The New York Mets made several player transactions this offseason. The winter period started rough with the departures of Brandon Nimmo, Pete Alonso, and Edwin Diaz.
The Mets replenished that lost production by signing Luke Weaver, Devin Williams, Jorge Polanco, and Bo Bichette. On top of that, New York added Freddy Peralta, Tobias Myers, Marcus Semien and Luis Robert Jr. via trade.
Despite all of these offseason additions, former MLB GM Steve Phillips is not sold on this current Mets team.
More MLB on Heavy: 3 Starters the Braves Could Trade For After Hurston Waldrep, Spencer Schwellenbach News
Steve Phillips Predicts the Mets to Finish in 3rd Place
32 of 36 MLB executives who were polled determined that the Mets were among MLB’s most improved teams this offseason.
However, on Wednesday morning’s edition of HotStove, Steve Phillips has the Mets on his list of “least improved teams” and then predicts New York will finish in 3rd place in the NL East.
“I think they lost a lot in Pete Alonso. Brandon Nimmo is a better offensive player than Marcus Semien. Semien is better defensively, but I think they’ve gone backwards offensively, they’re backwards at the closer role where Diaz leaves, and Williams comes in.”
Getty
The argument of how well the offseason the Mets have is totally subjective, and Phillips isn’t wrong for having this belief. Most Mets fans would likely agree with Phillips that the team has definitely gone backwards if David Stearns and Steve Cohen hadn’t pulled off the additions of Bo Bichette and Freddy Peralta. Peralta gives New York a certified ace, and adding Bichette to play third base completes the infield.
Phillips is saying New York will finish in 3rd place in the NL East, which is also debatable, but a little more based, given it’s been over 10 years since the Mets have taken home the crown.
More MLB on Heavy: Carlos Mendoza Announces Mets Starter for Grapefruit League Opener
Will the Mets be Better in 2026?
The New York Mets had a disastrous end to the 2025 season, which saw the team miss the playoffs altogether after being in FIRM position to earn a spot.
The result of that was Pete Alonso and Edwin Diaz walking out the door in free agency. Having those two franchise icons walk out the door is certainly a big blow, but it’s not like Alonso and Diaz had carried New York to the Fall Classic, which is every team’s original goal, but those expectations are bigger for the Mets.
Now, Alonso and Diaz are gone, and there are several new faces, which might actually be a good thing for the Mets. Bo Bichette, Freddy Peralta, and Marcus Semien bring in strong playoff pedigrees, and Jorge Polanco just had the series of his life to propel the Mariners over the Tigers in last year’s postseason.
The Mets went 83-79 last season and finished in 2nd place in the NL East.
More MLB on Heavy: Mets Claim Former Dodgers, Yankees Catcher Off Waivers; Dedniel Nunez Placed on 60-Day IL
Mets Get Strong Take from Former MLB Executive About Offseason Additions