2026 Mets Opening Day Roster

The spring season has finished, and Opening Day is right around the corner. The Mets and manager Carlos Mendoza look to rebound after a lackluster 2025, and as Thursday approaches, here’s the squad they’ll throw out against the Pirates at Citi Field. (Previous season’s stats are in parentheses)

Catchers

Francisco Alvarez -After two seasons plagued by injuries, spring has finally been positive for Alvarez, as he has stayed healthy and looks to build on his impressive second-half performance from 2025 into 2026. His demotion to Triple-A Syracuse proved productive, establishing himself as one of the most productive catchers in the second half of the season, which was highlighted by a 157 wRC+ and a .362 xwOBA. His improvements were supported by exceptional contact quality, showcasing a 93.1 MPH average exit velocity and a 54.3% hard-hit rate. This success came despite him missing time late in the season due to thumb and pinky injuries. (.256/.339/.447/.787)

Luis Torrens – The Mets tendered a contract to Torrens for 2026 and aims to continue his strong role as the Mets’ primary backup catcher. After a strong offensive start last season, he returned to being a defense-first backup, showing limited offensive output but exceptional defensive skills. He led the league with a 41% caught stealing rate, throwing out 20 of 49 base stealers, and was a Rawlings Gold Glove finalist. Torrens also posted a Fielding Run Value of 10 and saved 11 Defensive Runs, ranking among the top catchers. He excelled in caught stealing (100th percentile), pop time (97th percentile), and provided valuable pitch framing. (.226/.284/.345/.629)

Infielders

Jorge Polanco – Polanco joined the Mets on a two-year, $40 million deal following Pete Alonso’s departure, coming off a strong 2025 season. While his overall playoff numbers were modest, he delivered several clutch moments, including a series-winning hit in the ALDS and key extra-base hits in multiple games. Polanco believes that experience has prepared him for New York and is confident in his transition to first base despite not having much experience, crediting his athleticism and work with coaches. He also rebounded at the plate by cutting his strikeout rate significantly, attributing it to improved health and a more contact-focused approach. (.265/.326/.495/.821)

Marcus Semien – Traded for Brandon Nimmo in November, Semien joins the Mets as a clear defensive upgrade at second base, bringing elite glove work despite recent offensive struggles, including a career-low .669 OPS in 2025. He still offers value with strong plate discipline and baserunning, and even at 35, his defense and steady all-around game provide a reliable presence up the middle. (.230/.305/.364/.669)

Francisco Lindor – Francisco Lindor enters the 2026 season healthy after undergoing an elbow procedure in the offseason and a hand procedure earlier in spring training. He is coming off another impressive season in 2025, which marked his second 30-30 year and solidified his position in the Mets’ record books. Throughout the year, he experienced dominant stretches around a midseason slump, likely influenced by a fractured toe, yet still managed to play at a high level while nearly every game. Although his defensive performance and some underlying metrics declined slightly from his peak in 2024, Lindor remains a well-rounded player and is on track to be a big producer for the Mets in 2026. (.267/.346/.466/.811)

Bo Bichette – Fresh off a pennant-winning season in Toronto, Bo Bichette brings a much-needed right-handed bat and elite contact skills to the lineup. As a career .294 hitter who excels in clutch situations, Bichette addresses the team’s 2025 difficulties with runners in scoring position while adding energy and consistency at the plate. Although he will be transitioning to third base for the first time and may experience some defensive growing pains, his offensive talent is the main attraction. His strong contact rates, ability to hit the ball hard, and skill in extending at-bats make him another tough out in an already deep lineup. (.311/.357/.483/.840)

Brett Baty – Baty finally began to deliver on his prospect promise in 2025, emerging as a valuable and versatile piece for the Mets. After early struggles and a brief stint in Triple-A, he returned as a more consistent hitter while improving his hard contact. Defensively, Baty impressed at both third and second base, and his continued work across the field has positioned him to take over a super-utility role in 2026, replacing Jeff McNeil with the ability to contribute at multiple infield and outfield spots. (.254/.313/.435/.748)

Mark Vientos – Vientos enters the 2026 season aiming to bounce back after an inconsistent and disappointing 2025. While he showed flashes of power, these were often overshadowed by prolonged struggles and a midseason injury. After a breakout year in 2024, his production took a significant downturn in 2025, with reduced power and difficulty hitting fastballs. Additionally, his defense at third base regressed, leading to a shift primarily into the designated hitter role. Despite these setbacks, Vientos demonstrated strong underlying power metrics, which keep alive the hope that he can regain his impact bat. However, his role with the Mets remains uncertain as the new season approaches. (.233/.289/.413/.702).

