Anthony DiComo of MLB.com dove into the outlook for the Mets’ rotation in 2026 now that it seems more or less set.

Mets reliever Adbert Alzolay, who the Mets signed to a two-year minor league deal last offseason as he spent 2025 recovering from Tommy John surgery, is healthy and ready to fully participate in spring training in 2026 to try to compete for one of the Mets’ bullpen slots.

“With [Juan] Soto in his prime and a core of young talent coming up through the Mets’ system, it’s not entirely about the Mets winning this year, but you can be sure the expectation is that they better win soon,” writes Mike Lupica for MLB.com

The Mets’ trade for Freddy Peralta underscores a new trend that the Dodgers (like many trends in baseball) have spearheaded: amassing six, seven, or more legitimate big league starting pitchers to prepare for injuries.

Around the National League East

Theo DeRosa of MLB.com outlines three things that could make the Phillies bullpen better in 2026.

Mark Bowman gave his thoughts on the Braves’ pursuit of a top of the rotation starter.

The image immortalized on 21-year-old Atlanta Braves prospect Cody Miller’s first Bowman card, recently released by Topps, happened to be taken by his father, Brian Miller.

Cade Cavalli, Dylan Crews and Luis Perales are the three Nationals players Sam Sallick of Federal Baseball is most excited to see in spring training.

Around Major League Baseball

Tensions are rising around the World Baseball Classic regarding heightened insurance concerns for players. Since injuries to Jose Altuve and Edwin Díaz in the previous WBC derailed their MLB seasons, player insurance has become more expensive and the league’s insurer “has become more stringent about which players it approves,” per reporting by The Athletic.

Because many Puerto Rican stars (like Francisco Lindor) did not receive permission to play in the World Baseball Classic due to these insurance issues, Puerto Rico is considering not participating in the tournament. “We are considering not participating in this edition [of the WBC],” said President of the Puerto Rico Baseball Federation, Dr. José Quiles in an interview. “It’s a discussion we’ve already had. If we are not playing under equal conditions, we will not participate. It’s a decision that is almost, almost, made. We are issuing a warning. We’ll see what happens in the coming days and we will make a final decision.”

One provision in the new WBC insurance rules prevents players’ contracts from being insured after they turn 37. “It’s not right. I don’t feel it’s right,” said Miguel Rojas, who turns 37 on February 24 and therefore was denied permission to participate for his home country of Venezuela.

Meanwhile, Shohei Ohtani will not pitch in the WBC, per Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who said it was Ohtani’s decision.

The Giants signed free agent infielder Luis Arráez to a one-year, $12 million deal. He will play second base for San Francisco.

Mark Feinsand of MLB.com takes a look at which teams may still sign Framber Valdez—the top starter remaining on the free agent market.

Austin Hays, who had been connected to both the Mets and Yankees this offseason, signed with the White Sox on a one-year, $6 million deal.

Yesterday at Amazin’ Avenue

I wrote about Griffin Canning’s injury-shortened 2025 season and how his success presents a reason to be optimistic about the Mets’ pitching apparatus in 2026.

Lukas Vlahos took a look back at Chris Devenksi’s 2025 season, in which he didn’t throw that many innings, but the ones he did throw were good ones.

This Date in Mets History

On this date in 2008, the Mets signed Johan Santana to a six-year deal. Of course, Santana would go on to throw the first no-hitter in franchise history.