With the Orioles in the Bronx for a series with the Yankees, it marks the first time Pete Alonso has returned to New York since his departure from the Mets this offseason. Prior to Friday’s series opener, Alonso held a 13-minute session with media where he said he never had a final conversation with Steve Cohen or David Stearns before signing with the Orioles. He did, however, speak with Carlos Mendoza and a few former teammates.

Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Latest Mets News

The Mets (11-21) defeated the Angels (12-21) 4-3 on Friday night. New York rallied from down 3-0 with Francisco Alvarezand Marcus Semien combining to tie the game before Ronny Mauricio untied it with a mammoth home run, his first of the year. Christian Scott also looked much more comfortable in his second start of the year, allowing three runs (two earned) in five innings with eight strikeouts and no walks.

Early Friday morning, the Mets provided confidence in Carlos Mendoza and David Stearns via MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo. Despite the team’s atrocious start to the season, both Mendoza and Stearns appear to be safe for now.

Rehabbing lefty reliever A.J. Minter gave up an unearned run in an inning of work with Triple-A Syracuse on Friday. Recently promoted top prospect A.J. Ewing also had another good game for Syracuse on Friday, going 1-for-1 with two walks, two stolen bases and two runs.

The Mets’ Double-A affiliate, the Binghamton Rumble Ponies released an alternate identity as the Binghamton Bobbers. The name pays homage to the first Dick’s Sporting Goods location, which opened in Binghamton.

Latest MLB News

The Orioles placed former Met Ryan Helsley on the injured list with right elbow inflammation. Helsley has a 2.53 ERA with seven saves in 12 appearances this year.

Former Met Max Kranick signed a deal with the Nationals. Kranick had a 3.65 ERA in 24 appearances with the Mets in 2025.

Latest on MMO

Kai Chang highlights the performance of Freddy Peralta in the Mets’ Thursday night loss to the Nationals.

Jorge Eckardt explains why A.J. Ewing might be the Mets’ new best prospect.

On This Date in Mets History

Born on This Date: Luis Torrens (1996), Jonathan Villar (1991), Erasmo Ramírez (1990), Joe Crawford (1970), Eddie Bressoud (1932).

The post Morning Briefing: Pete Alonso Never Had Final Conversation With Mets appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Quickly, the Mets traded away Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil and let franchise home run leader Pete Alonso walk in free agency. These moves largely drew the ire of fans (to say the least), and Stearns’ focus on run prevention was the obvious culprit.

By Fielding Bible’s defensive runs saved, Nimmo was the only one of the three to post a positive mark despite grading out with one of the worst arms of all left fielders. However, he was traded for Marcus Semien, who graded out better and plays second base, a much more valuable defensive position. McNeil moved around between second base and all three outfield spots, and, while the versatility was valuable, he was clearly below-average glove in the outfield and slightly above average on the dirt. Then there’s Alonso, who finished dead last among all first basemen in DRS. He can pick it, but he was dreadful in just about every other aspect of playing first base.

Statcast’s outs above average supports this as well. Nimmo (-1 OAA, 42nd percentile) and Alonso (-9 OAA, 2nd percentile) both graded out as negative defenders, and while McNeil (2 OAA, 72nd percentile) was a plus, he was only a plus at second base. Semien (7 OAA, 92nd percentile) was clearly better. McNeil simply didn’t have a position anymore.

The Mets quickly filled first base by signing Jorge Polanco and then, surprisingly, added Bo Bichette to play third base. They also traded for Luis Robert Jr., a well-known great defender, to play center field, but most of the attention was on Polanco and Bichette.

Polanco has played first base for one at-bat in the majors and zero at-bats in the minors, and Bichette has never played third base in the majors or minors. It’s natural to wonder how Stearns could preach run prevention and then sign Polanco and Bichette to play two positions they’ve never played before.

For fans who have that concern, though, fortunately, middle infielders move to the corners all the time. The changes shouldn’t be nearly as big a story as they have been.

Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

History of Players Moving to First

Let’s start with Polanco. Through parts of 12 seasons in the big leagues, Polanco has technically played all four infield positions. He has primarily been up the middle, spending over 4,000 innings at shortstop and 3,500 innings at second base, but also has over 200 innings at third base.

He isn’t and has never been a particularly good defender, but he has been playable enough for teams to routinely put him up the middle. Interestingly enough, this move to first base could provide him with an opportunity to change that. Don’t be fooled by the Ron Washington line from “Moneyball.” It can be done, and it is done very often.

