Bellinger entered the offseason as one of the most sought-after bats on the market. After a pair of short-term “prove-it” deals with the Cubs and Yankees, he has finally landed the long-term contract he and agent Scott Boras have been seeking.

The deal includes a $20 million signing bonus and opt-outs after the second and third seasons, per Passan. Nightengale adds that those opt-outs would shift back one year if a lockout occurs.

From a fit standpoint, the fit makes sense. Bellinger’s left-handed swing is tailor-made for Yankee Stadium’s short porch in right field, and his ability to play both the outfield and first base gives the Yankees valuable flexibility.

So, what does this mean for the Mets?

It was no secret that David Stearns and the Mets front office were monitoring Bellinger’s market. Reports have linked the Mets to Bellinger several times and he was viewed as a potential option to rotate through the outfield and possibly replace Pete Alonso at first base.

How aggressive the Mets truly were is unclear. But recent roster moves help explain why they ultimately stayed on the sidelines. According to The Athletic’s Will Sammon, the Mets believe their position-player group is already set after acquiring Luis Robert Jr. on Tuesday, and league sources do not expect them to pursue another big-money bat.

With Robert now in the mix and Carson Benge waiting in the wings, Sammon reported that the Mets are comfortable with their internal left-field options, including Tyrone Taylor, Brett Baty, and Benge, with David Stearns leaving the door open for Benge to compete for a roster spot this spring.

Ultimately, committing five years to a player entering his age-31 season was a risk the Mets chose to let the Yankees take.

With Bellinger off the board, one of the final major dominoes has fallen. The only player still remaining in MLB Trade Rumors’ Top 10 free agents is Framber Valdez, while the highest-ranked hitter left is Eugenio Suárez at No. 20 overall.

The post Yankees Re-Sign Cody Bellinger appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

MLB.com’s Jared Greenspan posed four questions for the Mets in the wake of the Bo Bichette signing:

• How will Bichette handle third base?
• What happens to Brett Baty?
• What about the outfield?
• What about the rotation?

My best guesses are: Bichette will be fine at third, Baty will find 400 at-bats between the infield, outfield and DH, the Mets will add a veteran not named Cody Bellinger in anticipation of Carson Benge being the long-term answer in left field and a starter not named Framber Valdez in anticipation of Jonah Tong and Brandon Sproat joining the rotation. (Note: My track record on predicting things is awful.)

The real answers will come soon enough. The Mets’ spring training opener is Feb. 21 vs. the Marlins. Opening Day is March 26 vs. the Pirates.

Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images

Latest Mets News

Will Sammon of The Athletic believes the Mets prefer to sign Bellinger to a short-term, high annual salary deal. The outfielder and the Yankees are reportedly at a stalemate, with Bellinger looking for a seven-year contract and the Yanks offering five for as much as $160 million. Brendan Kuty of The Athletic learned from a league source that the Yanks are willing to include opt outs after Years 2 and 3.

Other outfielders the Mets could look at if they don’t sign Bellinger include free agent Harrison Bader, Lars Nootbaar of the Cardinals, Jake Meyers of the Astros and Luis Robert Jr. of the White Sox, league sources told Sammon. Jarren Duran is another trade option, though Sammon said rival execs think Boston may hold on to him.

The Mets, sources told Sammon, are expected to add pitching. Brewers ace Freddy Peralta, the Royals’ Kris Bubic and the Nationals’ MacKenzie Gore are possibilities, though the last two are long shots.

Travis Sawchik of MLB.com went deep on where the best fit for the free agent lefty Valdez would be among the four teams most connected to him: the Mets, Orioles, Giants and Cubs. He looked at infield defense (edge: Cubs), which division had the most left-handed batters (edge: Orioles), ballpark (a push) and who has the weakest rotation projection per FanGraphs (“edge” to the Giants). Sawchik’s conclusion: He would fit best in Baltimore.

Gabe Lacques of USA Today took a look at the winners and losers of the Bichette signing.

The winners: Bichette, the Mets, the A.L. East (Toronto losing Bichette gives more hope to their division rivals) and J.T. Realmuto (re-signed by the Phillies after Bichette came to New York).

The losers: Baty and Mark Vientos (Bichette’s arrival signals reduced playing time for both), the Blue Jays, Bellinger (he may have lost some leverage with the Yankees) and the Braves (a Bichette suitor at the start of the offseason).

