The MLB playoff picture is finally complete. It took all 162 games and a few tiebreakers, but the bracket is set, and the postseason has arrived.

Below are Yahoo Sports’ postseason picks from baseball writers Russell Dorsey, Jake Mintz, Jordan Shusterman, Jack Baer, Chris Cwik and Jason Owens. How many did they get right? We’ll soon find out.

Let the playoffs begin.

[Yahoo Sports TV is here! Watch live shows and highlights 24/7]

Our writers feel confident about the Yankees and Dodgers advancing out of the wild-card round. 

Guardians vs. Tigers and Cubs vs. Padres look a bit more unpredictable.

We’re all-in on the Phillies to advance out of the NLDS. That said, doubting the Dodgers feels like a risky move, given recent history.

The ALDS appears a bit more up for grabs, though we’re leaning toward the top seeds.

The Mariners are the only MLB team that has never appeared in the World Series. Three of our writers are predicting that they change that this fall.

Meanwhile, on the NL side, we’re all about the Phillies and Brewers.

Will it be a multi-time All-Star such as Bryce Harper, Giancarlo Stanton or Kyle Schwarber who wins World Series MVP in 2025? Or will a lesser-known Brewer make a name for himself on baseball’s biggest stage? Better yet, what about a pitcher winning the award? 

At this point, we won’t rule any of it out.

The MLB playoff picture is finally complete. It took all 162 games and a few tiebreakers, but the bracket is set, and the postseason has arrived.

Below are Yahoo Sports’ postseason picks from baseball writers Russell Dorsey, Jake Mintz, Jordan Shusterman, Jack Baer, Chris Cwik and Jason Owens. How many did they get right? We’ll soon find out.

Let the playoffs begin.

[Yahoo Sports TV is here! Watch live shows and highlights 24/7]

Our writers feel confident about the Yankees and Dodgers advancing out of the wild-card round. 

Guardians vs. Tigers and Cubs vs. Padres look a bit more unpredictable.

We’re all-in on the Phillies to advance out of the NLDS. That said, doubting the Dodgers feels like a risky move, given recent history.

The ALDS appears a bit more up for grabs, though we’re leaning toward the top seeds.

The Mariners are the only MLB team that has never appeared in the World Series. Three of our writers are predicting that they change that this fall.

Meanwhile, on the NL side, we’re all about the Phillies and Brewers.

Will it be a multi-time All-Star such as Bryce Harper, Giancarlo Stanton or Kyle Schwarber who wins World Series MVP in 2025? Or will a lesser-known Brewer make a name for himself on baseball’s biggest stage? Better yet, what about a pitcher winning the award? 

At this point, we won’t rule any of it out.

Mets right-hander Kodai Senga‘s third MLB season is officially over with Sunday’s 4-0 loss at the Miami Marlins, a result that kept New York out of the playoffs and ended any speculation over whether or not the 32-year-old would be on the team’s postseason roster.

Senga was with the Mets in Miami but inactive while on a throwing program in Port St. Lucie, Fla., after being optioned to Triple-A Syracuse earlier this month.

His 2025 season ends with him going 7-6 and posting a 3.02 ERA in 22 starts for New York, plagued by the second half.

“I think it comes down to my body,” Senga said through an interpreter. “I wasn’t able to control my body the way I wanted to after that injury and, unfortunately, that showed up in the results on the field, too, and very disappointing that I wasn’t able to contribute in that last month or so.”

The Mets placed Senga on the 15-day injured list on June 13 with a right hamstring strain. He returned to New York on July 11 but was never the same, going 0-3 with a 5.90 ERA in his final nine starts through Aug. 31.

“I want to rebuild from Step 1,” Senga said. “My body’s changed after this injury and after various things. My body’s changed, so not reflecting back on, ‘My body used to do this or used to do that,’ it’s Step 1 again, head into the offseason, come back strong next year.”

Senga elaborated on what he meant by his body changing.

“When you get injured and after you come back from injury, you’re not the exact same as you were before — that’s just what that means,” Senga said.

Injuries limited Senga to one start in 2024. He went 12-7 with a 2.98 ERA in 2023, his first season with the Mets.

