New York Mets 2026–2027 Offseason Guide: Important Dates, Roster Decisions & Calendar

This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the Mets 2026-2027 offseason schedule, highlighting essential dates for the Winter Meetings, MLB Draft Lottery, and key decision-making periods for arbitration-eligible players and those with team or mutual contract options.

The Mets enter the 2026–2027 offseason looking to turn a stronger finish into a more competitive season. Bo Bichette’s contract decision, the development of a young pitching staff, and several arbitration and roster decisions will shape the winter.

This guide covers free agency, contract options, roster deadlines, awards, the Winter Meetings, and the scheduled return of baseball to Citi Field.

Calendar note: MLB’s current collective bargaining agreement expires December 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern. A lockout is anticipated but has not begun. Events and baseball operations that could be affected are marked “pending lockout.” Published dates remain listed unless officially changed.

Important Dates at a Glance

• Day after the World Series ends: Eligible players become free agents; offseason trades resume under the current agreement.
• Fifth day after the World Series ends: Exclusive negotiating period ends; eligible free agents can sign with other clubs. Qualifying offers are due. Individual contract-option deadlines must also be checked.
• November 1, 2026: Gold Glove Award winners announced.
• November 2: BBWAA award finalists and Silver Slugger finalists announced.
• November 9–12: General Manager Meetings in Las Vegas.
• November 9: Rookie of the Year winners announced.
• November 10: Manager of the Year winners announced.
• November 11: Cy Young Award winners announced; MLB Awards celebration in Las Vegas.
• November 12: Most Valuable Player Award winners announced.
• November 17: Rule 5 roster protection deadline; qualifying-offer acceptance deadline; Silver Slugger winners announced.
• November 20: Non-tender deadline.
• December 1, 11:59 p.m. Eastern: Current collective bargaining agreement expires.
• December 2026: Winter Meetings — pending lockout. December 7–9 is the reported baseball-business schedule; published calendars differ on the full meeting window.
• December 8: Scheduled MLB Draft Lottery — pending lockout.
• December 9: Scheduled Major League Rule 5 Draft — pending lockout.
• January 8, 2027: Scheduled salary arbitration figure exchange — pending lockout.
• January 15: Expected international signing period opening under the existing system — pending lockout.
• Late January–February: Expected arbitration hearings — pending lockout.
• February: Mets pitchers, catchers, and position players report to Port St. Lucie; exact dates unannounced — pending lockout.
• February 19: Scheduled Grapefruit League and home opener against Miami at Clover Park — pending lockout.
• March: Spring Breakout details unannounced — pending lockout.
• March 24: Scheduled MLB Opening Night; matchup unannounced — pending lockout.
• March 25: Scheduled Mets Opening Day at Miami — pending lockout.
• April 2: Scheduled Mets home opener against San Francisco at Citi Field — pending lockout.

Free Agency: A Winter Built Around Decisions

The Mets face a different offseason from clubs preparing to lose a large group of established free agents. Following their in-season roster changes, New York’s biggest potential departure is tied to Bichette’s player option, rather than an expiring guaranteed contract.

The Mets are entering the winter without an unrestricted free-agent group on their Major League roster. That makes option decisions, non-tenders, trades, and outside additions the main avenues for changing the team.

Minor League free agency and players removed from the 40-man roster should be tracked separately. A player who appeared for the Mets earlier in 2026 should not automatically be listed as a pending Mets free agent.

The central questions are whether Bichette returns, how the club allocates opportunities among its young position players, and how much experienced pitching it adds.

View our top free agents ranking by clicking here.

Contract Options: Bo Bichette’s Decision

• Bo Bichette: $42 million player option for 2027.

Bichette’s decision is the first major contract development to watch. Exercising the option would keep him under contract for another season; declining it would send him into free agency. He must make his decision within five days of the conclusion of the World Series.

His choice also affects the opportunities available to Brett Baty, Mark Vientos, and Ronny Mauricio, along with the Mets’ plans for their infield and designated-hitter at-bats.

Qualifying Offers

The reported qualifying offer for this winter is $23.15 million for one season, according to the New York Post. Offers are due on the fifth day after the World Series, with the reported acceptance deadline on November 17.

For the Mets, eligibility must be checked before identifying any potential recipient. Under the existing rules, a player cannot receive a second qualifying offer, and an in-season acquisition cannot receive one from his new club.

