So who is he, what is was his style as president of baseball operations of the Twins, and what does a senior advisor do?

Derek Falvey. Photo Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

What Does a Senior Advisor Do?

A senior advisor is a high-level in-house consultant for an MLB team. Many teams have them, and it is common for a former POBO or GM to take this role. Former Athletics president of baseball operations Billy Beane currently serves as a special advisor for the Athletics. Former Mets general manager Omar Minaya is a special advisor for the Yankees. Former Rangers general manager Jon Daniels is a special advisor with the Rays.

What the role covers is largely up to the organization. Responsibilities can range from analytical assistance, player evaluation, scouting, player acquisition, operations management, alumni relations, and more. Typically, the goal is to play to the strengths of the senior advisor.

Per Bryan Hoch of MLB.com, Minaya was hired to help balance the Yankees’ analytical evaluations by working to “lend voices to old-school scouting techniques.” Billy Beane is able to assist the Athletics with his institutional knowledge from his time within the organization. Per Adam Berry of MLB.com, Jon Daniels meanwhile works with the Rays’ “baseball ops senior leadership while utilizing his extensive experience in the industry to help further inform decision-making.” Michael Girsch with the Cardinals meanwhile has worked to improve the analytical side of baseball operations by improving innovation and best practices.

So what does Derek Falvey bring?

Who is Derek Falvey?

Falvey began his career in Cleveland in 2008, where he went on to become the co-director of baseball operations alongside none other than current Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns. From there, he went to the Twins in 2017 to work alongside then general manager Tad Levine as the executive vice president and chief baseball officer. In 2024, he became the sole leader of the Twins organization as the president of baseball operations. In January 2026, Falvey mutually parted ways with the Twins.

While Falvey was with the Twins, the team went to the postseason in 2017, 2019, 2020, and 2023. They never made it past the division series, but they did win 101 games in 2021.

His best moves included acquiring Joe Ryan in the trade that sent Nelson Cruz to Rays, acquiring Pablo López by sending Luis Arraez to the Marlins, and then extending López and extending Byron Buxton to a seven-year contract.

On the flip side, he traded Ryan Pressly to the Astros, who quickly became their closer, traded for Jorge Lopez in the deal that sent Yennier Cano to the Orioles and never seemed to do enough at the trade deadline, typically playing it safe. For the most part his trades seemed to not be huge wins or losses. While he did give up Luis Gil, he got multiple solid seasons of Jake Cave. Jake Odorizzi got an All-Star nod with them in between rough seasons, while Jermaine Palacios only played 30 games in the majors.

What Is Falvey’s Expertise?

Anthony Dicomo of MLB.com quoted David Stearns on Falvey, who said, “Throughout his career, Derek has distinguished himself as one of the most respected executives in our sport. His experience across the full scope of baseball operations functions and his familiarity with leading an organization will serve as a great addition to our front office group.” Not much there. In the Mets’ press release, they said Falvey will be serving “as a trusted voice across a wide range of baseball operations decisions.” Not much there either.

Falvey has always been known as being pro-analytics, but has preached finding a good balance between old school and analytics. In a 2019 interview with WEEI’s Rob Bradford on “Baseball Isn’t Boring,” Falvey said, “I equate it to this: when you are thinking about your retirement portfolio, and you’re talking to your financial advisor, you want them to be evidence-led and have some instincts mixed in, but they better be looking at the data and thinking about how it’s going to match your risk profile and what you want to do long term.” At that point the Twins focuses were around spin for pitchers and swing characteristics for hitters.

When he was in Cleveland, he oversaw the organization’s pitching development. Jeff Passan, at the time with Yahoo Sports, described Falvey as “in the eyes of many, a future general manager” due to his work in the organization. While he was there, Cleveland saw strong pitching performances from pitchers including Corey Kluber, Cody Allen, Carlos Carrasco, and Joe Smith.

His drafts were mixed, but he did have some successes, including:

• Ryan Jeffers – 2018
• Cade Smith – 2017
• Luke Keaschall – 2023
• Walker Jenkins – 2023
• Matt Wallner – 2019
• Louis Varland – 2019
• Connor Prielipp – 2022
• Royce Lewis – 2017
• Brooks Lee – 2022
• Bailey Ober – 2017
• Brent Rooker – 2017

One player of note he drafted is Billy Amick, whom he drafted in 2024 and who finished the year in Syracuse with the Mets after they traded for him at the most recent deadline.

So… What Will He Do?

We do not know what his focus will be, but his expertise in pitching development could be an asset to an organization with a strong foundation in pitching development. Similar to Stearns, Falvey likes a balance between analytics and “old school” philosophies. It makes sense that he and Stearns have significant crossover in their philosophies as they worked together in the past and had similar career paths. This should make it easy for him to quickly adapt to the Mets front office and work with the different voices throughout.

The Mets have many different voices and viewpoints as it is. Eduardo Brizuela has been with Stearns dating back to Milwaukee and has helped Stearns overhaul the processes inside the Mets organization as an assistant general manager. Assistant general manager Ben Zauzmer is also known for being heavily invested in analytics and played a big part in beginning to modernize the Mets during Billy Eppler’s tenure as general manager.

Special assistants Carlos Beltran and J.D. Martinez bring the player side to the front office. Both had long major league careers, including time with the Mets, and are able to help relate to the player side in ways individuals who did not play may not be able to. Director of amateur scouting Drew Toussaint has been known as being more of an old-school voice in the Mets organization.