“For example, last year, where I kind of ended the season off an injury, still kind of had to do a similar thing,” he said. “But if I can make the most of the time that I have in the offseason, I can come back strong.”

Senga enters the fourth season of a five-year contract that he signed in December 2022.

“That latter half of the season, it was disappointing that I wasn’t able to perform out there,” Senga said. “Ultimately, the decision came down to we think that somebody else pitching instead of me is going to help the team win. So, that’s what it kind of comes down to.”

The 2025 MLB postseason has arrived, and it’s a different National League team atop the World Series odds board this season. 

The Los Angeles Dodgers (+500 at BetMGM) won the NL West for the 12th time in the past 13 seasons (and fourth straight year), but it’s the NL East champion Philadelphia Phillies (+425) who are the World Series favorites at sportsbooks.

Philadelphia’s +425 odds are the longest for any World Series favorite entering the poseason since the 2014 Dodgers (+450), per Sports Odds History.

[Yahoo Sports TV is here! Watch live shows and highlights 24/7]

Not surprisingly, the Dodgers have the most wagers and most total dollars wagered to win the World Series at multiple sportsbooks. At BetMGM, 11.6% of the tickets and 19.8% of the dollars wagered are on Los Angeles.

The Seattle Mariners (+500) are tied with the Dodgers for the second-best World Series odds, followed by the Milwaukee Brewers (+800), Toronto Blue Jays (+800) and New York Yankees (+850).

“Our best-case scenario is the Blue Jays and our worst-case scenario is the Mariners,” Eric Biggio, head baseball oddsmaker at Caesars Sportsbook told Yahoo Sports on Sunday night. “The Dodgers have the most bets and handle.”

The Cleveland Guardians overcame odds of 150-1 at the All-Star Break to win the AL Central over the Detroit TIgers, but the Guardians at 22-1 have the longest odds of any American League team to win the World Series.

The Blue Jays and Mariners have byes in the American League, while the Brewers and Phillies have byes in the National League. It’s the first time the Blue Jays have won the AL East since 2015. Toronto will play the winner of the wild-card series between the Yankees and Red Sox.

The wild-card round begins Tuesday.

Wild-card series odds at BetMGM

Detroit Tigers (-110) vs. Cleveland Guardians (-110)

Boston Red Sox (+140) vs. New York Yankees (-165)   

Cincinnati Reds (+200) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (-250)  

San Diego Padres (+105) vs. Chicago Cubs (-125)

The 2025 MLB postseason has arrived, and it’s a different National League team atop the World Series odds board this season. 

The Los Angeles Dodgers (+500 at BetMGM) won the NL West for the 12th time in the past 13 seasons (and fourth straight year), but it’s the NL East champion Philadelphia Phillies (+425) who are the World Series favorites at sportsbooks.

Philadelphia’s +425 odds are the longest for any World Series favorite entering the poseason since the 2014 Dodgers (+450), per Sports Odds History.

[Yahoo Sports TV is here! Watch live shows and highlights 24/7]

Not surprisingly, the Dodgers have the most wagers and most total dollars wagered to win the World Series at multiple sportsbooks. At BetMGM, 11.6% of the tickets and 19.8% of the dollars wagered are on Los Angeles.

The Seattle Mariners (+500) are tied with the Dodgers for the second-best World Series odds, followed by the Milwaukee Brewers (+800), Toronto Blue Jays (+800) and New York Yankees (+850).

“Our best-case scenario is the Blue Jays and our worst-case scenario is the Mariners,” Eric Biggio, head baseball oddsmaker at Caesars Sportsbook told Yahoo Sports on Sunday night. “The Dodgers have the most bets and handle.”

The Cleveland Guardians overcame odds of 150-1 at the All-Star Break to win the AL Central over the Detroit TIgers, but the Guardians at 22-1 have the longest odds of any American League team to win the World Series.

The Blue Jays and Mariners have byes in the American League, while the Brewers and Phillies have byes in the National League. It’s the first time the Blue Jays have won the AL East since 2015. Toronto will play the winner of the wild-card series between the Yankees and Red Sox.

