Mets Rescue Farm System Grade With Deadline Deals

The New York Mets have had a strange year with their farm system, as Ian Cundall of Baseball America noted. On the one hand, the graduates include starter Nolan McLean plus outfielders Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing, all of whom look like part of their new young core going forward. The Mets also had some breakout prospect performances this year, including those they got from Jonathan Santucci, Mitch Voit and Wandy Asigen. 

But there were also some disappointments, which is why Cundall gave the Mets a “B” overall. The Mets also held a fire sale at the deadline, which resulted in an influx of new talent that included Top 100 prospect Jefferson Rojas. 

That led Cundall to say the system was in an “ok” place, but the major league team is now in a state of flux, although it’s hard to see how anyone can hold the farm system responsible for that. 

The Mets started the season ranked No. 9 in talent coming into 2026, and that ranking dropped to No. 16 in midseason. The overall grade reflects that up and down performance, and Mets will now have to make a series of outside moves to get back in contention, assuming that’s even possible at this point given the performance of GM David Stearns to date. 

The list of disappointments included right-hander Jonah Tong, third baseman Jacob Reimer, first baseman Ryan Clifford and catcher Chris Suero. There were also some players whose grade was undetermined due to injury, including right-hander Will Watson, third baseman Boston Baro, first baseman Rancy Guzman and Eli Serrano III. 

The key additions listed by Cundall included Rojas, outfielder Aiden Robbins, right-hander Carson Wiggins, left-hander Shane Sdao, outfielder Aidan Smith, corner infielder Cole Mathis, shortstop Sammy Stafura, right-hander Gary Gill Hill, second baseman Emilien Pitre, rigth hander Gabe Davis, right hander Luke Gabrysh and corner infielder Billy Amick. 

The biggest disappointment was Tong, who should have been developing at the big league level, but instead spent a lost season experimenting to find an out pitch he may not need at the minor league level. 

Jefferson is next year’s Carson Benge, as he could command an infield position in a group that didn’t hit well at all. Whether the Mets will give him that chance is an open question, and so is the question of whether the Mets have the right leadership at the top to get them back in contention.