Which big fish does Chelsea Janes have on Mets radar?

Thu, September 3, 2026 at 9:19 AM UTC

On this edition of Mets Mailbag, SNY's Niki Lattarulo is joined by SNY MLB Insider Chelsea Janes to take on fan questions surrounding the Mets' managerial search, first base future, and potential big fish free agents that may be on the radar for David Stearns and Steve Cohen in 2027.

Video Transcript

So those two things put together mean there's gonna be conversations.

There's no doubt about it.

You know, it's just a question of how hard they push and what kind of deal they're willing to give him.

What's up, guys?

Welcome to Mets Mailbag, the show where we answer your questions.

I'm your host, Nikki LaTerrelle, and today I am joined by our SNY MLB insider, Chelsea Janes.

Chelsea, thank you so much for joining us here on the show.

Yeah, happy to be here.

Just a reminder, everyone, before we get started, every week go to our Twitter, Facebook, Instagram.

Look for a post from SNY's account asking you to submit your questions to the show.

If you're watching on YouTube, drop your questions in the comment section below.

Before we get started, heads up, Chelsea's also doing a written edition of Mets Mailbag for SNY.

So if this show isn't enough, you're not getting all your questions answered, head over to sny.tv for more Mets questions answered.

It's like a dream within a dream for you- Inception fans out there.

All right, let's get started.

First question from Dan Capwell on X, "Shouldn't the Mets be taking a longer look at Rocco Baldelli?

He has a pedigree as a former player and manager, took the fall for ownership in Minnesota despite a winning record, and has further tutelage under Andrew Friedman.

No more rookie managers, please."

Yeah.

I, I think that's a great call.

I think the Rocco Baldelli type is probably where this is gonna go if the Mets do indeed do a managerial s- search.

If Andy Green, you know, continues to wanna go back to the front office, I s- you know, who knows?

Maybe he ends up as the manager.

But if this goes to a managerial search, and if Carlos Beltran is not the first choice, we know they've talked to him before, that's the only reason I say that, I think someone like Rocco Baldelli, a former player who's managed before, is probably gonna be the kind of person that you bring in.

Now, would it be him specifically?

I don't know.

He's been in big markets as a player, so you know, you could see it.

People bring up names like David Ross, the former Cubs manager.

So I think that's exactly the kind of person who fits, particularly because I think there's gonna be part of this coaching staff that might have to return, so it's gonna be sort of an interesting process.

But yes, if, if Andy Green does not throw his hat in the ring, and he still has said he isn't, and if Carlos Beltran isn't the clear choice that we don't know about just 'cause they've talked to him before, then I think Rocco Baldelli is, is, if not the guy, the exact kind of guy that you're gonna see manage the Mets next year.

I would agree with the no more rookie manager thing.

I think that fans are gonna lose their minds if there's someone that hasn't been a manager before, so I'm kind of, with Dan on that one.

Let's move on to Eduardo Madera on Facebook, "Would you foresee any blockbuster trade that would enhance the team's chemistry on the field and off?

Seems like the team is missing true leadership."

That's a really good question.

I, I don't foresee huge trades this winter unless it's for a starting pitcher.

And in that case, I don't know how that affects the team's chemistry.

I certainly wouldn't expect a trade made just for that purpose, right?

Like, I don't think David Stearns is gonna go out there And I think they did this a little bit last winter when they sort of made deals to clear guys out of the clubhouse.

I think this year is gonna be, you know, pitching forward and more about trying to reinforce what they have.

So does that change the chemistry?

I, probably not.

I don't see that changing drastically unless the manager is someone that has not been in that room before.

That could change it.

But I just don't see that being a focus for them now.

And I think, you know, y- you know, if you kinda let everyone settle, that might do just as much.

Mm-hmm.

We've seen that Bob Boone has a big influence on the young guys.

A.J.

Ewing, Carson Bench, they love that guy.

You know, Juan Soto has, has made his presence known in various ways and is also getting more comfortable.

And when Lindor's on the field, he leads with his play.

You know, it's, it's there.

So all that stuff gets fixed when you win, and I think the best way- Mm-hmm for them to win is to bring in a ton of pitching and, and not try to fix a clubhouse that, you know, it's been broken for a while, but it also hasn't won in a while.

And it's amazing how much leadership looks better when you're winning.