The wild-card round begins Tuesday.

Wild-card series odds at BetMGM

Detroit Tigers (-110) vs. Cleveland Guardians (-110)

Boston Red Sox (+140) vs. New York Yankees (-165)   

Cincinnati Reds (+200) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (-250)  

San Diego Padres (+105) vs. Chicago Cubs (-125)

One personal note before we start dispensing information: Mets fans deserved better this year. You gave so much of yourselves.

Steve Cohen asked you to show up, and you did. You were loud. Your energy rocked Citi Field nearly every night. You made Queens the center of New York baseball, even as the collapse worsened. It’s such a waste that the team didn’t give you a playoff run.

Anyway, here are a few reported items in the immediate aftermath of the 4-0 loss in Miami that ended the Mets’ season.

What just happened?

David Wright once told me that while the 2007 Mets choked, the 2008 Mets were just not quite good enough, especially in the bullpen once Billy Wagner went down. This year felt far more like ‘08 than ‘07. The Mets were short on pitching and defense, period. There isn’t a stat for choking on Baseball Savant, so my point isn’t provable — but I didn’t see a lot of what looked like a choke job. I saw guys playing hard and going about their business (full disclosure, I wasn’t in Miami).

In the end, the team simply failed to prevent runs well enough. They didn’t have enough pitching, or even close. And they might have squeaked into the postseason with better defensive personnel.

So how will that improve?

On the pitching side, don’t be surprised if the Mets are aggressive off this debacle in trying to acquire an ace.

David Stearns does not believe in using free agency to overpay top starting pitchers. But what if Paul Skenes or Sandy Alcantara can be pried from their teams? If there is a way to land one of those two without trading Nolan McLean, why wouldn’t the Mets be aggressive?

Stearns will also need to reflect on the flawed process that led to wasting money on Frankie Montas. It’s easy from my seat to cherry-pick moves that did not work, but this one stuck out as a possible example of weighing data over an overwhelming human argument against the player.

Stearns wants to be great here, running the team he has loved since childhood. He is intelligent and ambitious enough to take a long look at how he and his group arrived at certain decisions that smart folks around the industry — not just the closed-minded haters — didn’t understand.

The Mets’ young pitching depth continues to be a reason for significant optimism regarding next year’s team.

As for the defense, that will improve over the years that Stearns is running the Mets. Look at the versatile and athletic Milwaukee Brewers. Stearns mostly inherited this position player group. He will gradually bring in better defenders.

Will the manager survive?

According to sources with direct knowledge, the Mets have no plans to fire Carlos Mendoza. A change would require a series of events that was not at all in motion as the Mets finished off their collapse on Sunday evening.

You should, however, expect notable and perhaps widespread changes to the coaching staff. This feels like the biggest news to watch in the immediate aftermath.

What will happen with Pete Alonso, Edwin Diaz and other stars?

It is entirely possible that both stars with opt outs played their final game at a Met on Sunday. These situations could go either way.

Obviously, there are Mets officials who would make an internal case to spread their money around on players other than a thirty-something first baseman and closer. Buckle up for more Alonso free agent uncertainty. 

And would the Mets go so far as to explore a trade market for stalwarts Francisco Lindor and Brandon Nimmo? You can rest assured that the team’s leadership will reflect as deeply as possible on how to keep the Mets pointed in the right direction.

2025 season: Eliminated Sept. 28

With the Mets eliminated from the 2025 postseason, let’s take a look at the season that was in New York, the questions the team must address this winter and the early outlook for next year.

Read more: MLB offseason previews 2025: What’s next for the White Sox, Pirates, Twins and more?

Things that went right

The Mets’ big-name players largely delivered on expectations. Juan Soto started slowly but warmed up with the weather and ranked among the top 10 in baseball in runs scored, OBP and OPS. Soto also added a surprising speed component to his game by swiping 38 bases. Pete Alonso rebounded from a quiet 2024 season, breaking the Mets’ career home run record and finishing second in the majors with 126 RBI.

Francisco Lindor continued to be the team’s sparkplug. He ranked fourth in baseball in runs scored and joined Soto as the third pair of teammates in MLB history to log a 30-30 season. Not to be forgotten, Brandon Nimmo supported the team’s superstars by being consistent and effective while moving throughout the lineup.