Kris Gross, recently promoted to assistant general manager, has a good balance of experience in old-school scouting, modern scouting, and cross-checking. Even if not all of them have the title of “scout,” Gross’s scouting department with the Mets has had a mixture of “old school” and modern-age scouting.

Derek Falvey will work very closely with David Stearns. Sharing many philosophies that align with Stearns and the organization as a whole is a good thing. Falvey also has plenty of experience working with different backgrounds from his time in Cleveland and Minnesota, which will help him work with the different voices throughout the organization. Whatever role he is in, the Mets clearly saw something in him as they continue to expand their front office.

The post Who is Derek Falvey? appeared first on Metsmerized.

I will start by breaking down Benge and McLean and then give flowers to the other Mets rookies.

Carson Benge by Roberto Carlo

The Mets Rookie of the Year Contenders

Carson Benge

I am going to start off by saying that I think Carson Benge should win the rookie of the year award, and I will try to explain this without bias. Benge is the clear most well-rounded hitter of this rookie class. TJ Rumfield leads in AVG and OBP, but has the benefit of playing in Coors Field. He also did not come close to even 20 home runs. None of his counting stats stand out, while Benge ended his season with 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases. Sal Stewart has the home runs and RBIs, but also has the benefit of playing in Great American Ball Park. He also ended the season with less than 2.0 WAR (coming in at 1.9), and it would seem crazy to me for a player who had below-average overall production to get the award.

If we are sorting by fWAR JJ Wetherholt narrowly edges out Benge, but this brings up the question of how much second base defense should be valued. And at only 0.2 WAR higher than Benge, that lack of offensive production should, in my opinion, make him the fourth choice, let alone first.

Narratives and recency bias also can come to play with voting. Both Wetherholt and Stewart limped to the season finish line, while Benge ended with the hottest stretch of his season. Results-wise, Benge got better as the season went on, hitting over .300 across the last two months.

To me, the Rookie of the Year vote should go to the best all-around player. While Benge does not lead in any category among the top candidates except stolen bases, the other major hitter candidate has clear holes in their game. Benge is the most well-rounded rookie hitter by a large margin, showing off his five-tool profile, and he should win the ROTY award.

Nolan McLean by Berto Carlo

Nolan McLean

If Carson Benge does not win, Nolan McLean arguably should. He was by far the best rookie pitcher throwing 179.2 innings to a 3.16 ERA and 1.17 WHIP with 194 strikeouts. He did not cross the 180-inning mark or the 200-strikeout mark, both of which would have helped his case, but this is a rookie season that should easily garner votes across the board. It is possible this NL rookie class vote is split enough that McLean could get enough second-place votes to put him over the top.

Similar to Benge, McLean also ended his season strong. He pitched to a 2.61 ERA in the second half. His 6.10 ERA in May is likely what will rob him of the award, as his worst month after that was June at 2.79. But this was still a very impressive rookie season, and he will retain PPI eligibility until arbitration to hopefully place top three on a CY Young ballot.

A.J. Ewing by Roberto Carlo

The Other Mets Rookies

A.J. Ewing

A.J. Ewing does not have a real case for rookie of the year, but he had an incredible rookie season, especially factoring in how little time he spent in Triple-A. At 21 years old, he ended with a .700 OPS and showed off his absolutely elite center field defense. There were concerns about what his power would look like, but he ended up hitting 11 home runs in 120 games. That is a 15-home-run pace. His fWAR paced just shy of 3 WAR, while his bWAR paced just over 4 WAR. He set the Mets rookie stolen base record with 25 stolen bases, good for a 34 in a full season. In the later months, he took a step forward in his base running and was pacing around 45 stolen bases. His rookie season had its ups and downs, but he showed off incredible tools and athleticism, and he deserves his flowers.

Zac Thornton

Zac Thornton does not have the flashiest stuff. In many ways he is similar to David Peterson, but with better control. You probably feel more comfortable if he is the first or second player out of your depth, ready to make 20 starts rather than in the opening day rotation but he had a great rookie season throwing 84.1 innings to a 3.42 ERA and 1.14 WHIP. All of his expected stats from his FIP, xERA, SIERA, etc. as well as his pitch metrics do bring some sustainability questions (another David Peterson similarity) but whatever the future holds he can be proud of his 2026 performance.

Jonah Tong

I will be honest, when I started writing this, I completely forgot Jonah Tong was still a rookie this season. At only 30.2 innings, he is not even a Rookie of the Year consideration and his rookie year was very up and down. Toward the end of the season though, things seemed to really come together, and he put up some of his best starts of the season. If he continues to build upon that, he looks not only like a good depth piece, but someone who could force their way into the 2027 opening day rotation.

The Year of the Rookie

The Mets had many rookies come up this year, and while we can not take a deep dive into all of them, we wanted to briefly touch on each.

