The Mets' offseason has been a whirlwind of activity, with a constant flow of big names entering and exiting the team's roster. Joel Sherman from the New York Post has provided an insightful breakdown of the Mets' moves and the intricate plans behind these transactions. His article reveals some intriguing free agent and trade targets that were previously under the radar, including Ranger Suarez, Ryan Weathers, Johan Oviedo, and the Pirates' pitchers Bubba Chandler and Braxton Ashcraft.
The Mets' trade for Freddy Peralta earlier this week was a significant move, finally securing the top-tier rotation help they had been seeking all offseason. This move became crucial as many of the other pitchers the team was interested in had already found new teams. The Yankees acquired Weathers, the Red Sox signed Oviedo, and Suarez joined the Red Sox on a lucrative five-year, $130MM contract.
The Mets' approach to long-term deals for pitchers has been a topic of discussion. Multiple reports suggest the team preferred shorter-term arrangements, which is also reflected in their position-player pursuits. The Mets offered Kyle Tucker a four-year, $220MM deal and then signed Bo Bichette to a three-year, $126MM contract with player opt-out clauses. It's interesting to note that the Mets were prepared to match the Red Sox's five-year, $130MM offer for Suarez if Bichette hadn't signed.
This offseason has been a game of sliding doors for the Mets, with their priorities shifting rapidly as other teams made moves and star players were snapped up. Bichette, for instance, wasn't initially a known target for the Mets, but after missing out on Tucker, they quickly pivoted and secured Bichette from the Phillies, who were close to finalizing a deal with him. The Mets ended up with their desired ace, Peralta, at a relatively low financial cost but at a hefty trade cost, giving up promising prospects Brandon Sproat and Jett Williams.
The Mets' successful pursuit of Bichette could be seen as a form of revenge after their unsuccessful attempt to sign Kyle Schwarber. New York was known to have an interest in Schwarber, and the Mets were reportedly more deeply involved in the pursuit than previously known. Schwarber ultimately re-signed with the Phillies for five years and $150MM, and the Mets perceived they would need to offer significantly more to convince him to leave Philadelphia.
The Mets had extensive talks with the Marlins about Edward Cabrera before he was traded to the Cubs, which explains the interest in Ryan Weathers. Sherman reported that Weathers had attracted interest from 8-10 teams, and it was the Yankees who landed him in a four-prospect package deal.
The Pirates' desire to upgrade their lineup this offseason was well-known, and with a surplus of pitchers, it was assumed they would trade starting pitching for some batting reinforcements. The five-player deal that sent Oviedo to Boston brought Jhostynxon Garcia, a young outfielder, to the Bucs, and Mike Burrows was traded to the Astros as part of a three-team swap with the Rays, which brought Brandon Lowe to Pittsburgh.
With Oviedo and Burrows gone, the Pirates have likely closed the door on further pitching trades. GM Ben Cherington has indicated the team may now look to add some rotation depth. Chandler and Ashcraft, both promising young pitchers, made their MLB debuts in 2025 and are expected to be part of the Pirates' rotation for years to come.
Sherman revealed that the Mets extensively discussed Chandler, Ashcraft, and Oviedo in negotiations with the Pirates. It would be fascinating to delve deeper into these talks. Given the Oviedo deal, the Bucs were likely seeking controllable position-player talent, so players like Brett Baty, Mark Vientos, Ronny Mauricio, or top prospect Carson Benge could have been on their wish list. If the Pirates were after a more veteran bat like Lowe, Jeff McNeil (who was traded to the A's just before Christmas) might have been a consideration, but it's hard to imagine the Pirates giving up a significant MLB-ready pitcher for McNeil.