I think they just gotta win, you know, at all costs and, and bring in a manager who can help them do that and set that culture and, and let everyone, you know, let Juan, let Francisco, you know, let Bob Boone be who they are and, and hope that's enough.

Yeah.

And also, like you said, it's all fixed when they win.

I feel like also Soto off the field, Lindor off the field, there were so many injuries, they didn't really have a chance to gel together.

I feel like if this team did come back together as is in a different season where they were winning, it would probably look like there was a little bit more team chemistry.

Yeah.

Our next question comes from Steve DeVito on Facebook.

He said, "What great veteran players are available this off-season that will add to the great young prospects the Mets have?"

So the interesting thing about this winter is there's not a lot of great veteran players available.

The free agent class is about as thin as it gets, especially on the position player side.

So you know, the best free agents available are, like, Jazz, Randy Arozarena.

And, and no knock against those two guys, but those aren't the kinda guys you bring in when you've been fighting a clubhouse chemistry battle you know?

They're just different personalities that, like, need- Mm-hmm strong leadership in place to sort of harness.

So you know, not saying they couldn't help, but I just don't expect those to be the guys the Mets pursue.

And after that, it's, it's a little hit or miss.

You know, Brandon Lowe, I don't know if he's gonna be back with the Pirates, but has had a good year there.

Like, these are the kind of names we're talking about.

So it's not a free agent class that is gonna give you an easy superstar to plug in there and help the young guys.

I think there's a question too of, like, where they would go.

It look, it looks like the outfield's gonna be set.

You know, on the infield, if Bob Boone opts in, you've got Bo, Francisco Lindor- Maybe some combination of Marcus Simeon and young players at second.

You know, Jared Young and Polanco at first.

So, you know, I think they're gonna have to get creative in, in who they bring in, who that means they bump out of that expected lineup.

But the names are not obvious, so, you know, it's gonna be probably veteran guys or they're gonna have to make trades.

All of that is to say, I think pitching is the best place to help the young guys.

You know, Thornton, McLean, Scott.

Like, the thing you can do to help those young guys is make sure they don't have to carry the rotation.

So that's the place I think you could go get some big free agents.

The big one is obviously Tarik Skubal.

Clay Holmes we know has rapport with those guys.

He makes a lot of sense.

You know, Kevin Gausman's a veteran you could kinda throw in there.

There's, there's just a lot of guys like that out there.

So to me, if you're trying to add to the Mets team to help the young guys, it's gonna be in the pitching realm.

There's just not a lot on the position playing side, and frankly, I think they've been short on pitching for years.

You just answered, like, two of our next questions.

Oh, great.

Let's get right into it.

William Lawson on X said, "Do you think Skubal will be a Met next year?"

I My brain says no way, and this is why.

I think that David Stearns hates giving out long contracts for pitchers.

I know that, right?

He doesn't wanna pay a ton up front to bring in a guy like Tarik Skubal, who you might lose a year to Tommy John, that's just how these things go, and who might get worse on the back end.

So, like, that's not his style.

That being said, Steve Cohen has said this a few times that, "Look, like, we have to play in reality, and if reality suggests to us that the only way we can get really good starting pitching is to play in those long-term deals, then we might have to adjust our strategy."

So those two things put together mean there's gonna be conversations.

There's no doubt about it.

You know, it's just a question of how hard they push and what kind of deal they're willing to give him.

Now, I don't know if he ends up loving LA.

I think if the Dodgers want him, the Dodgers get him at this point.

He's been there, et cetera.

But it's, it's an interesting question, because the Dodgers also tend to run starting pitchers into the ground in October.

Who knows where that's gonna leave Skubal?

So it's really tough for me to say.

I think the Mets will play for him.

I think they'll make an attempt.

But whether it's sort of a we gotta try attempt or, like, we want this guy- Mm-hmm we're gonna do what it takes attempt, I'm not sure.

I do think there's a chance that the money ends up winning out, and if that's the case, Steve Cohen can compete with anybody for him.

But we know that any time the Dodgers are involved in anything, most likely the Dodgers are gonna win those battles, especially now 'cause he's already on that team.

It makes things more difficult.

Right.

But, Drew Thompson on Facebook said, "You mentioned Clay Holmes.

What are the chances of bringing back Clay Holmes?"

I think fairly high.

