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.

Tyler Rogers. Photo Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images

Rogers, 34, has been as much of a workhorse as a modern reliever can be. He has led the majors in games pitched four times over the past six seasons and has exceeded 80 appearances twice. His efficiency is equally impressive. In 2025, he posted a 1.98 ERA combined with the Mets and Giants. With New York, he was particularly effective, registering a 2.30 ERA and a 6.86 K/BB ratio.

Drafted by the San Francisco Giants in 2013, Rogers spent 2019-24 in San Francisco before being traded to the Mets at the 2025 Trade Deadline in exchange for Drew Gilbert, Blade Tidwell, and José Buttó.

Rogers’ success stems from one of the most unorthodox deliveries in baseball. His extreme submarine angle, combined with a slider that creates the illusion of rising, earned praise from his former Giants pitching coach, Andrew Bailey, who called it a “UFO” slider because it “breaks the break chart.”

Overall, Rogers offers significant reliability — the biggest reason behind his lucrative contract. While it’s somewhat surprising he landed a deal approaching $40 million, it reflects his underrated consistency. For context, MLB Trade Rumors projected Rogers at a two-year, $18 million deal, ranking him below Ryan Helsley (ended up signing for two years and $28 million) and Kyle Finnegan (two years, $19 million).

The Mets had been linked to Rogers but will now need to pivot. Potential higher-end right-handed targets include Pete Fairbanks, Luke Weaver, Shawn Armstrong, and Seranthony Domínguez. Left-handed options remain thin, though veterans like Andrew Chafin are always available. There will also always be trade opportunities, such as Trevor Megill, who the Mets have been previously linked to.

The post Tyler Rogers Signs Three-Year Deal with Blue Jays appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

If the season started today, Mark Vientos would likely be the Mets’ Opening Day first baseman. Stearns recently indicated that top prospect Carson Benge will have a chance to compete for the starting center field job during spring training. However, after hitting just .178 with a .583 OPS in 24 games at Triple-A Syracuse to end 2025, Benge may need more development time before he’s ready for a full-time role. That could leave Tyrone Taylor – an elite defender with a light bat (70 OPS+ in 2025) – as the everyday center fielder. Vientos at first base would, in turn, open up the designated hitter spot for someone like Ronny Mauricio or Jeff McNeil, especially if Luisangel Acuña claims the second base job for his defense.

The rotation returns largely the same cast of characters as last season. Nolan McLean should be considered the club’s de facto ace after his brilliant stint in the majors to close out the year. David Peterson, Sean Manaea, and Clay Holmes should also be viewed as rotation locks. Then there’s Kodai Senga, who has shown flashes of ace-level potential across his three years in New York, but has also struggled with injuries and inconsistency. If the Mets elect to keep Senga, he’d almost certainly remain in the rotation, through the team would likely need to operate with a six-man setup to accommodate his workload. Top prospects Brandon Sproat, Jonah Tong, and Christian Scott – who missed all of 2025 following Tommy John surgery – should factor into the team’s plans at some point but are unlikely to break camp on the Opening Day roster. Meanwhile, Tylor Megill and Frankie Montas are expected to miss the entire 2026 season due to injuries.

The bullpen, quite simply, looks thin at the moment. Brooks Raley and Huascar Brazobán are expected to return, and A.J. Minter should be ready to start the season after recovering from a torn triceps last April, which ended his 2025 campaign. Beyond those three, Dylan Ross – who posted a 2.17 ERA with 80 strikeouts across 54 minor league innings last year – figures to have a decent chance to make the Opening Day roster and could develop into a high-leverage option down the line.

All that said, the Mets will fortunately have payroll flexibility this offseason to address these roster gaps. Here are five free agents I believe would be ideal fits to bolster New York’s rotation, bullpen, and lineup heading into 2026.

Framber Valdez, LHP – Opening Day Age: 32

Valdez enters free agency as one of the consensus top-two rotation options alongside Dylan Cease. Since 2020 with the Astros, he has pitched to a 3.23 ERA and 3.36 FIP across 973 innings and 153 starts, earning two All-Star selections and finishing inside the top nine in Cy Young voting three times. He possesses all the makings of a frontline starter: durable, consistent, and capable of pitching deep into games. Over the last four seasons, Valdez has made 28 or more starts each year and averaged 6.34 innings per outing.

In 2025, Valdez’s ERA ticked up slightly to 3.66, largely due to a rough second half, but his 3.37 FIP suggests the underlying performance remains strong. He recorded 20 quality starts out of 31, a stark contrast to the Mets’ entire pitching staff, which combined for just 39 quality outings all season.

What makes Valdez particularly appealing to New York is his elite ground-ball ability. Anchored by a top-tier sinker that ranked third in run value among qualified starters, he posted a 59.4% ground-ball rate in 2025 – 12th-highest in MLB and third among qualified starters. By keeping the ball on the ground, Valdez minimizes home runs, allowing just 15 over 192 innings. This style aligns perfectly with Stearns’ pitching philosophy: the Mets’ staff already emphasizes ground-ball generation, with Holmes in the 94th percentile, Peterson in the 93rd, and McLean (though unqualified) above Valdez at 60.2%. Valdez would slot seamlessly into this approach, giving the team a true ace-caliber presence at the top of the rotation.

Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Cody Bellinger, 1B/OF – Opening Day Age: 30

Bellinger’s career has been marked by inconsistency. After winning both the Rookie of the Year and MVP honors early in his career, it was surprising when the Dodgers non-tendered him following the 2022 season. He bounced back in 2023 with the Cubs, posting his best season since his 2019 MVP campaign. However, he regressed in 2024, prompting the Cubs to trade him to the New York Yankees in what was largely viewed as a salary dump. In New York, Bellinger was tasked with replacing Juan Soto‘s production, and he delivered. He slashed .272/.334/.480 across 151 games, posting a 125 OPS+ and 5.1 bWAR. Beyond his bat, Bellinger’s defensive versatility is a major asset. He appeared in 149 games in the outfield for the Yankees (85 in LF, 52 in RF, 41 in CF) and made seven appearances at first base. Over his career, he has played in 864 games in the outfield and 350 at first.

There are some red flags in Bellinger’s profile. His well-documented inconsistency makes him a riskier long-term signing. His batted-ball metrics have generally ranked average to below average, though he has still been a capable producer, posting an OPS+ at least 11% above league average in seven of his nine major-league seasons, including each of the last three. What makes Bellinger especially appealing to the Mets is his defensive profile. He has accumulated 10 career defensive runs saved at first base and graded out in the 93rd percentile in Outs Above Average and 91st percentile in Arm Value last season. While much of that comes from his time as a corner outfielder, he would likely provide roughly average defense in center field if needed as a stopgap until Benge is ready.

Overall, Bellinger’s combination of above-average hitting and defensive versatility at two positions the Mets desperately need makes him an attractive free-agent target.

Edwin Diaz, RP – Opening Day Age: 32

After a rocky start with the Mets in 2019, it was hard to imagine Díaz having a long tenure in New York. Yet his turnaround was remarkable, culminating in a 2022 campaign in which he posted a 1.31 ERA, 0.90 FIP, and an astounding 17.1K/9 across 62 innings for the 101-win Mets. Following that season, Díaz signed a five-year $102 million extension, making him the highest-paid relief pitcher in baseball history at the time. After another strong 2025 campaign, Díaz exercised the opt-out clause in his contract, re-entering free agency in search of a longer, higher-paying deal.

While Stearns has traditionally been hesitant to pay top dollar for relievers, Díaz arguably warrants an exception. Since 2020, he has compiled a 2.60 ERA, 2.10 FIP, and 15 K/9 across 204 games, recording 90 saves along the way. Beyond the numbers, Díaz is a fan favorite who has proven he can thrive under the bright lights of New York and has delivered in a relatively small playoff sample. His advanced metrics remain elite, ranking in the 99th percentile across MLB in expected ERA, expected batting average, whiff rate, and strikeouts.

In a season where the Mets’ bullpen was inconsistent, Díaz stood out as a model of reliability from start to finish. For a team with championship aspirations, having multiple elite arms in late-game situations is essential, and Díaz remains as strong a building block as any to anchor the end of the bullpen.

Photo Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

Tyler Rogers, RP – Opening Day Age: 35

At the trade deadline, the Mets made a bold move to strengthen their bullpen, acquiring Tyler Rogers from San Francisco in exchange for José Buttó and prospects Drew Gilbert and Blade Tidwell. While the new-look bullpen as a whole struggled down the stretch, Rogers more than held his own, posting a 2.30 ERA and 3.32 FIP across 28 relief appearances.

Rogers has been the definition of reliability throughout his career. Since debuting in 2019, he has led Major League Baseball in appearances in four seasons, including each of the past two. Pitching from a distinctive submarine arm slot, Rogers doesn’t overpower hitters – ranking in the 1st percentile last season in both average fastball velocity and whiff rate, and the 8th percentile in strikeout rate. Instead, he relies on a devastating sinker/slider combination to induce soft contact and keep the ball on the ground. His underlying metrics were elite in 2025: 100th percentile in barrel rate, 99th in average exit velocity, 98th in ground-ball rate, 96th in expected ERA, and 95th in hard-hit rate. He also boasts exceptional command, ranking in the 100th percentile in walk rate – a refreshing contrast to the Mets’ historical bullpen control issues.

Rogers fits seamlessly into the Mets’ run-prevention philosophy built around ground-ball pitching. With only a few bullpen spots locked in for Opening Day, New York needs multiple high-leverage options. Pairing the right-handed Rogers with lefties Raley and Minter would give the Mets a reliable bridge to an elite closer like Díaz, rounding out a bullpen capable of holding late-inning leads.

Tatsuya Imai, SP – Opening Day Age: 27

While Munetaka Murakami may be the most recognizable name among this year’s free agents coming over from Japan, 27-year-old Tatsuya Imai might be the most intriguing fit for the Mets. Imai is coming off a career-best season in the NPB, posting a 1.92 ERA across 163.2 innings with 178 strikeouts – a rate 8.2% above league average. Over the past three years, he has shown both durability and consistency, compiling a 2.18 ERA across 470 innings with 495 strikeouts in 68 starts, averaging nearly seven innings per start.

While Imai doesn’t project as a frontline ace in the mold of Yoshinobu Yamamoto, his track record and deep repertoire – anchored by a fastball that can reach 99 mph and a plus slider – make him a strong candidate for a mid-rotation role. He also fits the profile of a David Stearns-type pitcher, excelling at limiting home runs (0.3 HR/9) and inducing weak contact (16.5% hard-hit rate, 53.8% ground-ball rate). Though not quite in the same tier as Framber Valdez, Imai’s combination of ground-ball efficiency, youth (he’ll pitch two more full seasons in his 20s), and lack of a qualifying offer make him especially appealing.

Stearns has yet to hand out a long-term contract to a starting pitcher during his Mets tenure, but his aggressive pursuit of Yamamoto two offseasons ago showed a willingness to invest in top international talent. If the front office is open to prioritizing youth and long-term potential over immediate ace-level production, Imai would be a logical and forward-thinking target.

