There’s only one month until spring training starts, with pitchers and catchers reporting on February 10. With that in mind, the New York Mets still have some holes to fill before the 2025 season. They addressed adding another superstar (Juan Soto), starting pitching (Sean Manaea, Clay Holmes, Frankie Montas), signing an outfielder and platoon bat (Jesse Winker), and signing a reliable left-handed reliever (A.J. Minter). However, while the roster has improved, work remains. These are the last three things David Stearns needs to figure out before players report to Port St. Lucie.
The Pete Alonso Conundrum
Pete Alonso’s free agency remains the Mets’ biggest obstacle to solving this offseason. The Mets and Alonso reportedly remain far apart in negotiations, and the Mets expect Alonso to sign elsewhere as of Monday morning. Alonso is still a free agent, and until he signs with a team, he’s still available for the Mets to bring back. That’s if Alonso and his agent, Scott Boras, return to the Mets’ terms at the table. If they can bring him home, he adds a power bat at the side of Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto, Mark Vientos, Brandon Nimmo, and Francisco Alvarez. But what if they don’t sign him, and he does leave?
If Alonso doesn’t return, the Mets will still have to find a big bat to place in the middle of the order. They’ll likely move Vientos to first base and rely on internal options such as Ronny Mauricio and Brett Baty at third base, but they could still opt to sign someone. Anthony Santander and an older option like Anthony Rizzo are still out on the market. Overall, the Alonso saga needs to conclude one way or the other.
Right-Handed Relief Pitcher
David Stearns made a solid pickup in signing A.J. Minter to the bullpen. However, the bullpen could still use one more right-hander. Some of the remaining options include David Robertson, who is 40 years old, but he was reliable out of the Mets bullpen in 2023 before they traded him at the deadline. Kenley Jansen has been one of the best relievers in baseball throughout his career and saved 27 games in 2024 for the Boston Red Sox. Kirby Yates had a career year in 2024 and would be a nice pickup as well.
Ryne Stanek and Phil Maton were solid additions by the Mets during the middle of last season, and Stanek was very reliable during the playoffs. They both remain on the market.
Infield Depth
While the Mets have addressed their outfield depth by bringing back Winker, they still need to add to their infield. Mauricio, Baty, and Luisangel Acuña will get a chance to compete for spots, and in the market, there is one name still out there that makes the most sense: Jose Iglesias.
Iglesias is a great defender, and he showed that at second and third base for the Mets in 2024. He can also play shortstop if Lindor needs a day off. His bat was also clutch. Most of all, he’s an eccentric figure in the clubhouse and beloved by the players and fans. If the Mets can’t re-sign Iglesias, other options include Brandon Drury, Whit Merrifield, Jorge Polanco, and Adam Frazier.
