Aggressive trades and signings, including Robert Jr. and Peralta, position the Mets for a dramatic 2026 resurgence, exceeding expectations.
The New York Mets finished above .500 for the third time in four seasons in 2025, but their 83-79 record wasn't enough to secure them a postseason spot in a tight race for one of the National League Wild Card spots. Now, after an aggressive offseason, the Mets are destined for a huge leap in the win column.
New York took hold of the headlines this offseason, trading for stars and bringing them in via free agency as well. With owner Steve Cohen’s commitment to winning and a deep farm system, the Mets were in a prime position to make the necessary changes to field a postseason-level team once again.
In a recent Bleacher Report article listing the seven teams that will have a better record in 2026 versus 2025, the Mets topped the list.
Learning that the Mets are a consensus better team after losing star first baseman Pete Alonso and star closer Edwin Diaz is a surprise, but President of Baseball Operations David Stearns put on a masterclass in damage control. Not only did he find sufficient replacements for his departing stars, but he added far more talent than the Mets ended 2025 with.
To fill the holes left by Alonso and Diaz, New York brought in Jorge Polanco and his 134 OPS+ in 2025 to play first base and right-hander Devin Williams and his career 2.45 ERA to take over as the team’s closer. Not in any way am I saying Polanco and Williams are on the same tier as Alonso and Diaz, but the Mets found great players to fill the holes left by them.
After finding their replacements, New York went and addressed the rest of the roster issues. Prioritizing defensive improvement, the Mets traded for center fielder Luis Robert Jr. and second baseman Marcus Semien.
To bring in some star power, they also traded for right-handed ace Freddy Peralta to lead the starting rotation, which was a huge cause for last season’s collapse. Star infielder Bo Bichette was also brought in to take over at third base, a position he’s never played before.
There’s been a lot of shakeup and new faces brought into the Mets’ clubhouse, meaning it may take time for the team to bring it all together, but there’s no doubt they are entering 2026 with more of a competitive roster than they finished 2025 with.
They weren’t content with running it back after last season, and they are much better off heading into spring for it. Now as legit contenders in the National League, New York is a team baseball has to keep their eyes on this season.