After a disappointing 2025 season that derailed the momentum from their 2024 playoff run, the Mets enter the offseason with clear holes and the means to fill them. Adding a frontline arm, fortifying the bullpen, and finding reliable production at first base and center field should be top priorities. With Stearns at the helm and resources to spend, the Mets have a real opportunity to turn last season’s frustration into another deep October push in 2026.

The post Five Free Agents the Mets Should Target This Winter appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Gregory Soto. (Photo credits: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

The disappointing end to the 2025 season for the New York Mets has been well documented. The team that once owned a league-best 45-24 record not only didn’t hold onto their division lead, but didn’t even make the playoffs. All despite having a clear path to do so on the last day of the season.

Following the disappointing season, a lot has been made of what exactly went wrong. One aspect that certainly contributed to things, and something that president of baseball operations David Stearns, himself, confirmed in his postseason press conference is that seemingly every move the team made at the trade deadline did not pan out.

With that being said, let’s take a look back at that July 31 trade deadline and see exactly how all players involved in trades the Mets made that day fared.

Deal No. 1

• Mets Receive: LHP Gregory Soto
• Orioles Receive: RHP Wellington Aracena, RHP Cameron Foster

Analysis:

A few days before the official deadline the Mets made their first move and went out and got much needed help for their bullpen. Gregory Soto, a left-handed reliever, was brought over from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for a couple pitching prospects.

Soto posted a 3.96 ERA and 3.33 FIP across 36 1/3 innings with Baltimore prior to the move. However, with the Mets those figures increased to a 4.50 ERA and 3.55 FIP across 24 innings. Soto allowed 33 hits across the 24 innings and saw his strikeout rate drop from 27.5% with Baltimore to only 21.8% with the Mets to end the season.

With that being said, the left-handed reliever was tremendous with New York his first month-plus with the team. Across his first 10 appearances, he did not allow an earned run. To take it even further, over his first 14 he only allowed an earned run once. In all, he had two scoreless debut appearances in August, then a sparkling 1.64 ERA in September. At first, the trade seemed like a tidy piece of business.

However, following suit with much of the pitching staff as a whole, Soto struggled mightily in September. In 11 September appearances Soto allowed at least a run in five of them, and of those five, in three he allowed multiple runs. In all, he posted a 7.94 ERA and allowed 20 hits across 11 1/3 September innings.

On the flip side, at the time of the deal, Wellington Aracena was the 15th-ranked prospect in Metsmerized’s midseason organizational prospect top-50 update. Meanwhile, Cameron Foster was unranked.

Aracena, who had a 2.38 ERA across 64 1/3 innings with Single-A St. Lucie prior to the deal, picked up right where he left off when he joined the Orioles’ organization. After a 23-inning run with Aberdeen (Single-A), where he posted a 2.35 ERA and 24 strikeouts, Aracena ended the season with 4 2/3 scoreless (six strikeouts) at the High-A level. The 20-year-old was only ranked 29th in Baseball America’s most recent Orioles top 30. However, a steady rise is expected if he keeps these type of performances up.

Meanwhile, Foster, 26 years old, performed decently for Baltimore’s Triple-A affiliate Norfolk down the stretch. He had a 3.38 ERA across 16 innings. It would not be surprising if he gets a shot at a lower leverage bullpen role for Baltimore in the near future.

Final Verdict: 

The thought process by David Stearns and staff was correct. The Mets really needed another left-handed option in the bullpen. An extremely underrated catastrophic event for New York was losing A.J. Minter early only. And, in addition, at the time of the deal, Brooks Raley only recently returned. So, it was not clear what exactly he was going to be, and that aside, New York just needed another reliable lefty out of the bullpen.

Soto had shown to be reliable and was exactly that early on in his tenure with New York. However, ultimately, with his performance going south in September, and the fact it appears Aracena seems to be a relatively decent prospect, looking back at this trade is a bit tough.

Grade: C-

Tyler Rogers. (Photo Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images)

Deal No. 2

• Mets Receive: LHP Tyler Rogers
• Giants Receive: OF Drew Gilbert, RHP José Buttó, RHP Blade Tidwell

Analysis:

The second deal the Mets made turned out to be comfortably the team’s best piece of business. New York acquired workhorse reliever Tyler Rogers from the San Francisco Giants in exchange for three players, two prospects and a major-leaguer, that were all once looked upon extremely positively within the organization.

By season’s end, the unorthodox thrower that is Rogers led relievers around the league in games at 81. The 34-year-0ld came to New York with a 1.80 ERA across 50 innings. Since his acquisition on July 31, Rogers appeared in 28 games for New York (53% of games since the deal), and performed very well with a 2.30 ERA across 27 1/3 innings. His play did dip slightly, but the overall sample was still very strong.

To acquire Rogers New York parted with one major leaguer and two prospects, one of which made his major-league debut by season’s end with the Giants. The two prospects, Drew Gilbert and Blade Tidwell, ranked 15th and 19th, respectively, in Metsmerized’s midseason organizational prospect top-50 update.

The established major leaguer was relief pitcher José Buttó. Buttó, who had thrown 167 innings across three-plus seasons with the Mets, struggled with the Giants down the stretch. In all, he posted a 4.50 ERA with San Francisco across 20 innings as he struggled mightily with walks (10). He specifically struggled in September as he posted a 7.27 ERA in the regular season’s last month.

Gilbert, who was once a top prospect in the Mets’ system as he was acquired in the Justin Verlander trade, hadn’t quite been developing in the minors how the Mets had hoped. As a result, they shipped him to San Francisco where he went 7-for-14 at the plate with Triple-A Sacramento before getting called up to make his major-league debut.

