1/7/26

Through the offseason, the Mets have remained active, but the one spot New York has been silent in is starting pitching. The Mets could be working on something with some of the top pitchers available. 

On Tuesday, ESPN’s Buster Olney reported that it is “inevitable” the Mets sign either Ranger Suarez or Framber Valdez in free agency.

Since becoming a starter in 2021, Suarez has been one of the most consistent lefties in the game. Over the past two seasons, Suarez has seen his best two years of his career. In 2024, he posted a 3.46 ERA, a 1.201 WHIP, and an 8.7 K/9 and earned himself an All-Star. However, in 2025, at the age of 29, he put forth his best season. Since becoming a starter, he had his lowest ERA with a 3.20, pitched the most innings of his career with 157 IP, and had his highest WAR with 4.7, which is two points higher than any other season.

Suarez, who’s projected to earn a $164 million deal, has also been linked to his former team, the Phillies, along with the Cubs.

Framber Valdez could be the perfect free agent for the Mets; he has everything the Mets pitchers lacked in 2025: he’s an inning-eater, a proven winner, and very consistent. In his 8-year career in Houston, Valdez has posted a 3.66 ERA, 1.204 WHIP, and been selected to two All-Star games. In 2025, Valdez pitched 192 innings and, before that, pitched 176 innings with a 2.91 ERA.

Valdez has been linked with the Cubs, Giants, and Braves, along with a reunion with the Astros, while projecting to earn anywhere from $150 million to over $200 million in his new deal.

Despite having money to spend in free agency, the Mets could get some work done in the trade market.

The biggest name the Mets could look to acquire via trade is Brewers righty Freddy Peralta. In 2025, the 29-year-old put together the best season of his career. In 33 starts, Peralta led the league in wins with 17, posted a 2.70 ERA, 1.075 WHIP, 10.4 K/9, and a 5.5 WAR, which collectively gave him an All-Star appearance and a 5th place finish in NL CY Young voting.

With the Dodgers and Braves linked to Peralta, the price to acquire him would be high.

The Mets are likely to have a lot of wiggle room left financially after freeing up money through trades.