Latest MLB News

A tough break for the Braves. Infielder Ha-Seong Kim suffered a hand injury in Korea and underwent surgery to repair a torn tendon in his right middle finger, the team announced. Expected recovery time is four to five months. Atlanta signed Kim to a one-year, $20 million contract last month.

Free agent reliever Jakob Junis and the Rangers agreed to a one-year, $4 million deal, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

The Nationals and right-hander Cade Cavalli avoided arbitration, agreeing on a one-year, $870,000 contract. The deal includes a 2027 team option for $4 million with a $7,500 buyout. The club and Cavalli were $75,000 apart ($900,000 vs. $825,000) when they exchanged proposed salaries on Jan. 8, the smallest difference among the 18 players who couldn’t reach deals with their teams.

Arbitration cases are scheduled to be heard from Jan. 26 to Feb. 13 in Scottsdale, Ariz. The most notable case is Tarik Skubal, who asked for $32 million and was offered $19 million by the Tigers.

Latest on MMO

John Wilson takes a look at the drastic difference in Francisco Alvarez‘s 2025 before and after he was sent to the minors.

Christian De Block has a trade profile on Brendan Donovan, who he thinks could fit in the outfield if the Mets don’t sign Bellinger.

The MMO Roundtable gang shares its favorite GKR memories in light of the trio’s 20th anniversary.

On This Date in Mets History

1972: Yogi Berra, who went 2-for-9 for the 1965 Mets and also played for the Yankees, is elected to the Hall of Fame in his second year of eligibility along with Sandy Koufax and Early Wynn. Berra was on 86% of 396 ballots.

Born on This Date: Anthony Young (1966), Jon Matlack (1950).

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Position: IF/OF B/T: L/R

Player Data: Age: 28 (01/16/1997)

2025 Traditional Stats: 515 PA, .287/.353/.422/.775, 132 H, 10 HR, 50 RBI, 42 BB, 67 SO

2025 Advanced Stats: 119 wRC+, 119 OPS+, 13.0% SO%, 8.2% BB%, .315 BABIP, .346 xwOBA, 2.9 fWAR, 2.7 bWAR

Rundown

The St. Louis Cardinals are trending towards a rebuild. Since the start of the offseason, they have already dealt Sonny Gray, Willson Contreras and now Nolan Arenado, three of their highest-paid players from a season ago. With that in mind, most, if not all, of the key pieces in St. Louis could be had in a trade. That includes Brendan Donovan, who was a first-time All-Star in 2025. The utility man has consistently hit since debuting in 2022, owning a career .282 batting average in 492 games. Donovan isn’t much of a power hitter, but a strength for him is his ability to put the ball in play. For his career, he has a 13.5% strikeout rate.

Donovan missed some time with groin and foot injuries last season, limiting him to just 118 games. But on the whole, the 2025 season was a strong one for him individually. He ranked in the 90th percentile or better in expected batting average, squared-up percentage, whiff rate, and strikeout percentage, among other offensive categories. After hitting .297 with a .797 OPS in a strong first half, Donovan fell to a .259 batting average and a .706 OPS post-All-Star break. Again, as mentioned before, injuries played a significant role in that drop off. He is expected to be 100% healthy for the beginning of spring training later next month.

In 2025, Donovan spent most of his time in the lineup hitting first or third, with his best numbers coming in the middle of the order. In 57 games, he slashed .309/.386/.423 with 21 extra base hits from the three-hole. If Donovan were to be traded to a team with a talented lineup, he profiles as someone who can still be effective further down the lineup. But more than anything else, his numbers from last season show that he can also do damage near the top of the order when given the opportunity.

Donovan is an intriguing trade candidate for a multitude of reasons, but the biggest one revolves around his versatility. Most of his time has been spent at second base and in left field, but he can play all over the diamond. Donovan has also featured at first base, shortstop, third base, and right field. That is certainly something that will only increase his value in a seller’s market, which the Cardinals are already super active in.

Eakin Howard-Imagn Images

Package

Donovan is set to become a free agent in 2028, so any team trading for him would get two years of control. With that in mind, it would take quite a bit for the Mets to get him.

Mets Receive:

• IF/OF Brendan Donovan

Cardinals Receive:

• RHP Brandon Sproat
• OF Nick Morabito

The Cardinals are in desperate need of help in the starting rotation, especially with the departure of Gray. Sproat would give them a young arm with a high ceiling. Morabito is an outfielder with plenty of speed, one who could factor at the big league level potentially in 2027.

Recommendation

Is Donovan a player who could help the Mets take a step forward, particularly offensively? Absolutely, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they would be a good match.