Gilbert ended up getting a 100 at-bat run to end the year, where he slashed a disappointing .190/.246/.350 (.598 OPS).  The metrics backed up the poor play at the plate, as his xBA, xwOBA, and exit velocity numbers all ranked below the league’s 25th percentile. He did play decently in the field though, as he posted a plus-two outs above average and flashed a strong arm (84th percentile arm strength).

Lastly, Tidwell, who had a cup of coffee in the majors with the Mets prior to the deal, performed well at the Triple-A level with Sacramento after the deal. Over 18 innings, he struck out 24 and only allowed three runs (1.50 ERA). He did have a couple stints on the injured list in the minors of the trade, but the performances were strong. If he can be a consistent performer at a major-league level remains to be seen.

Final Verdict: 

Rogers was superb for the Mets after the deal. He was certainly one midseason acquisition that panned out. Despite being a rental, the Mets did not exactly part with a lot either to get him.

The concerns with Gilbert, granted a smaller sample size, reared its head at the major-league level. Meanwhile, Buttó, who did not performances well down the stretch after the deal, was out of options and a relatively easier bullpen arm to replace. Lastly, Tidwell did once again flash his strong stuff at the Triple-A level, but did have to battle through some injuries.

Of the three, Tidwell seems to be the most compelling, but even he struggled a the major-league level with the Mets and a long-term starter outlook at the top level seems unlikely.

Grade: B+

Ryan Helsley. (Photo credits: Brad Penner-Imagn Images)

Deal No. 3

• Mets Receive: RHP Ryan Helsley
• Cardinals Receive: INF Jesus Baez, RHP Frank Elissalt, RHP Nate Dohm

Analysis:

One of the more mind-boggling aspects of the trade deadline was how poorly Ryan Helsley performed after the Mets acquired the star reliever from St. Louis. Helsley had been one of the best relief pitchers in the big leagues over the last three seasons, and, despite a down season with St. Louis prior to the deal, still owned a 3.00 ERA across 36 innings. However, disaster struck early, as Helsley went on to posted a 7.30 ERA over 20 innings with New York.

That 7.30 ERA can even be looked upon as deceiving, as the veteran closer posted seven scoreless innings to end the season. Over his first 16 appearances with the team, Helsley threw 14 innings and allowed 22 hits, 20 runs (16 earned), and eight walks. Over that time, he saw his ERA rise from 2.75 to 5.14. As a result, the Mets were no longer able to trust him in high leverage situations, the area that Helsley was brought to fulfill, limiting the flexibility New York had with their bullpen down the stretch. This put other pitchers in roles they were not on the team to fulfill exacerbating the bullpens struggles during the team’s free fall.

Sometimes a change of scenery midseason, especially for a player who had spent their first seven seasons in one spot, just doesn’t work out. With that being said, Helsley was on pace to have the worst year of his career since 2021 prior to the trade. And, despite the 3.00 ERA, his fastball was getting hit hard (.406 BA, .332 xBA) with St. Louis. The minute the elite slider went south, he was left helpless with the Mets.

To acquire Helsley New York parted with infielder prospect Jesus Baez and two pitching prospects; Frank Elissalt and Nate Dohm. Baez was by far the highest-rated player the Mets gave up at the deadline as he ranked No. 7 in Metsmerized’s midseason top 50 list. Meanwhile, Dohm came in at No. 17 and Elissalt was No. 38.

Baez struggled since the move for St. Louis. He posted a .243/.303/.378 slash line (.682 OPS) which was a large drop from his .742 OPS with High-A Brooklyn previous to the trade. Even before the trade, Baez was struggling mightily with Brooklyn as he posted a .651 OPS in July. These struggles then carried over to the Cardinals’ organization. Baseball America had the 20-year-old ranked as the Cardinals’ No. 5-ranked prospect in their most recent rankings. However, that is likely to change given his struggles to end 2025.

Dohm, a third-round pick in 2024, struggled in his time after the trade to the Cardinals’ organization after impressing greatly with High-A Brooklyn (2.62 ERA, 43 strikeouts over 34 1/3 innings). He posted a 5.11 ERA across 12 1/3 innings to end with the season with Peoria (High-A), but spent a lot of his time after the deal on the developmental list.

Much like his counterpart, Elissalt struggled mightily after the deal as well, posting a 5.59 ERA across 9 2/3 innings (three starts/four games) with Peoria (High-A). His season was then cut short with an injured list stint. Prior to the deal the 23-year-old performed admirably with High-A Brooklyn (3.02 ERA, 50 2/3 innings).

Final Verdict:

At the time of the trade, the thought of pairing Helsley with Edwin Díaz was tantalizing. New York envisioned pairing two of the National League’s best closers shutting down the eighth and ninth innings en route to a deep playoff run. Unfortunately, the deal did not work out in the slightest and the concerns about Helsley’s 2025 regression were exacerbated in New York. As a result, the trade looks like a complete failure.

By season’s end, the right-handed closer will depart the organization with a -0.2 fWAR. Being a rental, and given his performance, a return to New York is extremely unlikely. If it is any solace, all three of the prospects the Mets gave up in the deal performed poorly after the deal. Which, especially given how one of the pieces was rated in the organization’s top 10, and the other was encouraging on the top 15, would help lighten the blow somewhat.

