Five Free Agents the Mets Should Target This Winter

On the heels of an immensely disappointing season – one that saw a team with lofty expectations miss out on the playoffs on the final day of the year – the Mets have their work cut out for them this offseason. With beloved closer Edwin Díaz and franchise home run leader Pete Alonso entering free agency, and a pitching staff that faltered down the stretch, the team faces a glaring need across the roster: a frontline starter, a bullpen capable of holding leads, and dependable production at both first base and center field. President of Baseball Operations David Stearns has emphasized the importance of improving the Mets’ run prevention in 2026 – a two-fold challenge that will require upgrades both on the mound and in the field.

If the season started today, Mark Vientos would likely be the Mets’ Opening Day first baseman. Stearns recently indicated that top prospect Carson Benge will have a chance to compete for the starting center field job during spring training. However, after hitting just .178 with a .583 OPS in 24 games at Triple-A Syracuse to end 2025, Benge may need more development time before he’s ready for a full-time role. That could leave Tyrone Taylor – an elite defender with a light bat (70 OPS+ in 2025) – as the everyday center fielder. Vientos at first base would, in turn, open up the designated hitter spot for someone like Ronny Mauricio or Jeff McNeil, especially if Luisangel Acuña claims the second base job for his defense.

The rotation returns largely the same cast of characters as last season. Nolan McLean should be considered the club’s de facto ace after his brilliant stint in the majors to close out the year. David Peterson, Sean Manaea, and Clay Holmes should also be viewed as rotation locks. Then there’s Kodai Senga, who has shown flashes of ace-level potential across his three years in New York, but has also struggled with injuries and inconsistency. If the Mets elect to keep Senga, he’d almost certainly remain in the rotation, through the team would likely need to operate with a six-man setup to accommodate his workload. Top prospects Brandon Sproat, Jonah Tong, and Christian Scott – who missed all of 2025 following Tommy John surgery – should factor into the team’s plans at some point but are unlikely to break camp on the Opening Day roster. Meanwhile, Tylor Megill and Frankie Montas are expected to miss the entire 2026 season due to injuries.

The bullpen, quite simply, looks thin at the moment. Brooks Raley and Huascar Brazobán are expected to return, and A.J. Minter should be ready to start the season after recovering from a torn triceps last April, which ended his 2025 campaign. Beyond those three, Dylan Ross – who posted a 2.17 ERA with 80 strikeouts across 54 minor league innings last year – figures to have a decent chance to make the Opening Day roster and could develop into a high-leverage option down the line.

All that said, the Mets will fortunately have payroll flexibility this offseason to address these roster gaps. Here are five free agents I believe would be ideal fits to bolster New York’s rotation, bullpen, and lineup heading into 2026.

Framber Valdez, LHP – Opening Day Age: 32

Valdez enters free agency as one of the consensus top-two rotation options alongside Dylan Cease. Since 2020 with the Astros, he has pitched to a 3.23 ERA and 3.36 FIP across 973 innings and 153 starts, earning two All-Star selections and finishing inside the top nine in Cy Young voting three times. He possesses all the makings of a frontline starter: durable, consistent, and capable of pitching deep into games. Over the last four seasons, Valdez has made 28 or more starts each year and averaged 6.34 innings per outing.

In 2025, Valdez’s ERA ticked up slightly to 3.66, largely due to a rough second half, but his 3.37 FIP suggests the underlying performance remains strong. He recorded 20 quality starts out of 31, a stark contrast to the Mets’ entire pitching staff, which combined for just 39 quality outings all season.

What makes Valdez particularly appealing to New York is his elite ground-ball ability. Anchored by a top-tier sinker that ranked third in run value among qualified starters, he posted a 59.4% ground-ball rate in 2025 – 12th-highest in MLB and third among qualified starters. By keeping the ball on the ground, Valdez minimizes home runs, allowing just 15 over 192 innings. This style aligns perfectly with Stearns’ pitching philosophy: the Mets’ staff already emphasizes ground-ball generation, with Holmes in the 94th percentile, Peterson in the 93rd, and McLean (though unqualified) above Valdez at 60.2%. Valdez would slot seamlessly into this approach, giving the team a true ace-caliber presence at the top of the rotation.

Cody Bellinger, 1B/OF – Opening Day Age: 30

Bellinger’s career has been marked by inconsistency. After winning both the Rookie of the Year and MVP honors early in his career, it was surprising when the Dodgers non-tendered him following the 2022 season. He bounced back in 2023 with the Cubs, posting his best season since his 2019 MVP campaign. However, he regressed in 2024, prompting the Cubs to trade him to the New York Yankees in what was largely viewed as a salary dump. In New York, Bellinger was tasked with replacing Juan Soto‘s production, and he delivered. He slashed .272/.334/.480 across 151 games, posting a 125 OPS+ and 5.1 bWAR. Beyond his bat, Bellinger’s defensive versatility is a major asset. He appeared in 149 games in the outfield for the Yankees (85 in LF, 52 in RF, 41 in CF) and made seven appearances at first base. Over his career, he has played in 864 games in the outfield and 350 at first.

