What’s the Plan?

[Cowtipper]

It's funny, we thought 2025 was going to be the year the Mets were going to put it together and finally be a dominant team, and 2024 was going to be a rebuilding year. But 2024 was the year that we went to the NLCS and 2025 was the year they let us all down. So when it comes to the Mets, you just never know.

[MFS62]

Immediately after Alonso signed with the Orioles, Ron Darling came out publicly and said, "Well, what you're going to have is Juan Soto walking 150 times" — the implication being that, without a bat as productive as Alonso's behind him, nobody would want to throw Soto a strike.

That may or may not be true, but I have trouble seeing 150 walks by anybody as a bad thing.

 

Only if those 150 walks turn into rlob. I’d feel a lot better if they find someone will take advantage of those ducks on the pond - in bunches.

Later

[Lefty Specialist]

So you take an 83-win team, subtract Nimmo, Diaz, Alonso and McNeil, add Williams, Polanco and Semien, and expect to compete for a playoff spot? Um, no.

Missing 2/3 of an outfield, at least one rotation arm and half a bullpen. Plus too many infielders, even after banishing the Squirrel. Just don't see how any of this works.

[Benjamin Grimm]

There's definitely more to come, but it doesn't seem likely to be sufficient.

[MFS62]

It’s the most frustrating time of the year

For new players we’re yelling

And the owner is telling us to “hold onto your beer”

It’s the most anxious time of the year

It’s the crap-crapiest season of all

With those holiday greetings after both meetings

I just want to bawl.

It’s the crap-crapiest season of all

Other fans will be boasting

Our sportscasters roasting

With no new players our GM could show

We’ll have to live with the stories

And tales of past glories of

Series won long, long ago

It’s the most frustrating time of the year

There’ll be much anger growing

Other teams’ signees showing

Players we would hold dear

It’s the crap-crapiest time of the year

It’s the most frustrating time of the year

There’ll be much anger growing

Other teams’ signees showing

Players we would hold dear

It’s the most frustrating time

It’s the most frustrating time

It’s the most frustrating time of the year

Later

[smg58]

Johnny Mathis is learning the words as we speak.

[Edgy MD]

I disagree that December is the most frustrating time of the year.

The Mets signed the most sought-after free agent in recent memory last December. The frustrating part came to pass from the second half of July through the end of the season.

[ashie62]

I'm not sold on Jorge Polanco at first. He has virtually no experience there

Beyond that he gets hurt a lot

Bah humbug

[Edgy MD]

Well, if the season opens tomorrow, we might be more likely to see Mark Vientos at first, and Polanco in left. That is the way Mets Roster Central has it laid out, anyhow.

I don't think we're asked to be sold on any particular lineup, yet.

[Centerfield]

Deadlines for Okamoto and Imai are approaching. The Mets are not rumored to be in on either.

Of course, the Mets don’t leak and they move in silence, but the one saying they’re not involved is Jon Heyman. And he’s a mouthpiece for Scott Boras, who represents both of them.

You’d think if the Mets were involved at all, Boras would be public with it to drum up bidding.

[Lefty Specialist]

True. Boras loves to get New York teams involved publicly even if they're not interested privately.

[smg58]

I was very interested in Okamoto up until the Polanco signing, but I think the role he would have had is taken. As for Imai (or any other starting pitcher), if I'm shelling out significant money I want to know that he's an upgrade over what we've got. And outside of Valdez, who may or may not be available at a reasonable price, I'm not sure who fits that description.

[Lefty Specialist]

Beginning to think the plan is to do nothing and hope for the best.

[smg58]

We're actually fourth in the league in guaranteed money handed out so far this offseason, and have made a couple of trades to boot. So while you can certainly question what the Mets are doing, it's a long way from nothing.

[Lefty Specialist]

Well, what I meant was nothing from this point on.....

[ashie62]

Very very quiet

[MFS62]

We're waiting for another sandal to drop.

I don't think it will be a boot.

Later

[TransMonk]

Fuzzy slipper.

[ashie62]

John Heyman said in the Post that the Mets have "checked in" on Kyle Tucker. I see that as big news on a quiet Saturday night

[ashie62]

I see that the general parameters of a potential Framber Valdez deal range from about 5 years for 160 million

No freaking way Stearns does anything even near that. Framber being 32 doesn't help

Does anyone here think he might?

[Edgy MD]

I think he might if the team's internal conversations suggest it is the kind of risk to embrace. I don't think any GM is outright risk avoidant, but they all have different philosophies of risk management.

There was a time when the richest teams could roll the dice on any and all of the very biggest names and consider risk the cost of doing business. But the luxury tax penalties (that have become a salary cap of a different name) has made that far less tenable.

As written above, Valdez has had an unusually strong track record of staying on the field for a 21st-century starting pitcher, and while there is only so much guarantee that can offer, it may be a tipping point for Stearns.

