So then you go back to David Peterson, though the hope is that Benge will be more successful overall. The answer could also sway toward Michael Conforto in 2014, at least for Mets-specific impact.

Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

David Stearns’ first draft pick for the Mets is already manning right field every day after forcing his way onto the major league roster. He had a dreadful first month adjusting to the majors, but after cleaning up his swing at the start of May, Benge slashed .299/.363/.457/.820. He has a great glove and is a plus baserunner with 20-25 home run potential.

Second-round pick Jonathan Santucci has had some top 100 prospect buzz and made Lance Brozdowski’s top 50 pitching prospects list. Santucci has a true plus-plus pitch with his slider, and despite a slow start to the season, he pitched to a 3.57 ERA and 1.25 WHIP in Double-A this season, earning a promotion to Triple-A. It took him a few starts to adjust to the level, but his last four starts were strong and could earn a spot on the major league roster at some point in 2027.

Seventh-round pick Will Watson made Baseball Prospectus’s Top 101 list as the 96th best prospect in baseball but looked absolutely dreadful in 2026. After only six starts, he was put on the injured list, so he may have been trying to pitch through injury. He returned in August and threw only 17 innings to a 5.29 ERA. Five of those runs came in a single outing, and the remainder were mixed.

Fourth-rounder Eli Serrano started hot but cooled off significantly. Fifth-rounder Trey Snyder had a good season, earning a promotion to High-A, and has a plus contact tool and can play all over the diamond. Serrano, meanwhile, profiles as a power-over-hit corner bat.

Eighth rounder Ryan Lambert looked like he could be a breakout reliever in spring training while he was popping high velocities and discussing drinking raw eggs but he has struggled heavily with injuries in Triple-A to a 7.71 ERA and 1.80 WHIP. He has two plus pitches and could have a future in the bullpen if he can improve his control at all.

Third-round pick Nate Dohm was part of the trade package that sent Ryan Helsley to the Mets. Helsley struggled heavily with the Mets in 2025, while Nate Dohm has struggled heavily with the Cardinals’ High-A team this year.

Tenth-round pick Brendan Girton and thirteenth-round pick R.J. Gordon have shown flashes but have struggled as they have moved up to higher levels.

You can view the full draft here:

The post Reviewing the Mets 2024 Draft appeared first on Metsmerized.

Player Data: Age: 27 (10/25/1998) B/T: L/L
Primary Stats: 111 G, 482 PA, .275/.393/.515/.908, 110 H, 11 2B, 27 HR, 68 RBI, 63 R, 9 SB, 78 BB, 65 SO
Advanced Stats: 154 OPS+, 147 wRC+, 13.5% K%, 16.2% BB%, .268 BABIP, .411 xwOBA, 3.1 fWAR, 3.0 bWAR
2026 Salary: $61.975M

Grade: A-

2026 Review

Like many Mets players, 2026 was a bit of a wash for Juan Soto. For the first time in his career, Soto dealt with a pair of calf injuries that de-railed his season, causing him to miss 51 games. Now let me be clear, a “wash” of a season for a player like Soto’s caliber is still an elite year. However, due to injuries and a couple tough months, Soto gets an A- instead of the A or A+ he is accustomed to.

The first half of the year, Soto looked like every bit of his usual self, putting together one of his best stretches as a Met. Soto’s 162 wRC+ ranked fourth among all qualified hitters in the first half. He ranked No. 3 in OBP, No. 5 in slugging, and No. 3 in xwOBA. However, after his second calf injury, he was never able to find that same rhythm at the plate that he had in the first half. After returning from the injured list in August, Soto ended the final 27 games hitting just .252 with a .799 OPS and six home runs.

Looking deeper, what was really going on in that final stretch? A big part of the reason was a very uncharacteristic plate approach. In the month of September, Soto’s 24.6% chase rate was the second highest for a single month in his career, trailing only the first month after being called up to the major leagues in 2018. Just how uncharacteristic was it? Well, he had not recorded a month with a chase rate over 22% since August of 2019. The interesting thing is, it did not lead to more swings and misses or more strikeouts. However, it led to a lot more soft contact than Soto is used to.

Now, let’s talk about the good! Soto’s “bad” year is still an absolutely incredible season. Despite not playing a full season, Soto’s 27 home runs ranked No. 1 on a Mets team that desperately needs power. However, the most important aspect of the season for Soto was the defensive improvement from 2025. Soto will never be an elite defender like his teammates Carson Benge or A.J. Ewing, and that is totally okay! He is on the Mets to be an elite offensive threat for years to come. However, in the offseason, Soto made it a point to improve his defense, and while his innings were limited, it looks like he did improve.

In 2025, Soto looked like he was potentially the worst defender in the league in right field, posting -12 OAA and a -13 FRV. However, in 2026, he was able to improve those metrics to -3 and -5, respectively. His -3 OOA ranked in the 20th percentile of baseball, up from the first percentile last year. That is a jump that deserves credit. A huge part of that improvement was his ability to go backwards on balls. For the first time since 2021, Soto’s OAA on balls behind him was greater than zero (1). Soto still struggles coming in on balls, largely due to his reactions and lack of burst. However, he took good routes this year and became below average defensively instead of horrible.

2027 Outlook

Soto is going to be a force again in the middle of the Mets’ lineup, and fans should be thankful that is the case. Barring any more injuries, he will be the Mets’ best hitter next year and for years to come. He is going nowhere, and that is great news.

Something that is on the agenda for the offseason is providing Soto more support, particularly in the power department. With Bo Bichette’s impending decision on his player option, there is the chance that the Mets lose an impact bat this offseason. Benge and Ewing showed that they were more than capable additions to the lineup, and Francisco Lindor is another star in the heart of their order. However, the Mets relied way too much on players taking steps forward. Looking at the teams throughout the 2026 MLB playoffs, they more often than have very deep lineups that never give pitchers a break. The Mets had the opposite of that, often giving free outs to pitchers at the bottom of the order.