There are some red flags in Bellinger’s profile. His well-documented inconsistency makes him a riskier long-term signing. His batted-ball metrics have generally ranked average to below average, though he has still been a capable producer, posting an OPS+ at least 11% above league average in seven of his nine major-league seasons, including each of the last three. What makes Bellinger especially appealing to the Mets is his defensive profile. He has accumulated 10 career defensive runs saved at first base and graded out in the 93rd percentile in Outs Above Average and 91st percentile in Arm Value last season. While much of that comes from his time as a corner outfielder, he would likely provide roughly average defense in center field if needed as a stopgap until Benge is ready.

Overall, Bellinger’s combination of above-average hitting and defensive versatility at two positions the Mets desperately need makes him an attractive free-agent target.

Edwin Diaz, RP – Opening Day Age: 32

After a rocky start with the Mets in 2019, it was hard to imagine Díaz having a long tenure in New York. Yet his turnaround was remarkable, culminating in a 2022 campaign in which he posted a 1.31 ERA, 0.90 FIP, and an astounding 17.1K/9 across 62 innings for the 101-win Mets. Following that season, Díaz signed a five-year $102 million extension, making him the highest-paid relief pitcher in baseball history at the time. After another strong 2025 campaign, Díaz exercised the opt-out clause in his contract, re-entering free agency in search of a longer, higher-paying deal.

While Stearns has traditionally been hesitant to pay top dollar for relievers, Díaz arguably warrants an exception. Since 2020, he has compiled a 2.60 ERA, 2.10 FIP, and 15 K/9 across 204 games, recording 90 saves along the way. Beyond the numbers, Díaz is a fan favorite who has proven he can thrive under the bright lights of New York and has delivered in a relatively small playoff sample. His advanced metrics remain elite, ranking in the 99th percentile across MLB in expected ERA, expected batting average, whiff rate, and strikeouts.

In a season where the Mets’ bullpen was inconsistent, Díaz stood out as a model of reliability from start to finish. For a team with championship aspirations, having multiple elite arms in late-game situations is essential, and Díaz remains as strong a building block as any to anchor the end of the bullpen.

Tyler Rogers, RP – Opening Day Age: 35

At the trade deadline, the Mets made a bold move to strengthen their bullpen, acquiring Tyler Rogers from San Francisco in exchange for José Buttó and prospects Drew Gilbert and Blade Tidwell. While the new-look bullpen as a whole struggled down the stretch, Rogers more than held his own, posting a 2.30 ERA and 3.32 FIP across 28 relief appearances.

Rogers has been the definition of reliability throughout his career. Since debuting in 2019, he has led Major League Baseball in appearances in four seasons, including each of the past two. Pitching from a distinctive submarine arm slot, Rogers doesn’t overpower hitters – ranking in the 1st percentile last season in both average fastball velocity and whiff rate, and the 8th percentile in strikeout rate. Instead, he relies on a devastating sinker/slider combination to induce soft contact and keep the ball on the ground. His underlying metrics were elite in 2025: 100th percentile in barrel rate, 99th in average exit velocity, 98th in ground-ball rate, 96th in expected ERA, and 95th in hard-hit rate. He also boasts exceptional command, ranking in the 100th percentile in walk rate – a refreshing contrast to the Mets’ historical bullpen control issues.

Rogers fits seamlessly into the Mets’ run-prevention philosophy built around ground-ball pitching. With only a few bullpen spots locked in for Opening Day, New York needs multiple high-leverage options. Pairing the right-handed Rogers with lefties Raley and Minter would give the Mets a reliable bridge to an elite closer like Díaz, rounding out a bullpen capable of holding late-inning leads.

Tatsuya Imai, SP – Opening Day Age: 27

While Munetaka Murakami may be the most recognizable name among this year’s free agents coming over from Japan, 27-year-old Tatsuya Imai might be the most intriguing fit for the Mets. Imai is coming off a career-best season in the NPB, posting a 1.92 ERA across 163.2 innings with 178 strikeouts – a rate 8.2% above league average. Over the past three years, he has shown both durability and consistency, compiling a 2.18 ERA across 470 innings with 495 strikeouts in 68 starts, averaging nearly seven innings per start.

While Imai doesn’t project as a frontline ace in the mold of Yoshinobu Yamamoto, his track record and deep repertoire – anchored by a fastball that can reach 99 mph and a plus slider – make him a strong candidate for a mid-rotation role. He also fits the profile of a David Stearns-type pitcher, excelling at limiting home runs (0.3 HR/9) and inducing weak contact (16.5% hard-hit rate, 53.8% ground-ball rate). Though not quite in the same tier as Framber Valdez, Imai’s combination of ground-ball efficiency, youth (he’ll pitch two more full seasons in his 20s), and lack of a qualifying offer make him especially appealing.

Stearns has yet to hand out a long-term contract to a starting pitcher during his Mets tenure, but his aggressive pursuit of Yamamoto two offseasons ago showed a willingness to invest in top international talent. If the front office is open to prioritizing youth and long-term potential over immediate ace-level production, Imai would be a logical and forward-thinking target.

After a disappointing 2025 season that derailed the momentum from their 2024 playoff run, the Mets enter the offseason with clear holes and the means to fill them. Adding a frontline arm, fortifying the bullpen, and finding reliable production at first base and center field should be top priorities. With Stearns at the helm and resources to spend, the Mets have a real opportunity to turn last season’s frustration into another deep October push in 2026.

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