So typically what happens is throughout the year I get a nice amount of chances to showcase the best players from a team, and then I have more time during the playoffs to celebrate individual game-by-game achievement, and then by the time December rolls around there isn't a ton left for me to do. Well...the Mets were the victim of a year I was busy more than usual on weekdays, then missed the playoffs despite an army of great performers, leaving me with THIRTEEN Uncustomed Heroes subject. And like, that's not even counting some borderline ones I could have done, like Tyrod Taylor or Luisangel Acuna. There were a lot of standout performers for this team, important presences. Good AND bad.
Because ultimately, the story of the Mets is a story of a team that went for it and failed. They got Juan Soto, they got Clay Holmes, they firmed up their pitching, they went all in at the deadline, they still fell apart in the final two months. With a better team than the one that made an NLCS in 2024, they couldn't get it done. And now they traded Brandon Nimmo, they've lost Edwin Diaz, and now they've lost Pete Alonso. This is not what they wanted, and though this team will still compete, the wind's been taken out of their sails once more.
Especially considering the usual primary DH, Starling Marte, will be gone next year. Marte has been at this for 14 years, and though in the first year of his Mets contract he showed no signs of slowing down, the other three years weren't to his usual standard. This year, Marte, in 98 games, hit .270 with 9 homers and 36 RBIs. He's beat up, he's 36, and he's not what he used to be.
Once again, Francisco Alvarez continues to be one of the most curiously inconsistent presences on the Mets. Cause when he's on, and healthy, the Mets are great, but the moments around that are painful. In April he was godawful, even while the Mets soared. Then in May when he got better, the Mets tanked. In August, Alvy hit .341 with 11 RBIs and 3 homers. It wasn't enough. Alvarez finished the season with a .256 average, 12 homers and 32 RBIs spread over 76 games. It was a small sample size, but at the very least the offense was worth it.
Among the many pitching moves the Mets made in the offseason was snagging Griffin Canning, the oft-injured young fireballer, from the Angels. True to form, Canning was very solid in 16 starts, going 7-3 with a 3.77 ERA and 70 Ks. Then, as he's prone to, he got hurt and missed the rest of the season.
Mark Vientos had a huge breakout 2024, and in 2025 he did not even remotely live up to it. Despite 17 homers and 61 RBIs, Vientos hit .233 this year in 122 games, and just could not stay consistent. Plus, his defense was godawful this year. Eventually he lost the everyday 3B job to Brent Baty, meaning for 2026 the position is very much up in the air.
Also failing to live up to a wonderful 2024 was Sean Manaea, signed on the basis that there would be more where that came from. He got hurt in camp, was still recovering upon his return, and was moved to the bullpen to make room for the rookies. He finished the season with a 5.64 ERA, a 2-4 record and 75 Ks in 15 games.
At the deadline, the Mets pulled the then-huge move of landing Cedric Mullins from Baltimore. Mullins was having a shakier than usual season, mired with inconsistency, but his heights were always worth it. Upon arriving in Queens, Mullins had some excellent moments in centerfield, but struggled at the plate, hitting .182 with 10 RBIs and 2 homers in 42 games.
Speaking of the O's, they recently landed Ryan Helsley, who'll be returning to small-market, southern-ish teams. I think he needs it, honestly. The Mets needed relief help, and grabbed him from the Cardinals to set up Edwin Diaz, and even close. Helsley completely fell apart in New York, posting a 7.20 ERA and a -0.9 WAR in 22 games, giving up 16 earned runs and, crucially, notching zero saves. He had a self-deprecating sense of humor about himself, but clearly this was not his best material, and it was one of many factors that led to the Mets missing the playoffs.
Tyler Rogers, a sidearmer who'd been a highlight in San Francisco, was also brought on to aid the Mets' bullpen woes. He fared better than Helsley, posting a 2.30 ERA in 27 innings. Not quite as dominant as his 2025 Giants numbers, but his cumulative ERA is still under 2, so that's good.
And then, with all else failing, the Mets brought in the rookie starters. Nolan McLean was immediately ready for the show, and Jonah Tong seemed to show promise in his first couple starts. Tong is also a prized Mets prospect, and was dubbed 'the Canadian Cannon' in college. Mets fans quickly saw why, as he was capable of ferocious outings, like shutting down the Padres in September. However, he also accumulated a lot of earned runs, and left the season with a 7.71 ERA and a -0.8 WAR in 5 starts.
There was also organizational giant Brandon Sproat, a 25-year-old workhorse who made 4 starts for the Mets, and made a decent impression, with a 4.79 ERA and 17 Ks, despite a 1.210 WHIP. Sproat was a victim of coming in to try and save this team while the wheels were already coming off, and was just filling innings sadly. I don't think this season was indicative of his talent, a lot like Tong. He just needs better circumstances.
Coming Tomorrow- The Nats' season was far more underwhelming than anyone thought, but at least they're a little better off next year, right?

















