On the mound, rookies Nolan McLean, Brandon Sproat and Jonah Tong provided a boost of excitement when they joined the rotation down the stretch. McLean was especially dominant, posting a 2.06 ERA in eight starts. Tong’s numbers were heavily impacted by one disastrous outing on Sept. 12, but he was otherwise effective. Sproat was also steady, and without this trio, the club likely would’ve been out of the postseason race much sooner.

The bullpen was average overall but received excellent performances from the men who mattered most. Edwin Díaz was again one of the top closers in baseball, logging eye-popping ratios (1.63 ERA, 0.87 WHIP) and ranking 10th in the baseball in saves. Reed Garrett easily led the club in holds, and Geovany Soto and Tyler Rogers were effective after arriving at the trade deadline.

Things that went wrong

The Mets might have won their first NL East title since 2015 if not for a brutal stretch from July 28 to Aug. 15. They led the Phillies by 1.5 games on July 28, but by the time their Aug. 15 game ended, they had gone 2-14 and sat six games back of Philadelphia. It was especially frustrating that most of that slump occurred immediately after the Mets’ front office made several acquisitions at the trade deadline. Another brutal losing streak — eight consecutive defeats from Sept. 6 to 13 — caused the club to fall back in the NL wild-card race before ultimately missing the postseason entirely.

The veteran members of the rotation were a problem, especially down the stretch. Clay Holmes, David Peterson, Kodai Senga deserve credit for each making at least 22 starts and maintaining ERAs below 4.30. But Peterson logged a 6.68 ERA in August and an eye-popping 9.72 in September. Meanwhile, Holmes was removed from the rotation in the middle of September, and Senga spent the final weeks of the season in Triple-A. Sean Manaea didn’t debut until July 13 and finished the season with a 5.64 ERA.

Despite having plenty of star power, New York’s offense was only slightly better than average. The lineup became a top-heavy group, as the supporting cast included a few disappointments. Mark Vientos got off to a slow start and then missed most of June due to a hamstring strain. He was batting .223 with a .640 OPS at the All-Star break. Tyrone Taylor received a surprising amount of playing time (113 games) but did little with the opportunity (.598 OPS). Cedric Mullins couldn’t do his part to lengthen the lineup after arriving at the trade deadline. Finally, Luisangel Acuña and Ronny Mauricio didn’t thrive when given extended opportunities.

[Get more New York news: Mets team feed]

Offseason outlook

Most of the Mets’ infield is in a state of flux. Francisco Alvarez endured a rocky season that included multiple IL stints and offensive struggles in the first half. Still, he showed enough in the second half to enter spring training as the No. 1 catcher. Alonso will head to free agency for a second straight year, as he confirmed he will decline his 2026 player option. Jeff McNeil and Brett Baty should share second base, with McNeil also spending time in the outfield and Baty getting some starts at third. Vientos will hope to bounce back from a down year and earn the lion’s share of third-base opportunities. Mauricio will challenge Vientos but could end up as a super utilityman.

The Mets are set in the corner outfield spots, with Soto in right and Nimmo in left. Center field is wide open, as Mullins is heading to free agency and Taylor is a better fit as the fourth outfielder. McNeil can pick up some starts in center, but the organization might want to maintain his positional flexibility by adding a center fielder in the offseason.

There are also plenty of rotation options. Holmes, Senga, Peterson, Manaea and Tylor Megill are all under contract for 2026, and with Sproat, Tong and McLean in the big leagues, there are three more arms who could push veterans to the bullpen. The hope is that Tong or McLean can quickly ascend to ace status, as this deep group lacks someone who can match up with the top starters on other contenders. Christian Scott is a wild card for a rotation spot, as the former prospect with nine career starts should return in spring training from 2024 Tommy John surgery.

The bullpen is a bit of an unknown. Díaz can opt out of the final three years of his contract, which would leave a huge void in Queens. Garrett and Huascar Brazobán will return to form a setup duo after leading the team in holds, but the trio of Rogers, Soto and Ryan Helsley were all available at the trade deadline because it was the final year of their contracts, and thus, they’re all free agents.

