The New York Mets’ 2026 season is cratering fast, falling well short of the lofty expectations set back in spring training. After reloading their roster to position themselves as legitimate National League contenders, the franchise has instead plummeted into a deep crisis, sitting dead last in the NL East. If things don’t turn around in a hurry, the front office could emerge as one of the biggest sellers at the upcoming trade deadline.
While ace Freddy Peralta’s name dominates the rumor mill, he is far from the only star who could be packing his bags. Big names like Bo Bichette, Kodai Senga, and Luke Weaver could all hit the block if the Mets decide to pivot toward a full-scale roster reset.
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Bo Bichette could be moved before hitting free agency
The Mets locked Bichette up through 2028, but the shortstop’s contract includes an opt-out after this season alongside a 2028 player option—a structure that could fast-track his return to the open market.
If New York remains buried in the standings and out of playoff contention, the front office will have to seriously consider a trade. Letting him walk for nothing in free agency would be a massive blow to a franchise that desperately needs to restock its asset pool for the future.
Even though Bichette has scuffled at the plate this year—currently posting a meager .580 OPS—he remains one of the most naturally talented hitters in the Majors. His proven track record could easily convince a title contender to ship off high-level prospects to anchor their lineup for a deep October run.
Freddy Peralta looming as top deadline prize
The writing on the wall seems even clearer for Freddy Peralta. The Dominican right-hander is set to hit free agency at the end of the 2026 campaign, and if the Mets stay out of the postseason race, moving him will become a top priority.
Peralta has absolutely held up his end of the bargain since arriving from the Milwaukee Brewers, pitching to a solid 3.52 ERA through his first 11 starts. However, the team’s collective collapse might force New York to listen to offers for one of their premium arms. Contenders are always desperate for rotation depth in October, and Peralta checks every box to become the market’s most coveted prize.
Teams monitoring Kodai Senga despite injury woes
Injuries have derailed Kodai Senga’s campaign, limiting the right-hander to just five starts. Despite the durability concerns, the Japanese star continues to draw significant trade interest due to his elite upside and team-friendly contract.
Senga is under guaranteed control through 2027 with a player option for 2028, meaning the Mets are under no pressure to move him. But if the front office decides on a quick retool, caching in on his high trade value could yield an impressive haul of prospects. Interested clubs haven’t forgotten his dominant form last season, when he anchored the rotation with a stellar 3.02 ERA.
Luke Weaver offers bullpen-needy contenders a golden opportunity
Another asset poised to ignite a bidding war among contenders is Luke Weaver. The reliever has established himself as one of the few reliable arms in the New York bullpen and is locked in through 2027.
Sporting a sharp 3.38 ERA over his first 20 appearances this season, Weaver is the exact type of high-leverage arm contenders aggressively hunt for at the deadline. Demand for quality relief pitching always skyrockets in July, putting the Mets in a perfect position to leverage Weaver’s value for young talent to accelerate their timeline.
If the losses keep piling up in Queens, the Mets’ front office faces some brutal decisions—and signs point to several of their marquee stars wearing different uniforms by August.