The Mets are headed into the offseason with a lot to sort out, and the first big question is how aggressive David Stearns wants to get before the 2027 season opens. The World Series wrapped up the 2026 campaign, and with New York missing a return trip to the Fall Classic for the 11th straight year, the roster overhaul starts now.
That could mean anything from bringing back players moved at the trade deadline to making a serious run at Tarik Skubal. Steve Cohen’s wallet is part of the equation, and the idea here is straightforward: if the Mets want to land one of the biggest arms available, they may be willing to make a massive push. Skubal looks like the clear headline target.
Even before any outside additions, the catching situation appears set. Unless another club overwhelms Stearns with an offer for either Francisco Alvarez or Luis Torrens, the Mets are expected to keep that pairing together.
It’s easy to see why: Torrens brings elite defense, while Alvarez still carries the upside of a 30-home-run bat. That’s not the kind of tandem you casually break up.
The infield also projects to stay fairly stable, though not entirely unchanged. Bo Bichette is expected to opt into his contract, while the Mets are projected to move on from both Ronny Mauricio and Mark Vientos. Neither is viewed as a clean fit for the 2027 roster.
At first base, the notable addition is Ty France. He’s projected to join a lefty-righty platoon with Young, and the fit is about more than just balance. France is described as a steady defender there, and the underlying numbers suggest his power rebound is legitimate even if his raw totals dip from what he posted at his peak in 2026.
There’s also a watch item with Jorge Polanco, assuming he reports to spring training in good shape. If he doesn’t, that spot could open up for a younger player. Marcus Semien is in a similar spot, with spring training likely to decide how secure his role really is given the young infield talent the Mets have stockpiled.
The outfield doesn’t figure to bring many surprises at the top, but the last spot is still up for grabs. Nick Morabito didn’t make a strong enough push in September to lock it down. A return for Harrison Bader makes sense because he can cover all three spots and give the Mets a way to spell either Ewing or Benge against tough left-handed pitching.
On the pitching side, the projected rotation mix starts with Skubal, followed by Nolan McLean, Shane Bieber, Christian Scott, and Zac Thornton. Skubal stands out as the obvious big swing, a top-of-the-rotation target who fits the Mets’ need for a true anchor.
The thinking is that Cohen could help push the front office toward a deal that carries real financial risk, especially with so much cost-controlled talent on the way. That kind of setup would make a contract north of $40 million per year into Skubal’s mid-30s more manageable.
Bieber is the other notable addition in that group. The expectation is a one-year prove-it deal, giving the Mets a veteran starter who can rebuild value and still raise the ceiling if the team gets into October.
Thornton is penciled in for the fifth spot, but he’ll have competition. Sean Manaea, Jonah Tong, and Tylor Megill are all in the mix, and all three should end up making starts for New York at some point during the season.
Kodai Senga is another interesting piece of the puzzle. Even though he wants to start, the Mets are expected to keep him in the bullpen, where he was much more effective over the summer.
The relief group has a familiar look as well, with a reunion with Brooks Raley helping strengthen the left side alongside Brandon Lavender. Ryan Phillips adds a proven right-handed setup option with closing experience, which gives the bullpen a more established late-game backbone.
If Manaea loses out on a rotation job to Thornton, he’d likely open the year in a long relief role, just as he did in 2025. New York could also look to move him in spring training, especially with only one year left on his deal.
And there’s still room for movement throughout the season. Nearly every reliever the Mets have beyond the veterans still has minor league options, which gives Stearns and Andy Green plenty of flexibility. Expect names like Daniel Duarte, Jefry Yan, and Jonathan Pintaro to cycle through as the club works to keep fresh arms available.
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Tarik Skubal sits near the center of that debate because a pitcher of his caliber could change the ceiling of the staff, but the Mets may still need to add two starters even if they land him. That leaves the front office trying to thread a narrow needle: improve the rotation enough to matter in 2026 while avoiding the kind of expensive move that can limit the rest of the roster build. [Read more 🡒]