Juan Soto discusses Mets’ failure despite lofty expectations for 2025
After the Mets were eliminated from playoff contention on the season’s final day, Juan Soto discussed what went wrong on Sept. 28, 2025, in Miami.
The New York Mets front office has plenty of time to assess the club’s shortcomings from the 2025 season as it heads into a pivotal winter.
For David Stearns, the Mets’ president of baseball operations, the biggest misstep in the roster construction last season was not shoring up the team’s run prevention — defense and pitching — in order to make the playoffs.
Now, the leadership has a four-month window to try and patch the holes and address their needs.
As the Mets await the chance to fortify their roster for the 2026 season, here are the Top 5 areas we believe are the biggest needs moving forward:
5. Designated hitter: Who’s the best fit here?
The Mets have the potential for some internal options at the designated hitter position in Mark Vientos from the right side of the plate and Ronny Mauricio or more of Brandon Nimmo from the left.
The fact remains that the Mets have continuously struggled to get steady production from the DH since it was instituted in the National League in 2022. They have never finished above 15th in collective OPS over the last four seasons despite investing in the likes of Daniel Vogelbach, J.D. Martinez and Jesse Winker.
The Mets finished with a .742 OPS — 16th in the league — this past season after posting marks of .727 in 2024 (15th), .700 in 2023 (T-20th) and .687 (18th) in 2022.
Winker, who missed the entire second half with a back injury, and Starling Marte, whose four-year contract expired at the end of this season, likely won’t be around in 2026.
4. Center field: Is Tyrone Taylor’s defense enough?
Stearns appreciates having quality defense up the middle, which led him to bring over Tyrone Taylor from the Brewers when he first took over the Mets ahead of the 2024 season.
Taylor has showcased his distinguished glove and dynamic range in the heart of the outfield for the past two seasons in platoon roles. In his final year of arbitration eligibility, the Mets could bring him back for an estimated $3.6 million, according to MLB Trade Rumors.
The problem is blending that desire for defense with deploying an above average bat at the position. In 113 games last season, Taylor slashed .223/.279/.319 with two home runs, 27 RBI, 34 runs and 76 strikeouts.
The trades to acquire Cedric Mullins and Jose Siri proved to be whiffs, as they sent away three prospects to the Orioles and upstart reliever Eric Orze. In return during the 2025 season, that center-field tandem produced 24 hits and 52 strikeouts in 58 games.
This is the position in the lineup that could stand to gain the biggest improvement offensively.
3. First base: What is Pete Alonso’s future?
The Mets are approaching a second straight offseason in which they have a massive void at the first base position. That could all be fixed if they decide to bring back Pete Alonso, who has announced his intention to opt out of his final season of his contract.
Alonso’s fate in New York ended up getting shaky last February, with a deal not reached until a little less than a week before pitchers and catchers reported to Port St. Lucie. The five-time All-Star lived up to his end of the bargain last season, tagging 38 home runs, driving in 128 runs and batting .272 while setting the Mets’ career home run record.
Those negotiations, which owner Steve Cohen deemed “exhausting” last winter, are bound to be difficult again, with Alonso, who is due to turn 31 in December, seeking long-term stability in the form of a lengthy deal.
Alonso’s future with the Mets will have massive ramifications on the roster. Vientos is the only player with substantial first base experience, but much of it came in the minor leagues and his own defensive prowess at the position is unsettled.
The free-agent pool at the position is weak, with Josh Naylor, Ryan O’Hearn, Luis Arraez and Paul Goldschmidt serving as the top targets.
2. Starting pitching: Who’s the leader?
Who can lead the Mets’ pitching staff heading into the 2026 season after the rotation had the fourth-worst ERA (5.31) and sixth-highest WHIP (1.43) in the second half of the season?
If the Mets are going to get back to the playoffs and contend for a World Series title, they are going to need better top-end pitching.
The rotation’s post-All-Star break performance left plenty of questions. David Peterson, who earned his first All-Star selection and led the unit early on, posted a 6.34 ERA in the second half. Kodai Senga found himself relegated to Triple-A as he worked to find the zip to his arsenal that had been lacking after an injury. Sean Manaea never regained his footing to establish himself after an early oblique strain.
Clay Holmes, who entered with questions about his transition to a starting role, proved to be the most dependable from start to finish, but threw 95⅔ innings more than any time in his MLB career.
There’s promise in the youth, particularly with Nolan McLean who finished with a 5-1 record, 2.06 ERA and 57 strikeouts in 48 innings in eight starts, but will he be able to sustain that success over a full season?
The top free-agent starting pitchers include Dylan Cease, Ranger Suarez and Framber Valdez, but Stearns has yet to make a hefty long-term investment into a starter in his Mets tenure.
1. Bullpen: Will Edwin Diaz be with Mets in 2026?
The one constant sense of ease in the Mets bullpen throughout the 2025 season was the arrival of Edwin Diaz in the ninth − and sometimes eighth − inning. That presence could be a question mark, with Diaz able to opt out of the final two seasons of his $102 million deal this winter.
Diaz posted his third season with a sub-2.00 ERA for the Mets last season, tallying a 6-3 record with a 1.63 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, 28 saves and 98 strikeouts in 66⅓ innings.
One of the front office’s priorities would be to lock up Diaz, particularly with the holes that are lurking leading up to the Mets closer’s post late in games.
All three of the relievers that Stearns acquired at the deadline — Ryan Helsley, Tyler Rogers and Gregory Soto — are unrestricted free agents. Ryne Stanek will also be able to hit the market, while Reed Garrett and Dedniel Nuñez are dealing with season-ending injuries.
If A.J. Minter elects to opt into his second year of his contract, he’ll be returning from a torn lat. The Mets can also elect to bring back Brooks Raley and Drew Smith. Beyond that trio, Huascar Brazoban is the only notable key bullpen contributor who is under control for 2026.