Three things on Mets’ to-do list — besides Juan Soto — at MLB Winter Meetings

DALLAS — While the Mets’ pursuit of Juan Soto remains their top priority, other areas must be addressed on the team’s roster at the Winter Meetings.
While Soto is rumored to have received multiple offers exceeding $700 million, should he sign with the Mets, this shouldn’t stop them from adding a few more impact players in free agency.
The Mets are committed to approximately $155 million, about $195 million less than their payroll at the end of the 2024 season. With the Competitive Balance Tax (CBT) at $241 million for the 2025 season, the Mets have just under $90 million to spend on arbitration-eligible players and free agents before taking a luxury tax hit.
If Soto opts to make Queens his new home, approximately half of that $90 million will be gone, leaving the Mets with another $45 million (ish) to spend.
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Here are three areas they need to address at the Winter Meetings this week:
Address the corner infield
While the Mets were adamant that they wanted to keep first baseman Pete Alonso throughout the season, his name has rarely surfaced in free agency rumors this offseason. In New York, that’s likely because they want to resolve the Soto situation first.
Chances are that if the Mets land Soto, who’s been rumored to have received offers north of $700 million from multiple teams, they won’t be signing Alonso too.
The logical move for the Mets in this scenario would be to give Brett Baty another shot at third base and slide Mark Vientos to first base. Additionally, the Mets will need to sign a defensive infielder who can play third base.
Jose Iglesias excelled in his time with the Mets last season. He was also a great clubhouse guy, injecting the team with much-needed energy when he was called up last May.
Iglesias led the Mets with a .337 batting average (minimum 250 plate appearances). His 3.1 bWAR trailed only shortstop Francisco Lindor (6.9 bWAR). Iglesias might settle for a one-year deal worth around $2 million.
Another option could be infielder Ha-Seong Kim, who’s one season removed from receiving a Gold Glove Award and NL MVP votes. Kim is coming off of a down season with the San Diego Padres. Still, the 29-year-old managed 11 home runs, 47 RBIs and 22 stolen bases.
Kim is mostly a shortstop (2,552 innings), but he does have experience playing second (1,004 2/3 innings) and third base (590 1/3 innings). He is expected to get a deal worth around $36 million over two years, according to The Athletic.
Add another starter
As it stands, the Mets have four of a possible six spots in the rotation filled.
The Mets have been linked to several free agents this offseason. As has been their modus operandi under Stearns, the Mets are looking likely to sign pitchers who have a lot of upside but won’t necessarily demand a long-term deal.
One such pitcher is Walker Buehler, who pitched to a 5.38 ERA before the playoffs and then put up 10 scoreless innings across his final three outings for the Dodgers in the postseason. The two-time World Series winner is projected to get a short-term deal, much like Sean Manaea received from the Mets last offseason. Somewhere around two years, $32 million, according to The Athletic.
Speaking of Manaea, the Mets have expressed that they’re interested in retaining him. But that might be a risky deal, as he is projected to sign a four-year deal worth $76 million.
Other pitchers the Mets have been rumored to be interested in are Nathan Eovaldi, Nick Pivetta and Jack Flaherty.
They also have a couple of options in-house for the remaining two spots: José Buttó and Tylor Megill.
A natural starter, Buttó excelled as a reliever last season. As an innings eater out of the bullpen, the right-hander made 23 appearances, allowing eight runs in 26 innings (2.00 ERA). This likely keeps him put for the time being.
Megill could slot into the rotation as the team’s sixth starter. He showed promise last season, where In 16 appearances (15 starts), he posted a career-best 4.04 ERA with 91 strikeouts in 78 innings. His career-high 27% strikeout percentage led all Mets starters last season.
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With the Mets likely not bringing back Phil Maton or Ryne Stanek, they lack an arm to bridge the gap between the starter and closer.
Stearns is one of the best executives at building a bullpen from nothing. He did it mid-season in 2024 with Adam Ottavino and Díaz being the only relievers left at the end of the season from the Opening Day roster.
He could get a head start at the Winter Meetings with a couple of impressive free-agent arms, like right-hander Jeff Hoffman.
In his last two seasons with the Phillies, Hoffman has turned into one of baseball’s elite relievers. In 122 appearances in that span, he’s pitched to a 2.28 ERA, striking out 158 batters in 118 2/3 innings. In seven seasons before that, he never posted an ERA below 3.83, averaging 5.68 ERA.
Hoffman could get a three-year, $36 million deal, according to The Athletic.
Left-hander A.J. Minter is another attractive option. Besides the fact that the Mets would be swiping him from the Braves, Minter has been one of Atlanta’s best arms going on for five years now.
In 39 games last season, Minter allowed 10 runs in 34 1/3 innings (2.62 ERA) with 35 strikeouts. He saw a dip in his strikeout percentage from 31.5% in 2023 to 26.1%. The Mets have proven capable of helping pitchers find themselves again.
Minter would be worth less than Hoffman. Two years at $11 million could get the deal done.
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Manny Gómez may be reached at [email protected].