You know, I, I, I think I don't see any reason why, you know, there would be a barrier to it if the Mets wanted him back or, you know, I don't think he has ruled out coming back.

I don't think they have anything they're harboring against him that would prevent them from trying to bring him back.

Like, I think the relationship is good.

So it's really- Mm-hmm just a question of what Holmes wants.

I mean, he knows who's here.

I think that helps in some ways.

Maybe it hurts in other ways.

You know?

Like, guys kinda get in one place and they say, "Well, maybe the grass is greener over here."

He knows this team.

He knows the people.

You know, he knows the young guys.

He knows what kinda talent there is.

So, you know, he's gonna kinda know what he's getting.

They should be able to match money for him.

I would hope David Stearns is a little more willing to push financially for Clay Holmes for a few reasons.

Number one, he doesn't have as many innings on his arm as most starters his age.

He was a reliever early on.

He's a big, sturdy dude whose only major injury with them came when he got a line drive hit off his leg, so- Yeah like, health-wise he's less of a concern, I would think.

And if you're David Stearns and you hate giving those big deals 'cause you worry about what happens on the back end, Clay Holmes has already showed you he can be a Major League reliever.

So he, to me, is the kinda guy that Stearns would be less hesitant to push for.

We'll see.

I think there's a chance they bring him back for sure, and there's a chance he wants to come back.

The problem is there's so many other teams that need pitching, and after Skubal, he's the, he's one of the big ones that'll be available.

Yeah, and he was having a great season before he had that injury that you mentioned, which was really unfortunate 'cause he was one of the Mets' bet- best pitchers at that point.

Grimace on X said, "Will the Mets go into next year with Jared Young as their starting first baseman?"

I know you're a Jared Young stan.

Big Jared Young person.

Grimace knows ball.

Like, that's a pretty good question from a- Seriously monster.

I don't know.

I, I think it's gonna be, like, Jared Young and Jorge Polanco and, and then see who's alive at the end of spring training kind of.

Seriously.

Like, you know, if Polanco can play.

I think they said Polanco's gonna be not fully ready to start spring training, so, like, the answer to this immediate question is yes, I think Jared Young will start the season as the first baseman.

But Polanco might be the real plan moving forward.

We'll see.

You know, I also think that's a place they could add if they wanted to.

But, you know, if you're David Stearns, right, and you're like, "Okay, where can we add a bat," you're gonna wanna make sure the bat you add is an upgrade over what you have.

You don't know who Jorge Polanco is.

You know what he's been, right?

You kinda know what Jared Young has been this year, but you don't know if he can do it again.

So it's like you kinda have two options that might be fine, even better than fine.

Do you wanna risk paying a lot, trading prospects- Mm-hmm to bring in someone who might be marginally better?

I think it would have to be someone you know is better.

So, all of that is to say I, I would expect Jared Young to be starting for the Mets early next year until Polanco is healthy, and then I think they, they compete for playing time.

So you said maybe if they brought someone in, they'd have to be significantly better.

Who- Yeah in your mind would be significantly better that would be worth paying money for a first baseman?

That's the thing, and there's, there's not many, right?

Yeah.

I mean, I'll avoid saying the guy who went to Baltimore, you know, was one of the only ones who's in that category.

I think it's true.

There's just not that many guys who fit that mold at first base.

And, you know, there's another thing to kind of put in your brain for down the line, which is like, do you wanna commit to someone there when I think there's a chance you might end up having to move Soto there at some point?

I don't think it's next year, but with all these young outfielders, like maybe you start to think that way.

So I don't see there being a clear upgrade at first base.

I think it would have to come via trade.

It would have to be someone that's not like right on the radar at this exact moment.

But yeah, all of that is to say I expect Jared Young to be there, to start the season.

But man, I've been wrong many times before.

They just can't have someone that doesn't play first base playing first base again.

Yes.

So I'm interested- Correct to see if Soto plays first base, how that would go.

I don't know if he's had any experience at first base or what the situation is.

No, it would be weird.

Um- If he's a year or so away, I think- It would be weird from that.

Yeah.

Adrian Esposito O'Mealy on Facebook said, "Hi, love seeing you on 'BNNY.'

How does a hitting coach break a batter of bad habits such as Alvarez swinging at high pitches?"

Yeah.

I feel-- listening to the broadcast the last few days, I feel like Gary and Keith wanna like take the bat away.