Prospects on the horizon

Partly thanks to the rapid ascensions of Tong and McLean, the Mets boast a deep group of high-end prospects who are ready to contribute in 2026. Both hurlers were dynamite at times down the stretch and will be serious contenders for rotation spots. In fact, there’s a scenario in which Tong and McLean are leading the Mets’ rotation by the second half of next season.

Sproat is the other pitcher who could help the team next year. He spent most of 2025 in Triple-A before debuting with the Mets in September. Although he wasn’t dominant in Triple-A, his major-league results were respectable (4.79 ERA in 20 2/3 innings). Like many young starters, Sproat could stand to improve his walk rate.

Carson Benge is the team’s top position-player prospect and is rising rapidly through the minors. The 2024 first-round draft pick reached Triple-A by the end of the season and could fill the void in center field to start 2026, though it’s more likely that he debuts later in the season.

A natural shortstop, 2022 first-round pick Jett Williams has reached Triple-A. He is, of course, blocked by Lindor, which caused him to spend some time at second base and in center field this year. Like Benge, Williams will be looking for a roster spot by the summer.

Goals for 2026

As long as Steve Cohen owns the Mets, they will be a win-now team that ranks among baseball’s biggest spenders. Plus, this team is full of superstars who aren’t getting any younger. The window is now.

But there is work to be done in the offseason, starting with the decisions on retaining Alonso and Díaz in free agency. Whether those two are playing in Queens next year will likely determine if the organization adds high-priced players from other teams.

Overall, New York has as good a chance to win the NL East in 2026 as any of their division rivals. The Phillies will be difficult to surpass, and the Braves will likely climb back into the race after a down year. But with a big-budget roster centered on a legit superstar in Soto, with a few additions here and there, the Mets will have what they need to go toe-to-toe with anyone.

Fantasy focus

Just as they lead the Mets on the field, Soto and Lindor will lead New York’s fantasy options in 2026 drafts. Both players will be drafted within the initial 20 picks, with Soto likely to go slightly earlier than Lindor. Whether or not they return to the Mets, Alonso and Díaz will be selected in the range of Rounds 3-5. In some drafts, Díaz will be the first closer off the board.

There are a few Mets who should be drafted in the middle rounds, including Nimmo, Senga and the young starters, Tong and McLean. There’s a chance that Tong or McLean could sneak into the initial 10 rounds by having a dominant spring. Later in drafts, Manaea and Alvarez will have their names called.

2025 season: Eliminated Sept. 28

With the Mets eliminated from the 2025 postseason, let’s take a look at the season that was in New York, the questions the team must address this winter and the early outlook for next year.

Read more: MLB offseason previews 2025: What’s next for the White Sox, Pirates, Twins and more?

Things that went right

The Mets’ big-name players largely delivered on expectations. Juan Soto started slowly but warmed up with the weather and ranked among the top 10 in baseball in runs scored, OBP and OPS. Soto also added a surprising speed component to his game by swiping 38 bases. Pete Alonso rebounded from a quiet 2024 season, breaking the Mets’ career home run record and finishing second in the majors with 126 RBI.

Francisco Lindor continued to be the team’s sparkplug. He ranked fourth in baseball in runs scored and joined Soto as the third pair of teammates in MLB history to log a 30-30 season. Not to be forgotten, Brandon Nimmo supported the team’s superstars by being consistent and effective while moving throughout the lineup.

On the mound, rookies Nolan McLean, Brandon Sproat and Jonah Tong provided a boost of excitement when they joined the rotation down the stretch. McLean was especially dominant, posting a 2.06 ERA in eight starts. Tong’s numbers were heavily impacted by one disastrous outing on Sept. 12, but he was otherwise effective. Sproat was also steady, and without this trio, the club likely would’ve been out of the postseason race much sooner.

The bullpen was average overall but received excellent performances from the men who mattered most. Edwin Díaz was again one of the top closers in baseball, logging eye-popping ratios (1.63 ERA, 0.87 WHIP) and ranking 10th in the baseball in saves. