Everything you need to know as Mets execs head to the Winter Meetings

This story was excerpted from Anthony DiComo's Mets Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

NEW YORK -- Last year at the Winter Meetings, the Mets shocked the industry by giving Juan Soto the richest contract in professional sports history in what owner Steve Cohen later called “a seminal moment” for the franchise. Year 1 of that deal didn’t quite work out as the Mets had envisioned, given that the team missed the playoffs, but that should only embolden Cohen and president of baseball operations David Stearns to be aggressive again.

Even after trading Brandon Nimmo to the Rangers for Marcus Semien and signing Devin Williams to a three-year contract, the Mets have a spate of needs. Pete Alonso and Edwin Díaz remain available in free agency. Nimmo’s replacement has yet to present himself. And the rotation, more than anything, requires work.

With that as a backdrop, here’s a glance at how the Mets will spend their Winter Meetings, which begin on Monday in Orlando, Fla.

Club Needs

A frontline starter: The acquisition that would most move the needle for these Mets is an ace to pair with Nolan McLean atop the rotation. Starting pitching issues were the most obvious reason why the team didn’t make the playoffs in 2025. Although the current rotation features plenty of depth with Clay Holmes, David Peterson, Sean Manaea and others, it lacks upside. The Mets need to fix that, whether by pursuing free-agent options or -- perhaps more likely -- dipping into a potentially rich trade market.

Alonso (or an Alonso replacement): Until Alonso signs, he will continue to dominate Hot Stove rumors. The Mets remain the on-paper favorite to retain him, for several reasons: They need a first baseman, he’s the best one available and he’s expressed a desire to stay in Queens long-term. But Stearns has already demonstrated a willingness to shrug off sentimentality, and Cohen seems equally fine with that strategy. Although that doesn’t mean Alonso is destined to leave, it does mean there’s probably a limit to what the Mets will be willing to offer even a longtime fan favorite. Last year the Mets played hardball and won. It will be fascinating to see how things shake out this time around.

Outfield help: The Nimmo trade opened all sorts of possibilities for the Mets, who can now pursue top-tier outfielders, such as Kyle Tucker or Cody Bellinger, to replace him. The team could also make a more modest addition to its outfield mix, knowing No. 2 prospect Carson Benge should be ready to go at some point. This area of need is intertwined with first base; if the Mets re-sign Alonso, they’ll probably feel less pressure to shop at the top of the outfield market. If they don’t, the opposite should be true.

Díaz (or a different reliever): Immediately after the Mets signed Williams, team sources expressed a continued desire to pursue Díaz. Pairing those two at the back of the bullpen would give the Mets one of the game’s most potent 1-2 punches. But the presence of Williams does give the Mets leverage in their negotiations with Díaz, reducing their urgency to re-sign him. If the Mets prefer, they can build out their bullpen with a handful of strong setup men, make Williams the closer and hope they don’t come to regret that decision.

Potential Trade Candidates

Bringing in Semien increased the Mets’ incentive to deal Jeff McNeil, who’s entering the final season of his four-year, $50 million contract. Although the Mets can certainly proceed with McNeil as the first man off their bench, they could also look to deal him for pitching or prospect depth, potentially saving money in the process.

McNeil is part of a glut of young infielders that also includes Brett Baty, Mark Vientos, Ronny Mauricio and prospect Jett Williams. The roster doesn’t have space for all of them. After establishing himself in the second half last year, Baty likely isn’t going anywhere. But one or more of the others certainly could, especially if the Mets find a deal for a frontline starter.

Prospect to Know

Outside of starting pitchers McLean, Brandon Sproat and Jonah Tong, all of whom debuted this season, the most important Mets rookie is Benge. The organization’s top-ranked position-player prospect, Benge is coming off a strong campaign that saw him make it all the way to Triple-A Syracuse. Stearns recently revealed that the 2024 first-round pick will compete for a starting job in Spring Training, and although Benge may not be quite ready to win it, he figures to have an impact on the club at some point in 2026. Already the Mets are factoring him into their plans. Regardless of how they fill their outfield holes, they want to leave a reasonable path open for Benge to contribute.

Rule 5 Draft

The only player the Mets added to their 40-man roster in advance of this year’s Rule 5 Draft is Nick Morabito, a speedy outfielder who’s getting close to the Majors. Notably left unprotected was catcher Kevin Parada, the team’s first-round pick in 2022. Although Parada has little track record of success in the Minors, his Draft pedigree and decent 2025 season have piqued the interest of rival clubs, according to industry sources. It will be worth watching whether Parada goes in this year’s Rule 5.

Burning Question: How will the Mets address their rotation?

It remains unclear how the Mets will fix a rotation that ranked among the game’s worst over the final four months of last season. Although the team has plenty of veteran depth returning and a good amount of prospect upside (shoutout to McLean), it could very much use a battle-tested ace. Although Stearns could seek the answer in free agency with a pitcher such as Framber Valdez or Tatsuya Imai, the trade market features perhaps even more tempting options.

Key Events

• Sunday, Dec. 7: HOF Classic Baseball Era Committee results released
• Tuesday, Dec. 9: MLB Draft Lottery
• Wednesday, Dec. 10: Rule 5 Draft