On the very day the Mets were eliminated from playoff contention, Steve Cohen issued an apology. His words spoke of clear humiliation. “We will do a post-mortem and figure out the obvious and less obvious reasons why the team didn’t perform up to your and my expectations.” Cohen wanted to understand every detail behind what went wrong. It’s been a few weeks since then, and now Cohen’s sentiments about his team haven’t changed much. All he wants is to make the most of this off-season.

“Owner Steve Cohen hates to be embarrassed. They’ll come up with one, if not two, front-line starters,” USA Today’s Bob Nightengale pointed out while explaining why the Mets plan to be among the most aggressive clubs in MLB this offseason.

Cohen’s approach is clear. They aren’t just working on roster building. His embarrassment is the main emotion driving their urgency to become one of the most aggressive clubs in MLB.

It’ll be interesting to see which pitchers David Stearns and the Mets decide to pursue in the coming weeks. There are several intriguing options in the pitcher market.

Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns would be missing an opportunity if he didn’t at least check in with the Detroit Tigers about Tarik Skubal at the GM meetings.

Skubal and the Tigers were nowhere close on an extension last season, reportedly separated by around $250 million. Mets officials have discussed Tarik Skubal internally, who turns 29 this month, very much in his prime. The general belief is that it would take a massive return. Such as four top prospects, including three ranked in the organization’s top 10 and another within the top 20, to land him. But he’s not the only option.

The Mets could even look to pull off a trade for someone like Joe Ryan of the Minnesota Twins or Sandy Alcantara of the Miami Marlins. So while Skubal looks expensive, other pitchers like Ryan or Alcántara could offer more affordable options. Either way, Nightengale’s report should have Mets fans feeling optimistic about the team’s offseason plans.

However, a strong lineup is only part of the equation. A team’s pitching staff is just as crucial, if not more, when it comes to building a true playoff or World Series contender.

3 elite names the New York Mets’ lineup could have in 2026

Pitching is expected to be the Mets’ front office’s top priority this offseason. You can think of names like Tarik Skubal, Freddy Peralta, Shota Imanaga, or even a re-signed Edwin Díaz. After all the work in this off-season, here are names that could feature on the Mets’ roster in 2026:

DH Kyle Schwarber: After a monster year in Philadelphia, recording 56 homers, 132 RBIs, and a .240/.365/.563 slash line, Schwarber enters free agency as the premier run producer available. If the Mets are able to land him, he’d be a natural fit behind Soto in the order, filling the Mets’ vacant DH spot with much-needed left-handed power.

CF Harrison Bader: Bader’s first stint with the Mets didn’t go as planned. He had hit only .236 across 143 games in 2024, but there’s reason to believe a reunion could make sense. With New York aiming to tighten up its defense, Bader’s elite glove in center field remains a major asset. In 2025, despite battling injuries, he turned in a strong season with the Twins and Phillies. He slashed .277/.347/.449 with 17 home runs. He should come at a reasonable price this time around, giving Steve Cohen flexibility to invest elsewhere on the roster.

2B Brendan Donovan: Like Bader, former Gold Glove Brendan Donovan checks an important box for the Mets defensively. But his real value lies in his bat. He hit .287/.353/.422 with 10 home runs in 2025. Turning 29 in January, Donovan would be a solid upgrade at second base over Jeff McNeil, 33, whose production has declined since his batting title days. Currently with the St. Louis Cardinals, Donovan likely wouldn’t cost a major prospect haul, allowing the Mets to hold on to their top assets for bigger moves elsewhere.