The New York Mets want to add a major impact arm to their rotation for 2026, and some new rumors suggest that could be a reality soon.
This has not been the offseason NY Mets fans expected. After their historic September collapse, change was expected. However, most did not think it would mean core players Edwin Diaz, Pete Alonso, Brandon Nimmo, and Jeff McNeil departing in free agency or trades.
In response, the team added Devin Williams, Marcus Semien, Jorge Polanco, and Luke Weaver. Good players, no doubt, but not the big moves the fanbase wanted. For weeks, they have been linked to various rumors and reports about signing one of the top pitchers in free agency. The two most notable left are Framber Valdez and Ranger Suarez and both are allegedly on the Mets’ radar.
However, according to Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic, while the club has interest in Valdez and Suarez, “their focus is on first exploring trades.” The report claims New York is open to deals for “rentals and pitchers with club control.”
This means stars like Tarik Skubal, Freddy Peralta, MacKenzie Gore, Edward Cabrera, and Kris Bubic are potential targets.
Could Money Trouble Help NY Mets Land a Star Pitcher Soon?
The NY Mets have taken an even harder stance this offseason about only spending in ways they are comfortable with. That means short-term deals with higher annual value for players in their 30s. It is why a trade is more appealing to the front office. Especially since they have done a good job of turning their farm system into one of the deepest and best in MLB.
While they have the assets to make any trade, it doesn’t mean they will give up their best youngsters. However, an interesting report could mean certain teams might be a bit more motivated to move certain players the NY Mets want.
The Athletic reports that nine MLB teams are in danger of losing tens of millions in revenue this year because the broadcast partner Main Street Sports Group, the parent company of FanDuel Sports Network, lost approximately $200 million in 2025 and is trying to renegotiate its current broadcast contracts.
The Cincinnati Reds, Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, Miami Marlins, and Milwaukee Brewers are among those nine teams. It means that trades for rumored targets like Hunter Greene and Brady Singer (Reds), Skubal (Tigers), Bubic (Royals), Cabrera (Marlins), and Peralta (Brewers) might be even more realistic as those clubs look to move payroll to try to offset the lost TV revenue in 2026.