That said, I don't need a boot to drop.

[Gwreck]

Britton and Sammon did a mailbag today which is somewhat interesting:

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6940828/2026/01/05/pete-alonso-steve-cohen-mets-mailbag/

Key takeaways:

-They don’t expect any big starting pitcher moves, unless someone (e.g., a Valdez or Suarez) can be had on a short term deal. Their analysis: “[The Mets] see upside in Clay Holmes and David Peterson, plus bounce-back potential from Sean Manaea. They are also bullish on getting a full season from Nolan McLean.”

-Acuna and Mauricio are “trade candidates” and not expected to be regulars. Vientos also a trade candidate if the Mets sign another right handed bat, which they are looking for.

[Centerfield]

Key takeaways:

-They don’t expect any big starting pitcher moves, unless someone (e.g., a Valdez or Suarez) can be had on a short term deal. Their analysis: “[The Mets] see upside in Clay Holmes and David Peterson, plus bounce-back potential from Sean Manaea. They are also bullish on getting a full season from Nolan McLean.”

 

 

It's tough to know how much Sammon/Rosenthal actually know. The Mets seem to run pretty leak-free. That being said, this is pretty disappointing if true. The biggest problem with the team last year was the starting pitching. It seems crazy to just run it back and hope for better.

By blowing up the lineup, letting Diaz walk, and leaving the starting pitching as is, Stearns is almost doing the opposite of what I would have done this off-season.

[Edgy MD]

That is probably pretty close to accurate. The main caveats that would pushback against that would be that, while none of

• see upside in Clay Holmes,
• see upside in David Peterson,


• see bounce-back potential from Sean Manaea (it would be hard to get less), and


• bullish on getting a full season from Nolan McLean

 

... is unreasonable, banking on all of it is, so it is understandable that folks may hope for a stronger hedge against that. Unmentioned is that the fifth member of the rotation — Kodai Senga — is also looking for a bounce-back year.

The hedges they otherwise would otherwise be counting on would largely be the emergence of the next generation of starting pitchers as the season progresses and the needs presumably present themselves.

[Centerfield]

I mean, I know there's still time. But they have just have so much to do.

The rotation that ranked 18th in ERA hasn't been addressed at all.

The bullpen that was 15th in ERA lost the best closer in the game. They replaced him, and a small army of relievers, with two guys who had ERAs near 5 last year. I mean, with bullpens you never know, but you certainly can't go into 2026 thinking this is going to be a strength.

And the lineup that tied for 9th in runs scored is now even worse. Alonso is gone. Nimmo is gone. We downgraded offensively at 2B. Polanco offsets Nimmo, but we still have glaring holes at LF, CF and 1B or DH. And one of those guys has to bat behind Soto.

Is there a solution? Sure. Kyle Tucker. Trade for Luis Robert. Trade for Peralta and find a high leverage reliever. Do I think it's possible? Probably not. Especially given the rumored asking prices for the trade candidates. I'm sure there are other ways to get there too, but I don't think Cody Bellinger, or Eugenio Suarez, or Austin Hayes will be enough.

[Edgy MD]

Luis Robert is unlikely to be an answer to any question other than "Who is that guy who makes me think of Cedric Mullins?"

He has a lot of centerfieding experience, but he's almost as likely to make the team worse as he is to make them likely better.

[The Hot Corner]

Luis Robert is unlikely to be an answer to any question other than "Who is that guy who makes me think of Cedric Mullins?"

He has a lot of centerfieding experience, but he's almost as likely to make the team worse as he is to make them likely better.

 

I agree with you regarding Luis Robert. Offensively, he is an upgrade over Tyrone Taylor, but he is far from the answer to the Mets lack of offense from the Mets outfielders not named Soto.

[Edgy MD]

He could be an upgrade over Tyrone Taylor. He possibly should be an upgrade over Tyrone Taylor, but ... he could be an expensive clog on the roster.

I'm not even sure why the Sox picked up his option. I guess his defense is still considered a weapon, but I don't think so. (OE: I think Taylor has him on that side of the ball. Ji Hwan Bae also.)

[ashie62]

Luis Robert is unlikely to be an answer to any question other than "Who is that guy who makes me think of Cedric Mullins?"

He has a lot of centerfieding experience, but he's almost as likely to make the team worse as he is to make them likely better.

 

False, he's going to have a big year as a Met

I will gladly take Robert ahead of Kyle Tucker "if" Tucker has an opt out after year one

[Benjamin Grimm]

I'd take Robert if the Mets can get him in exchange for a Single-A batboy.

I think one year of Tucker would be better than zero years of Tucker. And probably better than eleven years of Tucker. I don't think the Mets want to put themselves in a position where both Soto and Tucker are making big money in their late thirties.