This year's free agent class is led by star outfielder Kyle Tucker, who will be entering his age-29 season in 2026 and could get a deal worth around $400 million.
Tucker, an All-Star the last four seasons who has a career OPS+ of 140, will obviously be highly sought after. And he would fit perfectly in the Mets' lineup.
But that would really only be feasible if Brandon Nimmo is traded. And that doesn't seem like something that's in the cards.
So, you won't see Tucker on this list.
You also won't see top free agent starting pitchers Framber Valdez or Ranger Suarez on it. Here's why Valdez isn't the best fit. And here's why Suarez isn't the best fit.
But the Mets, who could make a huge splash this offseason via trade, should also be very active in free agency. And there are plenty of intriguing names available beyond Tucker, Valdez, and Suarez.
Here are the ones the Mets should be targeting, ranked:
10. INF Bo Bichette
Bichette had a huge bounce back season for the Blue Jays in 2025, hitting .311/.357/.483 with an .840 OPS.
Ahead of his age-28 campaign Bichette seems destined for a big commitment in terms of years. And with the Mets, he'd have to switch positions (likely to second base). As fun as it would be to have Francisco Lindor and Bichette up the middle for years to come, this one feels like more of a fallback option.
9. DH Kyle Schwarber
It's really hard to see Schwarber leaving the Phillies, which is why he isn't higher on this list.
Another reason why Schwarber isn't higher is because his presence would completely lock up the designated hitter spot, which the Mets could need some flexibility with if they re-sign Pete Alonso and/or get creative with how Nimmo is utilized.
8. RHP Michael King
King isn't getting nearly as much attention as Valdez or Suarez, probably due to the fact that he made just 15 starts in 2025 as he dealt with a nerve injury in his throwing shoulder and also lost time due to a knee injury.
But King was tremendous for the Padres in 2024 as he made the transition from relieving to starting, and could be a very good option for New York on a shorter-term deal if his medicals check out.
7. INF Alex Bregman
Yes, Bregman is going to be 32 years old next season. But he is still a really good, consistent hitter. And he's a plus defender at third base. Additionally, Bregman is viewed as a strong clubhouse presence and a leader.
In a world where the Mets shake up their offensive core, Bregman at the hot corner could make a lot of sense.
6. RHP Dylan Cease
Cease shouldn't be the Mets' main starting pitching acquisition this offseason -- that one should come via trade.
But as a finishing piece of sorts for the starting rotation, Cease would bring the floor of a solid innings-eater and the upside of a Cy Young candidate.
And signing Cease would be especially shrewd if it only takes a three-year deal or so.
Cease had a relatively down 2025, posting a 4.55 ERA and 1.32 WHIP. But his FIP (3.56) suggests he was a bit unlucky, and his stuff -- he led all MLB starters with 11.5 strikeouts per nine -- can be filthy.
5. RHP Robert Suarez
Regardless of what happens with Edwin Diaz, the Mets should aggressively pursue Suarez, who will almost certainly opt out of the final two years and roughly $18.5 million of his contract with the Padres.
If the Mets lose Diaz via free agency, Suarez can replace him as the closer.
If the Mets retain Diaz, Suarez can fill an enormous need as a hard-throwing right-handed setup man.
Even with Suarez entering his age-35 season, it could take a three-year contract to land him. In a better scenario, perhaps he can be had on a two-year deal at a much higher average annual value than the one he's about to opt out of.
4. 1B/3B Munetaka Murakami
Murakami, who will be entering his age-26 season in 2026, has absolutely massive power.
His biggest power season came in 2022, when he slugged .710 and smashed a career-high 56 homers.
Murakami was limited to just 56 games in 2025, but he made the most of them, smacking 22 homers while slashing .273/.379/.663.
The elephant(s) in the room? Murakami strikes out a ton and is not a plus defender.
But if the Mets loseAlonso, they could do a lot worse than Murakami, who could be a true difference-maker if his power translates to the majors and is five years younger than Alonso.
3. 1B/3B Kazuma Okamoto
Okamoto -- a six-time All-Star in Japan -- has led the Central league in home runs three times (2020, 2021, and 2023), and has an .882 OPS in 1,074 NPB games.
And he is a better fit than Murakami for two reasons, despite being 29 years old.
First, while there are some questions about how Okamoto's power will translate, he does not have the strikeout issues Murakami has.
Second, Okamoto is a plus defender, having won two Golden Glove awards (2021 and 2022).
Okamoto could be a replacement at first base if Alonso departs via free agency. He could also fit at third base if the Mets decide to go in a different direction there.
2. 1B Pete Alonso
It's happening again.
A year after Alonso hit free agency for the first time, resulting in a drawn out process that ended with him returning to the Mets, he will be a free agent again once he opts out of his two-year deal.
As was the case last offseason, the Mets' best fit at first base (and in the middle of their lineup) is Alonso, and Alonso's best fit is the Mets.
Is it possible a team like the Angels goes wild and offers Alonso a deal for five or six years? Sure. Is it possible the Mariners or Red Sox offer Alonso a four-year deal at dollars the Mets aren't comfortable with? Yes.
But the most sensible outcome here is Alonso returning to the Mets on a three-or four-year deal worth roughly $30 million annually.
1. RHP Edwin Diaz
Retaining Diaz should be the easiest decision the Mets make all offseason.
Diaz, fresh off a year where he had a 1.63 ERA and 0.87 WHIP with 98 strikeouts in 66.1 innings, is expected to opt out of the final two years and roughly $38 million of his deal.
The calculus here should be simple. To bring Diaz back, the Mets would likely have to in effect add two years at similar dollars to the deal he was already pitching under.
Diaz is showing no signs of regression. The Mets need a closer. Diaz has posted a 2.36 ERA and 0.97 WHIP since 2020 while striking out 14.6 batters per nine and pitching in the New York spotlight. Diaz wants to be here. There are no better options to replace him. Get it done.