That's their hitting coach- method of keeping Alvarez from swinging at those pitches.

But yeah, it's really hard, right?

That's the one thing you can't do as a hitting coach.

You can't do anything once they're in the box.

I, I mean, I, I know for a fact that this has been communicated to him, right?

I think we-- if, if we know it, if it's that obvious that he swings at too many- Yeah of those, he knows it.

Yeah.

It's just hard.

Like he is such a, I don't-- it's not emotional, but he's just-- he really wants to do well.

And I think that you see that on a macro level, like when he gets it going well he starts to try to hit too many balls out, and then he kind of slumps.

I think you see it on a minuscule level in each at bat because the most enticing pitches to any hitter are the ones they think they can do a lot of damage on or like at eye level.

And he just, he always wants to be doing damage.

And, you know, when he's in the cage you see him turning around looking up.

You know, he wants to know how hard he hit that ball.

Like that's-- he cares about hitting the ball hard and doing the most damage he can.

Those pitches are very enticing, and he just hasn't quite learned how to let them go.

And some people never learn.

Sometimes things click, you know, later for some guys than others.

But I, I, I do think that like all you can do as a hitting coach is tell a guy, "Here's what you need to do."

and ultimately when they get in the box, they have to do it.

And for him, like I, I think, I think he's been through enough hitting coaches now that this problem persisting tells you like he's gotta be the one to figure it out, and he might.

You never know.

He might.

But he also might not, which would make Mets- fans very frustrated.

All right, we're gonna switch to like an unserious non-baseball question.

Kay O'Connor Foley on Facebook said, "I'd like to know what kind of sunblock our team uses that doesn't burn their eyes when they get sweaty.

And yes, I'm serious."

I, I've looked at this before.

So they have a couple different brands in there.

The-- Is it Blue Lizard and Bullfrog are the two brands?

I have no idea.

I wanna say Blue Frog.

If you're a sunscreen person and you're asking this question, you probably know.

But like, it's like Blue Lizard, I think- Let me look it up and then a Bullfrog one, that is usually in the dugout.

So I do know that.

Blue Lizard Sunscreen.

Is that real?

Is it in this like blue tube?

Yeah, it's blue.

Okay, maybe this if you're wondering if you need the sunscreen.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Check this out.

And then there's like a green one.

I might be wrong.

That was like when I checked it like earlier in the year.

I've since been distracted- Okay by the bubblegum flavors.

Like that's where my attention has gone, but I can check for you again.

I've never thought about sunscreen ever.

I actually think if I was- Yeah, but you're prepared to be a professional athlete- I would have never even thought.

You're wearing a hat, and they have so many- Right layers on.

I feel like their skin's barely showing.

Well, I was talking to one of the- I'm just wor- wondering why they're not so hot I was talking to one of the coaches, who I won't name, who was saying like the tans by the end of the year are so embarrassing because like all they do- Yes is wear like, you know, shorts.

Like like their, their, their baseball tan- It's just their neck is like egregious.

Yeah.

Yeah, and a lot of them wear like sleeves.

Yeah.

I just don't know how they're not like so hot that they're like passing out- Yeah on the field.

God forbid.

Okay, back to baseball.

Tom Grippa on Facebook, "Were you surprised someone took a chance on Luis Robert Jr. With that remaining salary left on his contract?"

Totally.

I thought there was no chance.

When I saw it in hindsight, I shouldn't have been surprised because, there are so many American League East teams that needed an outfielder, the Blue Jays, the Orioles, that are like still in the race, that, you know, those teams have the money.

So I shouldn't have been as surprised as I was.

But yeah, I was stunned.

I thought it was, yeah, kind of great for the Mets, who obviously tried to trade him at the deadline and didn't.

You know, to have him come off the books now, financially that's great.

Like the way I think about it is they committed money to pay Luke Weaver's salary next year in that trade so they could get a better prospect.

Now basically they're getting that money back in the Luis Robert salary, so that's kind of nice even though, you know, Cohen has plenty of money.

But yeah, I was surprised.

Probably shouldn't have been, but it's, it's great for them.

It also takes the pressure off Andy Green and company to figure out where to play him when they really wanna see the young guys.

You know, we saw Morabito have a great night last night.

So we wanna see him play.

They wanna see him play, and this kind of just like lets everyone relax and do that.

I'm gonna follow up on that.