Soto is a New York Met. It’s something that is not appreciated enough, and something every Mets fan should be thankful for. Soto is an elite offensive talent that every team would dream about having in their lineup. 2027 will be no different. Soto will be incredible, and hopefully a large reason for their success.

The post 2026 Report Card: Juan Soto, LF appeared first on Metsmerized.

Primary Stats: 156 G, 654 PA, .282/.346/.430/.776, 168 H, 22 2B, 20 HR, 65 RBI, 86 R, 22 SB, 50 BB, 142 SO

Advanced Stats: 118 OPS+, 118 wRC+, 21.7% K%, 7.6% BB%, .341 BABIP, .341 xwOBA, 4.3 fWAR, 4.3 bWAR

2026 Salary: $780,000

GRADE: A

2026 REVIEW

Throughout the offseason leading into the 2026 season, fans and media alike wondered if Carson Benge would actually make the team out of spring training. It was a natural talking point given his helium prospect status and Mets President David Stearns publicly challenging his first-round pick to earn the spot in spring training.

Benge did just that, slashing .366/.435/.439 over 14 games in spring training. He earned his spot on the roster, playing almost every day as the Mets’ right fielder. Unfortunately for the Mets, Benge’s first month, like many of his teammates, didn’t help the team win games. Over his first 21 games in the bigs, Benge slashed .136/.219/.197/.416 with only two extra-base hits in 73 plate appearances. And if you take out Opening Day (walked twice, hit a dinger and stole a base), his line drops to an even more ghastly .127/.191/.143/.334.

If not for the Mets’ putrid play through those first few weeks of the season, Benge’s struggles may not have garnered the attention they did. But since we’re in this timeline, many were calling for him to be sent back down during his brutal beginning to the year. As any fan who watched this year knows, Benge made adjustments, and those adjustments led him to go on a five-month heater.

In the 135 games from April 23 through the end of the season, Carson Benge produced the following: 

581 PA, .301/.361/.459/.821, 159 H, 21 2B, 19 HR, 62 RBI, 80 R, 16 SB, 43 BB, 124 SO

What is particularly impressive is that Benge played his best baseball over the final two months of the season:

• March/April– .525 OPS / 47 OPS+
• May– .801 OPS / 129 OPS+
• June– .750 OPS / 102 OPS+
• July– .801 OPS / 123 OPS+
• August– .882 OPS / 146 OPS+
• September– .874 OPS / 142 OPS+

It’s not difficult to see why folks are so bullish on the 23-year-old. After the calendar flipped to September, the media seemed to catch up to the hype, with Benge getting some dark-horse NL Rookie of the Year chatter.

The debate includes the Reds’ Sal Stewart and the Cardinals’ JJ Wetherholt, but since April 23, Benge has made a compelling case as the NL’s best rookie.

NL rookie ranks since April 23: 

1st– 159 H

1st– 4.6 fWAR

1st– 80  R

2nd– 19 HR (Stewart, 24) 

2nd– 62 RBI (Stewart, 87) 

2nd– 16 SB (A.J. Ewing, 25) 

2nd– .301 BA (TJ Rumfield, .309)

3rd– .821 OPS (Rumfield, .868)

2nd– 130 wRC+ (Rumfield, 132)

2nd– .351 xwOBA (Bryce Eldridge, .359)

What truly sets Benge apart isn’t just his bat; it’s that his game is the most well-rounded when his defense and baserunning are taken into account. He led all of baseball in Arm Value and led the National League in outfield assists. If he continues at this level, Benge has a legitimate case to become one of baseball’s premier outfield arms.

He was one of four rookies who ranked in the 80th percentile or higher in all three of the batting, fielding, and baserunning Run Value metrics on Baseball Savant.

*checks notes* 

He was one of only four players in all of baseball to meet that threshold, joining infielders Otto Lopez and Bobby Witt Jr., and the NL MVP favorite and center fielder, Pete Crow-Armstrong.

2027 PREVIEW

Moving forward, Carson Benge looks like he could be a staple in the top half of the Mets’ batting order for years to come. He’s already etched his name into the Queens record books with the most hits by a rookie in franchise history (168) and as the first rookie in franchise history to record a 20/20 season.

It will be interesting to see how Benge responds now that opposing pitchers have a full year of tape to game-plan against him, and whether he can prove to be this type of player year in and year out. But perhaps the most interesting part is that Benge just finished his age-23 season. Most fans would be thrilled if he continued producing 20/20 seasons while providing 4–5 WAR a year. If the expectation is that he builds on this rookie season, though, what is Carson Benge’s ceiling?

The post 2026 Report Card: Carson Benge, OF appeared first on Metsmerized.

Blame for the season has partly been placed on some of these players, while others were merely victims of the Mets’ overall record at the trade deadline. So let’s take a look at these players and how they performed with the Mets this year.

Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

Freddy Peralta, SP

Grade: D

Ultimately, for the Mets and Freddy Peralta, it just didn’t work out.

David Stearns traded for the man they wanted to be their ace ahead of the 2026 season, giving up prospects Jett Williams and Brandon Sproat for a season’s worth of control of the righty. To his career at that point, he’d been known for consistency. Over the previous five seasons, Peralta had missed only about a dozen starts and delivered a 3.30 ERA over his last 738 innings.

The Mets thought they were getting an anchor at the top of their rotation. Instead, they got inconsistent performances and an ERA nearly touching 5 across 22 starts before trading him to the Rays.

