Aggressive offseason moves, headlined by a new ace and an overhauled lineup, propel the New York Mets into baseball's elite tier. Can they put it all together?
After one of the most disappointing seasons in recent memory, the New York Mets are entering the 2026 campaign full of optimism following a complete shakeup of the roster during the offseason. Missing the postseason entirely in 2025, the Mets now rank as the No. 3 team in baseball according to Bleacher Report’s pre-Opening Day power rankings.
Despite losing stars Pete Alonso and Edwin Diaz early in the offseason, the Mets undoubtedly are heading into the new season with a much better squad than they left with in 2025. A significant number of 11 players will be new additions for New York’s projected Opening Day roster after a busy offseason – a testament to president of baseball operations David Stearns' determination to field an improved roster.
In Bleacher Report’s rankings, New York sits behind just the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers and the American League champion Toronto Blue Jays. Going from a non-postseason team to the top three doesn't happen by accident.
The Mets got it done in every way possible; they signed stars, traded for stars, and have new rising talents coming up from the minor leagues. They spend money the right way, they trade young talent for proven stars, and yet they still have enough prospects in the organization to be excited about.
The starting rotation in New York in 2025 was a major cause of the problems in the second half of the season. Multiple starters’ ERAs ballooned to brutal numbers that made it easy for postseason contention to fall right out of the club’s hands.
With the obvious problems in that department, the Mets went out and grabbed the best starting pitcher on the trade market during the offseason in right-hander Freddy Peralta. In Peralta, New York now has its true No. 1 that it’s been missing, as well as an ace that’s going to be needed come fall. To pair with their new ace, the Mets also will get their first full season from rising star Nolan McLean after his dominant stint in the majors at the end of 2025.
The bullpen remains respectable despite the loss of Diaz, with the signings of Devin Williams and Luke Weaver. The infield has been completely overhauled, with Jorge Polanco signing to play first base, Marcus Semien arriving via trade to play at second base, and star Bo Bichette inking a deal to play third base in Queens. Newly acquired center fielder Luis Robert Jr. also greatly raises the ceiling of the Mets’ outfield, which was one of the glaring holes on the roster heading into the offseason.
The Mets’ lineup heads into the year as one of the best in baseball, with Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor leading the new faces, and the new pitching additions are sure to make use of that run support. The talent is there; now is the time for all the new pieces to snap together as Opening Day is just a little over a week away.