The New York Mets are going to look very different in 2026. Pete Alonso, who’s spent the first seven years of his career in Queens, signed a five-year/$155 contract with the Baltimore Orioles. Edwin Diaz left the Mets after another dominant season to join the back-to-back World Series champions. Trading Brandon Nimmo for Marcus Semien can’t be ignored either. Three fan favorites are now gone, and they’re not coming back.
David Stearns now has to get to work. He already signed Devin Williams to a three-year deal to be the team’s closer. However, there are massive holes in their lineup, on top of an untrustworthy starting rotation. Steve Cohen will have to spend money this offseason to give fans hope that they can field a promising roster in 2026.
Mets fans are upset, and rightfully so. Joel Sherman reported that New York didn’t make an official offer to Alonso and his camp. However, bringing in a big bat to replace the franchise’s home run leader can ease the pain. The question remains though, who could Stearns look to in free agency?
Sign 3B Alex Bregman, moving Brett Baty to 1B
One free agent that makes sense is Alex Bregman. Carlos Mendoza recently alluded to Brett Baty holding down third base. Baty put together his best season, hitting .254 with 18 homers and a .748 OPS. In the second half of 2025, the young infielder played like an All-Star, posting a .829 OPS with a .291 batting average. If they were to add Bregman, they could easily move Baty to first base, replacing Alonso.
The 31-year-old makes a lot of sense for Stearns. Bregman is an elite defender at third and we know the Mets want to improve defensively. He’s also a proven winner, as he’s played in three World Series’ and won one. Across his ten-year career, he’s been in the postseason nine times.
Not only is Bregman a top defender at his position, but he’s also a top bat. He’s not the power hitter Alonso is, but he’s still a prolific offensive threat. Last season he hit .273 with a .821 OPS and a 125 WRC+. He also hit .291 with men on base in 2025, something the Mets struggled with.
Adding Bregman to the lineup would be expensive, but the Mets have money to spend now. They only have a $236,133,547 payroll as it stands, and Bregman will likely garner a $25-$30M AAV. That would leave them room to add another bat, such as the one about to be mentioned.
Sign OF/1B Cody Bellinger
Signing Cody Bellinger makes a ton of sense for the Mets. He got a taste of New York in 2025 with the Yankees and didn’t shy away from the bright lights. He could play first base along with all three outfield spots at a high level. The former NL MVP is a spectacular athlete, who doesn’t seem like he will decline anytime soon. He’s coming off one of his best seasons in recent memory, as he slugged 29 homers and tallied 98 RBIs.
The Mets could plug Bellinger in CF or 1B. If they were to sign Bregman and the two-time All-Star, they would have a ton of flexibility. They could trade Baty and stick Bellinger at first, or keep Baty and have Bellinger hold down center. Carson Benge, the Mets’ top position player prospect could come up and play LF. If Bellinger is the only top free agent they add, they can have him be Alonso’s replacement at first base.
Sign OF Kyle Tucker
Kyle Tucker is going to garner a massive contract. Stearns and Cohen have implied they’d like to avoid having a roster filled with mega-contracts, so it seems unlikely the Mets will seek out a deal for the 28-year-old star. He’s the best player remaining on the market by far, but his ask may be too steep for New York.
If Stearns and Cohen are feeling risky, they could shock the fanbase and add Tucker, giving the Mets one of the most star-studded lineups in baseball. An offense featuring Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto, and Tucker would be dangerous. Reports have suggested the Mets have checked in on the four-time All-Star, but it’s unclear if it’s realistically an option for the Mets. Although, nothing should be left off the table with New York at this point.
Sign IF, Bo Bichette
Bo Bichette is a terrific offensive player at just 27 years old. He’s coming off one of his best seasons, where he posted a .311 batting average with 18 home runs and 98 RBIs with the Toronto Blue Jays. The only issue is, Stearns is prioritizing defense. Bichette isn’t the best defender by any stretch, and he’d likely have to move to third base with Lindor and the newly acquired Semien lining up to be the starting second baseman.
The two-time All-Star is seeking a long-term deal, but he’s just entering the prime of his career. Bichette’s best years are likely ahead of him. If Stearns is willing to take a slight step back defensively but still get a legitimate offensive threat, Bichette could make sense. Similar to if they signed Bregman, it would likely mean Baty will slide to first. Nevertheless, Bichette doesn’t seem to fit the Mets’ plans this offseason.
