The New York Mets left the 2025 Winter Meetings in Orlando without acquiring any Major League players, instead seeing key departures like Pete Alonso to the Orioles and Edwin Díaz to the Dodgers. Despite the losses, president of baseball operations David Stearns remains optimistic about addressing needs in the rotation, outfield, and bullpen. The team missed the playoffs in 2025 after a disappointing second half.
The 2025 Winter Meetings in Orlando concluded without the New York Mets making any Major League acquisitions, a stark contrast to fan expectations. Over three days, the Mets watched franchise icon Pete Alonso sign a five-year, $155 million contract with the Baltimore Orioles. The team did not extend a formal offer to Alonso, signaling a strategic shift under Stearns. Similarly, fan favorite closer Edwin Díaz departed for the rival Los Angeles Dodgers on a three-year, $69 million deal, despite the Mets submitting an offer that fell short.
Brandon Nimmo, a longtime outfielder and co-captain alongside Francisco Lindor, was traded to the Texas Rangers in November after waiving his no-trade clause. These moves have left significant gaps, particularly after a 2025 season where the Mets finished with 83 wins and missed the playoffs. The rotation struggled in the second half, contributing to their downfall, while the offense lost over 60 home runs with Alonso's 38 (making him the franchise leader) and Soto's team-high 43. Notably, the Mets went 0-70 in comeback attempts when trailing after the eighth inning.
Stearns emphasized ongoing activity in free agency and trades. Top needs include bolstering the starting rotation, possibly via a blockbuster for an ace or subtle moves. Outfield and first base options like free agents Kyle Tucker, Cody Bellinger, or Japanese stars Munetaka Murakami and Kazuma Okamoto are in consideration. The bullpen requires multiple additions beyond recent signing Devin Williams, with links to Robert Suarez.
Manager Carlos Mendoza addressed the departures and reports of clubhouse issues, attributing them to poor performance. "When you don’t play well, that happens, right?" Mendoza said. "A team that had so much expectation, and we didn’t even make it to the playoffs."
Stearns defended the clubhouse: "I think we had a pretty good clubhouse last year... We just didn’t play well for the last two months of the year, and everyone was very frustrated by it."
In the Draft Lottery, the Mets' first 2026 pick dropped to 27th due to exceeding the Competitive Balance Tax. No changes occurred in the Rule 5 Draft. Owner Steve Cohen, who apologized for the "unacceptable" season, faces pressure to rebuild with his substantial resources. Stearns concluded optimistically: "I’m very optimistic about where our offseason is headed... I am confident that we’re really going to like where our team is once we get to Opening Day."