Peralta’s biggest problem seemed to be with pitch sequencing and eventual bad luck. His underlying metrics—expected stats, pitch spin and movement, etc.—were not far different than previous seasons. But the Mets consistently referred to not being able to help Peralta get where they wanted him to be. They couldn’t get him to pitch how they wanted him to pitch. After a rough first couple of starts with the Rays, they have. Over his last six regular season starts, Peralta pitched to a 0.79 ERA over 34 innings. He’s now trying to help the Rays reach the World Series.

Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Clay Holmes, SP

Grade: B

Clay Holmes was one of the best free agent signings of David Stearns’ tenure so far.

In just a season and change, the Mets got 218 innings and 3.26 ERA out of a reliever-turned-starter—for a good reliever’s salary.

This year, Holmes was off to a fast start. He had a 2.39 ERA through his first nine starts and was the only consistent part of the Mets’ rotation through mid-May. But then, he was hit by a comebacker in the leg, resulting in a fracture that kept him out until the trade deadline. Before making another start for the Mets, they traded him (with Tyrone Taylor) to the Cubs, for their now-best prospect, Jefferson Rojas.

Tyrone Taylor by Berto Carlo

Tyrone Taylor, OF

Grade: B

Like Holmes, Tyrone Taylor had been one of Stearns’ best moves. Originally a second piece of a trade for Adrian Houser, Taylor became a fan favorite as a reserve outfielder since arriving before the 2024 OMG season.

As for 2026, Taylor was playing himself into getting cut from the roster. He was one of the worst offensive hitters in the game up until May 25 (his 43wC+ was 13th lowest among players with 100 plate appearances), when he was placed on the injured list with a hip issue. His defense in center was still above average, but with Luis Robert Jr. hopefully returning from injury, Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing playing well, and Juan Soto, Taylor could have been a roster casualty. But after returning from the IL, he posted the best offensive run of his career.

From June 28 through the trade deadline, Taylor slashed .354/.436/.875/1.311 over 55 PAs with seven homers, four doubles and 14 RBI. He was then the boost a Clay Holmes trade package needed to help the Mets land Rojas. While not quite as hot, Taylor posted a .890 OPS over 82 PAs with the Cubs, meaning his OPS stayed over 1.000 for his last 137 PAs of his season. Pretty good.

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Brooks Raley, RP

Grade: A+

Noticing a theme here… Stearns traded away at the 2026 deadline one of his best front office moves. Though acquired by a previous administration, Raley went down in 2024 with a torn UCL. After the season, Stearns re-signed Raley and let him rehab with the Mets. That paid dividends at the end of the 2025 season, when he posted a 2.45 ERA over 25.2 innings. He was even better in 2026, posting a 1.91 ERA over 41.1 innings. You could argue he was the Mets’ best reliever from the start of the season to the deadline.

He was traded to the Phillies, where he tanked with a 7.94 ERA in just 11.1 innings. He allowed more earned runs in his short time with the Phillies than he did all season with the Mets. But for his time with the Mets? A perfect grade.

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Luke Weaver, RP

Grade: A+

Luke Weaver’s season got off to a slightly rocky start, but from May 1 onward, he was the team’s best reliever. Appearing in 42 games, Weaver allowed earned runs in just four of them (nine runs total). That included a stretch from May 1 to July 5 when he didn’t allow a single run. He ended his short Mets tenure, which only lasted four months into a two-year pact, with a 1.84 ERA in 44 innings. Solid work. Once with the Pirates, Weaver suffered through some illness to a 4.96 ERA over 16.1 innings. The Mets traded him for Sammy Stafura, a power-hitting prospect the team is high on.

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Huascar Brazoban, RP

Grade: B+

Relievers were in pretty high demand at the deadline, weren’t they? The Mets had more to give.

Huascar Brazoban, until the trade deadline, pitched to a 2.56 ERA over 52.2 innings. The Mets had used him heavily as a guy who could get more than three outs, and one-third of his outings saw him last more than an inning. His sinker-changeup combo was effective for most of the season, providing another reliable arm out of the bullpen when the rotation was floundering.

Like other relievers, he performed worse than he did with the Mets when traded. With the White Sox, he had a 4.40 ERA over 14.1 innings. He pitched a third of an inning in the Wild Card round and didn’t make the team’s Division Series roster.

Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

A.J. Minter, RP

Grade: B+

A.J. Minter was the first reliever the Mets traded at the deadline, jumping the market by a couple days and dealing the lefty to the Minnesota Twins for Billy Amick. Minter, along with Brooks Raley, provided some of the best lefty relief help in the game.

The Mets eased Minter into the season coming off lat surgery, not making his first MLB appearance until late May. After that, he delivered a 2.35 ERA across 23 innings. His first 14 innings back were a great success, not allowing a run across any of his appearances. But over his last nine innings, he allowed six runs before he was traded to Minnesota. The season with the Mets was still strong, though, and he earned a B. Overall, he performed just as well with the Twins, who ultimately fell short of the Wild Card by seven games.

Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images

David Peterson, SP

Grade: D+

The David Peterson trade in late June was the official signal that 1) the Mets’ front office didn’t feel the Mets could actually turn their season around, and 2) just about anyone with a pulse was available.

But Peterson was flat-out bad with the Mets this year. His 6.09 ERA through June 22 was the seventh-worst in baseball by anyone with at least 60 innings under their belt. The results from his contact-oriented pitching style flipped compared to previous stretches of success. He’s a guy who needs to command his pitches and to have a good defense behind him. Through the first couple of months of the season, he didn’t have either.

The trade ended his rollercoaster tenure with the Mets, which saw flashes of brilliance. Once with the Cubs, he pitched to a 3.70 ERA across 80.1 innings. He’ll be a free agent this offseason.

