An ideal trade target for one Mets outfield hole

Plus, the Mets bolster the bullpen with the addition of yet another former Yankees reliever

What’s up with the Mets? 🍎

• The Mets reportedly signed former Yankee RHP Luke Weaver to a two-year, $22 million contract (Story)

• RHP Clay Holmes and RHP Nolan McLean were added to Team USA’s roster for the WBC (MLB.com)

• The Mets continue to be seen as the best fit for free agent OF Cody Bellinger (ESPN)

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Rumor Mill 💨

• The Rockies are unlikely to trade OF Brenton Doyle, who has attracted plenty of interest this offseason (The Athletic)

• The Giants are believed to still be on the hunt for additions to both the starting rotation and the bullpen (San Francisco Chronicle)

• Free agent shortstop Bo Bichette is ready and willing to move over to second base for any potential suitors (MLB.com)

• The Diamondbacks have been linked to free agent 3B Alex Bregman, but are seen as a “long-shot” to actually sign the three-time All-Star (MLB.com)

• San Francisco is reportedly interested in trading for Cubs 2B Nico Hoerner (San Francisco Chronicle)

• The Mariners are aggressively looking for a second baseman, and are pursuing Diamondbacks star Ketel Marte and Cardinals 2B Brendan Donovan (The Athletic)

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Roster Moves 🗞️

• C Drew Romo claimed off waivers from the Orioles

• LHP Brandon Waddell designated for assignment

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Is Steven Kwan a better fit for the Mets’ current philosophy? ✍️

AP

If you’ve been paying close attention so far this offseason, then you will have some sense of what the New York Mets hope to achieve in terms of building a roster for the 2026 season.

Actually, I guess we aren’t entirely sure about that, yet anyway.

But based on all the activity we’ve seen so far, coupled with what we’ve been told by the organization, it is apparent that the front office is intent on both upgrading their pitching, defense and improving on the margins as well as creating medium and long-term flexibility.

They need more offense too, but that can come as part of their desire to improve their defense and athleticism.

We’ve seen those goals reflected in the decisions not to offer Edwin Díaz and Pete Alonso long-term deals, the trade to swap Brandon Nimmo’s remaining five years for Marcus Semien’s remaining three years, and the additions of Devin Williams, Jorge Polanco, and now Luke Weaver on deals all three years or shorter.

So you will forgive me for being a tad skeptical when it comes to believing the latest reports that the Mets are “very in” on free agent outfielder Cody Bellinger. Nothing this team has done up to this point convinces me that they are prepared to go out and offer a big-name free agent a long-term deal for mega bucks. Instead, I’m more inclined to believe that president of baseball operations David Stearns sees more value in filling holes with a bunch of solid but not flashy players that have strong underlying metrics.

If Bellinger’s market falls to the three or four year area, then maybe I can see the Mets pry him away from the Yankees.

Therefore, I want to try and tackle two burning questions in today’s newsletter…

1. Is Steven Kwan a more realistic target for the Mets than Bellinger?

2. And does a potential trade for Kwan further signal that we should expect sparklers rather than fireworks this offseason?

Allow me to start by answering the first question.

Kwan undoubtedly addresses the Mets’ self-proclaimed biggest need this offseason in improving run prevention, and he does so in a big way. He’s a perennial Gold Glover and offers stellar defense out in left field. He would be a clear upgrade over Brandon Nimmo defensively, thus helping to fortify the outfield. Acquiring Kwan would also allow the Mets to move forward with a center field platoon of Tyrone Taylor and Carson Benge and allow Benge to earn his stripes at the big league level, which would lessen the reliance on rookies to man the outfield in other positions.

Now, as has been a pattern so far this offseason, the Mets would be sacrificing some offense with Kwan. The lefty bat is coming off a down year offensively in 2025, having posted an 81 wRC+ from June through September. It is feasible that a wrist injury suffered in late May did impact Kwan’s ability at the plate the rest of the way. He hit .272/.330/.374/.705 with 56 RBIs and just 11 home runs, including just seven homers from May onwards. He also really struggled against lefties last season, posting a .581 OPS with zero home runs.

