With the official start of the offseason yesterday, eight Mets have become free agents:
- Griffin Canning
- Ryan Helsley
- Starling Marte
- Cedric Mullins
- Tyler Rogers
- Gregory Soto
- Ryne Stanek
- Jesse Winker
None of these eight free agents are realistic candidates to receive a qualifying offer, which is set at $22.02 million
for the 2025-26 offseason. Helsley might’ve been the most likely candidate among this group prior to the 2025 season, but players traded midseason lose eligibility and his poor close to the season likely would’ve made this a long shot in any event.
The Mets do of course have two more likely free agents in Pete Alonso and Edwin Díaz, both of whom have opt-out clauses. Alonso, unsurprisingly, indicated he would opt out of the one-year and $24 million remaining on his contract, and he’s reportedly looking for a 7-year, $210 million contract in his second consecutive foray into free agency. He’s ineligible for a qualifying offer after receiving one last offseason.
Díaz, meanwhile, has not confirmed he will opt out at this point and was noncommittal when asked at the end of the season. Smart money would suggest that he will elect to enter free agency, forgoing the two years and roughly $32 million remaining on his contract as well as the potential payout of his 2028 club option ($17.25 million). He didn’t receive a qualifying offer when he last entered free agency after the 2022 season, so he will be eligible this time around; he’s almost certain to receive a QO from the Mets should he indeed elect to opt out.
