If the New York Mets plan to continue exerting greater financial discipline in free agency, they will need to trade prospects for some major-league help.
The Mets are engaged in such discussions, talking about most of their top prospects in different concepts, according to a team official. But some in the industry question the Mets’ willingness to act aggressively in that regard. One rival official, likely engaging in hyperbole, said, “They are pretty much not willing to part with anyone.”
Which prompts the question anew:
How exactly are the Mets going to put their team back together after trading left fielder Brandon Nimmo for second baseman Marcus Semien and losing closer Edwin Díaz and first baseman Pete Alonso in free agency?
Surely, president of baseball operations David Stearns has ideas. And rival clubs’ frustration with the Mets’ supposed stinginess in trades might simply be the product of Stearns balking at the asking prices for certain targets.
Chicago White Sox center fielder Luis Robert Jr. is one player the Mets have discussed, according to people briefed on their conversations. But with Robert set to earn $20 million in his free-agent year, the Mets might want to give up only minimal talent.
Though an attractive right-handed batter, Luis Robert Jr. has played more than 110 games in a season only one time. (Justin Casterline / Getty Images)
Plenty of time remains in the offseason. The Mets’ Steve Cohen is the wealthiest owner in the sport. And while 2026 projections hardly should be taken as gospel, FanGraphs projects the Mets’ current roster to have the sixth-highest Wins Above Replacement
Broken down by position, the Mets are second in right field with Juan Soto, fourth at shortstop with Francisco Lindor, eighth at catcher with Francisco Alvarez and eighth at second with Semien. They’re even 10th at first base with Mark Vientos replacing Alonso, but they rate especially poorly in center field and left. Their relievers rank 12th, their starting pitchers only 17th.
So much still will change. The next Met to go might be Jeff McNeil, whom FanGraphs projects to get the most playing time in left. The website also has Carson Benge, who has yet to make his major-league debut, getting the most playing time in center.
At some point, the Mets will need to add talent beyond Semien and free-agent reliever Devin Williams. They can act conservatively, both in trade talks and free agency, for only so long.
Why Alonso beat Schwarber
The Athletic’s Tim Britton projected Kyle Schwarber to get $145 million over five years and Alonso $140 million. So, how is it that Alonso landed the better deal by a narrow margin, $155 million to $150 million?
Schwarber was coming off a better season. His market, at least based on reported interest, appeared deeper. But Alonso, who just turned 31, is nearly two years younger than Schwarber, who will be 33 in March. And he also might have benefited from “drafting” off Schwarber.
The Baltimore Orioles offered Schwarber the same amount as the Philadelphia Phillies.
Orioles owner David Rubenstein, president of baseball operations Mike Elias and agent Scott Boras introduce new first baseman Pete Alonso at Camden Yards on Friday. (Lloyd Fox / Baltimore Sun / Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
Upon missing out, they pivoted quickly to Alonso. It was unclear whether any other team came close to the Orioles’ bid. But they made sure to get their man.
In any case, Alonso emerged a bigger winner than many in the industry expected.
In June 2023, he turned down a seven-year, $158 million extension from the Mets that would have covered his final year of arbitration and six free-agent years. Then, after protracted free-agent negotiations, he re-signed with the Mets in February for a two-year, $54 million guarantee. The deal included a $30 million salary for 2025 and one-year opt out.
So, do the math.
Alonso’s two free-agent contracts add up to six years, $185 million. Add the $20.5 million he earned in his final year of arbitration, and it’s seven years, $205.5 million — a 30 percent increase over the Mets’ original seven-year offer.
More on Robert
The White Sox’s refusal to trade Robert at the deadline appeared highly questionable, leaving them with little choice but to pick up Robert’s $20 million club option or receive nothing for him in return.
The decision looked all the more foolish when the oft-injured Robert strained his left hamstring and did not play after Aug. 26. But the White Sox’s belief was that the market for Robert in the offseason wouldn’t be much different than it was at the deadline. And they might be proven right.
As detailed last week by MLB.com’s Mike Petriello, right-handed-hitting outfielders are scarce. And while Robert has drawn interest from the Mets and Philadelphia Phillies, he might be more likely to end up with a low-payroll team that ends up striking out on free agents – the Pittsburgh Pirates, for example.
To make such a deal happen, the White Sox almost certainly would need to include cash to make Robert more affordable. They are open to doing that as a way of enhancing the return, according to a club official.
Around the horn
Information from major-league sources:
• The Miami Marlins remain a possibility for free-agent reliever Pete Fairbanks, but no deal appears imminent.
A number of teams with established closers also remain in contact with the Fairbanks camp, thinking they could establish the type of back end the Atlanta Braves did by signing Robert Suarez to go with Raisel Iglesias.
• The Boston Red Sox have shown repeated interest in reacquiring catcher Kyle Teel from the Chicago White Sox, as first reported by MassLive.com’s Sean McAdam.
The White Sox, with no interest in trading Teel, have shut down every inquiry. They have no desire to trade an athletic, left-handed-hitting catcher who can control the strike zone and run.
Teel, who turns 24 in February, was part of Chicago’s four-player return for left-hander Garrett Crochet one year ago.
• The Milwaukee Brewers are looking to trade off their outfield depth, most likely by moving Isaac Collins or Blake Perkins for a reliever with minor-league options remaining.
Sal Frelick and Jackson Chourio likely will be in the corners next season, with Perkins and Garrett Mitchell the leading options in center. Brandon Lockridge projects as the fourth outfielder, with the newly signed Akil Baddoo another possibility.
• Landing a catcher to pair with Kyle Higashioka, the Texas Rangers on Friday night reached agreement with free agent Danny Jansen on a two-year, $14.5 million contract, according to people familiar with their discussions.
The Rangers had been in contact with Victor Caratini before agreeing with Jansen, and also are trying to trade for a young catcher. Higashioka, 35, is in the final guaranteed year of his contract. His deal includes a $7 million mutual option for 2027, the kind that one side almost always declines.
• And finally, left-hander Foster Griffin could be the next free-agent pitcher to return to the majors from Japan.
Griffin, 30, spent the past three seasons with the Yomiuri Giants, finishing 2025 with a 1.52 ERA and 87 strikeouts in 89 innings.
The 28th overall pick by the Kansas City Royals in 2014, Griffin throws six pitches – a four-seam fastball, sinker, cutter, split, curveball and sweeper. The team that signs him likely would view him as a back-end starter.
