3 newly added players to the NL East who’ll become NY Mets villains in 2026

New year, new foes. As “run it back” as it was for the other NL East teams, they did go out and add some new players along the way, too. The New York Mets may have the largest influx of guys for our NL East rivals to learn to hate. The Atlanta Braves, Philadelphia Phillies, and even the Miami Marlins were courteous enough to make changes of their own to give us some new enemies.

These three added to the NL East are bound to become enemies of the state…of New York.

NL East newcomers Mets fans will love to hate

1) Mike Yastrzemski

With a name like that, the pressure is automatic. Mike Yastrzemski is the grandson of Carl Yastremszki and while not Hall of Fame bound, he has put together a nice career spent exclusively with the San Francisco Giants until last year’s trade deadline when he landed with the Kansas City Royals. This year he joins the Braves outfield mix.

We should be careful about Yastrzemski's numbers exploding in Atlanta. Averaging 24 per 162 games with the Giants, his power numbers have a chance to become a problem with 81 scheduled games in Atlanta. He has already gotten off to a hot start in spring training, smashing 3 home runs in his first 10 plate appearances.

2) Adolis Garcia

A little boom, a little bust, and a lot in between is what the Phillies can expect out of Adolis Garcia. No one really knows. His defensive results have swayed in major ways with a Gold Glove in 2023 and some questionable results in proceeding years.

The offense is unknown, too. While a consistently low batting average and OBP guy, it’s Garcia’s power which, much like Yaz in Atlanta, can take off in Philadelphia. He has averaged 30 home runs and 97 RBI per 162 games. Getting out of Texas and into the bandbox in Philly will make him a pain in the neck for Mets pitchers.

3) Pete Fairbanks

It’ll be Pete Fairbanks getting the ball for the final three outs for the Miami Marlins this year, at least until they trade him. We know how much of a nuisance the Marlins can be even in years where they aren’t all that great. Fairbanks will be the one to drive the nail in the coffin.

Fairbanks was, like Garcia, a non-tendered player this offseason. He’s coming over from the Tampa Bay Rays where he had plenty of success, but an increasing salary they weren’t willing to pay. The only good news is the rest of the Marlins will have to play well in order for Fairbanks to be a factor. Taking care of business for the first 8 innings can make him useless in games against the Mets.