Every potential NY Mets free agent with their projected AAV salary

The next phase for the New York Mets after collecting their equipment, saying their goodbyes, and trying to figure out how to get better is to part ways with several players. The Mets didn’t go into the year with a whole lot of free agents, but will do so now with several players added at the trade deadline who joined midway with an expiring contract.

Each of these players is either on a contract that’ll expire or an option we should expect to get turned down. Using Spotrac’s list and the market value of each, we can get a better idea of how much it might cost to retain them or how much they’ll earn with a new ball club. Excluded below are Frankie Montas and A.J. Minter whose season-ending injuries should have them opting in. Additionally, Brooks Raley and Drew Smith have been left out. In Smith’s case, he’ll only become a free agent based on health. Raley’s assessment isn’t fair considering the projected salary doesn’t take into account that he was signed knowing he’d miss half the 2025 season.

Pete Alonso - $29.3 million AAV

It would be a slight decrease from his 2025 salary but a higher AAV. We should expect Pete Alonso to ask for something close to $30 million per year with the biggest question being how long a team would be willing to commit.

Edwin Diaz - $18.15 million AAV (player option)

Another contract that has a player losing money from the previous year’s salary, it’s an accurate depiction of what Edwin Diaz would top out with in free agency. The Mets need to bring him back badly, but his last deal was one signed by the previous regime that didn’t seem to care much for clever and favored using every last dime Steve Cohen made available.

Starling Marte - $7.78 million AAV

It’s a big drop from the $19.5 million AAV Starling Marte has been getting from the Mets. Because he is more of a part-time DH at this point and the one to take the shorter half as a righty who faces left-handed pitching, the big drop in salary is all he could expect. Marte’s career is winding down. Take the money from a contender and invest it somewhere wisely.

Cedric Mullins - $6.73 million AAV

Someone is going to pay Cedric Mullins around this amount, possibly rounded up or down to the nearest million. As poorly as he played for the Mets, we’ve seen center fielders reap the rewards of free agency. The Mets paid Harrison Bader $10.5 million in 2024 for his glove. Mullins ended the year weekly, but it shouldn’t hurt him too badly in free agency for a team looking to buy low.

Ryan Helsley - $13.64 million AAV

This seems like an awful lot to give a guy who crashed so badly. Ryan Helsley could make for a good grab by a team in need of a closer with an option for a second year, either controlled by the team or a mutual one. Relief pitchers are hard to figure out from year to year. It’s an easy pass for the Mets even if he began to steady the ship late in the year.

Jesse Winker - $5.47 million AAV

Because of the injury that limited him in 2025, teams will be cautious to pay Jesse Winker much of anything. Likely limited to a DH role and only usable against right-handed pitchers, it seems fair to expect Winker to take a big pay cut from what the Mets gave him in 2025.

Gregory Soto - $7.04 million AAV

If your second lefty in the bullpen is making over $7 million, you better not make any excuses anywhere else. Gregory Soto is a fine reliever in a specialist role against left-handed hitters. Paying him $7 million would be foolish.

Tyler Rogers - $11.34 million AAV

Statistically, sure. Tyler Rogers probably has the kind of numbers to warrant a deal of $11.34 million. However, because he isn’t a high strikeout pitcher, I’d guess teams would be hesitant to pay a non-closer entering his age 35 season this much money. He is someone the Mets can consider bringing back. At this price tag, it seems dangerous.

Ryne Stanek - $3.92 million AAV

Only a small dip in salary from what he received from the Mets, it’s fair to assume he’ll get either $3 million or $4 million in free agency this offseason. Rounded up in Spotrac’s algorithm, I’d guess two years of being below average in the regular season has teams letting him sit out in free agency for as long as it takes for him to settle for less money.

Griffin Canning - $4.68 million AAV

This is an intriguing one. Griffin Canning was on his way to making a lot more money until his season-ending Achilles injury. Based on how well he pitched, this seems low and largely based on what he did in the past and fails to take into account how vastly improved he was. Canning is someone the Mets should talk to this offseason for a $6 million deal or so. Have him ready to be a sixth starter with an ideal world including Canning as a long reliever.