With all that said, Kwan does offer elite bat-to-ball skills, he gets on base at a pretty decent clip, and, as evidenced by his 21 stolen bases in 2025, can be a considerable threat on the basepaths too. Furthermore, if you look at the graph below, you will see that Kwan ranks great in fielding run value. He also grades in the 100 percentile in Whiff%, and in the 99 percentile in K%. In other words, he doesn’t strikeout a whole lot, which is a really valuable commodity in today’s game.

Steven Kwan, via Baseball Savant (StatCast)

Now, again, Kwan won’t offer the same power upside as a Bellinger, and he probably won’t drive in as many runs. But, assuming that his dip in production in 2025 was down to injury, it is fair to assume that Kwan would add a productive bat to the top of the lineup, as well as being a real tough out. He has the ability to wear down the opposing pitcher, he won’t strike out a whole lot, and he can put the ball in play, make things happen, and come up with a clutch hit in a big moment.

The two-time All-Star is a throwback to the elite contact hitters of the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s. He will change the very dynamic of that Mets lineup with stellar plate discipline, hand-eye coordination, the ability to work deep counts, and putting the bat on the ball consistently. There is some potential for some power too. Plus, Kwan could share leadoff duties with Francisco Lindor, giving Mets manager Carlos Mendoza multiple lineup options on a day-to-day basis. All in all, when you also consider the aforementioned elite defense, Kwan is a player that could impact this ballclub in a multitude of different ways.

There is no doubt that Kwan would be a great multi-faceted addition and, while he isn’t the same offensive threat that Bellinger is, he’s a far superior defensive outfielder. Furthermore, while Bellinger will be looking for a long-term contract and big money, Kwan is owed just $8.5 million in 2026 with two more years of arbitration control after that.

Getty Images

Therefore, by opting to acquire Kwan instead of signing Bellinger, the Mets would be gaining an elite defender while retaining plenty of flexibility to address other needs, like going out and getting a top-of-the-rotation starter, filling out the bullpen, and getting another bat for the middle of the lineup (I’m not convinced that Jorge Polanco alone is enough to replace Pete Alonso’s production and offer Juan Soto the required protection).

The question is, what kind of package would Cleveland be looking for to offload Kwan, who won’t be a free agent until 2028? His age plus controllability would make the prospect package going back considerable. Would the Mets want to or need to save that prospect currency for a front-line starter? These are all barriers for the Mets to acquire Kwan, not to mention the fact that Cleveland’s appetite for a trade is unknown.

As far as the next question is concerned, Kwan isn’t as sexy an addition as a Bellinger or a Kyle Tucker. That much is clear. However, based on the body of work we’ve got to go on so far this offseason, I think Kwan much better fits the profile of the kind of player Stearns is looking for. He’s an excellent defense-first player who will help to strengthen a real weakness, and he’s not going to cost mega bucks in 2026 or lock the Mets into an albatross of a contract.

I think it is clear at this point that Stearns has been given the green light to build a roster his way, and that involves some unpopular decisions and acquiring players who offer real value on the margins. As such, those additions may not get fans excited or sell a lot of tickets, but they will combine to make the Mets a more fundamentally sound baseball team, one that can get hopefully get them back to the playoffs.

Or at least that’s the perceived plan, anyway.

And, while the Mets would only have to give Bellinger money, I think it is safe to assume from all the reported talks over a mega trade with the Padres that Stearns is comfortable giving up prospect capital in order to acquire players that fit into his baseball philosophy.

All in all, if we’re right to assume that Stearns will continue on the path he’s already down, then I think a potential trade for Kwan would both be a better fit for what the Mets are trying to do this offseason in terms of run prevention. I also think it is a more realistic move given that Stearns has already shown how risk-averse he is to going out and making a statement addition.

Kwan isn’t box office, but he would tick a lot of boxes for this team, and it is that kind of move that I think we have to get used to expecting from the Mets this winter.

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Around the League 🚩

• The Phillies reportedly signed free agent RHP Brad Keller to a two-year, $22 million deal (FanSided)

• The Guardians acquired LHP Justin Bruihl from the Blue Jays for cash considerations (MLB)

• The Washington Nationals reportedly hired Phillies assistant GM Ani Kilambi as their new General Manager (ESPN)

• Twins RHP Joe Ryan will pitch for Team USA at the World Baseball Classic (MLB)

• Minnesota announced a new leadership structure with the addition of limited partners to the Twins ownership group (MLB)