The post 2026 Report Card: Traded Players (Peralta, Holmes & More) appeared first on Metsmerized.

A few weeks ago, when I settled into my seat to catch an evening showing in the Theater District, I didn’t know what to expect. I knew nothing of the plot. No reports connecting it to a future movie adaptation had crossed my Twitter feed.

The show was relatively new, in just its second season.

And then, well, the show started, and I was transfixed. A series of tres cubanos, congas, and trumpets swiftly transported me from the concrete jungle of Manhattan to the sweaty metropolis of Havana.

Oh, and the name of the musical, you ask?

Buena Vista Social Club. Yes, the one starring former Mets infielder Jose Iglesias.

Photo by Brad Penner of Imagn Images

“Candelita” has emerged as Broadway’s unlikeliest cast member over the last two months.

He’s the first Latino player to make the transition to Broadway, just beating out Bernie Williams by months. (The former Yankee will join Iglesias in the Buena Vista Social Club’s ensemble later this year.)

Much like Chris Evans in his first post-Captain America role, it’s evident that Iglesias genuinely enjoys his new gig. He sings with flair, dances the Rumba as well as any other castmate, and plays his part with earnestness. It’s his way of paying homage to the country he defected from in 2008.

At the show’s crescendo, when he leads the closing song “Candela (Finale),” Iglesias really shines.

Perhaps he recognizes his own journey within the song’s lyrics, which reference the play’s thousand-mile journey from Havana to the melting pot of New York. At one time, Iglesias was just an athletic musician in Cuba. And now, after becoming a pop culture icon during his year in Queens, he’s starring in one of Broadway’s leading productions.

And while just coincidental, the song title “Candela” sure does look similar to his stage name, “Candelita.”

Despite the briefness of his acting career, Iglesias’s role isn’t some symbolic cameo. In fact, it’s just the opposite—his baseball career success counts for nothing.

When he enters from stage left, the play is not paused for targeted applause. He’s no longer Jose Iglesias, the former All-Star. He’s the Narrator, in charge of distributing the story of The Buena Vista Social Club. And he does a damn good job. In fact, his performance is so exemplary that his run as the Narrator was recently extended to November 15.

You wouldn’t know you’re looking at a former athlete if you weren’t any the wiser. Only a small footnote in the show’s playbill, noting Iglesias’s temporary addition to the cast, reminds you that you’re in the presence of Candelita.

Even though Iglesias was more musically inclined than the average major-leaguer, it’s still a new experience for the well-travelled middle infielder. While Iglesias’s 13-year major-league career took him to both coasts of America, the bright lights of Broadway represent a new frontier.

Bridging the gap between the two arts of sport and entertainment is nothing new for the now 36-year-old. When Iglesias was promoted to the Mets’ major-league roster, he introduced “OMG”, his own melody, to the world by way of his walk-up song.

Throughout their 65 years of existence, the Mets have enough bizarre moments to fill an encyclopedia. Before 2024, they’ve never had a backup infielder rap on the field to celebrate a victory. No other team had, either.

And yet, after the Mets defeated the Astros 7-2 on June 28, there was Iglesias singing solo at second base, promoting his creation to the masses, until the beat dropped and a flurry of Mets players joined in.

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

A collaboration with Pitbull and foam signs followed and, by tapping into the power of their best-selling artist (and Grimace), the club stamped their ticket to the postseason. All while Iglesias was carrying a .300 batting average through the summer.

Former teammates Francisco Lindor and Mark Vientos and Mets’ sideline reporter Steve Gelbs recently attended showings of The Buena Vista Social Club. Lindor brought his family, once more proving that a double player partner is a partner for life.

The Lindors are far from the only Mets affiliate showing interest in the show. When I attended, a gentleman wearing a replica Mets jersey sat down in the row in front of me. When I departed, a woman with an orange-and-blue “OMG” foam sign graced the exit, punctuating the unusual, yet appropriate for the night, collision between baseball and Broadway.

In his major-league career, Iglesias wasn’t known as a power hitter, tallying just 54 round-trippers over 13 years. And yet, with his sterling performance, it’s sparkling clear Iglesias can add another home run to his ledger.

The post Iglesias Hits Home Run in His Broadway Debut appeared first on Metsmerized.

Player Data: Age: 27 (6/15/1999)
B/T: R/R

2026 Traditional Stats: 23 G (23 GS), 110.0 IP, 3.85 ERA, 4-5, 134 K, 47 BB, 1.27 WHIP
2026 Advanced Stats: 105 ERA+, 28.3 K%, 9.9 BB%, 3.70 xERA, 3.61 FIP, 3.89 xFIP, 2.1 fWAR, 1.7 bWAR
2027 Salary: Pre-arbitration

Grade: B

2026 Review

It was a long recovery from Tommy John surgery for Christian Scott. He was healthy and ready to go by the start of last offseason, but didn’t get a roster spot for Opening Day after spring training. Scott was called up on April 23 to replace the struggling David Peterson. Although he struggled with command, walking five batters and getting four outs, Scott gradually improved as the season went on, earning his rotation spot. Since his season debut, Christian Scott has owned a 10.96 K/9, the ninth-best K/9 among starters with a minimum of 110 innings pitched. That number puts him ahead of ace starters such as Tarik Skubal, Zack Wheeler, and Paul Skenes. Scott is also in the top 30 in FIP, xFIP, SIERA, HR/9, and BAA in that stretch.

Scott has a six-pitch repertoire: a four-seam fastball, a sweeper, a cutter, a curveball, a splitter, and a sinker. The four-seam fastball is his main pitch, averaging 95.5 mph and thrown 47% of the time. Hitters mustered a .235 BAA, mainly due to Scott’s elite extension off the mound (96th percentile) and the inverted vertical break on his fastball. The sweeper was thrown 23% of the time, and hitters only managed a .550 OPS against it, making it a highly effective out pitch.

