The New York Mets enter the offseason facing familiar roster construction questions following a 2026 campaign that ended without a postseason berth. David Stearns addressed the media at Citi Field to discuss the front office’s offseason objectives, noting that securing external pitching depth remains a priority for the organization.
Evaluating the 2026 Season and Roster Turnover
New York finished the 2026 season with a 34-31 record following the All-Star break, showing improvement after a difficult first half that forced a trade deadline sell-off. The front office managed long-term injuries to Francisco Lindor and Clay Holmes alongside heavy roster turnover and an over-reliance on bounce-back seasons. Despite the missed postseason, the team benefited from the emergence of young talents Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing, the return of pitcher Christian Scott, the performance of Zac Thornton, and late-season outings from Jonah Tong. These developments provide a foundation for the positional lineup and parts of the starting rotation heading into winter preparations.
Targeting Rotation Depth and Frontline Pitching
Stearns acknowledged during his end-of-season news conference that the organization needs to add to its starting rotation. In both 2025 and 2026, the Mets lacked sufficient starting pitching depth, leaving the club short of a legitimate starter across both years. The front office intends to evaluate multiple avenues for rotation upgrades, balancing long-term internal development with external acquisitions.
Among potential external options, starting pitcher Tarik Skubal stands out in the 2026-2027 free agent class. Skubal recorded a 2.72 ERA, 2.51 FIP, and 0.96 WHIP while striking out 186 batters in 158.2 innings during the 2026 season split between the Detroit Tigers and Los Angeles Dodgers. His campaign featured a brief interruption due to NanoScope surgery on his pitching elbow, which sidelined him from April 30 through June 13. Following his return, he maintained his production with a 2.73 ERA across 19 post-surgery starts, including 10 appearances after his trade to Los Angeles.
Offseason Financial and Roster Flexibility
When questioned about pursuing Skubal during his press conference, Stearns declined to comment on specific targets, citing standard front-office protocol regarding players under contract with other clubs and the need to protect his bargaining position. Skubal is under contract with the Dodgers and, having been traded midseason from Detroit, is ineligible to receive a qualifying offer, meaning acquiring him via free agency would not require draft pick compensation.
Alongside the rotation, the Mets must address external needs at first base, the designated hitter role, and the bullpen by adding multiple relief arms, including a back-end option.
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