• Nick Morabito struggled when he first came up, and while he was below average the second time with an 83 WRC+, his .259 batting average was a marked improvement. If he can show he can play center field well enough, he could keep his 40-man spot as outfield depth for 2027.
• When Nate Lavender got the call to the majors, I would have been thrilled if he showed enough to be a second lefty in a Mets bullpen. He exceeded my expectations with his 1.66 ERA, 1.83 FIP, and 0.74 WHIP, with an incredible 32.9% strikeout rate and 5.9% walk rate. He looks like could be a leverage reliever as soon as next year.
• Jefry Yan had an entertaining up-and-down run with the Mets that included high highs, low lows, and an incredible celebration.
• The Mets tried Jonathan Pintaro in many different roles, some of which worked and some of which didn’t, but he flashed plus stuff as he tried to earn a roster spot for 2027.
• Chayce McDermott and Justin Hagenman both had pitched in the majors before but retained rookie eligibility into 2026 and had mixed results with the Mets. Hagenman, who spent much of 2026 injured, only spent 18 non-rehab days in the minors, so the Mets should retain his 2027 option.
• Matt Seelinger made his MLB debut, and while it did not go well, he can be proud to have finally made the majors.
• Dylan Ross and Guillo Zuñiga both pitched one scoreless inning.
• One interesting find was Jack Weisenburger, whom the Mets signed out of the Mexican League. He pitched 12.1 innings to a 2.13 ERA and 1.11 WHIP. He throws six pitches, including a plus slider, and generates both chase and whiff. He could be an interesting bullpen piece for 2027 and can be optioned next year.

The post Each Met Case For Rookie of the Year, And Why Benge Should Win appeared first on Metsmerized.

In Washington for the final series, the Mets dropped two out of three to the Nationals. Consequently, the Mets finished with a 74-88 record, last place in the NL East. It is New York’s first time finishing in the bottom of the division since 2003. The team’s 74 wins are the franchise’s lowest since 2017.

While there were plenty of positives to emerge from the season, particularly down the stretch, the 2026 season will be remembered as a monumental failure.

We’ll do a full autopsy on Tuesday, but first, let’s recap the Nationals series in the final regular edition of 3 Up, 3 Down of the year…

Carson Benge by Roberto Carlo

3 UP

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

Carson Benge deserves to be named the National League Rookie of the Year. Whether he wins the award remains to be seen, but he couldn’t have done much else. The outfielder capped off a truly special rookie season with just a masterful series in Washington. The weekend started with history being made, with Benge hitting his 20th home run of the year to become the first Mets rookie in franchise history to join the 20/20 club. If that wasn’t enough, Benge then followed that up with back-to-back three-hit games. He finished with 14 such games in the year. Overall, Benge looks like an absolute stud, and his future with the Mets appears very bright.

MILESTONE MAN

I feel like Francisco Lindor deserves a mention here. The 2026 season was overall tough for Lindor, but he finished in style. The shortstop signed off the year by hitting his 300th career home run in the final game of the season. As a result, Lindor is now the only primary shortstop in MLB history to record 300 home runs and 200 stolen bases. Lindor’s 300 homers are also the seventh-most in MLB history among Puerto Rican-born players. All told, it was a nice way for Lindor to end what was arguably the toughest year of his career. Don’t be surprised if he bounces back emphatically in 2027.

YOUNG HOPE

The final series of the year provided plenty of encouragement thanks to Ronny Mauricio and Jonah Tong. For Tong, the young starter was excellent on the mound on Saturday, striking out nine while allowing just one run on three hits over five stellar innings. He showed plenty of upside in his final start, calming some of the fears that hovered over him following an uneven year in the minors. Overall, Tong finishes 2026 with a 3.82 ERA, and he’s set himself up to compete for a spot in the rotation in spring training. Mauricio, meanwhile, had himself a monster series. The infielder hit two home runs with three RBIs on Saturday, before blasting another homer with two RBIs on Sunday. While his future remains uncertain, Mauricio flashed his upside, and maybe he could be an option at second base.

Jun 13, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Sean Manaea (59) walks back to the dugout after the top of the first inning against the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

3 DOWN

PUT OUT OF THEIR MISERY

The 2026 season is finally over. A long and hugely disappointing 162-game schedule is now complete. Following a loss in the series opener on Friday, the Mets were officially consigned to last place in the NL East for the first time since 2003. While the result is no surprise, the franchise should still be embarrassed by how this season unfolded. And while there is hope for the future, the team will need to wear the stink of 2026 for a while.

FINISHING WEAK

The Sean Manaea outlook remains murky for the Mets. The veteran finished a complicated season on a low note. Taking the ball in the series finale, Manaea blew a 4-1 lead and gave up five earned runs on seven hits over six tough innings. Consequently, the lefty finished with a 4.78 ERA on the year after allowing 32 earned runs over his final eight starts. With a need to fortify the rotation, what the Mets decide to do with Manaea remains to be seen.

DOOMED FROM THE START

The Mets knew they had a chance to avoid finishing in last place in the division. However, that small chance was quickly wiped out in the series opener. Going with an opener, the Mets were effectively doomed from the start. Jefry Yan allowed two runs as the opener before Jonathan Pintaro allowed three earned runs on three wild pitches. Ultimately, the bullpen let the Mets down on Friday, sealing their fate as bottom dwellers.

The post 3 Up, 3 Down: Mets Finish 2026 With Nats Series Loss appeared first on Metsmerized.

In the penultimate series of the year, the Mets took two out of three from a Texas Rangers team fighting for their playoff lives. There were yet more signs of encouragement for next year.

Furthermore, it also proved to be a significant few days off the field too. The Mets gave Andy Green the manager’s job on a full-time basis, before hiring Derek Falvey to the front office.

