The Mets’ offseason saw a number of big names both come and go from the roster, and Joel Sherman of the New York Post offers a good breakdown of both the team’s moves and some of the behind-the-scenes plans (or backup plans) that went into this transaction. Sherman’s piece also provides details on free agents and trades that have never been mentioned as targets for the Mets, including. Guard Suarez, Ryan Weathers, Johan Oviedoand the Pirates hurlers Bubba Chandler again Braxton Ashcraft.
The New York trade of Freddy Peralta earlier this week helped the Mets finally secure the pitching help they’ve been looking for all winter, which helped because many of the other pitchers the team was evaluating had changed teams. The Yankees acquired Weathers from the Marlins two weeks ago, the Red Sox acquired Oviedo from the Pirates in early December, and Suarez signed with the Red Sox last week on a five-year, $130MM contract.
That kind of long-term deal for a pitcher was thought to be out of the Mets’ comfort zone, as multiple reports have indicated the team prefers a short-term arrangement when trying to find rotation help. The same was especially true of the Mets’ pursuit of a player, as the team offered Kyle Tucker four years and $220MM, then it stayed Bo Bichette over three years, $126MM deals with two player exit clauses. If Bichette had not signed and Suarez remained available, Sherman wrote that the Mets “would have tried to improve the rotation by willingly doing five years at $130 billion for Boston.”
It’s an example of how the offseason can be a series of sliding doors, with team priorities quickly changing as other teams begin to make moves and various star players leave the board. Bichette, on the other hand, wasn’t even known to belong to the Mets until the eleventh hour, as missing out on Tucker led the Mets to quickly turn on Bichette and snap him up in a near-final deal with the Phillies. And, as it turns out, the Mets ended up getting the ace they wanted on the cheap (Peralta is owed $8MM in 2026 before he hits free agency next winter), but at a cheap trade cost for established prospects. Brandon Sproat again Jett Williams.
Prying Bichette away from the Phillies may have provided a measure of revenge for the Mets after their pursuit failed. Kyle Schwarber. New York was known to be interested in Schwarber’s services, and Sherman noted that the Mets were “deeper on him than was publicly known.” Schwarber was widely expected to re-sign with the Phils and indeed he joined the team for five years and $150MM. As the Mets were interested, Sherman wrote that they “realized they were going to have to hit [five years/$150MM] for helping him to leave Philadelphia,” so the Amazins retreated.
The Mets have had several discussions with the Marlins about Edward Cabrera before Cabrera was discussed with the Cubs, so it’s no surprise that Weathers’ name came up in those discussions. Sherman reported that 8-10 teams were interested in Weathers, and it ended up being the Yankees (another Cabrera cheat) who acquired the southpaw for a package of four prospects.
It was no secret that the Pirates were looking to upgrade their roster this offseason, and with so many weapons on the roster, it was assumed that Pittsburgh would look to make a move and start laying down the bats. The five-player deal that sent Oviedo to Boston backfired Joshynxon Garcia as a young player who can help the Bucs in 2026, too Mike Burrows was traded to the Astros as part of a three-team trade with the Rays Brandon Lowe to Pittsburgh.
With Oviedo and Burrows gone, the Pirates may have closed the door on further trades, as GM Ben Cherington said the team would be open to adding rotation depth, if any. Chandler (one of baseball’s top prospects) and Ashcraft (a former second-round pick) each make their MLB debuts in 2025 and look to be part of the Pirates’ rotation this season and next year, if all goes well.
Sherman said the Mets “extensively” discussed Chandler, Ashcraft, and Oviedo in talks with the Pirates, and it would be interesting to know the details of those discussions. Given Oviedo’s deal, the Bucs were looking for controllable player talent, of course Brett Baty, Mark Vientos, Ronny Mauricioor high hopes Carson Benge he may be on the Pirates’ wish list. If Pittsburgh were looking for another veteran bat in the mold of Lowe, Jeff McNeil (who was against the A’s before Christmas) may have been right, but it’s hard to imagine the Pirates would give up an MLB fit for McNeil.
