After the quite frankly disastrous 2025 season, it is clear that the New York Mets will be all in on the offseason to improve. The team finished as a young, inconsistent team that didn’t have a consistent offense and had an unreliable rotation. That being said, 2025 can be the opposite, but only if the Mets can improve drastically through trades and, yes, free agents. Some of the biggest free agents in the MLB can change the whole trajectory of the situation for the Mets.
Free Agents That The Mets Should Pursue
7. Luis Arraez, 2B
A relatively minor free agent compared to others, one interesting free agent is Luis Arraez. Arraez isn’t going to hit 20 homers in a season, and might not give the best defense. However, the three-time batting champ can give reliability that the Mets didn’t have in 2025. Commonly, the infield would be switched around, seeing several youngsters show promise, but overall, they were too inconsistent. Arraez, with a career .317 batting average, can provide reliability that the Mets didn’t have in 2025.
6. Zac Gallen, SP
Back in the early season, when the Mets were 45-24 and looking amazing, the Mets’ rotation was beautifully doing everything asked of them. From that point onward, injuries and underperformances destroyed the rotation. It went from the best rotation in baseball to having three rookies in the rotation in 2025. While it is clear that the rotation can be excellent in 2026, thanks to veterans and youngsters, pitchers like Zac Gallen would add a lot of reliability for the Mets. The last two seasons have been inconsistent for the potential ace, but his history of being a potential Cy Young candidate could draw the Mets in.
5. Kyle Schwarber, DH
After 2025, a great acquisition would be the consistent homer threat Kyle Schwarber. Free agency is commonly about money, thus, the Mets are easily in the running for Schwarber. With the Philadelphia Phillies, Schwarber’s is averaging just about 45 homers per season, with his latest season, Schwarber hit 56. If the Mets want to have a big bat and some experience, Schwarber could be a very good get.
4. Cody Bellinger, CF, 1B
In center field, the Mets failed to do have an effective player in center. Tyrone Taylor was an amazing defender, yet, his bat was extremely lacking. Before the deadline, the Met’s traded for Cedric Mullins, who literally was useless with the Mets. Cody Bellinger wouldn’t be cheap, but Bellinger had a really good 2025 and would be a massive get offensively for the Mets. Suppose New York keeps Alonso and also acquires someone like Bellinger, not reaching the playoffs would be extremely hard.Â
3. Dylan Cease, SP
One pitcher that can be overlooked because of his ERA is Dylan Cease. However, for the Mets, this shouldn’t bother them too much. He is extremely reliable, striking out 200 for 5 straight seasons. Cease’s ERA in 2025, which was 4.55, shows he can be scored on and he is a risk. However, if the Mets want a pitcher who can absolutely positively provide Cy Young capabilities, it would be Cease. Cease could be a very good get for the Mets.
2. Pete Alonso, 1B
Keeping Pete Alonso in New York isn’t really that hard- mainly because it’s up to the Mets, and whether or not they want to pay him a lot. Alonso is looking for a hefty contract, but that does feel like it can be a bit reasonable. Many have said that Alonso isn’t a good defender when he actually isn’t that bad, while many have also said that his base-running is atrocious. However, the fact of the matter is that Alonso is averaging 38 homers, 102 RBI’s, and a .253 average per 144 games.
Not to mention, his has been playing consistently in all 162. If the Mets really want Schwarber, Alonso can be very similar, just younger, and can still play defense. Keeping this experienced veteran in New York could massively benefit the Mets.
1. Manutaki Murakami, DH, 1B, 3B
The Mets are a young team- so getting a 26 year-old potential superstar in Manutaki Murakami would make a lot of sense. If New York really is thinking about 3 years from now being, well, relatively unstoppable, then getting him could be a very good idea. Murakami can certainly hit 40 homers in a season, but the question remains whether or not Murakami can fix his big strikeout issue. If Alonso and Schwarber, getting Murakami would be a great idea for Stearns and the Mets. Expect New York to be sniffing around for a deal- especially if Alonso isn’t re-signed.
As was seen last season, free agency doesn’t fix everything. New York acquired the biggest free agent ever, but as can be shown in all sports, one player can take you to the playoffs sometimes. It doesn’t really matter if you have Tom Brady if you don’t have an offensive line, and the Mets didn’t have an offensive line for Juan Soto. This free agency could changes things though drastically.
Main Image: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images
