5 former NY Mets players who signed with an NL East rival this offseason

Once upon a time Mets players, they're not front and center as our enemies in 2025.

New York Mets v Washington Nationals
New York Mets v Washington Nationals | Will Newton/GettyImages
1 of 3

Gone and in some cases forgotten, these five former New York Mets players will have a chance to visit Citi Field multiple times or play host in 2025. All were free agents this offseason and either on a major league or minor league contract, joined up with a NL East rival of the Mets.

Their presence within the division won’t send chills down anyone’s spines. Nevertheless, the stories of an ex either being the victor or getting defeated by a team that once employed them is one to regularly follow throughout the course of the season.

1) Albert Almora

On a long list of defense-first outfielders who’ve suited up for the Mets in the last few seasons, Albert Almora is one that goes easily forgotten. He didn’t have the stakes of being traded for like Jake Marisnick or Keon Broxton. Almora was a free agent signing ahead of the 2021 season. One thought of as a guy who could be Juan Lagares for the Chicago Cubs, an offensive decline had the team releasing him after the shortened 2020 campaign.

Almora would end up appearing in 47 games for the 2021 Mets while getting handed just 54 plate appearances. The closeness of the number of games played versus actual trips to the plate is the best indication of how he was used: defensive replacement. He’d hit only .115/.148/.173 for the Mets in a year where he spent some time on the IL. He wouldn’t drive in a single run which begs the question: what’s the franchise record for most plate appearances without an RBI in Mets history?

Almora would bat only .223/.282/.349 in 2022 for the Cincinnati Reds when he last appeared in a major league game. He didn’t play for any MLB team in the minors in 2023 but would manage to catch on with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2024 where he spent a full season in Triple-A rebuilding his stock. Apparently, the lowly Miami Marlins saw enough of the .292/.349/.439 output at the plate to believe he was worth a flier on a minor league deal. Good luck to Almora. There’s a good chance he is actually able to make their club.

Schedule