With Andy Green being officially hired as the full-time New York Mets manager yesterday, that is one item that can be crossed off David Stearns’ bucket list for the 2026 offseason. 

Green will be the third manager in the last four seasons for the Mets, as the team looks for stability after a rocky 2025 and the first half of 2026 with Carlos Mendoza. 

The team definitely has several weak points and issues that need to be addressed, but they are much closer to a contending team than some people might realize. 

With reports coming out of Steve Cohen preferring to shed payroll into the 2027 season and possibly rely on less expensive players and prospects, this likely takes the team out of the running for a high-priced superstar, such as Tarik Skubal. 

However, there are still key free agents that can make an impact, and all it takes is several quality replacements to bring this team back to playoff contender status. 

With that in mind, here is my initial 2026 offseason plan for the New York Mets’ starting rotation. 

1. Starting Rotation

Targets: Michael King, Shota Imanaga, Robbie Ray, Clay Holmes 

Throughout the season, it has become increasingly evident that the Mets have a strong foundation in their rotation. 

Nolan McLean has looked like a future ace in his full major league season, posting an 11-10 record with a 3.18 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 19 quality starts, and 189 strikeouts in 172.2 innings pitched.

Zac Thornton (5-5, 3.40 ERA, 59 K) has turned heads through his ability to pitch deep into games and record quality starts, while Christian Scott (4-5, 3.85 ERA, 11.0 K/9) has displayed elite strikeout potential in his first season back from Tommy John surgery. 

That gives the team three quality starters, with Sean Manaea as a question mark after a very inconsistent and uneven season. 

Two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal is the cream of the crop, but there are several quality starters that the team can sign for around the same money it would take to acquire Skubal. 

Michael King has been phenomenal in anchoring a strong San Diego rotation, pitching to a quality 12-9 record and 3.21 ERA in 32 starts, while Robbie Ray has been more up-and-down since being acquired by the Padres. 

Nonetheless, Ray still possesses an ability to go deep into games, and is coming off a 2025 season in which he made the All-Star Game in San Francisco. 

An old friend, Clay Holmes, has dealt with some inconsistency in Chicago (14 ER allowed in 2 starts, 3 ER allowed in his other 5 starts), but he’s a pitcher who can handle pressure and shone as a Met the last two seasons. 

Imanaga is prone to giving up the long ball (34 HR allowed, T-most in MLB), but his other stats are solid, posting a 3.74 ERA and 1.10 WHIP with 171 strikeouts. 

An example of a hypothetical starting rotation can look like this: 

1. Nolan McLean 
2. Robbie Ray 
3. Clay Holmes 
4. Christian Scott 
5. Zac Thornton 

Depth: Tylor Megill, Sean Manaea, Jonathan Santucci, Jack Wenninger, Jonah Tong 

If David Stearns can sign two of these starters, the team’s rotation will be more balanced and stronger heading into next season.