The system also matters when New York pursues outside free agents. Signing a player who rejected a qualifying offer can carry draft and international bonus-pool consequences under the applicable rules. No Mets qualifying-offer decision should be treated as official until announced.

General Manager Meetings: November 9–12

The GM Meetings take place in Las Vegas from November 9–12.

For the Mets, the meetings offer an early opportunity to explore pitching upgrades, discuss trades involving overlapping roster pieces, and assess the market before the labor agreement expires.

The approaching expiration of the labor agreement could encourage earlier negotiations and deals, although it does not guarantee a rush of completed deals.

Rule 5 Protection and the 40-Man Roster

Protection deadline: November 17.

Scheduled Major League Rule 5 Draft: December 9 — pending lockout.

Mets prospects identified in coverage as protection decisions include:

• RHP Jack Wenninger.
• INF Jefferson Rojas.
• INF Jacob Reimer.
• C Chris Suero.
• 1B/OF Ryan Clifford.
• INF Marco Vargas.

These are players to evaluate, not announced additions. Their status must be checked against the current 40-man roster before the deadline.

The Mets must balance protecting prospects against retaining immediate Major League depth. Wenninger is particularly relevant to the pitching picture, while several position-player prospects could add to an already crowded set of future roster decisions.

Awards Season

November’s awards will provide another look at the season’s strongest performances.

• November 1: Gold Glove winners.
• November 2: BBWAA award finalists and Silver Slugger finalists.
• November 9: Rookie of the Year.
• November 10: Manager of the Year.
• November 11: Cy Young Awards and the MLB Awards celebration.
• November 12: Most Valuable Player.
• November 17: Silver Slugger winners.

Mets finalists, voting finishes, and winners should be added as officially announced. The MLB Awards celebration and the BBWAA announcements are separate events.

Non-Tenders and Arbitration

Non-tender deadline: November 20.

Scheduled figure exchange: January 8 — pending lockout.

Expected hearings: late January–February — pending lockout.

The Mets’ arbitration group includes:

• Francisco Alvarez.
• Brett Baty.
• Mark Vientos.
• Tylor Megill.
• Reed Garrett.
• Dedniel Núñez.
• Austin Warren.
• Cionel Pérez.
• Christopher Morel.
• Cristian Pache.

Tendering a contract keeps a player under club control; it does not establish his final salary. Published projections remain estimates until an agreement or arbitration decision becomes official.

Vientos, Warren, and Pérez are among the players whose lack of remaining Minor League options complicates the roster picture. Keeping them would require consideration of both salary and roster flexibility.

Winter Meetings, Draft Lottery, and Competitive Balance Picks

Winter Meetings: December — pending lockout.

Scheduled Draft Lottery: December 8 — pending lockout.

Scheduled Major League Rule 5 Draft: December 9 — pending lockout.

The lottery is especially relevant to a Mets club seeking to strengthen its next wave of talent. Its outcome, the final draft order, and any compensation adjustments should be added when official.

Competitive Balance selections and associated bonus allocations should appear in this guide only when they directly affect New York, including through a trade. Unconfirmed draft arrangements remain pending lockout.

Hall of Fame Voting: The Mets Connection

David Wright and Francisco Rodríguez are the most familiar candidates for the Mets among the returning Hall of Fame candidates. Potential first-year candidates with Mets ties include Jay Bruce, Asdrúbal Cabrera, and Todd Frazier.

The official ballot and election results should be added when announced. The exact January 2027 results date has not been verified for this guide. Hall of Fame voting operates separately from MLB transactions.

International Signing Period

Expected opening: January 15, 2027 — pending lockout.

There has been no word as of yet on how much the Mets international bonus pool will be for 2027.

This is another opportunity for New York to build long-term depth alongside the domestic draft and player development system.

Spring Training in Port St. Lucie

Reporting dates: pending lockout.

The Mets are scheduled to begin Grapefruit League play February 19 against Miami at Clover Park — pending lockout.

The announced schedule includes 30 games, with 15 home games in Port St. Lucie. Game times and ticket-sale details are to follow.

Spring Training will give the Mets a chance to evaluate rotation depth, bullpen roles, and the fit of young players competing for regular at-bats.

Opening Day and the Return to Citi Field

March 25: Scheduled season opener at Miami — pending lockout.

April 2: Scheduled home opener against San Francisco at Citi Field — pending lockout.

The Mets’ winter will be shaped by how they turn roster continuity into improvement. Bichette’s decision, pitching additions, and opportunities for younger players will help determine whether the club can carry its late-season progress into 2027.