Let’s recap everything from the Texas series in the latest edition of 3 Up, 3 Down…

Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

3 UP

RIGHT DECISION

The Mets ticked off a major piece of offseason business early by hiring Green as the franchise’s next manager on a full-time basis. Kudos to owner Steve Cohen and the front office for getting Green to change his mind. It has become crystal clear that Green is the right man for the job. He knows how to push and develop young players. He clearly has the respect of the veterans. And he’s been able to push all the right buttons with this team since taking over on an interim basis. Plus, with so many young players breaking through, Green is clearly the right voice for this franchise at the perfect time. The Mets will now be able to focus on addressing the flaws of this roster and adding key pieces to the young core.

ACIN’ IT UP

I think the Mets can be pretty confident about the future with Nolan McLean. The righty has emerged as a potential future ace for this team, and he finished a stellar rookie campaign on a high in Texas. McLean delivered seven gutsy innings of two-run ball with five strikeouts on Wednesday. As a result, he will finish this season with a 3.16 ERA. Not only does McLean own filthy stuff, but he has the heart and the intangibles needed to be an elite front-end starter for the Mets. Don’t be surprised if he’s even better in 2027.

TAKING STOCK

The final stretch of the season has acted as a useful evaluation tool for the Mets as they look ahead to 2027. Therefore, Devin Williams‘ successful return will have provided some encouragement. The reliever came off the IL and delivered a perfect inning in his return on Wednesday. Now, it was just one outing, but Williams did look very good against a team trying to clinch a postseason berth. If Williams can enjoy a strong finish, then that will give the Mets some more clarity as they look to rebuild their bullpen for next year.

Denis Poroy-Imagn Images

3 DOWN

FRUSTRATING FINISH

Christian Scott‘s 2026 season did not finish the way he would have wanted it to. The righty was placed on the IL with left knee inflammation. The Mets will be hoping that Scott can recover quickly and be ready for spring training. Still, it was a successful season for Scott, who posted a 3.85 ERA with 134 strikeouts in his return from Tommy John surgery.

WHAT NEXT?

What do the Mets do about Mark Vientos, Brett Baty, and Francisco Alvarez? Vientos went 0-for-6 with two strikeouts in Texas, and he looks like a probable non-tender candidate. However, on the flip side, both Baty and Alvarez were red-hot against the Rangers. Baty stayed hot with a big series, including hitting a grand slam in the second game of the series. Alvarez, meanwhile, had four hits in two games, including two doubles, two runs scored, and two RBIs in the series opener. However, Baty tends to burn bright before burning fast, while Alvarez has been a non-factor for most of the year. Therefore, the duo’s exploits in this series only complicate things for the Mets, who must decide what to do with the Baby Mets once and for all this offseason.

NO-SHOW

The Mets could have swept this series, but the offense had other ideas. The lineup recorded just four hits in the series finale, while striking out seven times. There wasn’t much luck with runners in scoring position, either, with the lineup going 1-for-5, leaving three runners stranded on base. As good as the offense has been under Green, we saw in the finale that there are important holes that will need to be filled in the winter. 

The post 3 Up, 3 Down: Mets Come Out On Top In Texas appeared first on Metsmerized.

The expectation was that the Mets were moving Nimmo a year early because you cannot move that contract a year late. Seeing how the 2026 season went for Nimmo, it is hard to argue they even traded him a year early instead of at just the right time. I do not think this is a trade the Mets regret making, even with the struggles of Semien.

Brandon Nimmo. Photo Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Why This Trade Had to Happen

The main reason this trade was an unfortunate necessity was outlined well by Danny Abrino of SNY. He wrote, “As far as Nimmo, who wouldn’t have even had a regular spot on this current iteration of the Mets, it might have been close to impossible to DFA him if he remained in New York and things got bad — as they very well could during the final two years of his deal or even sooner. A homegrown fan favorite in the twilight of his career is a different consideration than Semien, who just arrived after spending the first 13 years of his career elsewhere.”

The argument made there is that it is easier to cut a player like Semien who has no ties to the organization than a homegrown star like Nimmo.

Roster construction also played a big part of the Mets’ decision here, with Carson Benge and A.J Ewing both on the cusp of the majors and expected to man the outfield for the majority of the five years Nimmo’s remaining contract would have run for with the Mets. Ewing forced his way the majors faster than the Mets expected him to as well, making it even better that they had that flexibility.

It does not seem likely Nimmo would have been happy moving to the designated hitter spot, as he has stated in multiple interviews that discussions of a potential move to DH played a big part in his decision to waive his no-trade clause. It also does not seem likely that the Mets would have made Ewing the everyday second baseman, as the Mets only used him sparingly there even when Luis Robert Jr. was in center field or Semien was injured, leaving that spot open. While Semien was on the injured list, Zack Short played more innings at second base than Ewing.

Even if Nimmo were to accept a move to DH, would you want that spot taken up by a hitter with a .733 OPS and four more years to go on his deal? And what led to this rapid offensive fall-out by Nimmo?

