Skip to main content
Rising Apple
FanSided

3 NY Mets signings that should be made in spite of David Stearns' preferences

The Mets should consider these three signings this offseason.
ByPat Ragazzo
Share on FacebookShare on XShare on Reddit
Google Discover
Aug 17, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns speaks to the media before a game against the San Diego Padres at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Aug 17, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns speaks to the media before a game against the San Diego Padres at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Despite having the second-highest payroll in baseball last season, the New York Mets won just 74 games, one year after they collapsed to miss the playoffs by one game. Now, the pressure is on president of baseball operations David Stearns to get the Mets back to the postseason in 2027 after missing out the last two years.

Stearns of course has his own processes and philosophies that he has stuck to in the past two years, but he is going to have to go against some of them this winter in order to make the Mets a winning team again. We're going to look at three potential signings the Mets should make that go against Stearns' preferences.

Three free agents who don't fit the David Stearns philosophy worth signing

1) Tarik Skubal

This is the obvious one given two-time Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal is the crown jewel of free agency this offseason. Stearns doesn't typically give out deals longer than three years to starting pitchers, but he will have to do so to win the Skubal sweepstakes. Skubal is expected to receive the richest contract for a starting pitcher in MLB history and is represented by super agent Scott Boras, who got a similar deal for Gerrit Cole after the 2019 season. Skubal's contract will likely exceed both Cole's $324 million and Yoshinobu Yamamoto's $325 million. The Mets got out of their comfort zone under Stearns to sign Juan Soto to a 15-year, $765 million deal two years ago. They will have to do the same to get Skubal to lead their rotation for the foreseeable future.

2) Teruaki Sato

Star Japanese slugger Teruaki Sato just won the Triple Crown in the NPB. However, The Athletic's Will Sammon reported earlier in the week that the Mets are "less inclined" to go after Sato now that third baseman Bo Bichette exercised his $42 million option for next season. But that shouldn't stop the Mets from signing Sato, who was scouted in Japan by Stearns himself last season. Sato could be moved to first base and provide the type of power that the Mets have been missing at the position since Pete Alonso departed for the Baltimore Orioles. The Mets arguably made a mistake by not signing first baseman Munetaka Murakami out of Japan last year, and should make up for it by signing Sato this offseason.

3) Adrian Morejon

Elite left-handed reliever Adrian Morejon was extended the qualifying offer by the San Diego Padres, which will scare away external suitors. The Mets would have to give up their second and fifth highest draft pick selections in the next MLB Draft, plus $1 million in international bonus pool money to sign a player attached to the qualifying offer. This certainly goes against Stearns' philosophy of building long-term success. That being said, if the Mets want to have an elite bullpen, Morejon is the addition they should make on a multi-year deal. He is still just 27-years-old, and has been one of the best relief pitchers in the league for several seasons.

Add us as a preferred source on Google
Home/New York Mets News