5 NY Mets free agent signings they should make whether they land Juan Soto or not

How long can Juan Soto drag this out? Okay, so maybe it’s not his fault. Super agent Scott Boras is the one holding the MLB world hostage as bidding for his client winds down and exhausted New York Mets fans can finally get an answer.

Regardless of whether or not Soto signs with the Mets or not, the team should aggressively pursue these three other free agents.

1) Pete Alonso

It was never a matter of Soto OR Pete Alonso. The two play different positions and as expensive as the pairing will be, the Mets have a necessity to add two bats to their lineup. They shouldn’t have to choose between one or the other. With or without Soto, Alonso is their best option at first base.

First, there’s what Alonso can bring to the team. There isn’t a better power hitter out there in free agency than Alonso. Familiarity helps the team already know what they’re getting into. 

Secondly, Alonso doesn’t have the same qualifying offer penalties others will carry with them. Soto is worth losing draft picks and international money to add. Was Willy Adames worth losing two draft picks and more to sign? What about Alex Bregman, Anthony Santander, Christian Walker, and other perceived Alonso alternatives for the middle of the order?

A lineup with Alonso hitting behind Soto, whether directly or with Mark Vientos between the two, has been the dream situation for the ball club. The Mets will have the option to pivot toward a better defensive third baseman with Vientos at first base, but I wouldn’t be so quick to make such a transaction.

Soto or not, the Polar Bear should wear orange and blue once again in 2025 and for the rest of his career.

2) Sean Manaea

Much of what was said about Alonso applies to Sean Manaea, Another Mets free agent who could come back, improve the roster, and not carry any qualifying offer penalties, Manaea would end up as the biggest starting pitcher addition of the offseason for the team. So far they’ve settled on perceived bargain deals with Clay Holmes and Frankie Montas. Manaea would require a bigger paycheck and more years of commitment.

Eventually, the Mets are going to need to start signing pitchers to longer deals. This year-to-year plan is going to bite them more often than not. Some sort of consistency, especially with future free agent markets not having as much abundance of choices, will limit where they can improve.

The Mets knew exactly how to get the most out of Manaea last year. While they do need to draw the line as to how much they’d be willing to pay him and how many years they’d commit, they should give him a fair offer and be among the top pursuers.

Presently missing from the Mets is that top starting pitcher addition. Kodai Senga could conceivably fill the void, however, this team lacks at the top of the rotation even with him penciled in as their number one guy.

3) A.J. Minter

Do you know what would be great? Swiping A.J. Minter away from the Atlanta Braves. It’s not all reunions the Mets should be seeking to sign. Longtime foe, Minter, should be on their wish list and one of the few relievers they should pay a lot of money to add.

Looking at it realistically, we shouldn’t expect the Mets to sign Minter. A lifetime 3.28 ERA with some mild closer experience and some brilliant years in relief for an ultra-competitive team, Minter is the frontline lefty bullpen any team looking to build a complete relief corps should seek to sign. He’ll get the kind of money some closers will receive without the actual task of pitching the ninth inning.

So far, David Stearns has yet to sign a reliever to big money. Having Edwin Diaz make as much money as he does could be a part of the reason. Plus, who really wants to pay a man at a position that can be so fickle as much money as it will cost to sign Minter?

Don’t expect the Mets to pull this off. Rather, look for them to do something sneakier than add one of the best non-closer relievers available in free agency. It can’t be a spring training competition between Danny Young and Genesis Cabrera.

4) Jose Iglesias

As someone who despises reunions, I can’t help myself but to include Jose Iglesias here. The Mets really do need a veteran presence on the infield even in a bench role. Iglesias showed himself capable of being so much more than that. It can’t be over after just four and a half months. As ingrained in the franchise’s history as he has already become, that’s all we got; June, July, August, September, and half of October.

No Mets fan would hold it against Iglesias to seek out a starting role elsewhere. In fact, we can probably bet on teams giving him an opportunity to inject his liveliness into their locker room. It might take a little more roster maneuvering to give Iglesias the playing time he’d desire. This isn’t a veteran just chasing after a large pay day. He’ll want to actually win and be a big part of it.

Iglesias would be a good match to do exactly what he did for the Mets in 2024. Play a bunch of second base and third base and finish off every game at the latter in place of Mark Vientos.

The fact that Iglesias hasn’t signed yet and his free agency depends minimally on where Soto goes can spring some positive thoughts of a return to the Mets.

5) Austin Voth

You can probably pick any right-handed reliever you’d want for this final spot on the list. Phil Maton and Ryne Stanek would make my inner hatred of reunions boil so I’ve selected Austin Voth to round out this list of five.

Voth is coming off of a strong season with the Seattle Mariners. Despite a -0.2 WAR, he had a 3.69 ERA in 61 innings, a 1.04 WHIP, and a strikeout per inning. Mets fans will be delighted to see he walked less than 3 batters per 9 innings. An ERA+ of 100 suggests he was much more average than some of his other numbers show.

Voth has had a curious career with some very solid years and some lesser ones along the way, too. In 2022, he pitched to a 10.13 ERA in 18.2 relief innings for the Washington Nationals. Upon joining the Baltimore Orioles where he made 17 starts and 5 relief appearances, he morphed into a much better pitcher. For them he was 5-4 with a 3.04 ERA.

This is the kind of pitcher who won’t cost the Mets a whole lot of money and can be had on a one-year deal. Consider him the Jorge Lopez, without the glove throwing skills, for the 2025 team.