Entering the 2026 season, the Mets have plenty of guys who occupy positions on the infield, especially given the most recent reported signing of star Bo Bichette. Outside of Bichette, there is also Brett Baty, Mark Vientos, Ronny Mauricio and Luisangel Acuña. That does not even include one of the newer Mets, Marcus Semien, who is set to occupy the position that Donovan has spent the most time of his career at, second base.

If the Mets made a move for Donovan it would be for him to come in and occupy left field. Across his four-year career, Donovan has played 225 games at second base and 163 in left field. So, despite the infield logjam, the versatility that Donovan brings would still help him fit the Mets’ roster if they wanted to go that route. However, a despite that, a fit such as Cody Bellinger may make more sense.

The post Trade Profile: Brendan Donovan, IF/OF appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Bellinger hit .272/.334/.480 with 29 home runs, 98 RBIs and 13 stolen bases with the Yankees last year. He took advantage of Yankee Stadium’s right-field porch, hitting 18 of his 29 homers at home. His OPS was .909 at home vs. .715 on the road.

Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

The Yankees want to re-sign the 30-year-old former MVP, but reportedly don’t want to go beyond five years on a contract while Bellinger is seeking seven. It is unclear if the Mets would be willing to go to seven years or if they would try to go with a high average annual value deal like they did in signing Bo Bichette.

Baty in the Outfield?

After the Mets signed Bichette, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported that the Mets see Brett Baty playing multiple positions, including left field. Baty was set to start at third before the Bichette signing, but will now have to find playing time where he can get it. He could play first, he played second base last year and there is also the designated hitter role.

Carlos Mendoza, as the roster stands how, will have to juggle Baty with Mark Vientos and Jorge Polanco. If Baty can play left field, that would help clear the logjam. He played one inning in left in 2023.

Mets Interested in Canning

Griffin Canning was a pleasant surprise for the Mets last season before rupturing his Achilles tendon in a June start against the Braves. Coming off a poor season with the Angels where he led the American League in earned runs allowed (99) while pitching to a 5.19 ERA, Canning went 7-3 with a 3.77 ERA over 16 starts and 76 1/3 innings pitched.

Heyman reported that Canning should be ready to pitch “around Opening Day” and that the Mets, Cardinals and White Sox are interested in the free agent. He also said the White Sox are in on ex-Met Michael Conforto.

The post Rumor Roundup: Mets Remain in on Bellinger, Showing Interest in Canning appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Denis Poroy-Imagn Images

Diamondbacks Not Trading Marte

Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte had been one of the bigger names floating around in trade talks this offseason, but it no longer appears that the club is looking to move him.

Per The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, the D-Backs have put their foot down and opted not to trade the three-time All-Star at this point in time. Several teams with the type of young pitching talent Arizona covets, such as the Boston Red Sox, Seattle Mariners and Tampa Bay Rays, were linked to Marte at points throughout the offseason, but they’ll all now have to shift their attention elsewhere in their efforts to land a middle-of-the-order bat.

Marte slashed .283/.376/.517 with 28 home runs across 556 plate appearances in 2025. He signed a seven-year extension worth $116.5 million with the D-Backs last April, keeping him under contract through at least 2030 while also providing him with an $11.5 million player option for 2031.

The Mets lined up as a potential trade partner with Arizona given their own stash of impressive pitching prospects, but after landing infielders Marcus Semien and Jorge Polanco this offseason, Marte was a bit of a tough fit in New York.

Yankees Make Newest Offer to Bellinger

Cody Bellinger is one of the top names still residing on the free agent market, though his demands remain sky-high for the time being.

According to The Athletic’s Brendan Kuty, the New York Yankees upped their offer to Bellinger in an effort to retain the 30-year-old outfielder, placing a multi-year proposal worth an average annual value (AAV) of over $30 million in front of him.

Bellinger and his camp, however, are seeking a seven-year pact and thus have yet to find common ground with the Yankees or any of the former National League MVP’s other suitors.

He declined a $25 million player option at the beginning of the offseason and has reportedly drawn considerable interest from the Mets, who could use another outfielder after trading Brandon Nimmo to the Texas Rangers for Semien. As is the case with Kyle Tucker and some of the club’s reported starting pitching targets, though, they’ll likely avoid a long-term deal with Bellinger and instead try to tempt him with a shorter-term agreement with an inflated AAV, which is in lockstep with the Yankees’ strategy given their latest offer.

As of now, however, it doesn’t seem that Bellinger is willing to settle for a deal in that range.

