NY Mets should keep a close eye on these upcoming player or team options

One of the most interesting parts of the offseason is deciding which pending options get picked up and which get declined. These come in all shapes and sizes: player options, team options, mutual options, and opt-outs, and can really add to the depth of the free-agent market. Obviously, some like the Atlanta Braves' club option on Ronald Acuña Jr. will be picked up without a second thought. Still, there are a handful of players who stand out as prime New York Mets targets.

The Mets enter this winter with no shortage of needs as they look to rebuild their roster into that of a bona fide contender. These options decisions could theoretically shake loose players across many tiers who could fill roles for New York, ranging from stars to quality depth pieces. These four stand out.

These four option candidates should be prime Mets free-agent targets due to their abilities to fit specific roles

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Michael King

Michael King has long been a prime Mets target, and if anything, 2026 solidified the reason why David Stearns must be aggressive in his pursuit of the right-hander. The knock on King has often been his ability to stay healthy, but after a season when he made 32 starts, threw 185 innings, and posted a 3.21 ERA, he has put those worries to bed to some degree.

King could opt out of his current deal, forfeiting $32 million in 2027 and $34 million in 2028. He likely does just that because his healthy season likely lands him a lucrative long-term contract. New York could use another front-of-the-rotation arm, and a veteran in particular, next to Nolan McLean, and a lot of folks sleep on just how good King is.

Since 2022, the 31-year-old is one of just eight pitchers to throw at least 475 innings with an ERA of 3.00 or below. The other seven are Zack Wheeler, Tarik Skubal, Blake Snell, Drew Rasmussen, Paul Skenes, Chris Sale, and Max Fried. Not bad company. King has also proven that he can handle New York, and has been dominant in the playoffs with a 1.86 ERA in the postseason. If he were only a tad more durable we'd be talking about him as one of the true aces in the sport.

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Matthew Boyd

Matthew Boyd and the Chicago Cubs share a mutual option for $15 million for 2027. Since both sides need to agree, this sort of option construct is almost never executed. For Boyd, that's especially true because his performance over the past two years has been more valuable than what he'd be paid.

Boyd, like King, comes with injury concerns, though he's been decently healthy, making 53 starts during his two years with the Cubs. With a 3.21 ERA in 2025 and a 3.91 mark in 2026, the 36-year-old has established himself as a solid mid-rotation starter. Given the fact that the Mets can't count on Sean Manaea in the rotation, and that they'd be wise not to count on Zac Thornton as the only lefty starter, Boyd begins to look like a necessity.

His age will limit him to a short-term commitment of one or two years, which is something that New York would likely prefer.

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Myles Straw

Myles Straw definitely isn't a star. His 2026 campaign saw him hit .241/.304/.342, and for his career he's a .246/.314/.316 hitter. But you don't sign Straw for his bat; you do it for everything else that he brings to the table.

The 32-year-old can play all three outfield positions at a high level, especially center field. For example, in 2025 he put up 15 defensive runs saved in center, despite playing just 532 1/3 innings at the position. That ability would give the Mets flexibility to deploy A.J. Ewing at second base if they chose, and would be an upgrade over Nick Morabito as the fourth or fifth outfielder.

On top of that, he posted a 97th percentile sprint speed of 29.7 feet per second this past season. He has a pair of 20-plus steal seasons on his resume, in addition to swiping 30 bags in 2021, making him a prime pinch-running threat in addition to a quality reserve outfielder. He's not flashy, but winning teams have guys like Straw who do the dirty work.

San Diego Padres reliever Wandy Peralta

The Padres left Wandy Peralta off their initial NLDS roster, only adding him once it became clear that Mason Miller would take a one-day paternity leave. That doesn't mean that the veteran lefty isn't a quality reliever in the right role. That role should be as a rubber-armed middle reliever.

Over the past two seasons, Peralta's 142 2/3 innings pitched are the ninth most among MLB relievers. In that time, he's posted a 3.47 ERA. He's also shown a nearly equal ability to retire right-handed hitters as well as lefties.

Peralta is a fiery competitor who is armed with a mid-90s fastball and a willingness to do crafty things like quick-pitch hitters to get them off balance. He's a pest who can lock down the part of the game where things can get out of hand before the high-leverage arms are ready to come into the game. He is also beloved by Yankees fans for his demeanor and ability to handle New York, so there should be no worries about him fitting in well in Queens.

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