Juan Soto and 2 other Yankees free agents the Mets should sign, 2 they should avoid

The New York Mets are focused on having an active winter to achieve a place in the World Series 2025 after falling short last season. The free agent market has options that fit the team's current needs.

Some of the available players who could fit the Mets roster and team model are free agents from the New York Yankees. Obviously, Juan Soto is the organization's number one target this offseason but other former Bronx players would fit well on the Mets roster in 2025, while the team should avoid signing two position players in particular.

Clay Holmes could be a good fit as a setup man for the Mets.

The Mets need a better bullpen if they plan to compete for a playoff spot in 2025. To do this, a fundamental part of a roster is the ability of their bullpen to work in high-leverage situations.

Clay Holmes fits the profile of a veteran pitcher, with experience in pressing situations, in a demanding city, and in the playoffs. However, Holmes is coming off a season where his performance was radically different in the two halves of 2024.

Holmes managed to convert 30 saves but at the same time finished with 13 blown saves, the worst mark in MLB for this category. The main cause of this debacle is that Holmes' sinker was widely hit with a .317 batting average and a .424 slugging percentage. However, his slider and sweeper were efficient pitches with a swing-and-miss ratio of 40% and a slugging allowed below .300.

A relevant aspect is that Homes has an ERA of 1.35 and 19 saves in the postseason, which helps his profile on a contending team. At 31 years of age and a possible short-term contract with low financial commitment, it would be a profitable opportunity for the Mets to have Holmes who would not have the pressure of working as a closer in New York.

The Mets should not consider Gleyber Torres as their moving forward second baseman.

Gleyber Torres' offensive production has been inconsistent during his time with the Yankees, particularly in the last couple of seasons. While he has shown flashes of power and a decent batting average, his overall numbers have been underwhelming compared to his potential.  

Despite having shown a higher level of performance in the last two seasons, his profile as a hitter leaves doubts regarding the sustainability of his moving forward production. Advanced metrics show that Torres' 2024 results were better than expected with an expected batting average and expected to slug below the actual level due to a drop in his hard-hit contact, an increase in his strikeout percentage, a drop in his rate of walks, and a lower distribution of bases towards his wing.

His defense at second base has also been a concern, with frequent errors and misplays. According to Statcast Torres is one of the worst defenders in the position with -4 outs above average and an arm strength located in the 7th percentile of the league.

While he has the potential to be a productive player, there's no guarantee that he will regain his previous form. The Mets might be better off pursuing other options internally and externally, that offer more consistency and upside.

The Mets should look the other way if they talk about Alex Verdugo.

The second-round pick of the 2014 draft and former top prospect, Alex Verdugo is a free agent this season after eight seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox, and finally, the New York Yankees. Verdugo is coming off a season where he hit a line of .233/.291/.356/.647 with 13 home runs, 28 doubles, and 61 RBIs.

After the experiment with the Yankees did not work out, the market remains concerned about the type of offensive player Verdugo is, whether he is a bounce-back candidate or simply reached the turning point of his career. Verdugo has never really been projected as more than a bat with contact ability, who can hit for batting average with the ability to produce extra bases through doubles but with little power.

His defense appears to be his calling card with sufficient coverage range, an overall defense ranked in the 77th percentile of the league as measured by Statcast outs above average, and a superior arm.

The Mets need an outfielder but a profile like Verdugo's does not fit the needs of this lineup that has multiple figures that provide a high level of contact and little power. The Mets must avoid at all costs a deal with an outfielder who could be on the opposite side of the curve given his recent history and age.