A pair of MLB rumors opens the door to land veteran stars that would be designated hitter upgrades for the New York Mets in 2026.
After a stunning collapse in September that cost them a playoff spot, there has been a ton of speculation about what the Mets plan to do this winter. They must rebuild their bullpen and started the process recently by signing Devin Williams. There are also reports that, despite adding the two-time All-Star, they still want to bring back their own closer, Edwin Diaz.
They want to overhaul their starting rotation a bit. In recent weeks, they have been linked to all of the top arms in free agency, and there have been rumors that they are shopping one-time All-Star Kodai Senga. Plus, they would like to re-sign franchise home run king Pete Alonso. Not bringing the first baseman back could have a ripple effect and create a need for a designated hitter.
Veteran Starling Marte was solid in the role last season, but they can do better at that spot. So, who could the Mets target to be an impact player at the DH for 2026? An intriguing option emerged this week when The Athletic reported the Los Angeles Dodgers are open to trading slugger Teoscar Hernandez.
Although the 33-year-old had a down season in 2025, he still smashed 25 homers and knocked in 89 runs. But most importantly, he was again very good in the playoffs as he helped LA win a second straight title in October.
Should the NY Mets target Luis Arraez?
Obviously, the Mets could try and go with internal options at DH if they need to fill the spot in the lineup next season. However, there remain some intriguing options on the offseason market. On Friday, The Athletic also reported that despite being a good fit, the Texas Rangers are unlikely to sign three-time All-Star Luis Arraez.
While he doesn’t bring power and isn’t a strong defender, the 28-year-old is one of the best contact hitters in the game. He has hit over .300 in multiple seasons in an era where that is a rarity, and has twice posted 200 or more hits in a season. Last season, he hit .292 and tallied 181 hits for the San Diego Padres.
What would make him even more appealing to Mets President David Stearns, beyond his elite hitting, is that The Athletic believes he would come at a “bargain rate” in free agency this winter.