When you look at a guy like Morabito have a game he had, then you look at all these young guys, do you feel like the Mets are kind of if they could add some more strong pieces that they're kind of set up going forward in the next couple of years with how many great young guys they have?

You know, I'll say this.

As I was watching Morabito last night, it kind of hit me how Brewers-y their outfield looks right now.

Yeah, absolutely.

Just like some smaller guys, speed, contact, defense.

Like, that's the Brewers.

Mm-hmm.

And that's what David Stearns values.

And like, all of a sudden, like here it is, right?

You got those guys there.

You're probably gonna have a prospect who fits that mold play a lot of second base next year.

You know, it's just, that's the mold.

And, you know, it's taken a while, and who knows if it's the right plan, but that is David Stearns' plan, is to have guys like that keep coming up, keep coming up, play the ones that stick, give yourself a really good outfield defense and run the bases really well.

Like, that's what those guys do.

So, you know, I don't know if, if it means they're set up.

I think it's kind of a small sample.

I think Ewing has struggled enough that you can worry about whether he'll be, you know, good Ewing next year or whether it'll take him some time.

But I think what I am seeing is a team that is starting to look the way you would expect David Stearns to build a team.

I don't know if that's good or bad, but that's what it looks like to me.

Someone that I think isn't necessarily the mold brings us to our next question.

Joe Kupczyk on Facebook, "Why are they holding onto Brett Baty, who I don't think has performed to the level of an everyday player?

Do you see him being let go after this season?"

I don't see him being let go.

I think if you're gonna non-tender, you know, I'm sure people know what that means, but in case you don't, like not give a contract to someone who's ready for arbitration, that's probably more likely gonna be Vientos.

I think they'll keep Baty around.

I could see them trading him.

I know people asked them at the deadline and they didn't do it.

But I think what's important to remember about him is the defensive versatility.

I just think- Mm-hmm David Stearns and the people in his front office and the computer models they run really value a guy who can play everywhere, and Baty has gotten a little better in the outfield.

He's looked comfortable at second base.

I just think that that is something that they really value, and I think it will prevent them from giving him away for nothing.

I think they still believe he can hit.

I know the coaching staff has tried to throw some information at him that he didn't necessarily use before.

Jury's out on whether it's working, but it does take time.

So there's like reasons that people in the Mets organization believe he can be better, but I know they've said that every year, and I think from the outside it's fair to be like, "Come on."

that being said, I think they'll probably give him another spring training, but I don't see them planning around him, like, in a starting role.

I just don't, I don't think you can plan a lineup around Brett Baty, but I don't think they wanna just give him away either.

All right, we have one more question, and it comes from Jack L 2626 on YouTube.

"Who would you say the Mets' 2026 MVP is?

Soto, Benge, MacLean?"

Wow, that's a great question.

I, my initial instinct is, is Benge.

I think when things were really bad at the beginning, he was the thing that gave you hope that the team could improve, like, immediately and in the future.

I think he continues to look like a future all-star, continues to provide evidence that the, the farm system can turn out big leaguers when there's been questions about that.

Like, so maybe not to the, the valuable player in the sense that he has, like, helped the Mets win the most games- although I think that might be true too, but in terms of future of the Mets and, like, hope for the franchise, I think he's been absolutely crucial because without him, like, this is a really bad year.

I mean, it's a bad year as it is, but he and Ewing and those guys, they've just said, "Okay," like, "there might be brighter times ahead.

There's reason to believe we can develop guys."

and frankly, he's been a, just a delight to watch.

He's been awesome.

Yeah.

And he looks like a great player for years to come.

So in a year where there hasn't been much hope, I give Carson Benge the MVP for Providing Hope award.

Yes, and I think he's definitely in the mix for the NL Rookie of the Year.

Yep.

MacLean as well, which to me doesn't really seem like a rookie, but I don't make the rules.

Right.

So the young guys definitely have given Mets fans some sort of hope this season.

Hopefully it all pays off going forward.

But that is it for our Mets Mailbag for today.

Thank you guys so much for watching.

Before we go, remember this is every week of the 2026 season.

We'll be here to answer your questions.

You can submit them for next week's episode on our Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or if you're watching on YouTube, drop them in the comments.

Don't forget to check out Chelsea's written mailbag on SNY.tv, and we will see you next time.

For Chelsea Janes, I'm Nikki Loterulo.