The post Rumor Roundup: D-Backs Not Trading Marte, Yankees Make New Offer to Bellinger appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Former Mets hitting coach Jeremy Barnes announced on LinkedIn that he is joining the Nationals as the director of baserunning, game play and defense. Barnes spent 2022-2025 on the Mets’ major league staff, serving this past season as co-hitting coach with Eric Chávez. The Mets replaced Barnes and Chávez with Troy Snitker.

Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

Latest MLB News

Former White Sox reliever Fraser Ellard spoke to Scott Merkin of MLB.com about his decision to retire from Major League Baseball at just 28 years old.

Latest on MMO

Robert Colonna breaks down what Juan Soto said about his Mets teammates and Carlos Beltrán‘s advice on the Siendo Honestos podcast.

Robert Colonna discusses the latest rumors surrounding the Mets, including which players have been linked to the team.

Robert Colonna profiles outfielder Cody Bellinger as a potential free agent fit for the Mets.

On This Date in Mets History

Born on This Date: Mark Dewey (1965), Luis Rivera (1964), Jim Dwyer (1950), John Sullivan (1941).

The post Morning Briefing: Former Mets Hitting Coach Jeremy Barnes Joins Nats appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Position: 1B/OF B/T: L/L

Player Data: Age: 30 (7/13/1995)

2025 Traditional Stats: 657 PA, .272/.334/.480/.813, 160 H, 29 HR, 98 RBI

2025 Advanced Stats: 125 wRC+, 13.7% K%, 7.9% BB%, .274 BABiP, .322 xwOBA, 4.9 fWAR, 5.1 bWAR, 7 DRS (LF), -3 DRS (CF), 8 DRS (RF), -1 DRS (1B), 4 OAA (LF), -1 OAA (CF), 2 OAA (RF), 0 OAA (1B)

Rundown

Former NL MVP Cody Bellinger may be among the most polarizing free agents in baseball. In his final three seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers, he struggled heavily after undergoing shoulder surgery and was non-tendered following the 2022 campaign, which was only three years after he won his MVP Award.

He signed a one-year deal with the Chicago Cubs for the 2023 season and turned in a big bounce-back campaign, but was unable to secure a long-term contract in free agency. Instead, Bellinger took a three-year deal with opt-outs after each season to return to the Cubs.

In his first year of that contract in 2024, he missed a chunk of the season and decided not to opt out. He was then traded to the New York Yankees and had a strong 2025 season, leading him to opt out of the final year of his deal. This marks the fourth time in as many years that Bellinger has had to ability to test free agency, and he is reportedly looking for a long-term deal, but it remains unclear if his wishes will be granted.

Bellinger’s slash line in 2025 was amplified by playing in Yankee Stadium. At home, he batted .302/.365/.544 for a .909 OPS and 152 wRC+. On the road, he slashed .241/.301/.414 for a .715 OPS and 97 wRC+. It isn’t as simple as saying he cannot hit outside of Yankee Stadium, though, as Wrigley Field is known for being brutal on left-handed hitters, and across the two seasons he called it home, he slashed .275/.328/.475 for an .802 OPS and 120 wRC+. Sometimes, single home/away season splits can be more noise than anything else.

Under the hood, there are both plenty of things to like with Bellinger and plenty of things to be concerned about.

The Good

• 91st percentile in K rate (13.7%)
• 90th percentile in Pull Air% (20.5%)
• 84th percentile in Whiff Rate (18.1%)
• 80th percentile in Pull% (43%)
• 79th percentile in Zone Contact (87.5%)
• 76th percentile in LA sweet spot (37.1%)
• 72nd percentile in Squared Up% (28.1%)

The Red Flags

• 36th percentile in Barrel Rate (7.5%)
• 33rd percentile in Max EV (110.2 MPH)
• 26th percentile in Hard Hit Rate (37.9%)
• 24th percentile in Average EV (88.8 MPH)
• 20th percentile in Bat Speed (70.1%)
• 20th percentile in 90th EV (102.7 MPH)

Bellinger was also right around league average in walk rate at 8.7% (54th percentile), which prevented him from having a very high on-base percentage despite the high average. His value comes from being an above-average hitter while also being elite defensively in the corner outfield spots with some flexibility to play in center field and an ability to slot in at first base as well. He was also 72nd percentile in sprint speed at 28.2 feet per second, which stayed consistent with his previous two seasons.

Contract

MLB Trade Rumors projected Bellinger to ink a five-year contract totaling $140 million. That would be just below the five-year, $150 million deal Pete Alonso signed with the Baltimore Orioles this offseason.