Nimmo’s Decline in 2026

Nimmo’s contact rates have been falling for years now. When he signed his contract, he was an 87.9% zone-contact and 5% contact over-expected hitter. In 2026, he has fallen down to an 85.7% zone-contact rate and 1.4% contact over expected. It seems clear his once great eye at the plate is no longer there. He has fallen from a plus 55% selectivity rate in 2023 to a below average 47.5% in 2026. For context, that is 3% worse than 2026 Brett Baty. This is likely why Nimmo has fallen from a player who walked 11.6% in 2024 to one who has walked less than 8% in 2025 and 2026.

These selectivity and contact issues began during the 2023 season, and as reported by Tim Britton of the Athletic, Nimmo worked with Mets hitting coach Jeremy Barnes on increasing his damage rates as that season went on. It is possible this focus on power was done to make up for his declining contact rates by trading contact for power. Whatever the reason, it worked and he put up three seasons in a row with over 20 home runs.

Unfortunately, that approach does not seem to be working as well this season. He has only hit 14 home runs, his 5.1% pulled fastball rate is lower than any of the previous five years and continues his trend of struggling more each year against velocity. His 90% exit velocity dropped to 105.5 miles per hour and he has yet to hit a ball over 110.6 miles per hour. He is still running a strong hard-hit rate, but he is not lifting the ball nearly as much, meaning far more of those hard hit balls are hit into the ground.

Nimmo has also struggled with injuries in 2026, dealing with recurring plantar fasciitis, hamstring issues, and a shoulder sprain. Nimmo also has a long history of neck and back issues through his career. All of this combined could be part of why he has been one of the worst outfield defenders in the spot with a -6 fielding run value (13th percentile). But his rapid defensive decline has been an issue since the 2024 season. He has also accumulated less than 2 WAR according to both FanGraphs and Baseball Reference.

None of this is what you want to see from a player who has four years left on a deal. At the time he was traded, there were discussions about what Nimmo would look like in year four or five, but it looks like the question should be more about what he looks like in year two and how long the Rangers can afford to give him everyday playing time, especially in the outfield.

Semien’s Struggles

Semien, meanwhile, has played rather poorly and dealt with his own injuries, specifically a hip injury that sidelined him for a good chunk of the season. Since returning from the injured list, he still has not been the elite defender that was expected to be coming into the year, though he has been better.

Offensively, he has been closer to what he was in 2025 but still not good. It should be noted that second base is also a position where the offensive bar tends to be lower.

While the offensive bar is much lower for second base, I would not want to give Semien the 2026 job. Especially not with Jefferson Rojas and Émilien Pitre in Triple-A and Mitch Voit not far behind. Even Baty has had an offensive resurgence. The biggest role I would want to see Semien in would be either on the bench or a short-side platoon until one of the prospects named above was ready.

Truthfully, if I was in charge I would eat money and move him in the offseason. A benefit over the Nimmo contract is that Semien does not have a no-trade clause. Only two years remain with the final year only costing $20 million. We saw Nolan Arenado traded with money eaten by the Cardinals after his dreadful 2025. Arenado did not have as long of a track record of struggling as Semien, but he also had a no-trade clause. If you cannot trade Semien, I would consider cutting him and have second base be a competition in spring training.

To me, a benefit of trading for Semien is that you should be able to cut him much easier than a homegrown star like Nimmo. Robinson Cano was a bit different with the steroid suspension, and the Mets did keep him around at the start of 2022, but there is some precedent in the Cohen era. Maybe the early May Cano timeline is what you give Semien to show he should keep his spot in the organization.

Conclusion

This was a trade that had to be made even with Semien providing worse production than expected in 2026. You could even argue that Semien’s drop in production is largely offset by Nimmo’s drop-off being larger and more rapid than any projection model had him at in 2026.

Overall, this trade gave the Mets the flexibility to give everyday playing time to Benge and Ewing, both of whom have significantly out-performed Nimmo this year.

The post Despite Semien’s Struggles, Mets Were Right to Trade Nimmo appeared first on Metsmerized.

Mojo Hill

I like it. It’s a surprise, especially this abruptly, but a welcome one.

I’m not going to claim to be an expert on the clubhouse culture Green creates, but I’ve liked listening to him from the very first press conference. I think he’s an intelligent, well-spoken guy who really connects with players and has a good feel for analyzing their mindsets, strengths and weaknesses. His background in player development definitely gave him a head start. He may not have expected the interim tag to turn into a full-time gig, but he brings some natural qualities to the job.

I know Green wasn’t very successful as the Padres’ manager, but I’m excited that he’s now the Mets’ long-term manager. The Mets haven’t had a manager last three full years since Terry Collins, and I think this franchise could use a consistent, reliable voice.

Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Johnluke Chaparro

Genuinely surprised considering all of the talk has been that he wasn’t interested and wanted to spend more time with his family. Either way, I am pleased at this development. As the season wore on, it was harder and harder to see another voice leading the team. The players seemed to have responded well to Green’s coaching and for a team this talented, that is key.

Whether it was challenging players or finding the right thing to say, or reading his players and the flow of the game properly, Green has it. One of the things that has burned the last few Mets managers is their lack of feel. As statistical and analytical baseball has gotten, there’s still a real feel and Andy Green seems to understand the balance between the two that prior Met managers have struggled with.

Although his tenure in San Diego wasn’t great, it seemed that he didn’t have the resources to succeed BUT whether he’s grown from his past mistakes or is finally using the tools at his disposal, Andy Green is the right guy for this team now.

David Melendi

My first reaction was there was no reason to jump into hiring him. Interview a bunch of candidates after the season and see who emerges as the best one.

