The MLB GM Meetings kicked off in Las Vegas on Tuesday with Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns speaking to reporters about the team's offseason so far and its plans going forward.
One of the main topics for New York heading into the 2026 season surrounds the starting rotation and how it can be improved after a disappointing 2025. Injuries and poor performance were the big issues last year, something Stearns acknowledged, especially with how the replacements after injuries did not perform well.
Kodai Senga, who missed nearly the entire 2024 season due to injury, was third on the team in starts with 22, behind only Clay Holmes (31) and David Peterson (30). He looked like an ace and his 2023 self during the first half of the season, but after suffering a hamstring injury in June, he never got back to form and found himself in the minor leagues in September.
The right-hander's future in Queens is a bit murky and his name has been mentioned in trade rumors, but Stearns still sees him as part of the rotation and not the bullpen.
"I think right now we view Senga as part of our rotation," Stearns said. "He's proven at the major league level that he can have really good years. Clearly, the last two years, at times, have been struggles for him.
"The talent is there, the desire is certainly there to have a bounce-back year. We're going to give him every opportunity to do that."
On paper, the Mets' current starting rotation would then consist of Peterson, Holmes, Senga, Sean Manaea, and Nolan McLean. Of course, Stearns will also have to consider Jonah Tong and Brandon Sproat in that mix as well, barring any major trades.
David Stearns on if Kodai Senga could pitch in the bullpen next season:
"Right now we view Senga as part of our rotation. The talent is there, the desire is certainly there to have a bounce-back year. We're going to give him every opportunity to do that" pic.twitter.com/ho9JkCLmN4
— SNY (@SNYtv) November 11, 2025
Stearns was later asked about the team's "commitment to finding" a No. 1 starter this offseason, whether that be through a trade or free agency signing. The Tigers' Tarik Skubal and Marlins' Sandy Alcantara are among names being floated around as potential trade targets, while Stearns made it clear they will do all they can to find a top-of-the-line pitcher, including developing one within the organization.
"You'd always love to find a No. 1 type starter," Stearns said. "I don't know how many true No. 1 starters are out there right now. I don't know how many are actually going to be traded, I don't know how many are truly available in free agency. You'd always like to find that top of the rotation guy, certainly makes building out the rest of the rotation, rest of the pitching staff a lot easier. If one of those guys happens to be available, we'll be right there with them.
"I will also go back to what I've said many times, the way to ultimately have a true ace on your staff is to develop the ace on your staff. I think we're on our way to doing that. I think we will do that. We're going to continue to try to supplement that in any way we can."
McLean showed he has what it takes to become the No. 1 starter Stearns is referring to after an impressive eight starts at the end of the season. Although other young players could be moved to land a top pitcher, something Stearns made clear the Mets are willing to do.
"I think we have numbers in the starting pitching staff," Stearns said. "I remain very optimistic about the younger starters that we have, about the guys we have coming even behind the group we saw get its feet wet at the major league level.
"We're also certainly not going to turn away from any opportunities that we think makes ourselves better at the major league level. We'll be looking at starting pitching in both free agency and trades. Very early for me to predict how active or what discussions are actually going to take place, but we're certainly going to be involved in that market."
Stearns reiterated that the Mets will have their hat in the ring for any top starting pitcher this offseason, and believes they've built up the farm system to properly execute a big trade.
"I think if a front-line pitcher, top-of-the-rotation pitcher is available, we're going to be involved in those discussions. There are limits to what we would do, as there would be for any player. But we do have the depth and quality of farm system at this point that we can both have those players impact our major league team in a real way and potentially trade some of them to get some really near-term help if that's available."
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