Recommendation: Worth Checking In

If Bellinger is unable to find that five-year or longer contract, he could fit the Mets on a short-term contract. The Yankees have reportedly made a formal offer to retain Bellinger, per the New York Post’s Jon Heyman, but the terms are not yet known.

On a three-year deal, Bellinger could fit the Mets’ roster as a left-handed bat that could play both corner outfield spots, first base, and provide some flexibility in center field as needed. He is projected to provide similar offensive value to Brandon Nimmo, but with much better defense. On a short-term deal, he could be a fit for this Mets roster, but on a longer-term contract, the club would likely find themselves in the same situation they were with Nimmo a few years from now.

The post Free Agent Profile: Cody Bellinger, 1B/OF appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Starting Pitching

Another domino is off the board as Tatsuya Imai signs with the Astros on a three year, $54 million deal that includes incentives and opt outs. Both Mark Feinsand and Jon Heyman stated that the Mets were not heavily involved in the bidding for Imai.

Per Heyman, the Mets are still looking to bolster the front end of their rotation and like Framber Valdez on a short term deal if his market lands there. President of baseball operations David Stearns was an assistant general manager in Houston when the Astros first signed Valdez as an international free agent in 2015. Feinsand also mentioned that the trade market could be where the Mets find a starter to lead their rotation and mentioned Brewers starter Freddy Peralta as an option. Heyman also linked the Mets to Ranger Suárez.

Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Outfield

After trading Brandon Nimmo to the Texas Rangers for Marcus Semien, the Mets have at least one opening in the outfield. Heyman mentioned that the Mets have checked in on Kyle Tucker and speculated that while Tucker may not receive the $400 million contract that was expected in the beginning of the offseason, he should still end up in the $300 million range. Feinsand labeled the Blue Jays as the favorites for Tucker, but stated that the Mets cannot be counted out “given their need for outfield help and their general willingness to spend big when they feel it’s appropriate.”

Heyman mentioned that Cody Bellinger may be the best fit for the Mets due to his versatility and the expectation that he will command a shorter deal than Tucker. The Dodgers, Giants and Blue Jays have all been linked to him, but Heyman believes it will likely come down to the Mets or the Yankees. Heyman previously reported that the Yankees had made a formal offer to Bellinger. Feinsand stated that it is not believed a Bellinger signing is imminent.

The post Rumor Roundup: Mets Linked to Bellinger, Tucker and Frontline Starters appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Of course, teams like the New York Mets are likely still a ways away from where the roster will be Opening Day. However, this still gives you a good idea where the roster currently is and what future additions may be warranted.

Currently, overall, the Mets have the sixth-highest overall projected WAR. Making this up is a fourth-ranked projected position player WAR and 16th-ranked projecting pitching WAR. Their overall ranking of sixth sits third in the National League behind the Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves. The 43.4 projections narrowly edges the Philadelphia Phillies (43.1) for second in the National League East.

As mentioned, WAR projections are much higher on the Mets’ position players rather than the pitching. The Mets rank inside the top-10 in projected WAR at the following positions: catcher, second base, shortstop and right field. They are right outside the-top 10 in first base and third base projected WAR as well.

The problematic spots for the Mets make up two-thirds of their outfield. The Mets’ projected left fielder WAR ranks 27th and center field projected WAR ranks 26th. In every other position the team ranks 12th-or-better. It does not appears the Mets are very far off in terms of their position player group.

As for the pitching group, as mentioned, the Mets currently check in at No. 16 in total WAR projections for that group. Making that figure up is a 17th-ranked starting pitcher projected WAR and 13th-ranked relief pitcher projected WAR. Pitching appears to need much more work than the position player group does.

Final Thoughts 

A lot has been made of the Mets’ up-and-down offseason which has seen president of baseball operations David Stearns ship out several of the team’s key contributors from seasons past. The team also has not made a ton of additions to potentially replace that shipped-out production. However, based off early projections, the Mets actually may not be too far off where they need to be.

The Mets, as far as projected WAR goes, are still valued as one of the top-six teams in the league. Specifically, they project to have a very strong position player group with a pitching staff that grades out around league average. At the end of the day, projections are just that. However, it appears that a lot of the noise around the Mets’, largely created by the media, has been overblown.

What these projections can also tell you is the Mets need to make a few more additions. Specifically, help in the outfield with, say, a Luis Robert Jr. or Cody Bellinger, as well as a No. 2-level type starting pitcher. Adding just two more pieces would help round the unit out and further strengthen these already strong preseason projections.