There are seven players who appear in the top-12 in both DRS and OAA among first basemen in 2025: Matt Olson, Carlos Santana, Ty France, Spencer Steer, Ryan O’Hearn, Kody Clemens and Jonathan Aranda. Of those seven, five came up playing positions other than first base. The two that did are Matt Olson, who did occasionally play right field but has the vast majority of his career innings at first base, and Ryan O’Hearn, who came up as a first baseman but has played at least some outfield in most of his big league seasons.

Here are the other five:

• Santana: Made his MLB debut at catcher, and didn’t play first base until his second year in the league. He has just 4 and 1/3 career minor league innings at first base. He is now in the top 10 among first basemen in DRS since 2003, when The Fielding Bible first began.
• France: Technically made his MLB debut as a pinch hitter, but made his first start as a third baseman. He also played second base as a rookie, and made his first MLB appearance at first base in the second-to-last game of his rookie year, moving from second to first in the 9th inning as part of a slew of Padres defensive changes. Played a lot of both corner infield spots in the minors, but has over 1,000 more minor league innings at third base. First base did not become his primary position until his third year in the big leagues.
• Steer: Made his MLB debut at third base, and also started games at first base and second base during his rookie season. He has over 1000 career minor league innings at third base, over 700 at second base, over 400 at shortstop and just 17 at first base. He is now a primary first baseman, but has significant MLB innings in the outfield and has played up the middle as recently as 2024.
• Clemens: Made his MLB debut at second base, and also started games at third base and left field before he received one at first base. The vast majority of his minor league innings are at second base. He now has twice as many career MLB innings at first base, but still plays second base often, and in 2025 started games at first base, second base, left field and right field.
• Aranda: Made his MLB debut at second base, and also started games at first base and third base during his rookie season. Most of his minor league innings are at second base, but also has over 1000 career minor league innings at first base and over 500 at third base. His first full season in the big leagues was in 2025, and it was also the first time he only played first base.

There’s a good mix of origins among this group. Olson, who is the “purest” first baseman of the seven, is also one of the best defensive first basemen of all time. Santana is right there with him, despite basically learning first base from scratch when he was already in the majors.

Steer and France both made their MLB debuts on the other side of the corner infield, and Clemens and Aranda both made their MLB debuts at second base. All four of them spent significant time in the minor leagues playing up the middle, with first base either being a clear second fiddle or, in Steer’s case, almost not a thing at all.

While Clemens has generally been a good defender wherever he’s put, France, Steer and Aranda weren’t very good at the other infield spots. All were able to become plus defensive first basemen.

Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

History of Players Moving to Third

As for Bichette, he has primarily been a shortstop in his big league career. In fact, when looking at his Baseball Reference page for his historical fielding stats, only one position shows up: Shortstop. Of course, everyone remembers him moving to second base on the fly during the 2025 World Series, but even then, he had at least 262 career minor league innings to draw on as experience.

There’s no sugar coating it here with Bichette — he’s a bad fielder. But bad fielding shortstops often move to third base and do just fine.

There are seven players who appear in the top-12 in both DRS and OAA among third basemen in 2025: Ke’Bryan Hayes, Maikel Garcia, Ernie Clement, Ryan McMahon, Nolan Arenado, Matt Chapman and Nacho Alvarez Jr. Of those seven, four came up playing positions other than third base. Hayes, Arenado and Chapman are third basemen through and through.

Here are the other four:

• Garcia: Made his MLB debut as a shortstop, didn’t play third base until his second year in the league. He has over 3,000 minor league innings at shortstop and under 100 minor league innings at third base. He even has one more minor league inning at second base than he does at third base. Now, the vast majority of his MLB innings come at third base, but he also started games at shortstop, second base, center field and right field.
• Clement: Made his MLB debut as a pinch hitter and his first MLB start as a second baseman. He split time between second base and third base as a rookie. He has over 2,000 career minor league innings at shortstop, a little over 350 at second base, and a little over 200 at third base. He has played third base the clear most as a big leaguer, but is still used as a utility infielder. In 2025, he made 66 starts at third base, 49 at second base, 19 at shortstop and six at first base.
• McMahon: Made his MLB debut as a pinch hitter and his first MLB start as a first baseman. Most of his minor league innings came at third base, but he didn’t become a primary third baseman until his fifth MLB season due to sharing an infield with Arenado. While he now has by far the most career innings at third base, he was moved around between first base, second base and third base early in his career, initially spending by far the most time at second base.
• Alvarez Jr.: Made his MLB debut at second base. Has over 1,500 career minor league innings at shortstop and about 500 at third base. In his 64 career MLB starts, 56 have come at third base.

Arenado, Chapman and Hayes are elite defensive third basemen who have eight Platinum Gloves between them (Arenado with six and Chapman with two), and while the two veterans have slipped a tad defensively at this point in their careers, Hayes is in his defensive prime and could easily win a Platinum Glove of his own.