The cutter was the most valuable pitch for Scott, with a +7 run value, which is easily the highest in his arsenal. Hitters slashed .118/.249/.184 with a .482 OPS against the cutter, proving that it was a great bridge pitch to Scott’s fastball and sweeper. The curve and splitter were utilized more against lefties, but neither fared well, with an OPS well above .800 against both. The sinker was only thrown 2% of the time but was hit hard when used. Scott’s glaring issue this season had been walks, as he walked almost four batters per nine innings. He had a few blowup outings where he walked four batters or more that skew his overall numbers, but efficiency and strike-throwing will surely be areas to improve for Scott this offseason.

2027 Preview

Christian Scott has all but cemented himself into the Mets’ rotation plans for 2027 and beyond. With Sean Manaea and Nolan McLean the other locks, and Zac Thornton and Jonah Tong strong contenders, the Mets need all the reliable arms they can get. After a strong 2026 campaign, Scott will look to build on that and establish himself as one of the best young starters in the sport. If he improves on his walk rate and increases the quality of his starts, he can flourish into the frontline starter the Mets have been searching for.

The post 2026 Report Card: Christian Scott, SP appeared first on Metsmerized.

Their first round was a mixed bag, however, taking Kevin Parada and Jett Williams at No. 11 and No. 14 overall, respectively. Parada has struggled so much in the minors he was left unprotected in the Rule 5 Draft last year and went unclaimed. He bounced up and down between Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Syracuse and was inconsistent at the plate but he did end strong offensively, ultimately finishing with a .702 OPS on the season. He has struggled defensively and still has clear holes in his swing, though. Without further adjustments, it is hard to see a future in the major leagues for him, and he will likely remain unprotected in the Rule 5 Draft.

Jett Williams was a quick riser in the minors, and in 2025 he seemed poised to make noise in the majors in 2026, but his stock has fallen considerably this season with both Baseball America and Pipeline dropping him altogether from their most recent top 100 updates. The Mets traded him to the Milwaukee Brewers in a package for Freddy Peralta last offseason, and it would seem they sold high on him at the right time. Brandon Sproat was the other name dealt in the package. Sproat was drafted in the third round of the 2022 draft but did not sign, so he will be talked about more when reviewing 2023 when they drafted him again.

Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

Jonah Tong was taken in the seventh round. He made his major league debut in 2025 with mixed results but looked better in 2026, pitching to a 3.82 ERA across seven appearances. He had mixed results in Triple-A this year, but everything seemed to come together towards the end of the season.

Blade Tidwell was taken in the second round and was up and down the minors. He flashed good stuff at times but was never able to command his pitches. He threw 15 innings in the majors with the Mets in 2025 to a 9.00 ERA before he was traded as part of the package for Tyler Rogers from the San Francisco Giants at the 2025 deadline. He was not great in the majors in 2026, pitching to a 4.45 ERA across 56 2/3 innings and is scheduled to undergo Tommy John Surgery.

Before the 2026 season, Jacob Reimer was ranked the No. 70 prospect in baseball by Baseball Prospectus. He struggled heavily in the first month of the season but looked much better in the weeks leading up to his injury in June. When he returned from the injury, he looked better under the hood and slashed .280/.375/.434/.809.

Nick Morabito, taken in the second round, has made his major league debut, though it did not go well. Overall, he slashed .195/.283/.244 across 46 plate appearances.

12th-rounder Paul Gervase was traded for Tyler Zuber in 2024, who the Mets later DFA’d and has since bounced around. After a brief appearance with the Rays, Gervase was traded to the Dodgers and pitched a handful of innings in the majors for them. 14th-rounder Cameron Foster was also traded, this time for Gregory Soto in the 2025 season. Foster struggled heavily in 2026 at Triple-A and logged a 9.00 ERA in six appearances at the big league level for the Baltimore Orioles.

Tyler Stuart was taken in the sixth round and was traded for Jesse Winker in 2024. Winker played a large part in the Mets’ 2024 NLCS run, while Stuart missed the entirety of the 2026 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Before that, he was struggling in Triple-A with the Washington Nationals.

You can see the full draft below:

• Round 1 – Kevin Parada – C
• Round 1 – Jett Williams – SS
• Round 2 – Blade Tidwell – RHP
• Round 2 – Nick Morabito – OF
• Round 3 – Brandon Sproat – P
• Round 4 – Jacob Reimer – 3B
• Round 5 – D’Andre Smith – 2B
• Round 6 – Tyler Stuart – P
• Round 7 – Jonah Tong – P
• Round 8 – Dylan Tebrake – P
• Round 9 – Chase Estep – 2B
• Round 10 – Zebulon Vermillion – RHP
• Round 11 – Rhylan Thomas – OF
• Round 12 – Paul Gervase – P
• Round 13 – Dylan Ross – P
• Round 14 – Cameron Foster – P
• Round 15 – Jackson Jaha – 3B
• Round 16 – Jimmy Loper – P
• Round 17 – Connor Brandon – P
• Round 18 – Chris Santiago – P
• Round 19 – Jackson Lovich – SS
• Round 20 – Eli Ankeney – P

The post Reviewing the Mets’ 2022 Draft appeared first on Metsmerized.

