Some non-flashy moves the Mets could make as major improvements

Plus, a flurry of expected options were officially exercised on Monday

What’s up with the Mets? 🍎

• Frankie Montas picked up his player option for 2026; he is not expected to pitch next season

• The Mets picked up their club option on Brooks Raley, bringing him back to the bullpen for 2026

• The Mets declined their club option on Drew Smith’s contract, sending him to free agency

• Brandon Waddell was re-signed to a one-year major league contract

• The Mets acquired RHP Joey Gerber from the Rays in exchange for cash

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Biggest needs aside, where else does winning value exist this winter? ✍️

(Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post)

The Mets have quite a few things to address ahead of Opening Day 2026 — you don’t need me to repeat them here.

What I will repeat, however, is the point Justin made in his post yesterday, because it should be shared ad nauseam with whoever will listen: David Stearns needs to be bold this offseason, and it needs to happen swiftly.

However, I’m curious to see if he can simultaneously shake up his own process and effectively address areas of need beyond Edwin Díaz, Pete Alonso, and adding an ace, specifically in the outfield and the bullpen.

In the outfield, the immediate future is less clear than what appears to be the long-term plan. With Soto and Nimmo both in the corners for at least another year (or until A.J. Ewing and/or Carson Benge get called up), the beloved Gold Glove winner Tyrone Taylor is the sole man running the show in center field. As solid as he is, the position clearly needs reinforcements.

Here’s a simple, predictable proposition: why not a Harrison Bader reunion?

(Brace Hemmelgarn / GettyImages)

Harrison Bader is this team’s Guy That Got Away…and now, after declining his option with the Phillies, he’s available again. Looking at the rest of the free agent market at his position, I think he would be the perfect veteran candidate to help shore up the center field position alongside Taylor.

After he was traded to the Phillies at the 2025 deadline, Bader maintained the production he put on display in the first half that made him such a hot commodity to begin with. He hit .277 with 17 home runs, 24 doubles, 54 RBIs, and a .796 OPS across 142 games, easily his best offensive season since he left St. Louis. His 43.8% hard-hit rate and 7.2% barrel rate were career highs, and his 80% contact rate helped lead to a career-high .347 on-base rate.

Long story short, he was really, really good last year, and his offensive trends over the last four seasons show no indication that any of his production was a fluke.

Now, is he truly a perfect piece? No — despite dead-even platoon splits in the first half, Bader ended up hitting lefties only marginally better than TT did, and he struck out a ton relative to recent performance. Still, Taylor’s capable veteran presence both in the field and on the bases proved invaluable in key moments down the stretch last season; Bader gives you equivalent base-stealing value (12 SB vs. 11 for Taylor) and arguably even more defensive upside (8 OAA vs. 3 for Taylor). In my mind, there’s literally no reason not to throw another one-year deal his way, even if it’s a bit on the pricier side.

Otherwise? They should honestly just re-sign Marte. Outside of Bellinger and Tucker, there’s not a lot going on in the outfield market, and I don’t see the Mets making a particularly serious play for either of those guys. Based on their current roster construction and the talent at the top-end of their farm system, barring a big trade, I don’t think that brand of big move is lurking in Stearns’ cards., If they end up making a big move in the position player market, it would most likely be one to replace Pete Alonso.

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Ok, on to the bullpen.

For some momentary sanity and peace of mind, let’s operate under the assumption that Uncle Steve is handing out the requisite cash to keep Edwin Díaz in a Mets uniform for the rest of his career.

This is what that stable of arms currently looks like (presumed Edwin included):

• Brandon Waddell (LHP)

• Dylan Ross (RHP)

• Richard Lovelady (LHP)

• Huascar Brazoban (RHP)

• A.J. Minter (LHP)

• Brooks Raley (LHP)

• Díaz (RHP)

Still a fairly balanced group…but, much like the starting rotation, it’s still noticeably devoid of a necessary stud; they’d realistically need two great arms to even somewhat compensate for a Díaz departure.