Outfielders

Juan Soto – Soto put together an MVP-caliber 2025 season despite an early slump, erupting after May to finish among the league’s elite hitters. He led MLB with 127 walks and the NL with a .396 OBP, while posting a career-high 43 homers, 105 RBIs, and even adding 38 stolen bases. Though his defense remained a weakness, Soto’s offensive dominance, highlighted by a massive second-half surge, cemented him as one of the game’s most impactful bats and looks to continue that trend for the Mets in 2026. (.263/.396/.525/.921)

Luis Robert Jr. – Luis Robert Jr. arrives in Queens after an offseason trade with the White Sox, looking to bounce back from two injury-plagued seasons that limited his production. Despite recent struggles, he brings a decent track record, including an All-Star and Silver Slugger season in 2023, along with Gold Glove-caliber defense and elite athleticism. Robert remains a high-impact center fielder, combining plus defense, top-tier speed, and power potential, and the Mets hope a change of scenery will unlock these traits full-time. (223/.297/.364/.661)

Carson Benge – Benge has made a strong impression this spring with his advanced plate discipline and solid contact, boasting a .412 batting average. He has demonstrated the ability to handle challenging matchups and produce quality at-bats. His history of high on-base percentages and double-digit walk rates continues to shine through, as he consistently reaches base at an elite rate while keeping strikeouts to a minimum. Although his limited experience above Double-A raises some questions, Benge built a compelling case for a roster spot and potentially a larger role, thanks to his polished approach and capability to compete against big league pitching. (.281/.385/.472/.857 through three levels in the minors)

Tyrone Taylor – Taylor aims to bounce back in 2026 after a disappointing 2025 season, which did not meet the expectations of his strong fourth-outfielder performance from the previous year. Although his elite defense in center field continued to add value, his batting struggled significantly for much of the season, prompting the Mets to seek reinforcements at the trade deadline. Toward the end of the year, Taylor showed signs of improvement with a brief offensive surge, but a hamstring injury ultimately cut his season short. Overall, his lack of production at the plate overshadowed his defensive excellence. (.223/.279/.319/.598)

Jared Young– He hit four home runs in limited time for the Mets last year, but did strike out 16 times in 43 at-bats. Young was very good in Triple-A with a .956 OPS and terrific batted ball data. He can play all four corner spots.

Starting Pitching

Freddy Peralta – Peralta joins the Mets after a dominant 2025 season with Milwaukee in which he posted a career-best 2.70 ERA over 176 2/3 innings, cementing himself as one of the more effective starters in the league. Armed with a deep arsenal, Peralta generates elite swing-and-miss and limits hard contact at a high level. He has consistently performed like a top-tier starter in recent years and gives the 2026 Mets a reliable frontline arm capable of leading a potential playoff rotation. (17-6, 33 G, 176.2 IP, 2.70 ERA)

Nolan McLean – McLean broke out in 2025 during his first full season focused solely on pitching, dominating at every level before making a seamless jump to the majors. After posting strong numbers in Double-A and Triple-A, he impressed immediately in the big leagues, consistently delivering quality starts and limiting damage with a heavy ground-ball approach and deep pitch mix. Despite limited experience, McLean quickly emerged as one of the Mets’ most reliable starters, showing the poise and arsenal that will only get better in 2026. (8 G, 48 IP, 2.06 ERA, 5-1)

Kodai Senga – After two injury-plagued, underwhelming seasons, Senga appears poised for a bounce-back, turning in a strong spring built on refining his mechanics rather than focusing on results. Over three Grapefruit League starts, he’s allowed just two runs while striking out 11 across 10 innings, showing improved command and consistency. His release point has looked sharper as camp progressed, helping him better align his signature ghost fork with his four-seam fastball. (7-6, 3.02 ERA, 113.1 IP)

Clay Holmes – Holmes heads into his second full season as a starter after a solid 2025 campaign, successfully transitioning from his previous role as a closer. While he dealt with some inconsistency and command issues, he provided much-needed stability in a rotation hit by injuries, leading the team in starts. Holmes leaned on a heavy ground-ball approach and an improved pitch mix to limit damage, and despite not pitching like a true ace, proved to be a reliable and valuable arm for the Mets and will hope to continue that trend in 2026. (12-8, 33 G (31 Starts), 165 2/3 IP, 3.53 ERA)

David Peterson – Peterson’s 2025 season was a tale of two halves, as he followed up a strong finish in 2024 with an All-Star first half before fading late in the year. He was excellent early on, even tossing a complete game shutout and emerging as a key piece of the rotation, but struggled mightily down the stretch as his command wavered and results unraveled. While his overall season still had plenty of positives, his late-season decline came at a tough time for a Mets team in need of stability. The Mets and Peterson hope for more consistent results in 2026.

