The worst nightmare of New York Mets fans became a reality on Sunday afternoon. After being one of the best teams in baseball during the first few months of the season, they went 38-55 over their last 93 games to complete one of the most shocking collapses in MLB history. The franchise with a payroll of $341 million in 2025 will have the fall and winter to contemplate what went wrong and how to fix it.
Getting back to the playoffs in 2026 will certainly require some new additions to help address the failings they had this year. With that in mind, let’s take a look at 12 impact players the Mets could target in an offseason that began much earlier than fans expected.
Also Read: Mets Complete Collapse – 8 Players & Coaches That Must Go, Including Kodai Senga
Adley Rutschman
There have been loud rumblings that Adley Rutschman’s time with the Baltimore Orioles could be near an end. After a big season in 2023, he has declined in the last two years. However, he is still a two-time All-Star who is only 27 and offers the Mets a potential replacement at catcher or first base.
It is getting to a point where moving on from Francisco Alvarez and his slumps and/or injury woes makes sense. Rutschman is a proven big league player still under arbitration control for the next two years. However, if Pete Alonso departs in free agency, he is a very affordable replacement at first with solid pop who can also play catcher.
Dylan Cease
The Mets have been linked to former Cy Young Award candidate Dylan Cease for the last couple of years. He has never been an All-Star, but he is a legitimate front-line starter in the big leagues. The big issue is his inconsistency. However, maybe that benefits New York, and after a down year in 2025, they get him on the come-up next season, and his asking price will be more realistic in free agency.
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Cody Bellinger
The New York Yankees felt Cody Bellinger would be great for them, and that is exactly what happened in 2025. He finished just shy of 30 homers and 100 RBIs with a rock-solid .272 average. Plu,s the versatile one-time MVP brought good defense at both center field and first base. Areas the Mets will have to address in the offseason, especially if Alonso leaves in free agency. Furthermore, stealing away another premium free agent from the Bronx would be a nice win after a miserable finish.
Braxton Ashcraft
The Mets found out after the trade deadline that while bringing in proven veteran relievers makes sense, it is far from a guarantee that they will deliver. With the franchise likely looking to cut costs this offseason, why not target younger, high upside arms that pitching coach Jeremy Hefner can mold? That is why Pittsburgh Pirates righty Braxton Ashcraft should be a target.
In his big league debut, Ashcraft pitched to a 2.71 ERA in just under 70 innings with 71 K to 24 walks. Could things go bad in his follow-up season? Sure. But at only 25, the potential is there for him to be an impact arm for a cheap cost. With New York having one of the best minor leagues in MLB, they have the assets to swap prospects for prospects.
Josh Naylor
Filling the void if Alonso leaves in free agency will be tough, but there are solid options to replace him in free agency. One of the most notable is one-time All-Star Josh Naylor. He plays solid defense at first and is a near lock for around 30 home runs and 100 RBIs each season. However, in 2025, the plump seven-year veteran proved he has some serious base-swiping skills with 30 SBs this year.
Jacob deGrom
Mets legend Jacob deGrom proved in 2025 that his days as an elite player aren’t over after earning a fifth trip to the All-Star game at 37. Long-time fans know the risk financially ($75 million still guaranteed) because of his injury history. However, Starling Marte’s $20 million will come off the books, and if they can move players like Jeff McNeil and Kodai Senga, they can bring on his money without adding to payroll or hurting the roster.
Furthermore, the idea of the future Hall-of-Famer mentoring stud prospects Nolan McLean, Brandon Sproat, and Jonah Tong for the next couple of years is fascinating.
Jimmy Herget
When fully healthy, veteran reliever Jimmy Herget has been a pretty good reliever. In 2023 and 2024, he had down seasons and posted ERAs well over 4.00 in just 37 combined appearances. However, those years are sandwiched by a pair of seasons with a 2.48 ERA, including 83.1 innings for the Colorado Rockies this year. Team President David Stearns is supposed to be a wiz at finding under-the-radar pitching talent. The righty under arbitration control for two more seasons is an affordable option they should look at.
Michael King
Over the last four seasons, former Yankees prospect Michael King has shown he has top-of-the-rotation talent. He has a mutual option with the San Diego Padres this offseason, but is sure to pass on it to get a big pay raise in MLB free agency. King is right in the middle of his prime and has pitched well in multiple seasons under the New York spotlight. He will no doubt be near the top of the Mets’ offseason wishlist.
Mike Vasil
Like Aschcraft, Chicago White Sox righty Mike Vasil is another young, high upside reliever the Mets should take a run at. In 101 innings this season, he pitched to a 2.50 ERA with 82 strikeouts to 52 walks. He needs to cut down on his walks. But the former Mets prospect is only 25 and has potential to be a long-term late-inning option for the team.
Josh Bell
With Marte unlikely to return, the Mets will need to look at potential replacements at designated hitter. One likely option will be Josh Bell. The 10-year veteran brings what you want for that spot. Solid pop and hitting acumen, and he will cost half of what Marte did this year.
Trent Grisham
If the New York Mets can’t get Cody Bellinger, they might target a different Yankee this winter. That being center fielder Trent Grisham. The seven-year veteran had a breakout season (34 homers and 74 RBIs) in 2025. Just in time for a jump into free agency later this year. There is certainly risk in the move because 2025 may end up being an anomaly. But he will cost far less than Bellinger, is only 28, and has shown he can handle the New York pressure.
Andrew Chafin
Twelve-year big league veteran Andrew Chafin is in the final years of his career. But he continues to be a highly competent left-handed pitcher. The 35-year-old posted a 2.41 ERA in 42 appearances this season and has a 3.35 ERA for his career. If Stearns prefers veteran options for the pen, Chafin won’t come at a wild rate, and is an impact player they should target.