Grade: F

Cedric Mullin. (Photo credits: Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images)

Deal No. 4

• Mets Receive: OF Cedric Mullins
• Orioles Receive: RHP Anthony Nunez, RHP Raimón Gomez, RHP Chandler Marsh

Analysis:

One area the Mets were expected to address leading up to the deadline was the center field position. New York did just that by acquiring veteran Cedric Mullins. Mullins, a veteran of eight seasons with Baltimore, struggled mightily after the deal. With New York, he slashed .182/.284/.281 (.565 OPS) while playing uneven defense in center. The concern of acquiring Mullins was there from the start as despite a .738 OPS with Baltimore, which was the highest in his career since 2021, several of the underlying metrics pointed to regression being on the horizon.

By season’s end, Mullins ranked below the league’s 10th percentile in xwOBA, xBA, and xSLG. He also had subpar hard-hit rate, struck out a decent bit, and the defensive runs saved statistic questioned his ability in the field (negative-14 overall in 2025). Of course, all these numbers were furthered by his lackluster performance in New York. However, even before the trade, all those figures were at least in the ballpark of where they ended.

New York gave up a trio of lower-end pitching prospects in the deal. Anthony Nunez, Raimon Gómez, and Chandler Marsh ranked 23rd, 32nd, and 46th, respectively, in Metsmerized’s midseason top 50 update. All three have worked out of the bullpen thus far in their careers.

Nunez was enduring a terrific season in the Mets’ system between the High-A (0.63 ERA over 14 1/3 innings) and Double-A (2.10 ERA over 25 2/3 innings) levels. Baltimore promoted the 23-year-old to the Triple-A level where he appeared in 16 games out of the bullpen, posting a 3.45 ERA.

Gómez, who was put in the spotlight earlier this season for touching 104 mph, wasn’t able to pitch after the deal due to injury. He had a 4.63 ERA across two levels in the Mets’ system prior to the deal. Lastly, Marsh threw 10 innings at the High-A level for Aberdeen, posting a 1.80 ERA and 11 strikeouts. The 23-year-old had a 2.42 ERA across 52 total minor league innings out of the bullpen this season.

Final Verdict: 

Of the four trades on the list, this is really the only one where the player did not make much sense. It was clear the Mets needed a centerfielder, however, they may have rushed into getting the wrong one.

Mullins’ play, prior to the deal indicated a ton of regression and that is exactly what happened after he was brought to town. Luckily for the Mets, they did not have to give up much for the rental. This helps lighten the blow a bit, but Mullins’ struggles were certainly a detriment to the team down the stretch.

Grade: D

The post Revisiting The Mets’ Performance At The 2025 MLB Trade Deadline appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Heading into Miami with their destiny in their own hands, the Mets fumbled the bag in the biggest way possible. They lost two out of three to the Marlins to miss out on the playoffs.

While this team has been imploding for the last three-plus months, the way events unfolded this weekend will likely leave a lasting stain on this franchise for years to come.

After all, the Mets arrived in Miami on Friday, a game ahead of the Reds with three to play. The third Wild Card spot was there for the taking. Instead, New York laid an absolute egg in the opener to put Cincinnati back in the driver’s seat for the rest of the weekend. With both teams winning on Saturday, and with the Reds holding the tiebreaker, it all came down to the final day of the regular season on Sunday.

And, again, it was there for the taking. With the Reds losing to the Brewers, all the Mets had to do was win to sneak back into the playoffs. However, they were shut out 4-0 by the Marlins to seal the most embarrassing and frustrating collapse in franchise history.

We will have a special season review edition of 3 Up, 3 Down later. But, for now, let’s proceed with our regular scheduled programming…

David Banks-Imagn Images

3 UP

DOING HIS PART

It feels stupid to write about positives the day after the Mets completed their epic collapse by missing out on the playoffs. Alas, it is part of the gig, so the show must go on. Arguably one of the biggest plus points to emerge from the weekend was the clutchness of Pete Alonso. The slugger did everything in his power to try to keep the Mets alive against the Marlins. He drove in a run with an RBI double in the series opener. He led the way in an important win on Saturday with a home run and an RBI double.

Then, on Sunday, Alonso blasted a 115.9 mph rocket with the bases loaded. Sadly, luck wasn’t on his side, with the hardest-hit ball by any Met this season flying straight into the glove of Marlins outfielder Javier Sanoja. It was just one of those days and one of those seasons. However, Alonso can’t be blamed for the collapse, nor can he be blamed for the shortcomings in Miami. He did all he could.

HEROIC START

The Mets needed a hero on Saturday. And they got one in Clay Holmes. Channeling the herculean efforts of John Maineand Johan Santana, Holmes delivered a masterpiece when the Mets needed it the most. The reliever turned starter tossed six scoreless innings, allowing just one hit while striking out two. Despite having pitched nearly 100 more innings than his normal workload, Holmes put forward his best start of the entire year. He was masterful on the mound, shutting down the Marlins and doing whatever it took to get the job done. Ultimately, it didn’t matter, but Holmes at least gave his team a fighting chance going into the final day. And that will be remembered.

MASTER OF HIS CRAFT

While the team failed as a collective unit, Edwin Díaz put together a majestic individual season in 2025. The closer was money all year for the Mets, and that continued across the final weekend in Miami. He entered the ninth inning of Saturday’s game and sealed the win with a scoreless inning. The three-time All-Star was even better on Sunday. Thanks to manager Carlos Mendoza mismanaging the pitching in the finale, Díaz was asked to come into the game in the fifth inning. He responded by delivering two scoreless innings to keep the game alive and give his offense a chance. And, according to reports, Díaz even expressed a willingness to stay in the game beyond the sixth. Like Holmes and Alonso, Díaz more than did his job this weekend.

