Heading into this offseason, the Mets’ payroll situation opens up in a significant way, allowing them to have access to “virtually the entire player universe,” as president of baseball operations. David Sterns declared.
Yes, this means that many words will be written and spoken Juan SotoCorbin Burnes, Max Fried, Pete Alonso, Tanner Scott and many more as options for the Mets. Current payroll projections place the Mets about $70 million below the first luxury tax threshold of $241 million and about $110 million below the highest luxury tax threshold. Stearns’ expectation is that the team will spend “a good chunk” of the roughly $180 million coming off the books.
While any of the above players and others are in play, the Mets won’t simply be handing out big-money long-term contracts to every top free agent they can get this winter. They want to be involved in free agency on an annual basis, as Stearns recently explained: “We also have to recognize that we want to set up our organizational pattern so that we can invest in free agency, invest where we think we need to. an annual addition to the club.”
When evaluating the Mets’ roster, they will need to fill several spots in the starting rotation and bullpen. They could also use an outfielder or two and possibly a design hitter. This means acquiring players who are considered value signings, in addition to pursuing some of the big stars mentioned above.
Here are nine under-the-radar free agents the Mets should pursue:
RHP Nick Pivetta
Pivetta is an option that stands out as a potential breakout candidate. Despite the fact that the Red Sox posted a fairly average ERA of 4.14 in 145.2 innings in 2024, there was a lot of promise under the hood. That 4.14 ERA came along with an expected ERA of 3.59, which implied some bad luck. He also had two things you look for: he struck out batters (28.9 percent strikeout rate, which put him in the 88th percentile in the MLB) and he improved his walk rate significantly from previous seasons (6.1 percent walk rate, putting him in the 88th percentile). the 80th percentile in MLB). He features a five-pitch mix with a mid-90s four-seam fastball that generates an induced vertical break of over 20 inches, a sweeper, curve ball, cutter and gyro slider. Pivetta could be a good bet on a two-year deal.
1B Paul Goldschmidt
There is a realistic world in which Alonso doesn’t re-sign with the Mets, and I think many are too quick to assume that if that happens, Mark Vientos would just slide into first base. Goldschmidt had a down year by almost every statistical measure relative to his career standards. He may have turned 37 years old, but what was striking is that he still hits the ball hard. His average exit velocity of 93 mph was in the 82nd percentile, his barrel velocity of 10.7 percent was above average in the 73rd percentile, and his hard-hit rate of 49.6 percent was elite in the 92nd percentile. He may not be the MVP candidate he once was, but he could be a one-year veteran option at first base if Alonso leaves.
BY Tyler O’Neill
If Soto doesn’t end up in Queens, the Mets will still be looking to add an outfielder or two this season. Current day Starling Marte may be better suited to playing more designated hitter at-bats than outfield innings in 2025, given his lower-body injuries in recent years. O’Neill ranked just below average defensively with -1 outs above average in right field, compared to Marte’s -8. He also has an arm as strong as Marte. The 29-year-old had an offensive season in his walking year, posting an .847 OPS with 31 home runs in just 113 games for the Red Sox. He swings hard (90th percentile bat speed) and hits the ball hard (77th percentile average exit velocity, 98th percentile barrel speed and 90th percentile hard hits). At his age with the season he had, his contract could end more within the three-year window.
RHP Shane Bieber
Bieber is a different case than the others on this list as he likely won’t be ready to pitch until the second half after undergoing Tommy John surgery last April.
This situation is not much different from last year Brandon Woodruff was a free agent. Bieber is likely looking at a two-year deal that could pay him to rehab and potentially give a team some late-season innings in 2025, along with financial value for a regular front-line starter in 2026.
LHP Matthew Boyd
Boyd underwent Tommy John surgery in June 2023 and eventually returned during the 2024 season, playing eight games for the Guardians while posting a 2.72 ERA in 39.2 innings. He focuses primarily on three pitches: a four-seam fastball that regained his career norm in terms of velocity, averaging 90 mph, a changeup and a slider. He’ll mix a sinker and a curveball 10 percent of the time or less. He looks like a No. 4 starter who seems destined to sign a one-year deal in an attempt to rebuild his value.
RHP David Robertson
A reunion? Why not? Yes, Robertson will be 40 years old on Opening Day, but he’s had a fantastic season with the Rangers. In 72 innings over 68 appearances, he posted a 3.00 ERA while striking out 99 batters. His strikeout rate of 33.3 percent was his best since 2017. His pitching stats on his patented cutter were the best he’s had since Statcast started tracking him in 2017, yielding a run value of +19 when hitters hit .163 against it . While there is an age concern here, I don’t see anything that suggests he can’t be some sort of reliever again on a one-year deal.
RHP Jose Leclerc
When Leclerc first came up for the Rangers, it looked like he would become one of the best relievers in the sport, which led to Texas signing him to a six-year contract before the 2019 season. He was a closer at times, but established himself more as a reliever in the seventh or eighth inning. His 2024 season wasn’t great at first glance, posting a 4.32 ERA in 66.2 innings. However, that came with a projected ERA of 3.57 and he generated swings and misses at an elite rate (96th percentile whiff rate and 92nd percentile strikeout rate) while reducing hard contact (96th percentile hard hit rate ). He is primarily a mid-90s fastball and a mid-80s slider-type reliever, combining a cutter, changeup and sinker. If a team could clean up its pitching mix a bit, I think Leclerc could provide value as a late-inning reliever and get a two-year deal.
RHP Jonathan Loaisiga
Loaisiga underwent season-ending internal brace elbow surgery last April, with an expected recovery period of 10 to 12 months. The long end of that timeline wouldn’t make him Opening Day ready, but as Stearns has said repeatedly, the Opening Day bullpen isn’t the bullpen you’ll have all season. Loaisiga is a strike-throwing, extreme groundball thrower, with an average groundball rate of 57 percent over the past three years. He throws his sinker almost 70 percent of the time, at an average speed of 90 miles per hour, and hits 100. I consider Loaisiga more of a one-year flier turned manager Carlos Mendoza knows him well from his days as the Yankees’ bench coach.
LHP Andrew Chafin
If you listen The Mets podYou know, Chafin is an arm we’ve been talking about as a fit for the Mets for about three years. One area the Mets were missing in the 2024 season was properly replaced Brooks Raley after undergoing Tommy John surgery. They need to make sure they have a reliable, stable left-handed reliever in their bullpen in 2025. Chafin posted a 3.16 ERA with the Tigers before being traded to the Rangers, where he had less success. He primarily throws a slider (46 percent usage) and sinker (38 percent usage), relying on hitters to chase and create weak contact. He has neutral splits throughout his career against both left-handed and right-handed hitters, although he has had more reverse splits this year. In the era of the three-batter minimum, it’s important for pitchers to be able to retire both batters dealt, and Chafin has shown a propensity to do that throughout his career. He could provide bullpen stability on a likely one-year deal.
