The New York Mets entered Tuesday with a 2% chance of reaching the playoffs, the worst record in the National League East, and a payroll of roughly $370 million. Now, according to a new report, the team may be ready to start selling off major pieces before the trade deadline.
Baseball writer Jon Heyman posted on X that the Mets' deadline sale is likely to start soon. "Time for Mets deadline sale to begin," he wrote. "Everyone but Ewing, Benge, McLean, Scott and Soto should be made available." The names missing from that protected list include Bo Bichette, Luis Robert Jr., Freddy Peralta, Devin Williams, and Francisco Lindor, which would represent a dramatic dismantling of the roster.
The Mets are one of the highest-spending teams in baseball history. Since the 2022 season, according to reporting from OutKick, the team has spent more on player payroll than any other franchise in baseball at $1.671 billion, more even than the Los Angeles Dodgers. Owner Steve Cohen signed shortstop Francisco Lindor to a 10-year, $341 million contract before the 2022 season. He later signed Juan Soto to the most expensive contract in sports history, a 15-year deal worth $765 million with the potential to exceed $800 million.
Despite all of that spending, the Mets have just two postseason appearances to show for it over the past five seasons. They lost to the Padres in the 2022 wild card series and to the Dodgers in the 2024 NLCS. In 2023 they went 75-87 and finished 29 games out of first place. They missed the playoffs again in 2025 after finishing 83-79.
Before the 2026 season, general manager Dave Stearns chose to overhaul the roster rather than run it back. Pete Alonso signed with the Baltimore Orioles. Brandon Nimmo was traded to the Texas Rangers for Marcus Semien. The team acquired Peralta from Milwaukee, signed Williams, brought in Bichette and Jorge Polanco, and traded for Robert Jr.
The results have been worse than the previous rosters produced. Entering Tuesday, the Mets sat just ahead of the Colorado Rockies for the worst record in the National League. They have been outscored by 60 runs on the season and sit 15 games behind the Atlanta Braves in the division.
Heyman's report suggests the franchise may now be preparing for another reset, this one potentially involving some of its most recognizable and expensive players. Whether Lindor, who is signed through the 2031 season, would actually be moved remains to be seen. Trading him would be one of the more stunning transactions in recent baseball history given the size and length of his contract.
The trade deadline is the next major decision point for the organization.