The post What Early Fangraphs’ Projections Say About The 2026 Mets appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Whether all the change will result in a positive or negative year in Queens is simply unknowable right now.

It will certainly look drastically different, that’s for sure. We can take that particular notion to the bank right now.

For starters, it is going to take some getting used to not seeing Edwin Díaz emerge from the bullpen in the ninth inning. I think the first time we don’t hear “Narco” blaring around Citi Field will be when it really hits home that Díaz is no longer a Met.

However, that won’t be the most galling change in 2026. No matter how many memorable moments Díaz gave Mets fans over six largely stellar years.

No, what will really come as a severe jolt to the system will be the absence of the three homegrown Mets. If you think the prospect of no Brandon Nimmo, Pete Alonso, and Jeff McNeil is weird now, think how much stranger it will be once we get to Opening Day.

It is hard to envision a lineup card without those three names in it. After all, Nimmo was a staple in a Mets uniform for a decade. McNeil has been a big part of this organization ever since making his debut in 2018. And Pete Alonso needed just seven years to establish himself as the best power hitter in franchise history. Not to mention taking Darryl Strawberry‘s home run crown.

Brandon Nimmo, Pete Alonso. Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

END OF AN ERA

In many ways, Nimmo, Alonso, and McNeil have been the very heartbeat of the Mets for the best part of a decade.

Nimmo was the longest-tenured Met and absolutely beloved by fans. He personified what it meant to play in Queens, embracing everything that came with playing for the organization. If the Mets were ever going to name a captain, Nimmo would have been the main contender alongside Francisco Lindor.

As much as McNeil frustrated the life out of this fanbase over the last couple of years, the veteran provided plenty of happy memories in Queens. He won a batting title, was named a Silver Slugger, and was always good for a highlight-reel play in the field.

And where do we even begin with Alonso?

Has a player ever won the hearts of an entire community and city like Alonso did with the Mets half of New York? From the moment he put on a Mets uniform, Alonso just got it. He knew what it meant pulling on that jersey every single day. He was proud to play for the fans and for the organization.

The slugger also produced a litany of special moments. Like hitting 53 home runs in his rookie year in 2019. Representing the organization at the Home Run Derby while putting on an absolute clinic. Destroying baseballs with so much ease you couldn’t help but be impressed no matter how many times it happened. And do we even have to mention THAT moment against the Brewers?

Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

WHAT NOW?

Alonso, Nimmo, and McNeil, meant a lot to Mets fans because of what they were able to do on the baseball diamond. But, more importantly, they meant the world to Mets fans because they were drafted, nurtured, and developed right here in Queens.

Homegrown players just resonate more with fans.

Therefore, you can be forgiven for still feeling a little melancholy about the fact that a true end of an era has now come to a close in Queens.

Of course, there will be plenty of fans happy that the core has been blown up. A common refrain over the last few years has been that something needed to change with the core group given the relative lack of success.

That school of thought only grew in intensity in the wake of the embarrassing collapse down the stretch in 2025, resulting in the Juan Soto-led Mets missing the playoffs. When a set of players perform that badly, it would be franchise malfeasance for significant changes not to be made.

President of baseball operations David Stearns wasn’t hired to make sentimental decisions. He was hired to bring a World Series to Queens. Therefore, he can’t be blamed for making the tough decisions. Of course, it is easy to judge him for blowing up the core right now. There’s so much work still to be done, and as of right now, it is hard to envision the 2026 Mets being better than the 2025 Mets.

Pete Alonso (20) & Brandon Nimmo (9) Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images

A DIFFERENT DAWN

It is also difficult to imagine what the identity of this team will be moving forward. As already mentioned, Nimmo, Alonso, and McNeil weren’t just good ballplayers; they were the soul of this team. That’s an intangible that is a lot harder to replace than just WAR. Furthermore, given Stearns’ risk-averse approach to this offseason, it seems unlikely that a Kyle Tucker or a Cody Bellinger will end up in Queens.

Of course, it is important to see how the full picture unfolds before making any real judgments. Stearns clearly has a plan, and it is possible that he has one or two big moves up his sleeve. It is entirely feasible that the departures of the homegrown trio lead to bigger and better things.

After all, change can be good sometimes. Whether that will be the case with the 2026 New York Mets very much remains to be seen.

But change will certainly look different. And that’s something we will all have to get used to over the coming weeks and months.

The post Will Different Be Good for the 2026 Mets? appeared first on Metsmerized Online.