This bullpen could be a perfect fit for the likes of Emilio Pagán, who was terrific for Cincinnati this year, or Raisel Iglesias, one of the very few bright spots on an otherwise woeful Atlanta Braves team.

(Jason Mowry / Getty Images; Kevin D. Liles / Getty Images

Both Pagán and Iglesias offer that exact example of lockdown veteran presence that this Mets bullpen needs to back up Edwin Díaz.

My preference, naturally, is Pagán. He posted a 2.88 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, and a career-high 32 saves while striking out 81 batters over 66 innings last year, and though his walk rate ticked up slightly, he more than compensated with a ~30.0% K rate, maintaining his 3.72 FIP from the year prior.

This one, admittedly, seems unlikely — Pagán himself said he wants to ‘run it back’ with Cincy. Still, money talks, and if there’s any reason Reds ownership balks at paying him what he deserves, the Mets’ front office may as well spend big on Díaz and try to shell out a little extra to shore up the backend of the bullpen for at least the next two seasons. Besides, Edwin can’t close every game.

Iglesias, meanwhile, delivered a very respectable 3.21 ERA, 3.31 FIP, 1.00 WHIP, and 29 saves over 67 innings. Though not all the performance trends are ideal, he still offers a ton of upside in the ‘Stuff’ department, as the majority of his arsenal is still generating above-average whiff rates despite a slight decrease in velocity. At age 35, you’d expect to see some regression anyway, and nothing in last season’s data stands out to me as a flagrant indicator of imminent collapse.

Again, Iglesias is another case where they’d be asking a proven career closer to abdicate that role to Díaz…but I see him slotting into this current Mets bullpen very naturally. Though the shape and movement of his pitches aren’t necessarily going to blow you away, Iglesias deploys his pitch mix very effectively, and he knows both how to fill the zone and get hitters to chase. If they can make something work, I’d feel very comfortable with the bullpen.

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I know nothing I’ve suggested here is particularly flashy; I also know it disregards potential trade scenarios — work with me here. My overall point is that, be it via trades or free agency, there’s ample opportunity for the Mets to seriously improve their roster this offseason. Outside of addressing the major free agency elephants in the room, Stearns and Cohen really don’t need to overthink things over the next few months.

We know where the obvious big bucks deserve to be spent: Díaz, Alonso.

And we also know there’s significant value available for a less extravagant price that doesn’t require sacrificing talent for savings, nor a long-term commitment that will notably impact prospect timelines: Bader, Pagan, Iglesias, etc. (Newcomb? Too many lefites?)

The formula feels simple enough: invest appropriately in the Major League roster so the kids and the farm don’t have to bear any more unnecessary weight than they did last season. The money’s there, and the fans want it to be spent — provided it’s being spent on the right pieces.

Based on the contrition management put on display in the immediate aftermath of the season’s implosion, it appears both Cohen and Stearns got the message that this fanbase’s well of patience has just about run dry.

Multiple metaphorical shoes are dangling in the air, and their proverbial strings are thinning by the day…

I can’t wait to see which one drops first.

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Around the League 🚩

• Yu Darvish announced that he will be undergoing UCL surgery and will miss the entire 2026 season (MLB)

• Shane Bieber exercised his player option and is staying with the Blue Jays (MLB Trade Rumors)

• Jack Flaherty also exercised his player option to return to the Tigers (ESPN)

• Salvador Perez and the Royals agreed on a two-year extension (MLB)

• Trevor Story declined his opt-out clause and is staying with the Red Sox (ESPN)

• The Braves picked up their team option on Ozzie Albies (MLB Trade Rumors)

• The Orioles acquired Andrew Kittredge from the Cubs in exchange for cash considerations (MLB)

• Ha-Seong Kim opted out of his deal with the Braves (MLB)

• Randal Grichuk declined his mutual option with the Royals (MLB Trade Rumors)