'Makeover Mets' Named One Of Biggest Storylines By MLB Insider

The New York Mets enter the 2026 MLB season as one of the most polarizing teams. The offseason began with the decision to bring Carlos Mendoza back as the manager, but he made several changes to the coaching staff. Then, a flurry of roster changes was made.

Brandon Nimmo was traded to the Texas Rangers for Marcus Semien, and fan favorite Jeff McNeil was dealt to the Athletics. Longtime Mets star Pete Alonso left Queens and signed a five-year, $155 million deal with the Baltimore Orioles , and All-Star closer Edwin Diaz joined the loaded Los Angeles Dodgers on a three-year deal. The Mets did strike big by signing Bo Bichette and Jorge Polanco in free agency and trading for pitcher Freddy Peralta and outfielder Luis Robert Kr.

Former New York Yankees reliever Devin Williams came to the Mets as the replacement for Diaz, so there are plenty of new faces in Queens. Ahead of Opening Day, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic named some of the big storylines entering this season, and the Mets made the list, with Rosenthal titling the section, "The makeover Mets take the field. " "Now we get to see what the Frankenstein that president of baseball operations David Stearns assembled looks like," Rosenthal wrote.

"The Mets have a new ace, two new back-end relievers, a new first baseman, second baseman, third baseman, right fielder and center fielder. Oh, and an almost entirely new coaching staff, too. " Rosenthal is a bit concerned with all of the new faces and how long it will take for this team to jell, and that is always a valid concern for any team.