3 NY Mets players who can be the next Jared Young and have a much better year two

The next Jared Young? Let’s confirm what’s meant there. Becoming the next Jared Young doesn’t mean being a guy who had success overseas and came stateside, while that would be true. In this example, we’re looking for someone to do what Young did in 2026 after what he accomplished in 2025.

Young had only 47 plate appearances for the Mets in 2025. Batting only .186 but with a .722 OPS largely because he hit 4 home runs in such a short span, he was kind of an afterthought for most fans. It was the .956 OPS in Triple-A with a .300 batting average which made him an easier keeper for the Mets.

Far better this year than last, Young is an example of a guy who struggled at first then rose to become a more important piece. Reed Garrett was kind of that way. He was on the 2023 Mets late in the season and thanks to remaining minor league options, David Stearns decided he was worth keeping from the previous regime. For parts of 2024 and 2025, he was one of the more trustworthy relievers.

To become the next version of Young, a player only needs to meet a certain criteria. He needs to have been kind of bad this year. He needs to not be a highly-paid player. He needs to be really good next season. Can any of these three accomplish that goal?

Three Mets players who’ll try to replicate the Jared Young rise

1) Tobias Myers

Tobias Myers is in a bit of a competition right now. He’s reaching for a life raft with zero minor league options left for next season up against players like Jonathan Pintaro. Ineffective, insufficient, and insulting are three of the words to describe the way his season has gone.

But he has been good before. Myers had a 3.15 ERA in his two seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers. Not overpowering and maybe a little lucky if you believe in FIP, preventing runs in the recent past should make him a qualifier to bounce back.

The difficulty is whether or not the Mets allow it to happen. He’s a non-tender candidate this offseason because of the lack of flexibility. If the Mets go into the offseason on a tighter budget with fewer plans to spend money, he’ll be one of several veterans David Stearns helps prove right.

2) Eric Wagaman

Eric Wagaman is only hitting .191 for the Mets, but his addition makes a lot of sense. He had multiple minor league options and coming off of last season, there was thought he could fill that need for a righty bat to hit lefties. It’s almost perfect if you want to pair him alongside Young at first base.

Hitting only .237 against lefties this year, his 2025 campaign with the Miami Marlins featured a .283 batting average and .783 OPS against southpaws. That’s not too shabby at all.

What’s more, he has played all four corner positions on the field. He’s the closest thing to a right-handed version of Young. He’s doing well in Triple-A, posting an .838 OPS through 142 plate appearances for Syracuse

3) Chayce McDermott

This is one I don’t believe and yet Chayce McDermott needs to be included. Acquired by the Mets at the trade deadline in the Ben Rortvedt deal, he entered the 2025 season as the fourth ranked Baltimore Orioles prospect. It’s kind of outrageous how he is now nearing journeyman territory with his final minor league option already used up in 2026.

A 10.18 ERA in the big league and 5.06 with the Mets, McDermott doesn’t look anywhere near ready to be a mainstay in a big league bullpen. It would be outrageous if he somehow was tendered a deal and occupied a 40-man roster spot. The plan for him might either be to DFA and attempt to pass through waivers or non-tender and then re-sign to a minor league contract.

Allowing only 1 run in his first 8.2 innings for Syracuse is definitely a positive sign. He’s also no kid, turning 28 in August. The journey for McDermott to become a useful Mets player would differ from Garrett and Young greatly even if the destination ended up the same.

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