It's only been a few days of full-squad workouts for the Mets, but the storylines are plentiful for a team that looks rather different from the end of last year and has a number of new faces.
Some of the biggest headlines surround newcomers such as Bo Bichette, Luis Robert Jr. and Freddy Peralta, but there are also many other players, some of them big-name veterans, who should attract some intrigue as well.
Two pitchers that fit that bill are Craig Kimbrel and Luis Garcia. While Garcia, 39, was signed to a one-year, $1.75 million deal to add experienced reliever depth and figures to provide middle-inning relief and perhaps work in some higher-leverage situations, Kimbrel, 37, joined New York on a minor league deal with an invite to spring training and will be an interesting player to watch. If he makes the team out of camp the veteran will earn $2.5 million.
After manager Carlos Mendoza praised Garcia's stuff, which includes a fastball still in the high 90s, and his experience in the league, saying, "He’s gonna be a big part of that bullpen," he spoke about Kimbrel and gushed over everything he's done in his career.
"First thing, what an awesome guy he is," Mendoza said. "His presence is unreal and it was good to see him out there today. We know the sweeper is good, the curveball we all know that, and he’s also got the cutter now that he’s playing around with.
"Yeah he threw a little bit that changeup last year, but I think his bread and butter is the breaking ball and like I said, hopefully that cutter now plays into [his arsenal], especially against lefties. Experience, so yeah he’s gonna get a chance here."
Asked to elaborate on the veteran's presence around the team, Mendoza said it's already been a positive and helpful thing not even a full week into full-squad workouts.
"The way he carries himself, humble guy," the skipper said. "We’re talking about a guy that’s pretty close to a Hall of Fame career, with a World Series and he’s out there like a rookie with how respectful he is, how open he is to share his experiences so it’s been great to have him there."
While Kimbrel is no longer the elite, lockdown closer that he was early in his career with the Atlanta Braves and Boston Red Sox, the right-hander still found success last season in a short amount of time with the Houston Astros as he finished the season with a 2.25 ERA in 14 games. Even before that, despite bouncing around the league, Kimbrel is only three seasons removed from an All-Star selection and 23 saves with the Philadelphia Phillies.
The 37-year-old will obviously not be asked to be the Mets' closer, but it's certainly possible the savvy veteran still has something left in the tank -- and New York is willing to find out.
Tobias Myers' evolving role
While the veterans fight for spots in the bullpen, Myers, who came over in the Peralta trade, is being built up as a starter this spring. Myers, 27, has spent two seasons in the majors and has been a Swiss army knife during his tenure.
While debuting in 2024 with the Milwaukee Brewers, Myers was used primarily as a starter and had a 3.00 ERA in 27 games (25 starts). The following season, the right-hander was converted into a relief pitcher after beginning the year as a starter and had a 3.55 ERA across 50.2 innings, although his splits were stark -- 5.64 ERA as a starter (six starts) compared to a 1.91 ERA as a reliever (16 games).
At the moment, Myers is stretching out as a starter.
"We’re gonna need guys like him, right?" Mendoza said. "Like we said at the beginning of camp, we’re gonna build him up as a starter and hopefully everybody is healthy, a long ways to go, and then we’ll have to make some adjustments if we decide to put him in the bullpen. He’s definitely gonna be a guy that’s gonna be a multiple inning guy out of the bullpen."
Mendoza said that if Myers is healthy, he will be on the team in whatever capacity the Mets end up choosing for him.
Finally Francisco Alvarez
If there is one player on the Mets who has the chance to be the biggest X-factor in 2026 it's Alvarez.
Following another whirlwind season that featured injuries, a demotion to the minors and then ultimately his best stretch in the majors, Alvarez has still yet to put together an entire season that reflects the expectations that came with him as a former No. 1 overall prospect.
Hopefully for New York that's all about to change after he finished 2025 with career-highs in batting average (.256), on-base percentage (.339), OPS (.787) and WAR (1.9) in just 76 games.
"Last year he made some drastic changes offensively and it wasn’t easy for him, it was hard and he struggled," Mendoza said. "Got to a point where we sent him to the minor leagues and he kind of have had to revamp the whole swing again. And we saw a lot of good signs after we called him up and that’s what we’re seeing here now.
"A shorter [swing], more direct to the ball, we know the power is there, he’s just gotta get the barrel out there and be short to the ball. So he’s definitely in a good place here, I like where he’s at approach-wise and we just gotta keep it that way."
Obviously the power is there after Alvarez hit 25 home runs in his rookie season as a 21-year-old, but entering his fourth season in the league the young catcher is looking to finally put everything together, including his defense which was another reason he was sent down to Triple-A last season.
"Defensively, same thing. I feel like he made huge strides last year," Mendoza said. "We saw it, especially with the blocking, the receiving and he’s just gonna continue to get better, continue to mature and he’s got that leadership ability where he’s able to lead a pitching staff and that’s what we expect out of him."