Player Data: Age: 34 (02/01/1992) B/T: R/L

2026 Traditional Stats: 6-8, 4.78 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 144 SO, 44 BB, 150.2 IP, 33 G (19 GS)

2026 Advanced Stats: 85 ERA+, 22.1 K%, 6.7 BB%, 4.73 xERA, 4.54 FIP, 4.26 xFIP, 1.0 fWAR, -0.2 bWAR

2026 salary: $25 million ($6,975,000 deferred – $22,009,731 NPV)

GRADE: C-

2026 REVIEW

How in the world do we review Sean Manaea‘s 2026 season? In terms of results, it was mixed at best. He is not a big reason the Mets lost many of their games, though he did not provide a huge benefit to the club. He did split time between the bullpen and the rotation, and in the rotation he completed six innings in half of his starts, going seven in two of them, meaning he did provide some length. We should probably look at his season in three parts.

The first part begins in spring training, where he struggled to hit 90 miles per hour on his fastball. He did not have a normal offseason and that seemed to affect him negatively. He also did not seem to know he was competing for a rotation spot and was clearly shocked when he learned he did not make the Opening Day rotation. It’s worth wondering if he would have gone about spring training and his ramp up differently had he been aware. He likely would have gone through the offseason differently. This is an area in which the organization may have failed Manaea, and only so much blame can be put on him. Through May 6, Manaea averaged 89 miles per hour on his fastball and had a 6.85 ERA and 1.75 WHIP. He had yet to even touch 92 miles per hour. If that was the full season, it would be a clear F.

Then, he worked with assistant pitching coach Dan McKinney and they figured out what was affecting his velocity. Across the remainder of the season, he averaged 91.7 miles per hour on his fastball, maxing out at 95.4 miles per hour. He threw 122 1/3 innings to a 4.27 ERA and 1.22 WHIP. If you start the season there, it is a pretty solid showing! Probably at least a B/B+ grade.

The best stretch of his season came from May 10 through August 9, where he threw 82 1/3 innings to a 3.39 ERA and 1.20 WHIP. By that point in the season, Manaea had thrown roughly double the number of innings he had thrown the year before. Across his last seven starts, he pitched to a 6.08 ERA and 1.25 WHIP. He looked like he was going to end strong with two starts where he threw 11 1/3 innings with four earned runs and fifteen strikeouts, but then he struggled heavily in his final outing of the season.

So, how do we review Manaea’s season? How much do we knock him for the first month of the season where he was forced into the bullpen, a role he was not at all prepared to pitch in? It cannot be completely ignored – context does matter – but also it cannot excuse everything. Did the Mets also push him to the point he was gassed down the stretch to get his inning count up so he would be better prepared for 2027? Maybe? If so, hopefully it works.

Recognizing this, and if the bulk of his season after he got his velocity back is a B/B+,  it probably is fair to say he should be in the C- range. Manaea is a fan favorite and he did a lot to work with the young starters in Nolan McLean, Christian Scott, Zac Thornton, and Jonah Tong. Some Mets fans would have liked to see him earn a better grade with a better season. Unfortunately, he did not, and thus we land where we did.

Sean Manaea by Roberto Carlo

2027 PREVIEW

Ideally, Manaea will have an offseason designed around maintaining his velocity for the start of next season. The Mets need to have a plan in place if it is an issue, and they need to ensure he is made aware from the beginning if he is competing for a rotation spot or not so he can plan accordingly.

Ideally, the above happens and he shows up to spring training healthy and able to give 150+ innings to around a 4.25 ERA and 1.25 WHIP. If the Mets are not confident he can do that as the fifth starter in the rotation, they should trade him and acquire someone who can. If they are not confident he can do that, he should spend the offseason learning how to become a leverage reliever juicing that fastball to 96 miles per hour, adding some more horizontal break on the sweeper, and being a two-pitch reliever who mixes in the changeup/sinker combo when needed.

What the Mets cannot afford to do is dedicate two months of starts with a 5.00-6.00 or worse ERA as they did with David Peterson and Kodai Senga this year.

The post 2026 Report Card: Sean Manaea, SP/RP appeared first on Metsmerized.

Robert Colonna

My three biggest surprises this season are Zac Thornton, A.J. Ewing and Nate Lavender.

Zac Thornton was a big surprise for the 2026 Mets. I don’t know that I fully buy his stats as repeatable, and probably would not want to write his name in ink into the 2027 opening day rotation, but he made legitimate changes and growth across the 2026 season. Those adjustments brought him from someone who looked like being a depth starter would be a stretch to someone you’re comfortable throwing 20 starts next year. Maybe he can surprise us again and make those velocity gains he labeled as a goal of his a reality.

If you told me before the season what A.J. Ewing’s final 2026 OPS was as a 21 year old rookie I would have said that makes sense. If you told me he did that after only playing in 12 Triple-A games I don’t know if I would have believed it. Add in the fact he seemed to develop a legitimate “A swing” and hit almost as many home runs in 120 major league games as he did in parts of four minor league seasons and we have what looks like a potential cornerstone player forming.

I have been a fan of Nate Lavender’s since he talked about throwing with grit during spring training before the 2024 season and was happy when he returned to us after being selected in the rule five draft. Watching him in the minors this year he looked like he could handle pitching in the majors. He added velocity and improved his stuff and now he looks like he could be a potential leverage arm. The Mets have not really had a legitimate home grown left-handed reliever since Pedro Feliciano.

Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing
By Berto Carlo

David Melendi

Carson Benge hit .232 with one homer in 95 at-bats vs. lefties in the minors last year. I expected him to platoon, but he surprised me with a .279/.347/.419 slash line vs. southpaws and six homers in 172 at-bats.

Zac Thornton showed it’s possible in 2026 to get by without striking people out. His 6.72 K/9 ranked 152nd of 178 pitchers who threw 80+ innings. His 3.42 ERA ranked 49th in that group.

Tyrone Taylor’s game-tying, three-run homer with two outs in the ninth against the Yankees was a wonderful surprise. The Mets won the game in the 10th.