Sep 28, 2025; Miami, Florida, USA; New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza (64) looks on against the Miami Marlins during the eighth inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

3 DOWN

FUMBLING THE BAG

As we mentioned up top, the Mets arrived in Miami with everything in their favor. All they had to do was take care of business against an already eliminated Marlins team, and the final Wild Card spot would be theirs. However, as we’ve seen over the last three-plus months, the Mets are not a good baseball team, and we got a stark reminder of that over the weekend. An ugly, humiliating, season-changing meltdown on Friday was the start of an all-time epic collapse reaching its conclusion.

Then, needing just a win on Sunday to get in with the Reds having lost to the Brewers, the Mets couldn’t even score a single run on the way to missing the postseason most embarrassingly. Forget talent; this team just did not play with a pulse or a heart when it mattered most. They choked and put up little fight on the way to sealing an absolute bust of a season.

SELF-ENFORCED WOUNDS

The Mets only hurt themselves on the way to collapsing out of the playoffs. They did not play good baseball for two out of the three games in Miami, and they were suitably punished. Mental mistakes and self-enforced errors were the theme of the night in an ugly 6-2 loss on Friday. The offense also didn’t show, going 1-for-10 with RISP, leaving seven runners stranded on base. It was a similar story in Sunday’s finale, with the lineup finishing 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position while managing just five hits all game. Again, all the Mets had to do this weekend was win two games, and they would have now been preparing to take on the Dodgers in the Wild Card round. Instead, the same old mistakes that have plagued this team all year doomed them on the final weekend.

MANAGING TO LOSE

Carlos Mendoza was seen as a rising star after his highly successful first year in the dugout in 2024. However, a lot of that shine has now faded following a disastrous 2025 season. Mendoza made a ton of mistakes and a slew of questionable decisions this year. That was again the case in Miami. He took Brandon Sproat out of the game on Friday and opted to put in Gregory Soto, who hasn’t been great in Queens. The result? Soto allowed two more runs to score, essentially throwing away a game the Mets couldn’t afford to lose.

In a must-win game to end all other must-win games on Sunday, Mendoza’s ability to manage the game left a lot to be desired. He decided to start the struggling Sean Manaea in a big spot and then pulled him after just 1.2 innings. Mendoza then went with Brooks Raley and Ryne Stanek, who combined to allow a back-breaking three earned runs.

Edwin Díaz was warmed up in the bullpen, but Mendoza decided to put Tyler Rogers in the game first, who gave up another run to make it a 4-0 game. Díaz then entered in the fifth and pitched two scoreless innings, but by that point, it was too late. If that wasn’t bad enough, Mendoza decided not to put Starling Marte in the game as a pinch-hitter in the ninth. That’s even though Ronny Mauricio and Cedric Mullins were the first two hitters up. In a game the Mets had to win to make the playoffs, Mendoza wasn’t nearly aggressive enough. And he also needs to take blame for just how lifeless his team looked in huge spots on Friday and again on Sunday.

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The final game served as a microcosm of their overall struggles. Sean Manaea started strong, tossing 1 2/3 scoreless innings and striking out three batters, however, the Mets still needed to use a total of eight pitchers. The game shifted in the fourth inning when the Marlins broke a scoreless tie, scoring four runs off of Ryne Stanek and Tyler Rogers.

After Connor Norby singled, Eric Wagaman doubled him home, followed by Brian Navarreto with an RBI double. Javier Sanoja then hit an RBI triple, and Xavier Edwards capped the inning with a single, bringing the score to 4-0.

Edward Cabrera kept the Mets at bay, delivering five scoreless innings with seven strikeouts, despite issuing five walks. He escaped a bases-loaded situation in the fifth inning by getting Pete Alonso to line out sharply to left field, ending New York’s best chance to score.

The Mets managed only five hits throughout the game. Francisco Lindor recorded a double, his 35th of the season, while Alonso, Brandon Nimmo, Mark Vientos, and Tyrone Taylor each had singles. In the ninth inning, Lindor grounded into a game-ending double play, completing the shutout. The Mets finish 0-for-70 when trailing after eight innings this season.

With this loss, the Mets concluded their 2025 season, finishing second in the National League East but falling short of their ambitious goals set in the spring.

Player of The Game: Edwin Diaz

Edwin Diaz came into the game in the fifth inning and kept the game close, getting six outs through two scoreless innings.

On Deck

It is officially offseason time for the Mets. Their are set to begin their 2026 season, at home, against the Pittsburgh Pirates on March 26. Until then, it surely factors to be a busy several months for president of baseball operations, David Stearns, and company.

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One would assume that David Peterson would be one of the first options behind his lefty counterpart. Peterson last pitched on Tuesday, and only threw 42 pitches as he struggled once again. The potential issue with pitching Peterson in a big spot is over his last five starts, he has allowed at least three or more runs and has an ERA of 12.54. However, he has shown to be effective out of the bullpen in big spots previously.

In addition to Peterson, Huascar Brazobán, Ryan Helsley, Dylan Ross, Gregory Soto, and Ryne Stanek all had the day off Saturday.

Soto (27 pitches) and Brazobán (19 pitches) both threw on Friday, but prior to that, each last pitched on Tuesday. Hesley, who has been extremely effective over his last five outing, last pitched on Wednesday, throwing a season-high two innings, needing 24 pitches. However, before that, he last worked September 20 against Washington. Stanek has been the “busiest” of the bunch, as he last threw on Thursday (12 pitches), but needed 25 pitches on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Ross, who is awaiting a major-league debut, has not pitched in a professional game since September 21 with Triple-A Syracuse.

