That means significant interest in two of the top talents in Kyle Tucker and Cody Bellinger, both of whom will cost a pretty penny. Bellinger, who spent last season with the Yankees, is projected to receive a shorter-term deal of five to six years, which will come in at a value north of $140 million. Tucker, meanwhile, could secure a decade-long deal worth over $400 million.
Nimmo was drafted by the Mets 13th overall in the 2011 draft, and he's spent his entire career in the Big Apple. The outfielder began his big league career in 2016 and has slashed .262/.364/.438 with 135 home runs in 4,365 plate appearances for a 126 wRC+. His best season, at least in terms of fWAR, came in 2022. At the conclusion of that season, Nimmo signed an eight-year deal worth $162 million.
Jeff Passan of ESPN first reported Tuesday that the Mets are in on the right-handed reliever, who was one of the best closers in baseball during his six years with the Brewers, but imploded after being acquired by the crosstown rival Yankees last winter. The 31-year-old lost his job as closer in the Bronx behind the worst year of his career. He posted a 4.79 ERA in 62 innings pitched he had a 1.83 career ERA entering 2025 with 18 saves and four blown saves.
According to team president David Stearns, rookie center fielder Carson Benge is legitimately in the mix for a spot on the 2026 roster. While the Mets navigate decisions around their veteran roster and long-term core, they are also clearly committed to creating opportunities for younger talent. SNY reported that Stearns emphasized that the club must remain cognizant of rising young players when shaping the major-league team, signaling a shift toward youth development as a key part of the organization's plan.
The Mets had the right idea in making Max Scherzer the highest-salaried pitcher of his generation three years ago. It was easy to envision Scherzer as a co-ace to Jacob deGrom fronting a championship rotation. But the problem with that $130 million contract was the execution. Rather than being the final Cooperstown-worthy piece for a title run, Scherzer's Flushing legacy ultimately is one of failure.
Shortly after they were swept out of the NLCS by the dominant Los Angeles Dodgers, it came out that the Milwaukee Brewers were going to listen to trade offers regarding their ace, Freddy Peralta. Draw up the immediate links to the Mets. The 29-year-old right-hander's value could not be much higher ahead of a 2026 season in which he has a club option worth $8 million before hitting free agency the following winter.
Alonso saying he is seeking a 7 year deal is essentially him saying that he's out of Queens. So if you're Stearns, is the play to go all out for Murakami? Short-term on a Josh Naylor? Or give the keys to Clifford, strengthen up elsewhere like CF, 3B, DH to supplement the offense now you don't have Pete? Or just really go all in on your "Run Prevention" Plan, go get a Skubal or Skenes, sign Valdez or Cease and fortify the defense.
The righthander joins a slew of other Mets pitchers who underwent the procedure this year. Tylor Megill, who is under team control for two more years but could be non-tendered this offseason, Frankie Montas, Dedniel Nunez and Danny Young also had Tommy John surgery. Nunez and Young had the surgery early enough in the season to have an outside chance of pitching next year.
This season did not end the way we hoped, Marte wrote in an Instagram post. Every game we left on the field, every opportunity that slipped away, we felt it just as you did. But also we felt something immense: the unconditional support of every Mets fan. You were the reason we gave everything in every game, the motivation that pushed us to keep going even in the toughest moments.
Likewise, there have been previous rosters that have found their Octobers surprisingly free despite an ownership hellbent on spending for hardware, possibly even to the level of the Mets' $340 million or so payroll, once inflation has been accounted for. There have even been nosedives as steep as New York's, which saw them go from the sport's best record in June to a mere 83 wins when all the beans were counted.
Just three weeks ago, on Sept. 8, the Mets owned a four-game lead over the Reds with 19 games remaining. They had a 92.2% chance to reach the postseason, according to FanGraphs. Even this weekend, when their slide had been going for three months, optimism still existed. Day after day, disappointment after disappointment, the Mets repeated the same line: There was too much talent in that clubhouse not to be able to reverse course and play in October.