NY Mets pay tribute to Jacob deGrom before he returns to Citi Field mound
As Jacob deGrom made his first start back at Citi Field since leaving the Mets, the club played a video tribute on Sept. 12, 2025.
The biggest offseason deal since David Stearns took over as Mets’ president of baseball operations prior to the 2024 season came just a few weeks ago.
The front office dealt away a core piece in Brandon Nimmo to bring in a defensive stalwart in Marcus Semien. The exchange signaled a massive change in the order of business on the heels of a disappointing 2025 season.
Stearns might not be done.
With a middling outfield market beyond the two clear gems, Kyle Tucker and Cody Bellinger, a number of ace-type starters on expiring deals and a wealth of enticing prospects in the Mets’ ranks, another trade or two could serve as the type of game-changing roster changes to lift the club back to contention.
With the Winter Meetings — a major site for trade discussions — on the horizon, here are six targets that would take the Mets up another level, plus a few Mets players who could end up in new spots ahead of 2026:
Mets trade targets: Position playersSteven Kwan, Guardians
Kwan feels like the prototype who fits all of David Stearns’ desires. He has claimed a Gold Glove in each of his first four seasons — predominantly spent in left field — while presenting one of the most keen eyes at the plate in baseball.
The 28-year-old left-handed hitting Kwan consistently hits for average and would be a pain for opposing teams ahead of the Mets’ heavy hitters in the lineup. Last season, Kwan slashed .272/.330/.374 with 81 runs, 11 home runs, 56 RBI and 21 stolen bases.
He is under team control for two more seasons beyond 2026, making him a cheaper long-term add.
The 28-year-old center fielder drew trade speculation at last season’s deadline, but ended up staying put with the White Sox. At his peak, Robert Jr. drilled 38 home runs, collected 80 RBI and scored 90 runs during an All-Star campaign in 2023.
While Robert has taken a step back over the last two seasons, he came on strong down the stretch in 2025, slashing .293/.349/.459 between July and August before a hamstring strain cut his season short. Robert is an exceptional defender with explosive upside at the plate. He has another $20 million club option for next season after the White Sox picked up the same for 2025.
Jo Adell, Angels
Adell was the Angels’ team MVP for the 2025 season, tagging 38 home runs, driving in 98 runs and scoring 63 times while slashing .236/.293/.485 across 152 games. It was a banner season for the 26-year-old, who had set new career highs with 20 home runs and 62 RBI one season earlier.
For the Mets, Adell could fill a need for pop at the center field position to complement Tyrone Taylor’s glove. The outfielder is an enticing trade piece given his low salary (he’ll make $2.1 million next season) and the fact that he’s under control for another two seasons beyond 2025.
Mets trade targets: PitchersTarik Skubal, Tigers
It is far from a guarantee that the Tigers even elect to field trade inquiries for the two-time defending AL Cy Young winner. They could decide to load up for one more run at a World Series after reaching the AL Division Series in the last two seasons.
But the Tigers might not have the financial firepower to bring Skubal back beyond 2026. Now would be the time to cash in on a potential future-altering move.
The Mets have the prospect capital that might be able to entice the Tigers, with a trio of young high-end pitchers and exciting position players, plus some young MLB-ready talent. Skubal would fill a big need atop a shaky Mets rotation, coming off delivering a 13-6 record with a 2.21 ERA and 241 strikeouts.
Freddy Peralta, Brewers
Peralta was one of the first players Stearns acquired as Brewers general manager in 2015. In the decade since that move, the 29-year-old has developed into one of the consistent top starters in the National League and would instantly fill the top spot in the Mets’ rotation.
The right-hander is coming off his best season, posting a 17-6 record with a 2.70 ERA and 204 strikeouts to finish fifth in NL Cy Young voting. Peralta has made at least 30 starts and struck out 200 or more in his last three seasons. He will be an unrestricted free agent after the 2026 season.
Joe Ryan, Twins
At last season’s trade deadline, the Twins unloaded just about all of their long-term assets, minus Pablo Lopez, Byron Buxton and Ryan. That signals a lengthy rebuild in the Twin Cities and the AL Central club’s top piece that could bring in difference-making talent is the 29-year-old Ryan.
The six-year veteran earned his first All-Star selection last season, finishing with a 13-10 record, 3.42 ERA and 194 strikeouts. He boasts one of the most deceptive fastballs in the league and could occupy a top spot in the rotation for some time as he’s arbitration eligible for two more seasons beyond 2026.
Mets players who could be on the trade blockJeff McNeil
McNeil’s future with the Mets took a sharp turn late last month when the club’s front office decided to bring in second baseman Marcus Semien in a trade with the Rangers that dealt away Brandon Nimmo. It clogs up the spot that McNeil had been occupying for the better part of the last five seasons since he debuted in 2018.
A report by the New York Post’s Mike Puma on another confrontation between McNeil and Francisco Lindor also clouded the former’s future.
The 33-year-old could stick around as a versatile utility player who could man all three outfield spots and potnetially first base but his bat has wavered since he won the batting title in 2022.
Kodai Senga
Two seasons ago, Senga was the ace of the Mets’ rotation, registering 202 strikeouts and finishing seventh in the Cy Young race.
But the last two seasons have been a tenuous stumble for Senga, who missed all but one start with shoulder and calf injuries in 2024 and ended up losing his rotation spot in 2025 after being unable to return to form following a hamstring injury.
The Mets’ rotation is a loaded unit with no clear top dog and a quartet of prospects (Nolan McLean, Brandon Sproat, Christian Scott and Jonah Tong) who are knocking on the door for regular opportunities. Could a team outside the Mets take a gamble on Senga’s upside to return a bigger need to New York?
Mark Vientos
Vientos is another Mets infielder whose future got a bit more hazy with the acquisition of Semien. The second-base spot had been a way for Carlos Mendoza to work in Brett Baty, Ronny Mauricio and Vientos into the lineup at the same time, but now that hole has closed.
Baty earned the lion’s share of the reps at third base late last season with an offensive rise in the second half, plus his defensive improvements. Vientos stepped back in both of those areas after a stellar 2024 campaign. His .702 OPS was 135 points lower than the previous season.
The Mets could elect to keep around Vientos’ potential offensive spark in a DH role but he could be a desirable piece for the club to dangle for a big fish.