But I am going to assume David Stearns ran this by the high-profile players and they were on board. If he has the approval of the clubhouse, that gives him an edge over any new hire who would need time to earn that trust.

Jack Ramsey

It’s easy to get very excited about the hiring of Green to the full time role. It is easy to fall into the cliches of a team needing a new voice, or a new set of eyes. In reality, the Mets needed three things from their next manager: a clear vision, a buy-in from this core group, and a voice that pair as well with the New York media market. Green checks all three of those boxes.

It is only speculation, but the group of available non-rookie managers does not appear to be that deep. Different reports suggest different truths about Alex Cora’s future, and Don Mattingly seems to be poised to keep the Phillies job (plus, do Mets fans really want another former Yankee?). Beyond that, the Mets’ best options appeared to be either Carlos Beltran or Albert Pujols, neither of whom have MLB coaching experience.

Highlighted in comments by Marcus Semien, the Mets will enter spring training with the same management group they ended the year with, and that is a major win for this core. Green had all the inclinations of being the right man for the job, and it is clear why David Stearns was grinning to begin their press conference on Tuesday.

Mathias Altman-Kurosaki

I am quite surprised that Andy Green decided to accept a full-time offer to stay in the dugout. I think this is the right decision by the Mets’ brass. The team has adjusted nicely under Green and he has gotten the team to continue to play hard despite being out of the playoff race during his entire tenure. A managerial search would’ve been exhausting for all parties involved and it’s a good thing for this clubhouse to have a familiar voice guiding them. The comments from the players indicate that Green has been the right guy for a clubhouse that had a lot of new faces this year. Plus, he has handled the media very well, his press conferences have been very informative. Green seems like he’s learned a lot from his first tenure as a major league skipper with the Padres, as well as his time in the front office working on the player development side of things. I’m curious to see how he does once the spotlight gets brighter.

Robert Colonna

This was a move the Mets had to make and I can only wonder how much money they had to throw at Green to get him to accept. We have seen under him how the coaches have had the cohesion that was needed through the growing pains of the first half and we have seen how those coaches have helped the players take the next step. This allows the Mets to keep as much of this coaching staff as they want and have continuity into next year. This also means they don’t need to rush hire these positions before the lockout.

Green himself has done well with the media, seems liked by the players, and his in game decisions have overall made sense. It will be interesting to see how he manages differently when the goal is trying to make the postseason with real stakes and expectations.

If you ever wanted a sign that Steve Cohen believes in the process this organization has set up under president of baseball operations David Stearns this is it. That’s not to say the organization and front office won’t continue to grow, but those changes won’t happen with the manager.

Allison Waxman

I love this move. I know Green’s tenure in San Diego wasn’t great, but a lot has changed since then. As a Mets team that is getting younger with each new roster move, the news makes sense.

Would some people like to have waited until the offseason to vet other candidates? Sure. But Green sounds like the man for the job from everything I’ve seen so far. He knows how to handle the media, and more importantly, doesn’t shy away from the truth. He admitted what he thinks went wrong in his tenure with the Padres on his end. He’s learned from it and the approach seems to be working.

Can you fault him for the team’s record this season under him? Not entirely. He’s inheriting a team that clearly didn’t work in 2026. But he’s laid the groundwork, seen everyone at their worst and is ready to hit the ground running.

Michael Mayer

The Mets have done plenty of things wrong in 2026, but this one they got right. Hiring Andy Green to be the manager for the next three years gives the Mets some continuity they desperately need. In his short time as manager, Green has shown he’s a strong communicator, he will challenge his players and that he can build strong relationships with young players. Getting the deal done now without a drawn out managerial search, also allows David Stearns and company to focus on player acquisition.

All in all, making Green the manager long-term is a smart move for the future of the Mets.

The post MMO Roundtable: Reactions to Andy Green As Mets Manager appeared first on Metsmerized.

The evidence is scattered throughout their farm system.

Across the organization, swing tweaks pop up seemingly weekly, tinkering is encouraged, and bat path adjustments are as common as a Jefry Yan strikeout celly.

It’s all part of the process to develop the Mets’ next crop of young offensive stars, one of whom is already starring in the Majors thanks to a swing change of his own.

Carson Benge struggled to find his swing out of the gate, posting just a .525 OPS in April, but after making intentional swing changes, he has emerged as a legitimate Rookie of the Year candidate.

Throughout the season, Benge made several mechanical adjustments that have borne fruit.

His intercept point, compared to his center of mass, has crept from 30 inches at the beginning of the year to a maximum of 35 inches. This change paid dividends to his pop; Mike Pietrello of MLB.com found that home runs originate from swings with an intercept point in the mid-30s.

Along with making contact further out in front, Benge steepened and sped up his swing, shifted his attack angle, and closed his stance by 17˚. These drastic changes have led to a .284/.346/.443 triple-slash since June 1.

Just remember: the rookie is not a “Psychopath” for making all these changes in such a short amount of time. He’s rightly earned that moniker for other reasons.

Their 2024 first-rounder is just the tip of the iceberg.

To develop their hitting equivalent of Generation K (Generation HR, anyone?), the club guides players to visit their state-of-the-art hitting lab.

There, unfinished hitting prospects are molded into major-league weapons.