The group of relievers who saw action Saturday included Brooks Raley, Tyler Rogers, and Edwin Díaz. Fortunately, none of the three needed more than 13 pitches to get their respective job completed.

Raley threw 13 pitches, and, despite appearing twice in the series in Chicago, only needed 14 pitches on Thursday and five pitches on Tuesday. So, he should be fresh and ready to go if needs be on Sunday. Rogers, who is tied for the league-lead in appearances from a reliever, also pitched Tuesday and Thursday in Chicago. Notably, he threw 31 pitches on Tuesday. But, given his pitching style, and the fact he had off Friday, before only throwing 11 pitches on Saturday, an appearance Sunday if needed seems likely.

The last of the bunch is Edwin Díaz. The Mets’ closer pitched the ninth inning of the 5-0 Mets’ victory Saturday. He also threw Thursday, but only needed eight pitches after notching a two-inning save on Tuesday. Given he only threw 13 pitches on Saturday, and eight on Thursday, he will certainly be available for the finale and will likely have the capabilities to be pushed past one inning if needed.

Long story short, the Mets’ should have all hands on deck on Sunday. Even someone like Jonah Tong should hypothetically be available to manager Carlos Mendoza if needed. Of course, the Mets need a little help, however, as it relates to their own game, the availabilities and freshness of their pitching is in a decent spot.

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After coming up clutch to take two out of three in Chicago, the Mets go into the final weekend of the regular season knowing what they need to do.

Just win and take care of business in Miami.

That’s easier said than done given this team’s history against the Marlins. But, with that said, the Mets did just grind out two huge wins against the Cubs. As a result, they very much control their own destiny.

On that note, let’s recap everything from the Cubs series in 3 Up, 3 Down…

David Banks-Imagn Images

3 UP

STRIKING OUT

Yes, Nolan McLean did allow a career-high three home runs in his outing on Thursday night. However, despite that, the rookie still recorded a career-high 11 strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings to help his team claim a vital win. It will go down as a strange outing, sure, but McLean showed his high ceiling. And, despite the five earned runs, he’s probably still in line to start Game 1 of the Wild Card. The fact that McLean was able to grind out his start despite troubles with the long ball should also be viewed as a positive.

CLUTCH HITTING

Besides the second game of the series at Wrigley, the Mets got some gargantuan hits from their offense against the Cubs. Francisco Alvarez delivered arguably one of the biggest hits of his career with a two-run blast that sealed the win in Tuesday’s opener. Brandon Nimmo also came up with a clutch three-run homer that tied the game. Then, in Thursday’s finale, Brett Baty hit a crucial three-run homer in the fourth inning that gave his team a much-needed cushion.

Credit must also go to Francisco Lindor, who enjoyed a monster series. He hit a home run in the series finale, becoming part of the 30/30 club for the third time in his career as a result. Furthermore, Lindor also led off Tuesday’s big win with a leadoff homer while also driving in three runs. All in all, the Mets got clutch hits when they needed them the most against the Cubs.

COMING UP NAILS

Speaking of clutch, the bullpen was also pretty damn impressive in Chicago. Edwin Díaz struck out five of the six batters he faced on Tuesday to help lock down the win. In all, six relievers combined to allow just one earned run in the series opener, with the bullpen called upon to take on an added workload. Ryan Helsley continued his recent resurgence in Wednesday’s game by firing two scoreless innings of relief. He’s now recorded five straight scoreless outings, allowing just two hits and two walks over that six-inning span. Then, in the finale, Díaz, Ryne Stanek, Brooks Raley and Tyler Rogers combined to toss 3 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing just two base runners in the process. With the stakes never higher, the bullpen really delivered in Chicago.

Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images

3 DOWN

END OF THE ROAD

The season could well be over for David Peterson. Barring a bullpen role, it seems unlikely that the veteran will now be trusted in any kind of starter role in the postseason. His concerning second-half struggles continued with just a nightmare outing in the series opener on Tuesday. Peterson was absolutely shelled, giving up five runs on five hits and lasting just 1 1/3 innings. In a critical moment, Peterson came up short and then some. Since the All-Star break, Peterson is pitching to a 6.34 ERA with a 1.16 WHIP. It sure appears as though Peterson is broken, and now is not the time to try and fix him.

TOUGH SPOT

If you want to know just how badly the Mets’ pitching philosophy has failed this year, look at Wednesday night as all the evidence you’ll ever need. Jonah Tong allowed five earned runs on seven hits across just two innings. The rookie has now given up five or more earned runs in two of his last three starts. But it isn’t Tong’s fault. He shouldn’t even be pitching in games that matter this much. He’s clearly not ready, but because of how big a hot mess the rotation is, the Mets have no choice but to throw a young starter right into the fire. It just isn’t fair. And relying on three rookie starters will more than likely burn this team come playoff time.

SLOPPY MESS

As big a series win as this was for the Mets, it is important not to get carried away. After all, they won a monster game on Tuesday only to lay a Godzilla-sized egg the very next night. And it wasn’t pretty. The team committed a bunch of self-enforced mental mistakes on the way to being beat up in a 10-3 loss. Clay Holmes committed a wild pitch and then compounded the matter with a boneheaded mental error. Sean Manaea did not look good out of the bullpen. Mark Vientos couldn’t make a routine play at the hot corner, directly leading to a five-run third inning. And the offense could only manage just four hits all night long. The Mets have proven over the last three-and-a-half months that they are a bad baseball team. They also seem incapable of building any kind of momentum. That page must now be turned in Miami if this team really wants to save its season.

