5 burning NY Mets questions to answer in 2026 plus a prediction for each

Who says these games don’t count? While the New York Mets finish up their schedule, the primary goal is to answer a couple of burning questions.

There are some no-doubt decisions. Then there are those on the roster we could take or leave. We’ll make up our minds fully by the end of September.

These burning questions will carry us through the last month of the 2026 campaign. In addition to heating us up, they all deserve their own prediction.

The burning Mets questions for the rest of 2026 with a prediction on each

1) Is Kodai Senga the real deal in a high-leverage role?

Kodai Senga’s change from starter to closer had plenty of possible outcomes. The extremes of him being unable to throw regularly enough to be effective was probably what took so long to make the transition. By the time they did make the change it was because they had no other option.

So far, we’ve gotten more good than bad. The sample size is way too small to deliver a complete verdict. The jury needs as much time as possible to deliberate.

Prediction: We take the good, we take the bad and he ends up failing to answer the most important questions in 2027. Despite some offseason trade rumors, the Mets end up hanging onto him in hopes he can be Devin Williams insurance. He kind of is but also is far from trustworthy.

2) Does Luis Robert Jr. make sense for 2027?

Luis Robert Jr. has played some good baseball in August. While his $20 million option for next year seems unreasonable to pick up, buying him out for $2 million and re-signing him to a lesser contract is one very possible outcome.

A.J. Ewing’s slow month is a reminder that the Mets do need the additional outfield depth Robert can provide them. Even if he’s merely more of a platoon partner and insurance in center field and left field in case of injury, a player like Robert makes sense for the Mets. The red hot question is if he is the right individual.

Prediction: He continues to show that he makes sense, but someone else replaces him because another team can promise him more playing time. Parlaying a successful 2027 season into a long-term contract is something that should be a priority of his in the offseason.

3) Where does Francisco Alvarez fit into next year’s plans?

Francisco Alvarez is catching a lot less these days. He gets his at-bats as a DH and hasn’t inspired much confidence. The annual event of Alvarez going through a slump is now underway. Defensive questions as well, it’s clear there are some doubts about the kind of fit he is for the club moving forward.

Along with the recent usage, the fact the Mets are paying Luis Torrens over $5.75 million offer the next two seasons shows they’re invested in him. Add in how the two are now having way too similar results at the plate, the justification for keeping Alvarez is still based on potential and not what he is actually producing.

Prediction: He’s the most notable player traded this offseason. There aren’t too many sensible moves for the Mets that’ll shake out the roster. A team with a little more patience and/or worse catcher situation sells the Mets a ready-made big leaguer in a multi-player trade.

4) What’s the real second base plan?

Marcus Semien is probably going to start on Opening Day at second base for the Mets. Even if it’s Brett Baty who gets the nod instead, we can’t feel too confident. The pair will have a tough time getting to even a .650 OPS on the year.

Baty’s future is up for debate, but with a minor league option available and the team’s continued show of faith in him, there’s a good possibility he manages to stick around.

Prediction: The second base plan ends up as Semien and Baty with prospects knocking on the door. We accept it for what it is. By the time the first month of the season is over (April hopefully), talks of making a move stir.

5) Will Zac Thornton be a rotation solution?

I’d take Zac Thornton as a fifth starter. Now pitching to a 2.88 ERA after his most recent outing on Tuesday, there are very few better choices the Mets could possibly find to round out their rotation. Of course, the way to bump him out would be to add a player like Tarik Skubal as well as another more proven arm.

Thornton doesn’t strike out a lot of hitters and doesn’t have a whole lot of red on his Baseball Savant page. Can we complain? He’s getting outs and preventing runs.

Prediction: Due to injury, he starts the year in the big leagues and ends up getting a lot more starts than intended. Thornton ends up strangely satisfying yet again.

Add us as a preferred source on Google