3 free agents Mets must sign before 2026 to boost playoff chances, ft. Cody Bellinger

After an uneven finish to 2025, the New York Mets step into the 2025–26 offseason knowing they must correct last year’s flaws if they want to play meaningful baseball next October.

The organization now builds around Juan Soto as its long-term focal point, but several critical choices still lie ahead that will determine whether the Mets can rejoin the league’s true contenders.

To get there, the blueprint for 2026 is clear: add a dependable frontline arm, secure stability in the late innings and bring in a versatile bat capable of strengthening the middle of the lineup.

With those priorities driving their winter plans, three free agents stand out as moves the Mets should place near the top of their list.

#1. Dylan Cease

Starting pitching depth became the Mets’ biggest issue over the course of the 2025 season. Too many short outings left the bullpen overworked and forced the team into constant midseason patchwork, and Dylan Cease addresses that problem directly.

Cease’s swing-and-miss profile gives the Mets something they lacked behind their top arms, and his ability to handle a full workload is exactly what the rotation needs.

With several teams expected to pursue frontline pitching, New York cannot afford to sit out this race. A contract in the upper tier of the free-agent pitching market will be required, but Cease offers the stability and upside that match the Mets’ competitive timeline.

#2. Edwin Diaz

For two seasons the Mets’ relief corps has wavered, yet Edwin Diaz remained the arm they could trust when everything else felt uncertain.

His strong 2025 campaign re-established him as one of the premier closers in the league, and now that he has opted out to test free agency, bringing him back becomes a priority.

If the Mets let Diaz walk, they aren’t just losing a ninth-inning weapon, they’re opening another gap on a pitching staff that already needs reinforcing.

Keeping him in Queens is as much about preserving late-inning stability as it is about retaining elite performance, especially for a team that can’t afford more volatility on the mound.

#3. Cody Bellinger

On the position-player side, Cody Bellinger is the high-impact fit the Mets should look at closely. His 2025 season showed he can still hit for power, get on base and provide above-average defense at multiple spots.

His ability to play all three outfield positions and first base gives the Mets valuable flexibility as they sort through Pete Alonso’s future.

Bellinger also brings a left-handed presence that complements Soto and would give the lineup the depth it lacked at times. While his market will be competitive, he fits the Mets’ need for a versatile, athletic bat who can contribute in multiple ways.

Edited by Shubham Soni