An interesting new rumor offers the New York Mets the opportunity to improve a weakness and slash some payroll in one worthwhile move.
This week, NY Mets pitchers and catchers will arrive in Port St. Lucie to begin the build toward the 2026 MLB season. A month ago, fans had serious concerns that this year’s team was worse than the one that had an epic collapse in September after they moved on from four core members of the team this winter, including Pete Alonso and Edwin Diaz.
However, a few weeks ago, hope for a much better campaign came when the team made several big moves, including a trade for Milwaukee Brewers ace Freddy Peralta. There is now a belief that — at least on paper — this rebuilt NY Mets roster can be a World Series contender in the National League. However, if there was one area they could still improve, it’s the bullpen.
There are certainly question marks in their rotation, but at least they have depth and upside in that part of the pitching staff. In the offseason, they signed proven relievers Devin Williams and Luke Weaver, but both are coming off down years in 2025. They acquired Tobias Myers in the trade for Peralta, and while he has a lot of talent, he has also proven to be an inconsistent player in his first two seasons.
The NY Mets bullpen looks like it can be a solid unit if players perform up to their potential, or like they did in previous seasons. But that is no guarantee, and even if they did, you can never have enough impact arms in the bullpen.
Should the NY Mets target a trade for Rockies Mejia or Vodnik?
However, the club has the chance to add to the pen and can do it by moving some of the excess veteran starters they have. According to Mass Live’s Chris Cotillo, “A team poking around looking for veteran starting pitching: Colorado, per sources.”
The NY Mets have as many as nine pitchers who can be a part of the five-man rotation on Opening Day. It’s why rumors swirled in the offseason about trades including Kodai Senga, David Peterson, and Sean Manaea. The Rockies may be open to a deal for either arm, especially one-time All-Star Peterson.
In a potential trade, the organization can target the Rockies’ 2025 holds leader, Juan Mejia, or the talented groundball pitcher, Victor Vodnik. Both are in their mid-20s and throw hard. The NY Mets staff would surely love to work with them, and either could add a meaningful arm to the pen and cut some fat off the payroll if they can move Senga or Manaea in a deal.