Patrick Glynn

Christian Scott—of course we knew his potential, but the fact Scott made it through 123.2 innings across the minors and majors coming off Tommy John surgery AND performed well gives the Mets more confidence in the rotation heading into next year.

Andy Green—I am legit shocked that 1) Green had a successful enough tenure as interim manager that he’d be considered for the full-time gig, 2) that Green wanted the full-time gig, and 3) all parties were so interested that they got a deal done before the season ended. That was not a scenario I ever saw coming once Carlos Mendoza‘s time seemed to be coming to an end.

A.J. Ewing—the Mets asked a lot from the 21-year-old, and he held his own and then some over five months in the majors. He provided league-average offense and stellar defense while playing in all but two games after he was called up. If he unlocks a little more power, he’s a legit 4-5-win player to pair with Carson Benge and Juan Soto. That could be the best outfield in baseball.

Mathias Altman-Kurosaki

My three biggest surprises from this year are Carson Benge, A.J. Ewing and Jared Young.

I didn’t doubt that Benge would be a good major leaguer, but when he tripped out of the gate in April, I wondered if he’d benefit from more time in the minor leagues. He rebounded very nicely and his overall numbers have put him in the conversation for Rookie of the Year honors. His defense also improved once he slid over to right field, and he made the most of his opportunities to show off his throwing arm.

I wasn’t expecting Ewing to be in the majors so early in the season. Like Benge, he ran into a rough patch, but he also was able to rebound with a good September. In addition to providing respectable numbers at the plate and creating havoc on the base paths, Ewing turned in excellent defensive numbers in center field. Between Benge and Ewing, the Mets have two solid two-way players in the outfield, to go along with Juan Soto.

Lastly, I had very little expectations for Jared Young. He didn’t do much in his cup of coffee with the team in 2025 and seemed to be nothing more than a bench piece heading into 2026. However, he made the most of his opportunities, turning in an above-average offensive season while playing solid defense at first base. Perhaps we’re looking at a late bloomer, as Young seems to be breaking out in his early 30s.

Jared Young by Berto Carlo

Johnluke Chaparro

The three biggest surprises for me this season were A.J. Ewing, Kodai Senga and Jared Young.

I knew that Ewing was going to be in the majors at some point but I didn’t know the immediate impact he would have and how well he’s been able to adjust when he’s struggled. We all knew he had the tools but I assumed he would have to and try and find his footing. To the contrary! He stepped in and filled a need right away. I was pleasantly surprised and glad to see that he’ll be a vital piece going forward.

I had no idea Senga had it in him but Kodai Senga becoming a reliable reliever was incredibly surprising and welcoming. I like Senga a lot and I’m glad that he seemingly has found a role here. It seems that making the game simple has worked for him and if that keeps him here, by all means. He has all the tools to be an effective reliever, especially with that fork ball of his!

I knew Jared Young would be a reliable piece but he blew past expectations and became someone who definitely can be a guy who can get solid playing time at first. A guy who played air tight defense and was one of the better guys hitting with RISP, Young gave them something to rely on in the absence of Jorge Polanco and I’m eagerly awaiting to see how he impacts the team next season!

Mojo Hill

Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing — I’ll lump these two into one surprise. You never necessarily know what you’re going to get from rookies called up for the first time, but Benge and Ewing both certainly surpassed expectations. It looked rough for Benge at first, and I kind of expected that he’d have a subpar season and maybe get some time in the minors. But credit to the Mets, they stuck with him, and credit to Benge for coming out of it. I never would have guessed in April that he’d end up being a legitimate candidate for Rookie of the Year. His overall season was absolutely a pleasant surprise. Ewing’s progression was a little different, in that he made a good first impression before struggling later on. But overall, he adjusted to his first taste of the majors pretty well and provided more MLB contributions than most expected coming into the season.

Andy Green — Carlos Mendoza’s tenure was a disappointment, but Green’s was a welcome surprise. Not only did he take over and lead this team to at least some respectability in the second half, but he ended up taking a long-term position, which I think is something that would be nice for the Mets to have since they haven’t really had a long-term manager since Terry Collins. I was surprised at how well-spoken and thoughtful Green seemed in his press conferences, and I was also surprised he changed his mind about wanting to get into managing. Bring on the Andy Green era.

Jared Young — Young had shown flashes, but it was nice to see him find some consistency. First base was a disaster for the 2026 Mets, but Young provided some stability in the thick of the season. He’s a fun story, too, as he’s the only MLB player that Minot State University, about two hours west of where I live in North Dakota, has ever had.

Christian De Block

1. Carson Benge – going into this season, I heard of Benge and his potential. But I was not aware of all the different skills he possessed. Especially as a defensive wizard in the outfield. I look forward to seeing what he can do in 2027. All-Star nod + Gold Glove in his near future.

2. Zac Thornton – another name that surprised me. All the focus was on McLean, Tong and even Wenninger last offseason. Thornton was not nearly mentioned enough, but that doesn’t matter now. His big league success in 2026 gives him a solid foundation to be a fixture in the Mets’ rotation moving forward.

3. Kodai Senga – like many of you reading this, I was tired/done with the Senga experience. Holding onto 2023 and his first half in 2025 was beginning to get old. But to his credit, he grabbed his opportunity in the bullpen and capitalized. Over his last 18 appearances, he pitched to a 3.78 ERA. I don’t know how he fits into the 2027 Mets’ bullpen, but I’m certainly intrigued by that role for him on a permanent basis.

Jack Ramsey

The biggest surprises of the Mets season, both good and bad, aren’t hard to figure out (at least in my opinion): Starting pitching, their rookie class, and prospect performances.

