NL East Power Rankings: Where the NY Mets sit heading into the New Year

After a disappointing finish to the 2025 campaign that resulted in sitting out October, one might have expected the New York Mets to get aggressive this winter. They've certainly been active, but whether or not they've improved at all is doubtful.

However, just because the Mets haven't yet strung together enough moves to inspire confidence that the 2026 unit will be better than the 2025 version, where they rank against their division rivals is also dependent on the gains and losses those competitors have sustained.

As we head into the New Year, it feels like a good time to do a temperature check. There are still plenty of useful pieces hanging out on the free agent market, some enticing names being dangled on the trade block, and most importantly, time left to maneuver. However, as things stand now, here's a clear look at the National League East power rankings.

Where do the Mets fall in the NL East power rankings?

5. Washington Nationals (66-96 record in 2025)

The Washington Nationals were the division's bottom-feeder in 2025, and they haven't done much to change their status heading into 2026. The bulk of their action has been taking fliers by signing players to minor league deals. Their big splash was trading useful, if inconsistent, lefty reliever Jose A. Ferrer to the Mariners in exchange for top catching prospect Harry Ford and right-handed pitching prospect Isaac Lyon.

Ford, who turns 23 in February and posted a .283/.408/.460 line in Triple-A last season, could make an impact in 2026, but rumors that they're willing to trade 25-year-old All-Star shortstop CJ Abrams, as well as All-Star starting pitcher MacKenzie Gore, show that they're looking to further tear things down rather than try to springboard ahead. As such, they need to be last in our rankings.

4. Miami Marlins (79-83 record in 2025)

The Miami Marlins proved to be pesky and ultimately nipped at the Mets' heels, finishing just four games back of the Amazins in 2025. There is talent on the roster, with Kyle Stowers enjoying a breakout 2025, and players like Agustin Ramirez, Xavier Edwards, and Jakob Marsee looking like keepers, and Sandy Alcantara and Edward Cabrera giving them a solid one-two punch atop their rotation.

Still, the Marlins are a tough team to pin down. The offseason began with rumors that they'd spend more than normal (not a high bar to clear), but so far, they haven't done much. Signing perceived Mets target Pete Fairbanks to anchor their bullpen definitely makes them better, but the persistent trade rumors surrounding Alcantara and Cabrera threaten to make them worse. Until they pick a direction and act with conviction, they're going to be slotted toward the bottom.

3. New York Mets (83-79 record in 2025)

On paper, the Mets have clearly gotten worse and not better this winter. The back-end of the new-look bullpen suffered a significant downgrade by swapping out Edwin Diaz and Tyler Rogers for former Yankees Devin Williams and Luke Weaver. The rotation has not seen any attention, despite expectations, and Pete Alonso is a clear loss.

It's not all doom and gloom, though. While Jorge Polanco might not thrill you as a replacement for Alonso, his bat can replicate what the club lost by trading Brandon Nimmo away. Marcus Semien might no longer be the 30-plus home run threat, but the 2025 Gold Glover goes a long way towards shoring up a defense that ranked 21st by outs above average with a combined -13 in 2025. This is clearly an unfinished product, but if the season were to start today, David Stearns would be hoping that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. That might be the ultimate strategy, regardless.

2. Atlanta Braves (76-86 record in 2025)

The Atlanta Braves were one of the game's biggest disappointments to begin the year, starting out 0-5 to begin the 2025 campaign. Though they had some runs, they never truly found their groove, and the bottom fell out. Therefore, it might seem strange to rank them this high; however, two things work in their favor.

Injuries took their toll, with Ronald Acuña Jr. missing time while recovering from a torn ACL, though he played like an MVP candidate in the 95 games he was healthy for. Additionally, key contributors like pitchers Chris Sale, Spencer Strider, and Spencer Schwellenbach, as well as hitters Austin Riley, Ozzie Albies, and Sean Murphy, all missed considerable time. Health breaking in their favor will make them better automatically. Secondly, Atlanta has made several solid moves this offseason, pairing Raisel Iglesias with free-agent prize Robert Suarez to solidify the bullpen, bringing back Ha-Seong Kim for a full season, and trading for Mauricio Dubón to solidify their bench. All of those are net positives, making the Braves look formidable once again.

1. Philadelphia Phillies (96-66 record in 2025)

Ultimately, the Philadelphia Phillies won the division by a landslide, finishing 13 games ahead of the Mets. They took care of their biggest concern, retaining Kyle Schwarber, and added a solid reliever in Brad Keller to an already strong back-end mix.

The Phillies didn't need much, but there are still moves out there for them to make to improve further. Reuniting with J.T. Realmuto seems to be a top priority, but that's not the only move on the board left out there for them. Dumping some of Nick Castellanos' salary would help open things up further, and they've been connected to Ketel Marte on the trade market earlier in the offseason, signifying that they could still have an appetite to make another splash. Either way, given how clearly ahead of the pack they finished in 2025, unless someone makes several significant moves, the top spot is theirs to lose.