At the lab, small nodes are placed on various body parts for dual purposes: tracking a swing’s efficiency and locating misdirected force. When leaks are identified, swings are refined through a variety of drills. It’s all part of the club’s goal to produce more impactful batted balls.

When the lab was unveiled, Will Sammon of The Athletic spoke to the club’s former’s co-coach of hitting, Jeremy Barnes, who touted the lab’s benefits for younger players:

You can identify areas of change quicker and start to get on it,” Barnes said. “Maybe we could have addressed something with (Brett) Baty a year or two earlier. Maybe we could have figured something out with (Mark) Vientos or (Ronny) Mauricio a year or two earlier. It’s those little things. Speeding up the development process is what we’re going for.”

Antonio Jimenez by Ed Delany / MMO

Mets’ 2025 second-rounder Antonio Jimenez exemplifies one of the younger players Barnes indirectly referenced. During visits at the lab, Jimenez completely revamped his swing.

Oh, my goodness. I love the Mets’ hitting facility. They have a lab [in Port St.Lucie], and I remember we got marked up [with nodes that track biomechanics], and it just changed my whole perspective on how my body actually moves. They helped me understand where my bat is starting in the zone.

Someone call The Monkees—Jimenez is a believer.

After a trying start to 2026 with the Brooklyn Cyclones, Jimenez revamped his swing to chase more power. Previously, work at the lab resulted in simplified lower-half mechanics. As a result, Jimenez posted an OPS 300 points higher in his second go-around with Brooklyn.

It’s not just the Mets’ draftees making swing adjustments. The newest Mets have recently made swing changes, or are undergoing swing adjustments under the Mets’ tutelage.

At points last season with the Rays, Aidan Smith‘s production propelled conversation that he may belong within the top 100 prospects in the minor leagues. And then, well, his swing unraveled, and his performance waned.

Now, the Mets think they have him on the right track.

From Brooklyn Cyclones’ hitting coach Devin DeYoung:

“He’s trying to get back to his old bat path. It aligns with some of our philosophies”

With the Cyclones, different mechanisms of Smith’s swing have changed. While bat-tracking data is not publicly disclosed, to the naked eye, his bat path now looks flatter, not like the grooved jab Smith used during his time with the Rays.

While the jury is still out on the long-term impact, the short-term looks promising. With the Mets, Smith’s OPS sits 360 points higher.

Smith is far from the only Mets farmhand making adjustments at the dish.

Sammy Stafura. Photo by Greensboro Grasshoppers

At the deadline, New York landed Sammy Stafura, fresh off a heater of 14 home runs in 18 games, in exchange for Luke Weaver. You may have heard: Stafura’s a Mets fan.

Now, while it’s foolhardy to expect that level of offense to be sustained over a full season, a recent swing adjustment unlocked additional exit velocity and increased bat speed. His change didn’t sneak past the opportunistic Mets.

“We’ve seen some bat speed upticks. We’ve seen some exit velocity upticks…. This is a player who has real power” – David Stearns

Even several of the farm’s less heralded minor leaguers have gotten into the swing change mania. Jorge Eckhardt, a contributor to MMO, recently for Rockwave profiled Cyclones’ backstop Davierson Gutierrez, who fiddled around with his swing throughout the 2026 campaign.

At the outset of the season, during his set-up at the dish, Gutierrez placed his legs parallel, as if tied down to the same railroad tie.

After the first two months produced a .500 OPS, Gutierrez thrust his lead left leg back, as if to push back the bad karma that had defined his 2026 campaign up to that point. Since the change, Guittierez posted an OPS 200 points higher.

Benge, Smith, Stafura, and Corey Collins are among the legion of young Mets with recent swing tweaks.

It’s all part of the new technical paradigm in the minors.

The Mets didn’t select Mitch Voit in the first round of their 2025 draft on the back of his Big 10 production. His force plate data during the MLB Draft Combine was simply too good to pass up. While no concrete data has emerged, it would be no surprise to learn Voit no longer swings the lumber the same.

Force plates, hitting labs, and bat sensors. They’re all remnants of the pro-technology faction swallowing hitting development systems across professional baseball.

The game is changing, and the Mets’ swings are changing along with it.

The post The Mets Like Big Swing Changes And They Cannot Lie appeared first on Metsmerized.

In what was the final home series of the year, the Mets split with the Phillies, with both teams winning two games apiece. Some inconsistent pitching didn’t help.

As a result, the Mets finished the 2026 season 36-45 at home, which sums up just how disappointing this season has been. The team also bid an emotional farewell to iconic Hall of Fame broadcaster Howie Rose.

On that note, let’s recap everything from the Phillies series in the latest edition of 3 Up, 3 Down…

Carson Benge by Roberto Carlo

3 UP

FAREWELL, HOWIE

The Mets got a chance to say goodbye to a franchise icon over the weekend. Howie Rose, the beloved Mets broadcaster, put it in the books for one final time on Sunday. Despite the fact that Howe’s retirement ceremony was postponed because of bad weather, fans and players were still able to show their appreciation to Howie. As much a part of the fabric of the Mets as anyone, Howie deserves all of the love and adulation he’s currently getting. It will be strange not to hear him on the radio broadcast anymore.

