Bold truth: the 2025-26 MLB offseason is shaping up as a real statement by National League hopefuls, as they push to carve out a smoother road to October glory. The early moves have tilted the balance toward NL teams eager to shorten the path to the postseason. It started with Josh Naylor, the league’s standout free-agent bat so far this offseason, who chose to stay in the American League by re-signing with the Seattle Mariners—the team that originally acquired him from the Arizona Diamondbacks at the trade deadline.
Meanwhile, the St. Louis Cardinals sent a premier starting pitcher, Sonny Gray, to the AL after finalizing a deal with the Boston Red Sox last week. Then, just before Thanksgiving, Dylan Cease—formerly with the San Diego Padres—landed a massive seven-year, $210 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays, the reigning AL champions. Layer in the signing of Ryan Helsley by the Baltimore Orioles, a shutdown reliever who spent seven NL seasons in the past, and the AL offseason momentum becomes clear.
Among NL contenders, the New York Mets stand out for pulling off the biggest move so far. Under the leadership of former Brewers president of baseball operations, David Stearns, the Mets shipped outfielder Brandon Nimmo to the Texas Rangers in exchange for second baseman Marcus Semien. This deal sparked speculation that the Mets are reshaping payroll and clearing outfield space to pursue Kyle Tucker this winter, despite Semien’s higher 2026 salary but a smaller remaining overall commitment than Nimmo.
Stearns and the Mets appear intent on shaking up the roster after 2025’s expensive group failed to reach the postseason. With Pete Alonso hitting free agency for a second straight winter and closer Edwin Díaz seeking a substantial payday, the front office faces big questions about which positions to prioritize and how to balance short-term competitiveness with long-term flexibility.
New York reportedly sought to gain financial latitude by moving a veteran starting pitcher, but that pitcher pushed back, opting to stay with the Mets and exercising a no-trade clause that permits denial of deals with 10 specific teams.
Kodai Senga’s stance complicates Stearns’ plans by choosing to remain with the Mets amid trade chatter. The Japanese right-hander had a standout 2023 All-Star season, finishing seventh in NL Cy Young voting and runner-up for NL Rookie of the Year, and he looked like a fixture in New York’s rotation through the first five years of his contract. Yet injuries in 2024 and an uneven 2025 have cast doubt on his value, especially as his $28 million owed over the next two seasons might look less like a bargain and more like leverage for others to chase, given free-agent prices remain high.
Complicating matters is the emergence of three affordable, controllable starters in the Mets’ rotation—Nolan McLean, Brandon Sproat, and Jonah Tong—who debuted in 2025. This echoes Stearns’ Milwaukee blueprint: build a strong, cost-efficient staff that can compete without breaking the bank. Trading Senga could open spots for these younger arms and provide breathing room to chase marquee free agents, but it would also remove a veteran anchor from the rotation.
According to Will Sammon of The Athletic, Senga prefers to stay in New York for 2026, and his contract’s updated no-trade clause (a 10-team no-trade list this offseason, after a full no-trade clause in the first three seasons) means his decision could heavily influence Stearns’ offseason strategy. Still, there’s a path forward: holding onto Senga would not preclude the Mets from pursuing a top free agent like Kyle Tucker. If a bidding war erupts, New York may not be willing to top the Dodgers for Tucker, especially with Senga’s wage on the books. In a roundabout sense, Brewers fans may find themselves hoping Stearns trades Senga this offseason, as it could unlock the flexibility needed to chase elite talent while reshaping the Mets’ rotation for the long term.
