After Nimmo, the Mets Have a Gap - and Cody Bellinger Could Fill It
Just days after the Mets sent Brandon Nimmo packing to Texas in a move that caught more than a few fans off guard, the ripple effects are starting to show. The outfield depth chart suddenly feels a little thin - and a lot less certain.
Juan Soto is locked in as the franchise cornerstone in right field for the long haul, and Carson Benge is making noise in the pipeline, but beyond that? It's murky.
Losing Nimmo Was More Than a Roster Move
Trading away Nimmo wasn’t just about clearing a spot or shifting money. It pulled a key piece out of the Mets' everyday engine - a guy who, even as his game showed signs of wear in spots, still set the tone with his on-base skills and consistency.
He was the kind of player who didn’t always make headlines but always made a difference. Now, the Mets are staring at a hole that needs more than a quick patch.
They need production. They need presence.
They need someone who can anchor the outfield and the lineup.
Enter: Cody Bellinger
That’s where Cody Bellinger comes into the picture. He’s not a perfect replacement for Nimmo - different skill sets, different trajectories - but he checks a lot of boxes.
The Mets have reportedly had their eye on Bellinger since he opted out of his final year with the Yankees, and it’s not hard to see why. He’s got pop from the left side, defensive versatility, and postseason experience.
And, let’s be honest, the Mets have shown they’re not shy about dipping into the Yankees’ talent pool when the fit is right.
According to Jon Morosi, Bellinger’s market is heating up - and the Mets are firmly in the mix. That tracks with everything we’ve seen.
He may not dominate the advanced metrics, but Bellinger knows how to work an at-bat and deliver results. His 2025 season in the Bronx was a strong reminder of the kind of player he can still be: 29 home runs, 98 RBIs, a 125 wRC+, and a 4.9 fWAR to tie it all together.
Sure, Yankee Stadium’s short porch can flatter a lefty swing, but production is production. And the Mets, as currently constructed, aren’t in a position to get too picky about how the numbers came to be. They need impact, and Bellinger brings that.
The Fit Is Obvious - But So Is the Cost
From a baseball perspective, the fit is almost too easy. Slide Bellinger into center or left, pair him with Soto in right, and suddenly the Mets have one of the more dangerous left-handed duos in the league. Add Francisco Lindor’s switch-hitting presence in the middle of the order, and the lineup starts to take on real shape.
Defensively, Bellinger gives them options. He can handle center field, hold his own at first base, and brings playoff reps to a clubhouse that’s still trying to figure out how to win when it matters most.
But here’s the catch - and it’s a big one. Bellinger’s price tag is steep.
As it should be. Players with his resume and offensive ceiling don’t hit free agency every winter.
The Mets have to ask themselves whether they can afford to go big on a bat when their pitching situation is, frankly, a mess.
The Bigger Picture: Arms vs. Impact
This is where the offseason calculus gets tricky. The Mets need offense, yes.
But they also need arms - badly. The rotation has holes, the bullpen has questions, and none of those fixes are going to come cheap.
Committing major years and dollars to Bellinger could limit how aggressive they can be on the pitching front. And David Stearns knows better than most how fragile a roster can get when the pitching doesn’t hold up.
So now the Mets are staring down the classic winter dilemma: Is Bellinger a smart investment or an expensive luxury? Does he push them closer to contention, or does he stretch the payroll thin at a time when balance is critical?
What's Next?
The interest in Bellinger is real. The need is real.
And the roster has a gap big enough to justify making a serious push. But this isn’t just about plugging a hole - it’s about deciding what kind of team the Mets want to be in 2026 and beyond.
If they believe Bellinger is the kind of player who can help define this next era - not just fill a spot, but elevate the whole operation - then the move makes sense. If not, they may have to walk away and solve their outfield puzzle another way.
One thing’s clear: the Mets aren’t done shaping this roster. And whether Cody Bellinger ends up in Queens or not, this is a team still figuring out how to go from intriguing to truly dangerous.