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1 position the NY Mets need to figure out before the MLB lockout, 1 they can wait on

There shoudl be a deadline for solving one need and no immediate urgency on the other.
ByTim Boyle
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Sep 15, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets first base Jared Young (29) hits an RBI sacrifice fly during the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Sep 15, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets first base Jared Young (29) hits an RBI sacrifice fly during the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The MLB lockout is a foregone conclusion. Less than a month to go before the CBA expires, the two sides don’t have a whole lot to lose just yet as they will spend a good part of the winter trying to find a middle ground. We saw in 2021 with the CBA in its final days how the New York Mets went wild in the final days with signings of Max Scherzer, Starling Marte, Mark Canha, and Eduardo Escobar. A large part of the team’s needs were solved in a matter of days.

We should fully expect the Mets, and other teams, to shore up aspects of the roster before the unknown. Teams may be hesitant about luxury items, but the biggest need for all 30 clubs must be attended to.

With that in mind, there’s one position the Mets need to figure out before November is over and another they can wait on.

The Mets need to have their starting rotation at least close to set by the time the lockout comes

Whether it’s Tarik Skubal or a duo like the often-mentioned Clay Holmes reunion paired with Michael King, we need to have an assurance the Mets have a better starting staff by the time the bell rings on the CBA.

Skubal is expected to sign before the lockout begins which might not give the Mets a whole lot of time to pivot. It’s not the end of the world if they have to come out of the winter battle of words still in search of help, but it definitely doesn’t help when they’ll have, likely, a limited time.

The best move of all for the Mets to make is to at least add one starting pitcher to the mix. If they swing and miss on Skubal, adding one backup plan feels necessary. Just don’t panic and convince yourself Dustin May is a solution.

The Mets can wait on solving first base

The Mets are less inclined to sign Teruaki Sato with Bo Bichette returning. Well, duh and also okay, what’s next? Sato never quite made enough sense for the Mets given the state of the rest of their roster. They can make it work, but a right-handed platoon partner for Jared Young who could steal the bulk of the playing time always made more sense if you’re wearing David Stearns’ shoes. For reference, he wore a men’s size 14 in 2024. Last year he shopped in the children’s section.

Becuase we have already seen the Mets get “creative” at first base we shouldn’t overlook them doing something similar again this time. They can’t just stick with Young and hope Jorge Polanco is able to play the position, too. Some sort of improvement, even at the Paul Goldschmidt level, will need to be finalized by Opening Day.

First basemen don’t grow on trees but also they kind of do. Ty France signed a minor league contract last year off of a decent 2025 campaign and now he sounds like a prize for the Mets. Jake Bauers developed into a demon at the plate. The Mets will have a lot of options waiting for them after November and into late winter/early spring when the lockout ends. There’s no need to rush something like this when the solution, if it’s not Sato, isn’t so apparent.

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