HOMEGROWN DELIGHT

Mets fans have a new homegrown stud to cherish. Carson Benge continues to show why he could be the future of this team. The outfielder is having a dream rookie year, which was on full display over the weekend. Benge became the Mets’ new rookie hit king after tallying his 156th hit of the year on Saturday. Furthermore, Benge hit his 19th homer of the year. As a result, he is now one homer short of joining the 20/20 club. Benge looks every inch a potential future franchise player for the team. If that wasn’t enough, he plays the game the right way and is incredibly easy to root for.

EYE ON THE FUTURE

All four of the Mets’ young starters got the ball in this series. Three of the young arms really stood out. It started on Thursday when Nolan McLean allowed just one run with five strikeouts over six stellar innings. Zac Thornton flashed his toughness on Friday by striking out four over six innings of two-run ball. Then, on Saturday, Christian Scott allowed three runs but struck out seven over 4.2 innings in a laugher of a win for the Mets. All in all, the Mets got an encouraging glimpse at their future with their three young starters all impressing.

Jonah Tong by Roberto Carlo

3 DOWN

SCARY MOMENT

Some things are bigger than baseball. That was the case on Thursday when Jared Young was carted off the field following a collision with Nolan McLean. The infielder was taken to the hospital and underwent tests following what was just a really scary scene. Thankfully, while he has a concussion, Young has since been discharged from the hospital and has full motion in his arms and legs. He is also able to walk. However, it was still a really scary moment and a tough way for Young’s exceptional season to end.

KILLER BLOW

The Mets were down by just two runs in the series finale on Sunday, with a chance to still play spoiler. However, Kodai Senga came in and gave up a three-run triple to Justin Crawford, putting the game out of reach. While wins and losses don’t matter, it still would have been great if the Mets could have taken the series. Plus, it raises fresh questions about Senga’s future role with this team.

MISSTEP

Speaking of players needing to impress, Jonah Tong suffered a slight setback over the weekend. The young pitcher struggled, allowing four earned runs and four walks over 4.2 innings. Tong didn’t have his best stuff, and he faced a lot of traffic. Now, while it was just one start, finishing strong was always going to be important for Tong as he looks to force his way into the rotation in 2027.

The post 3 Up, 3 Down: Mets Finish Home Schedule With Series Split appeared first on Metsmerized.

In a series dominated and overshadowed by Alonso’s homecoming, the Mets were swept by the O’s. As a result, they have now lost four straight.

It was a weird week with fans making their love for Alonso and their unhappiness at the front office both perfectly known. However, the bottom line is that the season is drawing to a close. Mets fans will no doubt be glad to wave goodbye to 2026.

Before we get there, though, let’s unpack everything from the Orioles series in the latest edition of 3 Up, 3 Down…

Pete Alonso by Roberto Carlo

3 UP

HAPPY HOMECOMING

Personally, it was heartwarming to see the reception Pete Alonso got in his eagerly anticipated return to Queens. And it was nice that fans got to let Alonso know just how much he meant to the franchise. Personally, I don’t think the cheers or the curtain call should be seen as an indictment on the current team. Rather, this week gave the Mets fans an opportunity to properly say goodbye to Alonso and celebrate all that he meant to them. Alonso should have been a forever Met. His exploits this week, including hitting his career 300th home run, show just how much he’s missed, too.

FLASHING HIS TALENT

Jonah Tong hasn’t really put a step wrong since getting called back up. He was stellar in his latest start on Monday, striking out six while not allowing an earned run over six hugely encouraging innings. Furthermore, Tong threw 57 of his 83 pitches for strikes (68.6 percent), and he looked incredibly confident on the mound. If Tong can continue to finish this season with a flourish, then he will be in a really good spot to compete come spring training.

EARNING A SPOT

Nate Lavender is certainly doing all he can to be a part of this bullpen in 2027. The lefty has really emerged this year, and he had a great outing in this series. That came on Tuesday when Lavender struck out four over 1 2/3 scoreless innings. As a result, Lavender now owns a 1.59 ERA on the year. With filthy stuff and the results to match, Lavender looks set to give the Mets a really dangerous lefty option out of the bullpen next year.

Xzavion Curry

3 DOWN

MISDIRECTED BOOS

Caught in the crossfire of the Alonso homecoming was Jonah Tong. The young pitcher walked the former Met in the third inning of Monday’s game, drawing boos from the home crowd. Now, it is important to remember that fans were booing the outcome, with Alonso chasing his 300th career home run. They likely weren’t booing Tong himself. However, it was probably hard to tell in that moment. Given that Tong has suffered from low confidence before, it was the one moment of the week that wasn’t a good look.

DOOMED FROM THE START

It turned out to be quite the day for Xzavion Curry. Called back up to the bigs, Curry ended up starting the game due to Robert Stock going on the IL. Well, things didn’t go great. Curry ended up allowing four home runs and six earned runs over just three innings. Curry’s early implosion ultimately doomed the Mets, while casting doubt over his future with the team.

SHUT DOWN

While the Orioles benefitted from a power surge, the Mets suffered in this series because of a lack of offense. The lineup managed just seven runs across the three games, including scoring just one run in two of the three losses. There was no clutch hitting, the big hit was missing all series, and an army of base runners were left stranded on base. Over the current four-game losing streak, the Mets have scored just eight runs. As a result, we were reminded that this offense still needs a lot of work during the offseason.

The post 3 Up, 3 Down: Mets Powered Aside By Orioles In Sweep appeared first on Metsmerized.

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