The post 3 Up, 3 Down: Mets Come Through In Chicago appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

It seems likely that David Peterson will start Sunday on standard rest after allowing five earned runs over 1 1/3 innings on Tuesday against the Chicago Cubs, and the Mets could once again piggyback Sean Manaea with Clay Holmes on Saturday after both pitchers threw an inning out of the bullpen on Wednesday at Wrigley Field. Manaea in particular struggled in that contest, however, as his ERA rose to 5.80 after giving up two earned runs.

Jonah Tong isn’t an option in Miami after starting on Wednesday, and it would come as a surprise if Kodai Senga were to be called upon after recently completing a live batting practice session in Florida that manager Carlos Mendoza described as being “just okay.”

After a busy series f0r the bullpen in Chicago, the configuration of the unit could look different in the days to come. The New York Post’s Mike Puma reported that right-hander Dylan Ross, a 13th-round pick in 2022, could join the Mets as soon as Saturday with the minor league season over. He has some command issues to iron out, but after posting a stellar 2.17 ERA with 13.3 strikeouts per nine over 54 innings this year, his big-league debut may come in a big spot for New York.

David Banks-Imagn Images

Edwin Díaz threw a combined 35 pitches over his two saves against the Cubs, though the fact that he only threw seven on Thursday after a day off on Wednesday means that he could be available on Friday. Tyler Rogers‘ status for the beginning of the Marlins series is less clear, however, after allowing an inherited runner to score over a pair of outings totaling 46 pitches in Chicago, with 15 of them coming on Thursday.

Gregory Soto threw just three pitches against the Cubs on Tuesday and has had two days off in a row, making him a well-rested option for Mendoza in Miami. Brooks Raley, the Mets’ only other left-handed reliever at the moment after designating Richard Lovelady for assignment, has given up an earned run in just one of his last 10 outings and kept Chicago scoreless over an inning and 14 pitches on Thursday, meaning he may still be available on Friday.

Ryan Helsley has rounded into form recently with five-straight scoreless appearances, and he should be good to go on Friday as well after not pitching on Thursday. Mendoza may choose to stay away from Stanek right off the bat in Miami, though, as he threw 37 pitches over two clean outings against the Cubs, with 12 of them coming on Thursday.

Huascar Brazobán had to throw 33 pitches in relief of Peterson on Tuesday, so perhaps Mendoza will avoid using him on Friday, but he should otherwise be ready if needed. Kevin Herget, who was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse on Thursday, shouldn’t have any restrictions after last pitching on September 20. He’s posted a 3.00 ERA in 12 innings for New York this season.

Other bullpen arms who are rested and currently on the 40-man roster include Jonathan Pintaro, Austin Warren, Brandon Waddell and Justin Hagenman, the latter three of whom have frequented the Mets as long relievers and spot starters this season. Pintaro allowed two earned runs in 2/3 of an inning in the only major league appearance of his career against the Atlanta Braves on June 25 and finished the minor league campaign with a 4.28 ERA across 82 frames. Warren, on the other hand, has pitched to a 0.96 ERA in 9 1/3 innings for the Mets while Waddell and Hagenman have posted marks of 3.45 and 4.56, respectively, in that category.

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Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Offense comes up short in extras

After scoring 12 runs yesterday, the Mets’ offense struggled with runners in scoring position. The Mets were 3-for-16 with runners in scoring position in the loss. In the bottom of the first inning, Brandon Nimmo popped out with Pete Alonso on second. In the third inning, Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto reached base for Alonso. Alonso blooped it to right field, but Nasim Nuñez made a great diving play, and then Nimmo grounded out. In the fifth, Alonso flew out with two men on. After the Mets got two runners to score to make it 3-2 Nationals on a Mark Vientos RBI double, Francisco Alvarez struck out.

Then, in the ninth, Soto tied it on a bloop single. The Mets had first and second with one out for Alonso, but the Mets doublestealed with Soto and Lindor, and it took the bat out of Alonso’s hands as Washington walked him. Nimmo and Marte would strike out with the bases loaded. In the tenth with two on and no outs, Alvarez grounded into a double play, and Ronny Mauricio flew out. In the tenth, Soto capped it all off by striking out looking. The Mets’ offense left 13 runners on base, and their struggles with runners in scoring position remain unsolved. 

Bad Mets Fundies

Saturday was a day to forget about for the Mets’ defense. After a Dylan Crews single to lead off the inning, Riley Adams got a base hit to right field, and the ball went right by Soto’s glove, and it scored Crews to make it 2-0 Nationals. Brady House reached base on another Pete Alonso throwing error to the pitcher covering first base. After McLean struck out two batters, McLean threw a wild pitch that scored Crews. Defense hurt the Mets again in the tenth on Daylen Lile‘s two runs inside the park home run that Cedric Mullins misplayed. 

No Trumpets in the Tenth?

One of the biggest questions of this game was why Carlos Mendoza didn’t put in Edwin Díaz in the tenth after a 7-pitch ninth? Mendoza said Díaz was only available for one inning because he pitched two games, and he warmed up in the bullpen during Friday’s game. Instead, Mendoza went to Rogers, who allowed the inside-the-park home run to Lile.

Player of the Game: Nolan McLean

It wasn’t the best game for McLean, but he still pitched well and only allowed one earned run. McLean went five innings with six strikeouts. His ERA is 1.27.

On Deck

It’ll be a must-win game for the Mets on Sunday in the home finale as Sean Manaea will start with Clay Holmes coming in after for the Mets. Jake Irvin will pitch for the Nationals. The game will be at 1:40 pm EDT and telecast locally on SNY and broadcast on WHSQ 880AM.

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