Through the 2026 season, the Mets finished in last place in the National League East, going a mediocre 74-88. 

There were several bright spots, including superstar outfielder Juan Soto, the bullpen’s consistency, and the development of rookies Carson Benge, A.J. Ewing, and others on the roster. 

However, the team dealt with a severe number of injuries, inconsistency, and ineffectiveness from several impact players. 

The majority of David Stearns’ offseason acquisitions backfired this season, which definitely contributed to the team’s downfall. 

Since the season has officially ended, it is time for the position player grades on the Mets.

The benchmarks are based on fielding, hitting, games played, and the player’s expectations.

Carson Benge: A 

After a slow April in which Benge hit .192, he immediately caught fire and built a strong case for National League Rookie of the Year honors. Benge finished out his season with a .282 BA, 22 doubles, 20 HR, 65 RBI, 22 SB, and a .776 OPS, along with stellar defense. If the voters are looking past Sal Stewart’s HR and RBI amounts, the award should go to Benge. He was definitely the best all-around rookie in the game. 

Juan Soto: B+

Soto put up his usual dominant numbers when healthy (.275 BA, 27 HR, 68 RBI, .908 OPS), while cutting his strikeout rate down to around 13%. However, his missed games dropped his overall grade, as he missed 51 games with strains on both his calves. 

Jared Young: B 

One bright spot this season was Jared Young’s improvement on both sides of the ball, as he exceeded expectations dramatically. He hit .266 with 9 HR, 39 RBI, and a 113 OPS+, while only making 5 errors at first base. Young’s ability to work counts and play a solid first base gives the Mets a solid platoon and bench option heading into 2027. 

Luis Torrens: B 

All Mets fans knew about Torrens’ stellar defense and framing, but his red-hot bat to end the season is a very encouraging sign for 2027. Torrens hit 6 of his 9 homers and drove in 22 of his 41 RBI after July, which proves that he can be counted on offensively. His strong season potentially gives the Mets one of the best catching tandems in the game. 

A.J. Ewing: B 

Carson Benge received all the spotlight after his red-hot campaign, but A.J. Ewing deserves his flowers as well. Ewing slumped in the second half, but provided a productive .252 BA with 11 HR, 43 RBI, 25 SB, and a 3.1 WAR. In addition, he played strong defense in center field, and he will be an anchor in the team’s outfield for years to come. 

Bo Bichette: C+ 

Overall, it was a very underwhelming first season for Bo Bichette in Queens. He ended the year with solid contact numbers (.260 BA, 78 RBI), but his low power (.702 OPS) and increased strikeout rate (127 in 160 games) ended up hurting his season. Definitely not worth $42 million a season, but it is looking likely that he will opt back in for 2027. 

Francisco Lindor: C 

It was a weird year for Francisco Lindor, as his early-season mishaps and errors put the team in a hole before landing on the injured list. His power numbers (21 HR, 12 2B) were solid, but he had a career-low OPS (.733, a mediocre BA (.225), and recorded 11 errors in 105 games played. 

Francisco Alvarez: C- 

After a strong summer in which Alvarez looked like he leveled up as a hitter (.256 BA and .786 OPS), he came crashing down over the final month-plus of the season. His strikeout rate ballooned during this stretch, while he continuously struggled with ABS challenges and catching behind the plate. This might push the Mets to split Torrens and Alvarez more closely in 2027. 

Brett Baty: C- 

It was another similar season for Brett Baty; prolonged and lengthy slumps, then flashes of becoming a quality MLB player. His OPS ended at .680, while hitting 11 HR and driving in 56 RBI. A positive from Baty’s season is his versatility around the field, as he started at every position except catcher. 

Mark Vientos: F 

Unfortunately, there isn’t much left to say about Mark Vientos anymore. He lost his first-base job to Jared Young, missed over a month with a fractured right hand, and never regained his role in September. In addition, his fielding was downright horrible, while his power was too inconsistent to play at DH. 

Marcus Semien: F 

Marcus Semien’s decline was well-known, but it definitely became much steeper in 2026. Semien played through a Grade 3 hip flexor strain, regressed in his fielding (6 errors, -9 OAA, -4 DRS), and became unplayable at the plate over the final stretch. Jefferson Rojas and Mitch Voit’s rises in the minors should pave the way for Semien’s departure sooner rather than later. In the meantime, the team needs to sign a quality second baseman. Luis Arraez, anyone? 

Jorge Polanco: F 

Last but certainly not least, the debacle of Jorge Polanco. I really believe that it can’t get any worse than what Polanco provided in 2026. He missed 125 games, while only hitting 2 HR, 6 RBI, and hitting to a slash line of .148/.201/.230. Just unbelievable.