Aside from the three generational third base defenders, though, the rest continue the pattern of former middle infielders moving to a corner. McMahon’s path to third was blocked by Arenado, but he wound up playing a very good defensive second base while he waited for his turn at the hot corner. Garcia, Clement and Alvarez Jr. are all former shortstops who moved off the position once in the majors. Garcia moved for Bobby Witt Jr., Clement moved for Bichette, and Alvarez Jr. mainly just filled in for an injured Austin Riley at third base in his limited MLB action.

Overall outlook for the New York Mets

The Mets have a good infrastructure in place to help Polanco and Bichette make these transitions. The Mets hired Kai Correa to be the new bench coach, who is well known for helping players improve their defense. Eno Sarris of The Athletic noted that Correa “helped JD Davis into his best time at third base defensively,” and that “he’s really good at this.” Davis, the former Met, struggled mightily at third base throughout his career in Queens.

Much has also been made about Bichette’s subpar arm strength, but that’s also overblown. The throw from shortstop is longer than the one from third base, and he had the same arm strength last season as Alex Bregman, a widely accepted good defensive third baseman. As long as the throws are accurate, the arm strength won’t be a big deal.

Yes, Polanco and Bichette have both been bad fielders throughout their careers. Polanco is below average, and Bichette, to put it kindly, has been one of the worst shortstops in baseball. But the Mets don’t need them to turn into great fielders; they just need them to be fine. Both were signed, first and foremost, for their bats. Defense is important everywhere, but it’s the most important up the middle. There, the Mets have greatly improved with the additions of Semien and Robert Jr.

As stated earlier, Alonso was dead last in DRS among first basemen in 2025. As long as Polanco doesn’t do the same, he will be an improvement. At third base, Mark Vientos was dead last in DRS among all third basemen, despite playing fewer innings at the position than Baty. As long as Bichette doesn’t do the same, he will be an improvement. Yes, Baty was a plus defensive third baseman, and it’s fair to think he will continue to be one in 2026. Baty playing third base while Bichette is the DH is a lineup configuration that could occur fairly often.

Neither Polanco nor Bichette has played in their new position before, but it’s a common transition for players. The examples above are recent, but there are plenty more. Bregman was mostly a shortstop coming up through the minors, and while every time he’s played shortstop, he’s been nothing more than average, he’s a great defensive third baseman. Manny Machado (1,768 minor league innings at SS, 36 at 3B) is one of the best defensive third basemen of the last few decades, and he’s very firmly a bad defensive shortstop. Eugenio Suárez came through the minors as a shortstop and struggled mightily defensively whenever he played there in the majors, but played a solid third base for many years.

Even longtime Mets second baseman Daniel Murphy, who was worth -64 DRS at second base over his career (the third worst since 2003), was worth positive-26 DRS at first base (the 20th best since 2003).

Over and over again, middle infielders prove they can handle a corner. If you can survive up the middle, as Polanco and Bichette have for many years, then you have a very good chance of at least being playable at a corner. Will they be among the best defenders in baseball at their new positions? Probably not, but there’s a very real chance they’re better than they were up the middle, and the bar is low for them to be an improvement on what the Mets had in 2025.

Most importantly, this is normal. Asking middle infielders to move to the corners is normal, common, and bordering on a non-story — the opposite of what it has been.

The post Polanco, Bichette Could Be Fine Defensively appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Kyle Tucker, OF

Position: OF, B/T: L/R

Player Data: Age: 28 (01/17/1997)

2025 Traditional Stats: 136 G, 597 PA, .266/.377/.464/.841, 133 H, 22 HR, 73 RBI

2025 Advanced Stats: 136 wRC+, 14.7 K%, 14.6 BB%, .282 BABIP, .382 xwOBA, 4.5 fWAR

Rundown

After being drafted by the Houston Astros in 2015, Kyle Tucker went on to develop into a star. Despite some early struggles in Houston, Tucker ended a seven-year career with a line of .274/.353/.516/.870 with 125 HR and 417 RBI with the Astros. From 2021 to 2024, Tucker ranked 11th in baseball in wRC+ and 14th in fWAR, cementing himself as a staple in the major leagues. Tucker played a vital role in winning the 2022 World Series over the Phillies. However, with an impending free agency on the horizon, Tucker was traded from Houston to Chicago prior to the 2025 season. After being traded to Chicago this offseason, Tucker had a rollercoaster of a season with the Cubs.

