Mets and free agency: 10 players they should consider signing this offseason

It’s about as thorny an offseason as they come and, for the Mets, a strange one, too.

After a trade deadline fire sale ridded them of every player on an expiring contract, the Mets have no impending free agents and a good number of holes to fill. That, along with a nearly inevitable impending lockout, should make for a unique landscape — one formed by the team’s urgent need to bounce back from two straight embarrassing seasons, the ghosts of past free-agent mistakes and whatever financial constraints may be put upon them once the new collective bargaining agreement comes to pass.

That said, here are 10 possible targets for a team — and a front office — hoping for a redemption arc.

Ty France, 1B

A righthanded hitter, France would be a good fit in a significantly lefty-heavy lineup. The former Gold Glove winner is a defensive lock at first base, something the Mets have sorely missed as they attempted to convert Jorge Polanco and Mark Vientos to the position. He also has pop — 21 homers  with the Padres in 2026 — and slashed .295/.363/.502. He’s durable, having played at least 133 games in each of his six full seasons, something the Mets have sorely missed since Pete Alonso's departure.

Kevin Gausman, SP

Gausman may be entering his age 36 season, but he’s been as reliable as they come throughout his career, pitching in at least 30 games in every season dating to 2016 (excluding the COVID year). In his year-end postmortem, president of baseball operations David Stearns highlighted the need for pitching depth; Gausman, who has a career 3.87 ERA, fits the bill. Yes, he pitched to a 4.51 ERA with the Blue Jays last year, but he still showed flashes of dominance and would be a steady veteran presence on what is likely to be a very young rotation.

Clay Holmes, SP

The former Met opted out of the final year of his contract and reportedly has  expressed interest in returning to Flushing. The Mets should be among the first in line to greet him. The converted reliever proved he had the durability and ability to be a solid front-end starter and has no problem performing in New York.

He’s known as an excellent clubhouse presence, and his cerebral approach to pitching makes him an asset off the mound as well. Holmes is the type of pitcher who can round out a staff, play stopper if needed and throw a few gems along the way.

Michael King, SP

Speaking of converted relievers who have proved they can play in New York, the Padres’ King, formerly a reliever for the Yankees, compiled a 3.21 ERA in 185 innings in 2026. Though he doesn’t blow people away, he’s able to induce soft contact and limit damage. His near-sidearm crossfire delivery makes it difficult for hitters to pick up on his five-pitch mix. He eats up innings and has a proven record in high-leverage situations, including a 1.86 postseason ERA.

Jonathan Loaisiga, RP

The Mets gutted their bullpen at the trade deadline, and though a few of their call-ups showed real promise, they’re still going to need to reload. Despite a checkered injury history, Loaisiga has shown an ability to be a dominant, high-leverage arm when healthy — something he proved this year with the Diamondbacks, pitching to a 2.42 ERA in a career-high 67 appearances. There’s certainly risk here, but he spent eight seasons with the Yankees, so he understands the environment. The Mets also need insurance for the back end of their bullpen after Devin Williams scuffled through the season and while they determine whether Kodai Senga can be a viable option there when the games actually matter.

Brandon Lowe, 2B

At the end of the season, Stearns did not commit to having Marcus Semien as his everyday second baseman, the result of Semien’s poor offensive showing and dwindling defense. And while Stearns said Semien could be complemented by Brett Baty or a few promising prospects, it certainly wouldn’t hurt to expand the search to free agency. That’s where Lowe comes in. After another excellent year, there’s every possibility that Lowe will reject the Pirates' qualifying offer. The two-time All-Star had a .260/.331/.493 slash line with 35 homers and 96 RBIs and registered 15 outs above average, according to Baseball Savant, which is in the 98th percentile.

Adrian Morejon, RP

Stearns is rebuilding a chunk of the bullpen, and a lefty of Morejon’s pedigree — a 2.83 ERA  in 2026 and a fastball that nicks at triple-digits — could be a devastating weapon. The 2025 All-Star also is durable, having made at least 60 appearances in each of the last three seasons.

Trevor Rogers, SP

The Mets could opt to take a calculated risk on the oft-injured Rogers in the search for rotational depth. He’s been on the injured list six times since his first full season in 2021, but he was impressive in 2025, pitching to a 1.81 ERA. The checkered history might mean a discounted price tag and  the potential for a low-risk/high-reward signing.

Teruaki Sato, 3B

The Mets should be keeping a close eye on Sato, just not as a third baseman. The Japanese slugger, who swatted 40 homers for the Hanshin Tigers in 2026, conceivably could make the transition to first base (and though the Mets have been burned by similar experiments, this move from third to first should be more manageable). This lineup desperately needs pop, and though there have been  questions in the past about whether Japanese power hitters can keep that pop in the major leagues, Shohei Ohtani and Munetaka Murakami have gone a long way toward flipping the narrative.

Tarik Skubal, SP

The two-time Cy Young Award winner is the jewel of this year’s free-agent class, and if Stearns wants to prove that he’s serious about learning from past mistakes, he could do far worse than to finally sign a bona fide ace.

Skubal will be eye-wateringly expensive and command a long-term deal — something the Mets have been loath to proffer to starting pitchers. They’ll also be in direct competition with the Dodgers, who have the advantage of having acquired Skubal at the trade deadline.

Is it a risk? Absolutely. Would the Mets have to eat the fact that he won’t be the same pitcher at the back end of this contract? Yes. But the lack of a true front-end starter has burned this team for two seasons straight. Skubal is the easy answer to a glaring problem, even if that answer may feel uncomfortable.