It seemed to take forever but in finally making a big-splash move, signing Bo Bichette last week, the Mets offered reason to believe they can still turn this offseason into something even their discontented fans would deem a success.
There is more to be done, to be sure. The Mets still haven’t made a move to upgrade their starting rotation, seemingly their top priority this winter, but after the events of last week you have to think David Stearns will do something significant on that front as well.
It wasn’t just that they signed Bichette, one of the top all-around hitters in baseball, but that Stearns and Steve Cohen made it clear they’re still willing to spend big. They offered Kyle Tucker a whopping $220 million over four years, but after losing him to the Los Angeles Dodgers, locked up Bichette for $42 million a year — eye-popping as well — on a three-year deal that includes opt-outs after Years 1 and 2.
Now, in addition to more pitching, the Mets still need an outfielder to replace Brandon Nimmo. So I’m a long way from giving Stearns a final offseason grade, but with every acquisition the Mets make I’ll be updating the grades of individual moves.
Suffice it to say, there’s plenty to like about the Bichette signing.
The grades:
BO BICHETTE SIGNED: 3 YEARS, $126 MILLION
For starters, it was impressive that Stearns had laid the groundwork for a Bichette deal so that he was able to pivot and sign the former Toronto Blue Jays shortstop within 12 hours or so of losing out on Tucker.
Bichette’s numbers as a high-average hitter with considerable pop speak for themselves, but perhaps most notable is that he has been one of the best clutch hitters in baseball throughout his career. He led the majors in hits with runners in scoring position last season, hitting .381 in those spots, and his career average with RISP is .330 with a .904 OPS.
Scouts say he excels in the clutch in part because he’s a smart hitter who makes adjustments with runners on base, recognizing how pitchers are trying to get him out, and oozes confidence in a way that some say is reminiscent of Derek Jeter.
“As the son of a big leaguer (Dante Bichette) he just seems comfortable in any situation,” said one scout. “In big spots he trusts his ability and keeps it simple, like Jeter did. He’s just a really tough out when it counts most.”
As such, Bichette, who may still be ascending at age 28 (come March), figures to be the guy to hit behind Juan Soto, dangerous enough that pitchers won’t pitch around Soto constantly. Also, as a right-handed hitter he gives the Mets’ lineup some needed balance, essentially replacing Pete Alonso in that sense anyway.
He needs to prove he can play third base, but shortstops usually can make that move without great difficulty. Bichette’s range, which ranked worst among shortstops last season, shouldn’t be as much as an issue at third, but it’s something to watch.
GRADE: A
BRANDON NIMMO TRADED FOR MARCUS SEMIEN
I give Stearns credit for being willing to break up the core that failed to deliver when it counted most for the last several years, the only exception being 2024. This trade with the Texas Rangers was the first move in that direction. In addition Stearns got out from under an expensive contract that likely wasn’t going to age well, with five years and $102.5 million remaining.
That said, taking on Semien’s three years and $72 million remaining is a major gamble as well. His defense at second base is an upgrade over McNeil but Stearns’ run-prevention philosophy may not be such an easy sell at Citi Field if Semien’s offensive decline of the last two years continues at age 34.
When this trade was made on Nov. 23, I felt like it would ultimately be judged on how Stearns replaced Nimmo’s offense. So far there is no such replacement.
GRADE: C
DEVIN WILLIAMS SIGNED: 3 YEARS, $51 MILLION
Much like the Nimmo trade, I felt this signing had to be evaluated by what came next. It had home run potential if paired with the re-signing of Edwin Diaz, but after the Mets either botched the Diaz negotiations or were OK with letting him leave - it’s still hard to be sure about which - it now feels like much more of a gamble.
Williams’ struggles in the Bronx in 2024 seemed very much related to the pressure of being the closer on such a big stage. That he eventually righted himself would seem to be a good sign, but it was also only long after he’d been removed as the Yankees’ closer.
So it’s fair to wonder how he’ll fare with the expectations of filling Diaz’s shoes as the Mets’ closer. The numbers say his stuff is still elite but scouts who watched him regularly say pressure affected the command of both his fastball and signature changeup.
GRADE: C
JORGE POLANCO SIGNED: 2 YEARS, $40 MILLION
In a sense the Bichette signing also impacts the Polanco deal, no longer making him the most significant offseason acquisition with the expectation of replacing Alonso’s offense, even if he is expected to be the Mets’ primary first baseman.
As such I changed the grade on this move.
As a complement to Bichette, Polanco is a solid signing, coming off a strong age-32 season for the Seattle Mariners in which he slugged .495 and hit 26 home runs, plus two more off Tarik Skubal in the postseason. And, like Bichette, he has been a very good clutch hitter, hitting .337 with runners in scoring position last year, and .400 w/RISP and two outs — as well as a .306 career hitter with RISP.
Of course, he also has a history of inconsistency from year to year, perhaps due somewhat to injuries, and he has no real in-game experience playing first base, even if the Mariners gave him a crash-course at the position last season in case he was needed.
Bottom line, the Mets needed another accomplished hitter to ensure Polanco alone wasn’t expected to make up for the absence of Alonso in the lineup. Now they have one.
GRADE: Adjusted from C to B
LUKE WEAVER SIGNED: 2 YEARS, $22 MILLION
This is the one acquisition so far that doesn’t feel connected to anything else the Mets may or may not do. Instead it feels like a good gamble, signing Weaver to be one of the primary set-up men for Williams, knowing it wasn’t so long ago he excelled in the role of closer for the Yankees in 2023.
The righthander lost his way last season, but many baseball people believe Weaver’s struggles were related to tipping his pitches, which he eventually admitted messed with him mentally. Presumably he’s had time to make corrections, in which case his fastball-change-up combination, similar to Williams’ arsenal, will again be effective.
GRADE: B
JEFF MCNEIL TRADED IN SALARY DUMP
There wasn’t much doubt McNeil would be moved after the departures of Nimmo and Alonso. Whether a break-up of the core proves meaningful remains to be seen but clearly Stearns believed major change was needed, and McNeil’s reported dust-ups with Francisco Lindor may have added to that belief.
In any case, going into his age-34 season in 2026, McNeil is a long way from the batting champ who hit .326 in 2022, hitting .238 and .243 the last two seasons, so he wasn’t expected to bring back much of a return. In trading him to the Athletics, the Mets got back a lottery ticket of sorts, a 17-year old right-hander, Yordan Rodriguez.
More to the point, the A’s are taking on $10 million of McNeil’s $15.75 salary next season, the last on his four-year contract. The Mets are eating $5.75 million and potentially $2 million more if the A’s don’t’ pick up McNeil’s 2027 club option for another $15.75 million.
McNeil could have had value as a versatile utilityman playing behind Semien next season, so it’s up to Stearns to make better use of the $10 million saved.
GRADE: B