The New York Mets have been one of the biggest winners throughout the course of the MLB offseason and have set themselves up to be a top-tier World Series contender.
While the team should be happy about what it has done, the question remains whether they have done enough to compete with the Los Angeles Dodgers, who also improved a lot after signing superstar outfielder Kyle Tucker.
So far this offseason, the biggest moves for the Mets have been the signing of former Toronto Blue Jays star shortstop Bo Bichette and the blockbuster trade to acquire star pitcher Freddy Peralta from the Milwaukee Brewers. Both of those moves have made New York a much more serious threat in the National League.
That being said, new reporting has shared that the Mets also showed interest in two other big trade options.
New York Mets Showed Interest in 2 Intriguing Trade Targets
According to a report from Will Sammon of The Athletic, New York showed interest in trading for Willson Contreras before the St. Louis Cardinals traded him to the Boston Red Sox. The Mets were also interested in Arizona Diamondbacks star infielder Ketel Marte, who remains with his current team.
Sammon also shared that they were indeed involved in the free agency talks surrounding Cody Bellinger, who ended up re-signing with the New York Yankees.
“As far as premium players go, the Mets held conversations about Cody Bellinger (a free agent who re-signed with the New York Yankees), Willson Contreras (whom the St. Louis Cardinals traded to the Boston Red Sox) and Ketel Marte (whom the Arizona Diamondbacks haven’t traded), but never got close on either player.”
New York has been incredibly active this offseason. This new report gives a glimpse at even more activity than fans have known about up to this point in time.
Both Players Would Have Been Nice Additions for the Mets
Taking a closer look at the two reported trade targets for the Mets, both players would have made a lot of sense.
Contreras has been a good player for many years. Last season with the Cardinals, he played in 135 games and hit 20 home runs to go along with 80 RBI and a slash line of .257/.344/.447.
As for Marte, he is coming off of a 2025 campaign that saw him make the All-Star game. He appeared in 126 games, hitting 28 home runs, driving in 72 RBI, and slashing .283/.376/.517. If New York decided it wanted to still pursue, the move could still be an option for the right price.
More than likely, New York is done making big move during the offseason. The trade deadline could be something to keep an eye on for the Mets.
It will be interesting to see what the new-look team can do to start off the 2026 season. New York is loaded with talent and should be a contender. Fans can only wait patiently to find out whether or not the Mets can live up to their potential.
Report: Mets Pursued 2 Major Trades During MLB Offseason