Through the end of June, Tucker looked like he was heading towards an incredible free agency, tying Pete Alonso for fifth in wRC+. However, after a very rough second half of the year, some injury issues, and a mediocre playoffs, 2025 looked like just a very solid year from a very solid player. At first glance, the underlying metrics for the 2025 season look great. Elite xwOBA, fantastic chase rate and BB%, very strong batted ball profile. However, Tucker posted a career low in hard hit rate, a low max exit velocity, and a league-average exit velocity. These may be related to the lingering hairline fracture in his hand sustained in June, but still not super encouraging. It is fair to believe these results may be outliers and bet on the previous consistency of the fantastic previous four seasons.

Overall, the 2025 season was still a good year, and his xBA (.282) and xSLG (.500) tend to suggest that he was potentially a little unlucky. Tucker has produced 20+ homers in each of the last five seasons, with All-Star appearances in the last four. Of concern is his recent injury bug. Tucker played only 78 games in 2024 and, despite playing 136 games in 2025, experienced both hand and hamstring injuries. Still, Tucker enters free agency as a premier player in the sport with tons of upside. While his best defensive days may be behind him (-2 OOA), he profiles as an elite middle of the order hitter for any team.

Contract

Tucker enters the offseason widely regarded as the top UFA bat on the market. Spotrac gives Tucker a market value of $40.2 million average annual value (AAV) and a projected contract of 10 years, $401.7M. Those values for AAV and total contract value would rank Tucker fifth and fourth, respectively, in the major leagues. As the crowning jewel of the 2026 FA class, all of the big-market teams will be in on Tucker. Outside of Cody Bellinger, there aren’t many other great options for major impact outfielders.

Despite some injury issues in the past two seasons, Tucker is a cornerstone piece of a franchise and can step in immediately to improve any franchise for years to come.

Recommendation: Worth Checking In

After the 2024 season, David Stearns said that “pretty much the entirety of the player universe is potentially accessible to us”, and with the contract Juan Soto just signed, I believe him. It is reasonable to assume that an outfielder, specifically center field, is a pressing area of need for the Mets. Cedric Mullins is a free agent and likely will not be brought back, Brandon Nimmo and Juan Soto are locked into long-term deals, which could end up seeing some DH time sooner rather than later, and Tyrone Taylor did not play well enough to earn a starting job in 2026. However, I am not sure if a Tucker deal makes sense for the Mets.

As great as Tucker has been in the past, it is difficult to assemble a team with three long-term deals of over $34 million AAV each. Committing $125 million or more annually to three players limits financial flexibility and roster flexibility, two things that I am not sure Stearns wants to do. I think the Mets will check in and monitor the situation, which I believe is the correct thing to do. Undeniably, Tucker is a great player who makes any team better. The Mets should be involved in his free agent process, but if the contract numbers approach the Spotrac projections, I don’t know if it’s a move that the Mets should make.

Would Tucker make the Mets a better team? Absolutely. Inserting Tucker into the Mets lineup for the rest of his career would drastically improve their offense. However, for the price tag that he is likely going to cost, the Mets might be better off spending the money he would require on other parts of the team while other free agents hold down the fort for Carson Benge.

The post Free Agent Profile: Kyle Tucker, OF appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Regardless, there are still going to be spots up to grab throughout sprinting training. Two intriguing candidates for that bullpen are two individuals who spent 2025 in the minor leagues. Read more about each below.

Ryan Clifford. Photo by Steven Wojtowicz of MMO

Ryan Clifford

With the loss of slugger Pete Alonso to Baltimore, the Mets have a gaping hole at first base. Free agent signing Jorge Polanco is projected to fill out some of those reps, however, there should still be many to be had. One individual who may factor into those plans at some point is first base prospect Ryan Clifford.

Clifford, who was acquired in the Justin Verlander trade with Houston, has shown strong pop throughout his time in the minors. Over his last three professional seasons, Clifford has hit 24, 19, and 29 home runs, respectively.

Specifically, last year across 367 at-bats with Double-A Binghamton he posted 43 extra-base hits and an .848 OPS. Clifford also had a 15.5% walk rate resulting in a strong .355 on-base percentage despite a middling .243 average. The 22-year-old has a strong eye and a boatload of power.

There are some concerns with Clifford, though. Throughout his minor league career he has always had massive strikeouts numbers. His strikeout rate was as high as 31% early on. Luckily, that number has slowly crept down (17.6% in 2025). Additionally, he did struggle in his first run at the Triple-A level.

Success for Clifford starts with cutting down that strikeout rate. If he can do that a tad, while keeping the strong eye and plethora of power, there’s a chance he see some major-league sometime this season.

Dylan Ross

Dylan Ross, 25, was called up at the end of the 2025 season but did not make his major-league debut. The 13th-round pick in 2022 played across three different levels of minor league baseball in 2025.

He was special for Triple-A Syracuse as he struck out 39 across 32 innings. He posted a 1.69 ERA across those 32 innings. Overall, in 2025, he posted a 2.17 ERA across 54 total minor-league innings. His 3.32 FIP and 3.25 xFIP each told a story that his strong performances were warranted.

