Free agent combo can give the NY Mets added flexibility in every lineup

An underrated skill the New York Mets should be seeking this offseason is versatility. Injuries, slumps, and unpredictability all play roles over the marathon that is a 162-game season, and in many ways, having players who can fill in at multiple positions can ensure the best nine hitters are in the lineup on a night-to-night basis.

To that end, there are two players who not only stand out as premium solutions that fill key roster holes but also have the versatility needed to ensure the lineup is always at its most potent.

Cody Bellinger and Kazuma Okamoto should be at the top of the Mets' shopping list because of their versatility

Rumblings of the Mets' interest in Cody Bellinger began back in the summer, and for good reason. The former NL Rookie of the Year and MVP has the run prevention skills at four positions that David Stearns is looking for, while also being a force at the plate. It's easy to see that he'd fit the roster like a glove.

The best place to slot Bellinger would be in center, though if necessary, he could slide to either outfield corner. Still, center field is one of the team's biggest holes, and having a quality defender there with the statuesque duo of Juan Soto and Brandon Nimmo on either flank is a must.

But what makes Bellinger truly special is his ability to play a stellar first base. That wouldn't be his primary function following a hypothetical landing in Queens, but if New York pulls off the second part of this free-agent exacta, it could work in conjunction with the next leg.

Kazuma Okamoto is one of two high-profile Japanese sluggers who will be moving stateside this winter. While the younger Munetaka Murakami initially had more fanfare, Okamoto has gotten more buzz recently thanks to his consistent power and strong combination of plate discipline and contact skills.

Okamoto's best position is first base, but the 29-year-old has experience at third base and left field also on his resume, with most of the action of his injury-shortened 2025 season coming at the hot corner, getting 52 starts there compared to just 17 at first.

Okamoto's power is expected to translate due to his ability to handle higher-end velocity, and both he and Bellinger have posted extremely low strikeout rates. Bellinger K'd just 13.7% of the time in 2025, while, even adjusting for the jump from the NPB to the bigs, Okamoto's minuscule 11.3% strikeout rate was impressive.

The flexibility the two provide would mean the Mets can not only survive injuries by shuffling pieces around, but also exploit matchups. While Bellinger is a lefty, he has a strong reverse split, posting an insane .353/.415/. 601 line against southpaws in 2025, in addition to strong numbers against them throughout his career.

That means in matchups against a tough lefty, Bellinger could come in and play first, shifting the right-handed Okamoto to third in Brett Baty's stead. Baty put up a .678 OPS against same-handed pitchers in 2025, so avoiding them is ideal.

In this lineup, there would still be a place for Mark Vientos at DH, and Tyrone Taylor's defense would play well in center. In this way, the Mets get the best of both worlds, offensive production without really sacrificing much on the defensive end.

In addition, the ability these two have can ensure that in almost every scenario, better-than-average bats occupy nearly every spot in the lineup, even if (when) injuries occur.

If the Mets are serious about righting the wrongs from 2025, signing Bellinger and replacing Pete Alonso with Okamoto would do wonders toward the goal of building a more well-rounded team, at least on the offensive end.