Did the Mets Lineup Get Better After the 2026 Offseason Despite Losing a Five-Time All-Star?
The level of pressure is high for New York Mets owner Steve Cohen and David Stearns, the president of baseball operations. Both were facing serious backlash due to the team’s complete collapse at the end of the 2025 season. The team barely missed out on the postseason due to a head-to-head tiebreaker that gave the Reds the final NL Wild Card spot. The Mets had a record of 21-32 down the stretch last season in the months of August and September, causing a large amount of frustration within the fanbase. Their ownership and front office group would face even harsher criticism from fans after they let star closer Edwin Diaz and longtime first baseman Pete Alonso walk at the beginning of the offseason. Diaz signed with the Dodgers, and Alonso landed with the Baltimore Orioles on a five-year, $155 million contract, a number that the Mets were unwilling to match.
The loss of Pete Alonso is one that could easily have a very negative effect, as he was arguably the face of the franchise. The 31-year-old made his debut with the club at the very beginning of the 2019 season. He also ended up winning the NL Rookie of the Year Award that year. In his seven seasons with the Mets, he accumulated a 23.3 bWAR and was selected to the NL all-star team five times. The former second-round pick also accomplished a very impressive feat during his outstanding 2025 season. He became the franchise's all-time home run leader, surpassing Darryl Strawberry. Alonso hit a total of 264 homers in his Mets career.
In terms of replacing Pete Alonso’s production, the Mets are hoping that they have found some value with the addition of Jorge Polanco. The former Twins and Mariners infielder signed a two-year, $40 million contract with New York this winter after he enjoyed a breakout season with the Mariners last year. The Mets plan for him to transition over to first base. He’s played all around the infield, mostly at second base and shortstop during his 12-year major league career. The 32-year-old was one of the more underrated offensive players in the game last season. In 138 games, he slashed .265/.326/.495, good enough for a well-above-average OPS+ of 134. It shouldn’t be too hard to replace Alonso’s production on the defensive side. He was one of the worst defenders in baseball last year, with minus-nine outs above average. This was in the second percentile amongst all Major League defenders. His offensive impact, however, will be a tough task to replace. It's unlikely that Polanco will ever be able to put up the power numbers that Alonso is capable of. That said, if he can at least be a close to league-average defender and put up similar numbers offensively as he did in 2025, Polanco could be a very solid replacement on a much cheaper contract.
The Mets' biggest addition was when they brought in longtime Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette on a massive contract worth $126 million over three seasons. That's an average annual value of $42 million, which is more than Alonso got with Baltimore. Bichette is also coming off a monster season offensively. He was one of just six qualified hitters to bat over .300 on the season, as he had a batting average of .311, which ranked only behind Aaron Judge. He also finished the 2025 season with an OPS+ of 129 and was second in the majors in doubles with 41. The two-time all-star selection is undeniably one of the top offensive players in the game, but his defense is a concern. He was one of the worst defenders in baseball last season at the shortstop position, with an outs above average of -13. Perhaps a position change will be beneficial, as the Mets already have Francisco Lindor as their shortstop, and the former Platinum Glove Award winner surely won’t be moving anywhere. The Mets' plan for Bichette is for him to be their full-time third baseman next season.
The Mets also swung a major trade this offseason that should have a huge impact on the team's lineup. They sent longtime starting outfielder Brandon Nimmo to the Texas Rangers in exchange for three-time all-star second baseman Marcus Semien. Nimmo has been in the majors for 10 seasons, spending all of them with the Mets. The 32-year-old was a solid outfielder for them in 2025. He was above average offensively with a 114 OPS+, paired with right-around league-average defense, a minus-one outs above average. It seemed like the main justification for New York moving on from Nimmo was to clear a spot for top prospect Carson Benge. The 2024 first-round pick has garnered a ton of excitement around the Mets fanbase after he dominated the minor leagues last season. He was an on-base machine with a .385 OBP over three different levels. He also slugged .472 on the season and was a threat on the basepaths, stealing 22 bags. The Oklahoma State product could be a candidate for the NL Rookie of the Year award.
New York also got a highly decorated player back in this deal, with the likes of 13-year major league veteran Marcus Semien. The former Athletics, Blue Jays, and Rangers infielder has been one of the best second basemen in the game since he made his debut. His offense isn't quite as good as it was during his prime, as he has taken a step back. During the 2021 season, he mashed 45 homers, had an .873 OPS, and was an MVP finalist with the Blue Jays. The 35-year-old was actually slightly below average offensively last season with a 97 OPS+. Defensively, he’s still at an elite level, though; his plus-seven outs above average put him in the 92nd percentile of his Major League counterparts. This led to him winning the Gold Glove Award at second base. The Mets' defensive pairing of Lindor and Semien up the middle should easily be one of the best in the game next season.
The Mets also swung another big trade this offseason to help improve the lineup. This time, with the Chicago White Sox, for a big-time talent in Luis Robert. The 28-year-old outfielder’s career so far has been interesting to say the least. He was one of the most hyped prospects in recent memory. Before he had ever played a game with Chicago, he signed a six-year contract worth $50 million to be the White Sox's long-term center fielder. Robert looked like he had lived up to the hype during the 2023 season, as he was one of the best outfielders in the game that year. The Cuban native finished that season with 38 homers, along with 20 stolen bases and a well-above-average .857 OPS. His career took a sudden turn after that season, as he turned into a below-average hitter, posting a .657 OPS in 2024 and a .661 OPS in 2025. His elite speed and elite defense were both still present last season; the former Gold Glover had plus-seven outs above average and finished with 33 stolen bases. If the former all-star can rediscover his swing, he could be yet another dangerous player in this new Mets lineup.
Ultimately, the Mets have taken a bold approach to reshaping their lineup after a disappointing end to the 2025 season. It's clear that they have lost several talented pieces offensively, but they have also brought in a handful of great players to combat those losses. The new-look Mets infield with Lindor and Semien up the middle and Bichette and Polanco on the corners will be one of the more exciting and high-priced groups in baseball. Absolutely cannot forget about Juan Soto in the outfield either. He was an NL MVP finalist in his first year with the Mets last season. He’ll headline an outfield group that now features newly acquired Luis Robert and a very exciting young talent in Carson Benge. Mets fans were rightfully frustrated with last season's offensive collapse, but the ceiling for next season's lineup should be very high with the talent that is there.
