As the World Series opens between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Los Angeles Dodgers, there is only one thing on Mets fans’ minds: the offseason. After 2024, the Mets did really well in the offseason, acquiring free agents like Juan Soto, Pete Alonso, and A.J. Minter. The problems, however, escalated after the first half of the season, as the rotation imploded, and the offense was too inconsistent. What Met’s fans know, however, is just how powerful free agency can be. Here are some good and bad free agents that the Mets should and shouldn’t go after in 2025-26 offseason.
Who Should the Mets Target in Free Agency?
Don’t:
Kyle Tucker, LF
One of the most expensive free agents out there will be Kyle Tucker. Tucker is a superstar, but way too inconsistent, costly, and wouldn’t exactly help the Mets’ issues. The question remains where Tucker would go first, as Soto is in right field, while Brandon Nimmo is in left field. Tucker isn’t a center fielder, and Nimmo isn’t either. Tucker didn’t have a good 2025 at all, hitting just 22 homers after being an All-Star and starting the season relatively hot. The inconsistency and injury history make Tucker a bad option for New York.
Josh Naylor, 1B
Josh Naylor, a potential replacement for Pete Alonso, is also not a perfect option. Sure, Naylor went on a pretty good stolen base spree in 2025 for some strange reason. However, that doesn’t take away the fact that Naylor would be expensive, despite not providing nearly as much offense as Alonso. Naylor hit .295 this season with 20 homers.
However, the power has been all over the place, as usual, Naylor hits around 20 homers with one 31-homer season. Alonso would provide more power, as the first baseman is averaging about 40, which is technically double that of Naylor. Naylor is pretty young, being just 28 compared to Alonso, who is about to turn 31. However, it feels like the Met’s mind as well re-sign Alonso, as at least you’ll know he will provide 35 homers and maybe over 100 RBI’s.
Just Do It:
Dylan Cease, SP
A starting pitcher who consistently starts 30 games, K’s at least 214 for 5 straight seasons and looks kind of like a Cy Young caliber pitcher for much of those seasons? The Mets would love such a pitcher, also known as Dylan Cease. Cease’s ERA over the last few seasons has really been up and down. However, his consistency and past shows he is capable of being the ace New York needs. The rotation, which is bound to be young, would love to have such a pitcher. This pitcher should be on the very top of the list of free agents for New York.
Pete Alonso
Pete Alonso will no doubt be an expensive re-signing for New York. However, his remarkable consistency of 35-50 homer, 100-130 RBI’s seasons makes him possibly the most important free agent this season for New York. Replacing this kind of offensive consistency would be hard, and Alonso has pretty much been the face of the team since his 2019 debut. The Mets have control of Alonso’s destiny, as if New York just pays the right price, then they can keep Alonso. But at what price? It will be interesting to see, but something tells me that it could be the right way to go.
Munetaki Murakami
Munetaki Murakami could be the Pete Alonso replacement New York might need. The problem? This player is a high-risk, high-reward kind of free agent. Murakami is capable of hitting 40+ homers like Alonso, but he will be facing a much harder challenge in the MLB then in the NPB. The pitching velocity is higher, the pitching is just overall harder to hit against, among other factors. Murakami is young and can be the future for New York, as Murakami and Soto are actually the same age. The Met’s should be one the teams willing to take a flier on Murakami.
The 2024-25 offseason was just the beginning folks. 2025 was supposed to be the season of playoffs and world series dreaming. However, now, the Mets have issues they must address. Unlike popular opinion, the sky isn’t falling on the Mets. This offseason can prove that. New York just needs to know who to go after.
Main Image: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images
