be Lining Up A Huge Pre-Lockout Push
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There is also chatter around possible additions beyond Skubal, with reliever Jason Adam and first baseman Jake Burger mentioned as fits the Mets could explore if they keep pushing before the deadline. Drew Rasmussen, though, is being framed more as a post-lockout possibility, which leaves the front office with a clear choice: move quickly now, or wait and risk watching the market tighten around the very players it has circled. [Read more 🡒]
Mets Offseason Plan May Depend On One Intriguing Infield Bat
Alec Bohm is already shaping up to be one of the more interesting names to watch as the Mets look ahead to their 2027 infield picture. The corner infielder is due to hit free agency after the 2026 season, and the Mets have reportedly already taken a look by meeting with his representatives at the GM Meetings, a sign they are at least doing their homework on a player who could fit a long-term need.
The Yankees have also shown interest, which only adds another layer to what could become a crowded market for a bat with a track record of drawing attention. Philadelphia may still try to work something out with Bohm, but the Phillies are also weighing other roster changes and free-agent options for 2027, leaving the door open for a chase that could have ripple effects across the division. [Read more 🡒]