LA Dodgers free agent, World Series hero would look nice on the NY Mets bench

With David Stearns decrying that run prevention will be of the utmost importance this season, taking a hard look at bench upgrades should be a prime focus for the New York Mets this winter. Perhaps the best option is Los Angeles Dodgers' utility man and World Series hero, Miguel Rojas.

When looking at the team's options in the infield, it's clear something is lacking. Jeff McNeil can't cover shortstop, and while youngsters Luisangel Acuña and Ronny Mauricio can, their inexperience and shaky offensive performance prove they can't be relied upon.

Dodgers hero Miguel Rojas would be the perfect mercenary to upgrade the Mets' bench in 2026

The Mets undoubtedly will be shopping Jeff McNeil this offseason. Though he still has some life as a useful player, McNeil's greatest skill, contact, has eroded as evidenced by his .243 average in 2025. He's also no longer much of a utility infielder, with only second base and the outfield being his primary defensive home this season. Simply put, he's no longer worth his $12.5 million salary.

Meanwhile, the face-off between Ronny Mauricio and Luisangel Acuña ended without a winner. All of that puts the bench in a very precarious shape.

That's where Rojas comes in. The 12-year vet has gotten a lot of notoriety recently for his heroics in Game 7 of the World Series, hitting a game-tying homer and making a game-saving defensive play to cut down a runner at home. However, it's more than just being the flavor of the month that should attract the Mets.

One issue with utility infielders is that it's hard to find ones with a decent bat. As the occasional spot starter, having one who swings a wet noodle in limited action is fine, but the moment one of the regulars go down, you find yourself in trouble.

Over the past two seasons, the Dodgers have suffered extensive injuries, resulting in them calling on Rojas to step up a decent amount. He logged 103 games and 337 plate appearances with a 110 wRC+ in 2024, and 114 games and 317 plate appearances with a 100 wRC+ this year.

While he's no slugger, having a contact-focused bat that can produce at or slightly above league average coming off the bench is a valuable thing.

Rojas has also logged time at all four infield positions on a regular basis. He's an average or better defender at all four, at his ability to play shortstop makes him drastically more valuable than McNeil in a similar role. Essentially, the Mets would be able to rest easy, giving Francisco Lindor a day off should Rojas wind up in Queens.

The Venezuelan native has stated that he plans to retire at the end of the 2026 campaign, so he'd come cheap both in terms of dollars and years. Most importantly, he'd bring a competent bat and glove to any spot in the infield, not to mention some impressive battle scars from the October wars. Rojas would be the perfect mercenary for the Mets to poach to fill a sneaky position of need.