The only issue with Ross in 2025 was his control at points. Ross posted a 14.7% walks rate which is troublesome. That figure was elevated to 17.3% with Triple-A Syracuse.

If Ross, who was extremely close to making his major-league debut in 2025, can limit that walk rate in 2026, there is a real chance the 6-foot-5 right-hander can emerge as a vital part of the Mets’ bullpen in 2026.

Ryan Lambert. Photo by Rick Nelson

Ryan Lambert

Ryan Lambert, 23, was an eighth-round pick in 2024. The right-handed thrower endured his first full professional season in 2025 after finishing up his collegiate career in 2024.

Across 50 innings between the High-A and Double-A levels, Lambert posted a 1.62 ERA with 81 strikeouts. His 2.13 FIP and 2.86 xFIP further backed up how unreal he was last season.

Last season, 1,859 pitchers threw at least 40 innings in the minor leagues. Here is how Lambert ranked among them in some key statistical categories:

• ERA: 30th
• FIP: 13th
• xFIP: 49th
• K%: 7th

Bottom-line, he was one of the best pitchers in the whole minor-league baseball system last season.

At only 23 years old, and the fact he has yet to play any Triple-A baseball, there is a chance the Mets want to get him some time with Syracuse. However, it is likely we see Lambert in the big leagues at some point. With him being arguably the team’s best relief pitcher prospect, there is a real chance he emerges himself as a staple in the Mets’ bullpen by season’s end.

Jack Wenninger

Starting pitcher Jack Wenninger continues to quietly climb up the organizational rankings. The sixth-round pick in 2023 has by far the best year of his professional career in 2025.

Playing exclusively at the Double-A level, Wenninger posted a 2.92 ERA across 135 2/3 innings. He struck out 147 and only walked 42. The 13 homers he allowed worked out to a 0.9 HR/9. The 23-year-old struck out hitters, didn’t walk many, and avoided the long ball; a recipe for success at any level. His 3.36 FIP and 3.05 xFIP also further shows how his performances in 2025 were earned.

Wenninger is only 23 and he has yet to throw a pitch past Double-A. Given this, an appearance in the big leagues would seem unlikelier compared to the others on this list. However, if he puts together another strong season, a major-league impact sometime during the season shouldn’t be completely out of the question.

The post Under-The-Radar Minor Leaguers Who May Make An Impact In 2026 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.

“I would think so,” he said Monday through a Spanish interpreter on a call with reporters. “Like I said before, I offered my services as a first baseman, a second baseman, a third baseman. But as the conversations went on, they told me that I’d be playing a good amount of first base, but that I could also be bouncing around.”

Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

The Mets signed the 32-year-old from the Dominican Republic to a two-year, $40 million deal after Pete Alonso left for Baltimore. Polanco hit .265/.326/.495 in 2025 with 26 homers, 78 RBIs and 30 doubles.

He said he was surprised to see Alonso and Edwin Díaz leave New York, “but once you get into free agency, the business does take over. And there’s a lot as baseball players that we can’t control.”

Polanco went 10-for-48 (.208 batting average) in the 2025 playoffs, but he came up with plenty of clutch hits. He smacked two homers off Tarik Skubal in a Game 2 ALDS win and delivered the walk-off, series-winning single in the 15th inning of Game 5 to send Seattle to its first ALCS in 24 years. He had two clutch RBIs in Game 1 of the ALCS vs. Toronto and a big three-run homer in Game 2.

Polanco thinks the playoff experience in Seattle has prepped him well to handle the New York pressure cooker. The key in big moments is “not to try to do too much.”

He said he is confident and comfortable that he can play first base after working with coaches in Seattle, including bench coach (and former Mets third-base coach) Manny Acta, even though he has virtually no experience in MLB games. The switch-hitter expects his athleticism to help him with the transition as well.

He was asked about his stunning 2025 drop in strikeout percentage. It went from a career-high 29.2 percent in 2024 to a near career-low 15.6 percent this past season. Polanco said he was healthier (he dealt with a knee injury in 2024) and that his hitting coach got him to put the ball in play more like he did earlier in his career.

Polanco posted a career-best .841 OPS in 2019 and hit a career-high 33 homers in 2021 with the Twins. His strikeout percentages were below 20 percent from 2016 to 2021, then began to tick upward until 2025.

MMO’s own Chris Bello asked Polanco if he spoke with any players about the Mets organization’s treatment of players and families, and if any conversations stuck out in the free agency process.

“I think what stood out to me the most was how much the Mets cared about the players and the family,” Polanco, a married father of four, said. He noted that Starling Marte, now a free agent, gave him positive feedback.

He is excited to be on the field with Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor.

“I knew that this team wanted to win, so it was a good spot for me,” he said.

The post Mets Introduce Jorge Polanco appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Position: 1B B/T: R/R

Age: 33 (5/13/1992)

2025 Traditional Stats: 563 PA, .257/.344/.447/.791, 126 H, 20 HR, 80 RBI, 44 BB, 142 SO

2025 Advanced Stats: 123 wRC+ 25.2% SO%, 7.8% BB%, .358 xwOBA, 2.8 fWAR, 2.5 bWAR, 6 OAA

After losing Pete Alonso to the Baltimore Orioles, the Mets are now in search of a first baseman and a right-handed bat. David Stearns mentioned that the team would be in the market to add a right-handed bat to the roster, and that was before Alonso had signed with the Orioles. When canvassing the free agent market, the best pure offensive bat from the right side is probably Marcell Ozuna. Given his age, off-the-field issues, and poor 2025, it is hard to see the Mets exploring the Ozuna market. The other potential option is old friend Harrison Bader, but given the reports that Bader is seeking a three-year deal, it is unlikely the Mets will be interested in his market either.

That leaves the trade market, and once again, options are limited. However, on late Wednesday night, two separate St. Louis Cardinals reporters stated publicly that the Mets had engaged the Cardinals in talks around Willson Contreras. Contreras is coming off a strong 2025 season, where he had 20 home runs and had a 123 WRC+. The appeal of Contreras and his fit with this Mets team is obvious. Contreras is a well above average hitter (127 WRC+ in three years as a Cardinal), has a very reasonable two years and $36.5 million remaining on his contract (there is a team option for $17.5 in 2028 or a $5 buyout so likely $41.5 over two years) and graded out as the third best defensive first baseman according to OAA in 2025. Outside of him entering his age-34 season, Contreras is an ideal fit for this Mets team because he checks a lot of the boxes David Stearns is looking to check when acquiring a player.

Defensive Outlook 

By now, David Stearns and run prevention are synonymous with each other, and his early decisions, specifically letting Pete Alonso walk and trading away a declining Brandon Nimmo for a still elite defender in Marcus Semien, have made it clear the Mets are being intentional about improving their defense. The best available defensive first baseman is Ty France (first in OAA 10, and FRV 7); however, given his poor offensive profile, the next best available defensive first baseman is Contreras. He finished third in OAA (6) and third in FRV (4). In contrast, Pete Alonso was -9 in OAA and -8 in FRV. The other skill that Contreras has over Alonso is his well-above-average arm strength. In 2025, Contreras was in the 76th percentile in arm strength, and Alonso was in the fifth percentile. Contreras was also significantly better at converting routine plays into outs. rPM (plus/minus runs saved above average) is another advanced fielding stat that measures how successful an individual player is at converting outs. In 2025, Contreras was sixth in the MLB among 1B with a +2 rPM, and Alonso was once again last in this metric with a -10.

This defensive improvement has a multifactorial impact on the Mets. In the last two months of the season (when the Mets really collapsed), the largest and third-largest deltas between FIP and ERA were Sean Manaea and David Peterson. While neither was good in the second half (7.74 and 7.06 ERAs) both pitched better than the results suggest. Peterson had a 4.29 SIERRA, and Manaea had a 3.17 SIERRA (good for 14th in MLB post trade deadline). I am not blaming Alonso solely for their struggles, but among qualified players, he was the worst defensive infielder in the MLB from the trade deadline until the end of the season. Alonso had a -6 FRV in this stretch, and no other Met infielder was worse than -1. By upgrading with Contreras, the Mets’ pitching can improve even without outside reinforcements.

Offensive Outlook

In the aftermath of losing Alonso, much of the discourse has been centered around “replacing Alonso’s production,” and while Contreras doesn’t put up the traditional stats Alonso does, their offensive metrics are very similar. Over the last three seasons, Alonso had a 130 WRC+. Since joining the Cardinals, Contreras has had a 127 WRC+. When digging deeper, there is reason to believe that Contreras is not a player in decline. Contreras had an expected slash line of .(260/.358/.481) in 2025 but had an actual slash line of .257/.344/.447. With some better batted ball luck and hitting with more men on base (presumably behind Juan Soto), Contreras should be in line for a big 2026.

Perhaps the most encouraging stat for Contreras in 2025 was his 95th percentile average bat speed (76 MPH). His ability to maintain elite bat speed into his thirties is really encouraging and should calm fears of decline in performance. His age alone should not be an impediment for the Mets because his bat speed and age are similar to Kyle Schwarber, whom the Mets offered a three-year $120 million contract before he returned to the Phillies.

The other area of his offensive profile that is intriguing is his base running. Contreras, a converted catcher, improved his average sprint speed in 2025. He went from the 43rd percentile in 2024 to the 49th percentile in 2025. His average speed went up as well, 27.5 in 2025 from 27.1 in 2024. As a baserunner, Contreras was a -2 BsR (base running above average, which measures taking extra bases and stolen bases). While still below average, that number was much better than the -5.4 BsR Alonso had in 2025. When looking at his offensive profile and his better base running, Contreras is a more well-rounded player than Alonso, a profile David Stearns seems to be targeting.

The one concern with Contreras’s offensive profile is his strikeout percentage, but he has always been a high strikeout guy (24.2% for his career), and his strikeout rate actually went down in 2025 (26.8% to 25.2%). Ultimately, while Contreras likely won’t match the 38 home runs or 126 RBI, his offensive profile is strong and likely won’t be a big drop off from Pete’s production.

Trade Package

Contreras has two years and $36.5 million remaining on his five-year $87.5 million contract he signed with the Cardinals. The contract has a team option for 2028, but if the option is declined, it triggers a $5 million buyout. Essentially, Contreras has two years and $41.5 million left on his deal. Contreras also has a full no-trade clause and has been hesitant to waive it to this point. However, reports late Wednesday not only connected the Mets to Contreras but made it clear Contreras would waive his no-trade clause to come to the Mets. By having a no-trade clause, Contreras’ market value should not be overly robust, which should lower the return package.

Mets receive:
Willson Contreras

Cardinals receive:
OF Nick Morabito
LHP Zach Thornton

Conclusion

After losing Pete Alonso, the Mets have big shoes to fill, and acquiring Willson Contreras to replace him is a really strong pivot. His relatively affordable contract, combined with the short commitment as well as his strong defensive metrics, make him an ideal candidate for the Mets. While not the same run producer, Contreras’s more well-rounded game aligns with David Stearns’ vision and should not be overly expensive in prospect capital or dollars and cents. Contreras, as a first step in reshaping the Mets roster, would be a really strong move.

The post Trade Profile: Willson Contreras, 1B appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Mark Vientos will represent Nicaragua at the upcoming World Baseball Classic. Vientos was born in Connecticut and went to high school in Florida, but his mom was born in Nicaragua while his dad was born in the Dominican Republic. Notable players who represented Nicaragua in the 2023 WBC include Jonathan Loáisiga and Erasmo Ramírez.

Mark Vientos (27) Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

Latest Mets News

The Mets posted a “Thank You” graphic for Edwin Díaz after his signing with the Dodgers became official.

The Mets signed reliever Daniel Duarte to a minor league deal. Duarte, 29, owns a 3.99 ERA in 36 career big league innings and has thrown 18 2/3 scoreless innings in the Mexican winter ball.

Latest MLB News

The Royals extended third baseman Maikel Garcia with a five-year contract. The deal is for $57.5 million, but he has the ability to make up to $85 million.

The Blue Jays signed reliever Tyler Rogers to a three-year, $37 million contract with a vesting option for a fourth year. Rogers, 35 next week, spent the second half of 2025 with the Mets after being dealt at the trade deadline. He was solid, earning a 2.30 ERA in 28 appearances. Prior to his trade to the Mets, Rogers spent his entire career with the Giants.

In other Blue Jays news, Rogers Communications announced that Blue Jays president and CEO Mark Shapiro has been extended for five years.

The Rangers signed catcher Danny Jansen to a two-year, $14.5 million contract. In 98 games between the Rays and Brewers in 2025, Jansen posted a .721 OPS.

The Rangers also signed relievers Alexis Díaz and Tyler Alexander to one-year contracts. Both relievers struggled in 2025 while playing for multiple teams.

The Marlins signed third baseman and corner outfielder Christopher Morel to a one-year deal. Morel, who has shown flashes of power in the past, struggled with a .684 OPS with the Rays in 2025.

Latest on MMO

Robert Colonna profiles reliever Kenley Jansen as a free agent target for the Mets.

Jack Markowski recaps the comments Pete Alonso made at his introductory press conference with the Orioles.

Kai Chang recaps the comments Edwin Díaz made at his introductory press conference with the Dodgers.

On This Date in Mets History

Born on This Date: Doug Saunders (1969), Ron Taylor (1937), J.C. Martin (1936), Joe Christopher (1935).

The post Morning Briefing: Mark Vientos to Represent Nicaragua in WBC appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Alonso, who signed a five-year deal worth $155 million with Baltimore during this week’s Winter Meetings, stated that the Orioles checked all the boxes in terms of what he was looking for in free agency while standing out amongst his other suitors.

“As the offseason progressed and we got further along, this partnership was head and shoulders above everybody else,” Alonso said. “This park, this city, this organization, everything just clicked.”