Sean Manaea – Manaea’s 2025 was derailed by injuries and a dip in velocity. After a strong July debut, he struggled in August and September, giving up multiple runs in several starts, though a late piggyback outing with Clay Holmes showed promise. Manaea enters 2026 aiming for health and consistency, but a dip in velocity and his status as a floater in the rotation will put that goal to the test. (2-4, 5.64 ERA, 60 2/3 IP)

Bullpen

Devin Williams – Williams stepped into the Mets’ closer role after Edwin Diaz left for the Dodgers, signing a three-year, $45 million deal. The former Brewers and Yankees reliever brings 83 saves over the past four seasons and sub-2.00 ERAs in three of them, giving the Mets a reliable option to protect leads in 2026. Williams plans to expand his repertoire with a gyro slider and cutter. With elite strikeout metrics and closing experience, he provides a top-tier closer and stability for the Mets’ back-end part of the bullpen. (4.79 ERA, 67 G, 18 SV, 62 IP)

Luke Weaver – The Mets signed Weaver to a two-year, $22 million deal, adding a versatile reliever capable of closing, setup, and multi-inning work. After converting to a reliever with the Yankees in 2023, Weaver posted strong strikeout and control numbers despite a mid-2025 injury. Durable and effective, he joins Devin Williams to give the Mets more depth in the bullpen for 2026. (64 G, 3.62 ERA, 8 SV, 64 2/3 IP)

Tobias Myers – Acquired in the Freddy Peralta trade, Myers has shown early promise in spring training, posting a 2.31 ERA with strong strikeout and chase rates. He’s refined his fastball, splitter, and slider, while using his cutter more strategically, giving the Mets a versatile reliever with swing-man potential and upside for 2026 and for the future. (22 G, 6 GS, 3.55 ERA, 50 2/3 IP)

Huascar Brazoban – Brazoban’s 2025 season with the Mets showed durability and reliability, as he logged a career-high 63 innings over 52 appearances with a 3.57 ERA. Leaning on his sinker and changeup, he induced plenty of ground balls but saw dips in strikeouts and whiff rates. Despite a mid-season slump and brief Triple-A stint, Brazoban returned to pitch multiple innings, proving a steady, versatile arm in the Mets’ bullpen. His strong performance for the Dominican Republic at the WBC helped cement his spot for 2026. (52 G (3 GS), 63 IP, 3.57 ERA)

Luis Garcia – The Mets signed Garcia to a one-year deal worth $1.75 million, adding a high-velocity arm to their bullpen. He showcased a sinker that averaged 96.9 MPH and a sharp sweeper that generated numerous ground balls. However, his 11.2% walk rate remains a concern. With improved command, Garcia will provide power and depth to the Mets’ relief corps in 2026, which was necessary after last season’s struggles. (58 G, 2 SV, 3.42 ERA, 55 1/3 IP)

Brooks Raley – Raley’s return from Tommy John surgery was a major success for the Mets in 2025. After rehabbing in the minors, the crafty lefty reliever held lefties to a .103 average and didn’t allow a single home run. His elite metrics and 0.8 fWAR matched top relievers, making him one of the best bullpen arms in the league, and he hopes to continue that trend in 2026. (30 G, 3-1, 2.45 ERA, 25 2/3 IP)

Richard Lovelady – Signed as a free agent in 2025, and brought back in 2026, Lovelady is a left-handed option for the Mets until the aforementioned Minter returns from injury. Lovelady made a couple of appearances for New York last season before being released in October. (10 G, 8.49 ERA, 11 2/3 IP)

Injured List

Mike Tauchman, A.J. Minter, Tylor Megill (60-day), Reed Garrett (60-day), Dedniel Núñez (60-day), Justin Hagenman (60-day)

Designated For Assignment

Ben Rortvedt, Vidal Brujan and Bryan Hudson 

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