Mets Pursue Valdez to Fix Rotation After 2025 Playoff Miss

The New York Mets enter Major League Baseball's offseason under intense scrutiny after a disappointing 2025 campaign that saw them miss the playoffs despite one of the league's highest payrolls. The team, which reached the National League Championship Series in 2024, faltered down the stretch, losing a pivotal final game to the Miami Marlins and finishing outside the wild card spots as the Cincinnati Reds claimed the last postseason berth.

New York's struggles stemmed largely from an inconsistent starting rotation and defensive shortcomings. The pitching staff posted a 4.13 earned-run average, ranking 18th in baseball, with injuries forcing reliance on rookies like Nolan McLean, Jonah Tong and Brandon Sproat in September. Veteran additions such as Frankie Montas underperformed and may miss the entire 2026 season, while Sean Manaea regressed from his 2024 form. Owner Steve Cohen, known for aggressive spending, has signaled a push for improvement. As USA Today's Bob Nightengale noted, "They embarrassed themselves by having the biggest payroll and failed to make the playoffs. And owner Steve Cohen hates to be embarrassed. They'll come up with one, if not two frontline starters."