Orioles owner David Rubenstein is particularly bullish about what Alonso brings to the table and the heights he could help the organization reach, comparing his addition to that of Frank Robinson ahead of the 1966 season, which ended in the club’s first-ever World Series victory.

“The result was we won a World Series that year, and we beat a team named the Los Angeles Dodgers, who people thought were unbeatable,” Rubenstein said.

Alonso received a glowing endorsement of Baltimore from his former Mets manager Buck Showalter, who held that same post with the Orioles from 2010 to 2018.

“He had nothing but beautiful things to say,” Alonso said.

The five-time All-Star first baseman shared his appreciation for his time in New York as well, though he also expressed his gratitude and excitement for his upcoming tenure in Baltimore.

“I’m very gracious for that opportunity,” Alonso said. “There’s some amazing people over there. Whether it be the locker room, the staff, cubbies, it’s phenomenal. I really enjoyed my time [there], but this right here, this organization, this city, I’m so proud to call it home.”

Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

The Mets never extended a formal offer to Alonso this offseason after he turned down a player option worth $24 million for the 2026 campaign. The bidding got to a spot that New York wasn’t interested in reaching, per MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo, leading a franchise staple and its all-time home run leader to walk after seven seasons.

Alonso closed out his stint as a Met with a slash line of .253/.341/.516 to go alongside 264 homers and 712 RBIs in 1,008 games.

New York, which also saw Edwin Díaz leave in favor of a three-year deal worth $69 million with the Los Angeles Dodgers, now has a fair amount of holes to fill over the coming months as it looks to construct a competitive roster for the 2026 season.

The Mets could look to replace Alonso internally by playing Mark Vientos, prospect Ryan Clifford or even Jeff McNeil at first base. They may also explore their external options on the free agent and trade markets, with the likes of Cody Bellinger (who would fit in the club’s outfield as well) and Willson Contreras sticking out as the top potential options at the moment.

The post Pete Alonso Shares Thanks to Mets During Orioles Introductory Press Conference appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

“He did it! He did it!” Mets radio announcer Howie Rose exclaims as Pete Alonso circles the bases. “Pete Alonso with the most memorable home run of his career!”

Photo by Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

Alonso, of course, hit a three-run home run off Devin Williams in the top of the ninth inning at Milwaukee with the Mets trailing 2-0. New York was two outs away from seeing their 2024 season end in the Wild Card round.

“Pete Alonso keeps this fairy tale season going with the fairy tale swing of his career!” Rose said.

Alonso provided a wealth of wonderful memories for Mets fans in his seven years in the blue and orange, starting with his rookie season when he belted 53 home runs, topping Aaron Judge‘s all-time rookie mark by one. That summer, he also participated in the Home Run Derby and revealed a piece of advice on how to conserve energy in an interview before the contest.

“It doesn’t matter how much jelly’s in the jar, it matters how you spread it on your English muffin,” he said.

I don’t quite get it, but all that matters is it worked for Alonso. He won the derby, beating Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the final. At season’s end, he was named National League Rookie of the Year.

Alonso made the All-Star team five times. He won the derby again in 2021, outslugging Trey Mancini 23-22 in the final at Coors Field. He led the major leagues in RBIs in 2022 with 131, which also set a single-season Mets record. He drove in 118 or more runs four times. He ranks first, second, fifth and seventh on the franchise’s all-time, single-season RBI leaderboard.

He hit five walk-off home runs. The first finished off the Yankees on Sept. 3, 2020, on the day the news broke that Tom Seaver had passed away. The last one beat the Rangers in September of this year.

This past Aug. 12, he hit the most anticipated home run of his career. Alonso’s two-run shot off the Braves’ Spencer Strider was his 253rd and broke Darryl Strawberry‘s franchise record, which was set in 1990. For good measure, Alonso added another home run later in the game. He leaves the Mets with 264.

The Mets selected Alonso in the second round of the 2016 draft out of the University of Florida. Todd Frazier stuck him with the nickname Polar Bear in spring training in 2019.

He went 1-for-4 in his MLB debut against the Nationals and 1-for-4 in his last game at a Met against the Marlins on Sept. 28.

He was robbed of a bid for one more great memory in that final game. With the bases loaded and two outs in the fifth inning, Alonso lined a ball at 116 mph off the bat, but it was caught by Javier Sanoja in left field. He opted out of the last year of his contract after the game.

“I’ve grown up in this organization and what I’ve done here I’m really proud of the mark I’ve left,” he said. “I want to be the best teammate and the best player I possibly can be, not just for the people here but for the franchise and for the fans. Yeah it’d be great (to stay in New York), but we’ll see what happens.”

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