The New York Mets are officially open for business.
According to reports out of the All-Star break, the Mets have opened trade discussions on nearly every player on their roster. There are very few untouchables. Juan Soto tops the list of names that are staying put, along with young prospects Nolan McLean, Carson Benge, A.J. Ewing, and Christian Scott.
Everyone else is available.
How the Mets Got Here
New York entered 2026 with playoff expectations. Steve Cohen spent big last winter. Soto was added. The rotation got reinforcements. This was supposed to be a run at the World Series.
Instead, the Mets have been mediocre. Injuries, underperformance, and a top-heavy roster construction have combined to leave them chasing in the NL East. The math is not working, and Cohen is pragmatic enough to reset if the season is not going to end in the postseason.
The Soto Distinction Matters
Juan Soto is under a long-term contract. He is the face of the franchise. He is not going anywhere.
Steve Cohen paid Soto to be the anchor of the next decade of Mets baseball. That does not change because 2026 has been disappointing. Soto is a franchise player, and the Mets are building around him for the future.
Anyone tempted to speculate about a Soto trade needs to relax. It is not happening.
The Prospect Protection
Nolan McLean, Carson Benge, A.J. Ewing, and Christian Scott are the future of the pitching staff and lineup. New York is not moving them either.
These are the pieces that need to develop into major league contributors over the next two years. Trading them for veteran pieces to save a 2026 season that is already lost would be short-sighted. David Stearns knows better.
Who Is Actually Available
Everyone else. That is the honest answer.
Older starting pitchers with expiring contracts are all on the market. Veteran relievers are being shopped. Bench pieces are available. Even some position players who were expected to be part of the long-term core have not been given untouchable status.
That is a lot of players available in a market that is going to be hot for the next three weeks.
What the Mets Want in Return
Prospects. Young controllable talent. Anything that helps 2027 and 2028.
Stearns has been transparent about his philosophy. Build a sustainable contender through drafting, development, and trades that generate long-term value. That approach requires patience, and the 2026 season is going to test it.
Cohen is on board. He wants championships, but he also understands that Steve Cohen just spending money does not guarantee wins. The organization needs a foundation.
The Buyer Pool
Every contender is calling. The Dodgers want reinforcements. The Yankees want bullpen help. The Braves are trying to recover from a slow start. The Phillies just lost Brad Keller and need arms.
The Mets have plenty of pieces those teams want. The market is right for New York to extract real value.
The Vibes in Queens
Trade deadline sales are always awkward in a big market. Fans do not love watching their team give up on a season. The New York media is going to make every day between now and August 3 feel like a soap opera.
But this is the right call. The Mets are not going to catch the Braves, and they are not going to win a Wild Card spot. Selling now generates value. Holding on and hoping for a miracle would be irresponsible.
What Happens Next
Expect a flurry of moves in the next two weeks. Small deals will happen first. Bigger names will move closer to the deadline. By August 3, the Mets roster will look meaningfully different.
The rebuild has started. Sort of. It is more of a retooling than a full teardown. Soto and the young prospects give New York a foundation. Everyone else is expendable.
Bottom Line
The Mets are open for business. Contenders should be lining up to call.
David Stearns has three weeks to reset the franchise. He knows what he is doing.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
