NY Mets Monday Morning GM: A top starting pitcher, 3 other necessary additions

At the top of the list of additions needed for the New York Mets this year, it’s an ace starting pitcher. The term “ace” can be interpreted loosely. It’s more than a number one starter. A proverbial ace needs to be a Cy Young contender before the first pitch of the season year in, year out.

There’s probably only one true ace out there in free agency, Tarik Skubal. This doesn’t mean it’s Skubal or bust. The Mets can improve their rotation with alternatives and possibly choosing a better mix of quantity with quality.

After improving the rotation, the Mets will have a few other areas to upgrade. These three additional needs are a must from outside the organization.

Needed Mets upgrades for the 2027 roster after snagging a top starting pitcher

1) A right-handed hitting first baseman

The Mets need some sort of right-handed option at first base in 2027. We’re all under the impression Jared Young will be the lefty part of a platoon. The right-handed half can’t possibly be Mark Vientos yet again. Similar players, like Alec Bohm, have shown enough to the point where their arrival to Queens would feel like an improvement even if none of us are risking an ankle injury by jumping for joy.

The problem with a lot of these candidates is finding the right match willing to take the shorter half of a platoon. Would Bohm? Ty France definitely won’t. Paul Goldschmidt might not have any other choice. Other opportunities will be out there. We shouldn’t put it past the Mets to try to get creative either. Hopefully any of those plans work better than Jorge Polanco.

2) A right-handed hitting fourth outfielder

Nick Morabito isn’t replacing Tyrone Taylor, at least not yet. There’s a lot to be excited about with Morabito as a right-handed hitting part of the outfield depth chart. He can run. He can field. Can he do much at the plate? It might take a little more seasoning before we can entrust him to at least batter left-handed pitching at the big league level.

In the meantime, a reunion with Taylor or someone similar feels crucial. Because A.J. Ewing and Carson Benge can share center field duties, the Mets aren’t locked into trying to make a defense-first outfielder work. Go after someone with a little pop in his bat that can at least handle the corners. This shouldn’t be an awfully expensive role. Randal Grichuk, Lane Thomas, Ramon Laureano, etc. are the types to target. Look for non-tendered players to become candidates, too.

3) A high-leverage reliever

Lefty or righty, the Mets bullpen could use help. Sure, David Stearns did a fine job at crafting a relief corps of cheaper guys. They could build a pretty good bullpen for next year with Daniel Duarte, Nate Lavender, Dedniel Nunez, and a few others eating a large number of innings. Let Kodai Senga and Sean Manaea battle for innings and allow Devin Williams to begin the year as the closer.

What the Mets lack is a Luke Weaver. Adrian Morejon is considered the best free agent reliever. Plenty of others could fulfill this need including fellow Morejon teammate, Jason Adam. His 2.68 ERA in 9 big league seasons is impossible to ignore. Already 35, he fits well in the market for only a one or two year deal. Since 2024, he’s 17-8 with a 2.08 ERA.

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