The Mets season was doomed from very early on, due in large part to how awful their starting pitching was. Freddy Peralta never got his season going, Clay Holmes missed the majority of the first half due to injury, Sean Manaea was sent to the pen in spring training, Nolan McLean did not hit his stride until the summer, and David Peterson was baseball’s worst starter to begin the season. Coming into the year, I felt the most confident about New York’s starting pitching. The silver lining, however, would be that their struggles created opportunities for Christian Scott and Zac Thornton, both of whom appear to be set to begin the 2027 season in the Mets’ rotation.

Continuing on that theme, the Mets’ rookie class was arguably the best in all of baseball this season. Carson Benge and Nolan McLean figure to finish in the top five in National League Rookie of the Year voting, while Benge might win the award all together. AJ Ewing cemented himself as the team’s starting center fielder, Thornton was one of the best lefty rookie starters in the game, and Nate Lavender dominated out of the bullpen after being called up following the trade deadline. All five of them figure to take on important roles next April, and this could prove to have been a transformative rookie class for the franchise.

Down in the farm system, multiple Mets’ top prospects disappointed this year, while other players rose from non-prospects to names to watch in spring training. Ryan Clifford and Jonah Tong both entered the season as two of the Mets’ better prospects, but both disappointed greatly this season. Tong came up to the big leagues in late spring as an injury replacement, but was not effective in the least. Down in Syracuse, he was rocked to the tune of A 4.54 ERA. He turned in a few good starts to end the year, but manager Andy Green made it obvious that he is tracking to begin 2027 with Syracuse again.

As for Clifford, he managed just a .640 OPS and 18 homers this year, and his struggles were so much that he was placed on the developmental list late in the summer. As for players who saw their status skyrocket, Nick Lorusso went from being an organizational filler to a legitimately interesting piece entering 2027. Playing the infield corners, he managed 22 homers and a .777 OPS after entering the season with just 19 homers in his career. Keep an eye on righty Channing Austin, who put up a 2.26 ERA between Brooklyn and Binghamton before being placed on the season-ending injured list.

The post MMO Roundtable: Three Biggest Surprises From the Mets’ 2026 Season appeared first on Metsmerized.

Jared Young by Roberto Carlo

Internal Options

Jared Young hit nine homers in 103 games and posted a .759 OPS in his first year with significant MLB playing time. But he is 31 and likely best suited for a bench or platoon role. Brett Baty is younger at 26 and hit .277/.345/.508 with seven homers after the All-Star break. The .853 OPS was tops on the Mets of players with at least 100 at-bats during that time. But even David Stearns mused at a news conference after the season about whether he could be consistent for a full year. Baty’s full season OPS was .681. His ability to play all over the field could be diminished if he mostly plays first.

Jorge Polanco had season-ending ankle surgery and his health will be a concern. He also might be used primarily at designated hitter. Mark Vientos took a big step backward for the second straight season.

There is no prospect in the minor leagues who looks ready to contribute at the next level. Ryan Clifford showed promise in 2025 (29 homers, .826 OPS, Double-A and Triple-A), but regressed this season, hitting .180/.277/.363 with 18 homers in 115 games at Triple-A Syracuse.

The answer could be internal, but it also feels like the least inspired.

Teruaki Sato

Free Agents

Ty France hit .295/.363/.502 with 21 homers in 133 games for the Padres this year. The 32-year-old was worth seven outs above average, ranked in the 93rd percentile for range and won a Gold Glove in 2025. He would be a good fit. There is also Jake Bauers, 31, who hit .266/.389/.484 with 26 homers in 144 games for the Brewers.

Josh Bell, 34, made 18 starts at first (and 129 at DH) for the Twins and hit 21 homers with a .738 OPS. Some others who will be looking for work this offseason are Alec Bohm, Paul Goldschmidt, Rhys Hoskins, Nathaniel Lowe, Dominic Smith and Rowdy Tellez.

Across the Pacific, Teruaki Sato, a 27-year-old left-handed hitter, clubbed 39 homers in 140 games for the Hanshin Tigers, slashed .311/.389/.620 and is expected to be posted. The Mets, Yankees, Dodgers and Phillies are reportedly interested.

One minor detail: he plays mostly third base and a little outfield. He could move to first or Bo Bichette could try learning a new position again, if he exercises his $42 million player option and stays in New York. Bichette told Mike Puma of the New York Post last month that if he stays he “would be willing to do whatever.”

Signing someone in free agency seems more realistic than sticking with what they have on hand.

Aug 8, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; San Francisco Giants first baseman Rafael Devers (16) watches the flight of a foul ball while batting against the Washington Nationals during the fifth inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Robert Edwards-Imagn Images

Trades

Now here is where things get really interesting. Here are some trade candidates:

• Rafael Devers hit 37 homers, slashed .258/.340/.525 and didn’t seem to endear himself to the Giants. He also ended his season with a core muscle injury that required surgery, though he is expected to be ready for spring training.
• Alec Burleson hit .279/.343/.473 with 26 homers and an MLB-leading 116 RBIs. The Cardinals were open to listening to offers for the 27-year-old at the trade deadline.
• Yandy Díaz, 35, has long been the subject of trade rumors. He hit .293/.359/.446 with 22 homers and when he crossed 500 plate appearances a clause was activated in his contract that will make him a Ray for $13 million next season. That could prompt budget-conscious Tampa Bay to deal him.

Wild Trade Thoughts

Why not think big? A salary cap isn’t guaranteed yet, of course.

The Phillies may be looking to break up their core after another playoff disappointment. Bryce Harper, 34, has five years and about $125.7 million left on his contract.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. upset Blue Jays fans last month when he said he was paid for what he did in the past, not what he will do in the future. Could his future be in Queens? The 27-year-old is signed through 2039 on a $500 million deal.

The post Who’s on First in 2027? The Mets Have A Lot of Options appeared first on Metsmerized.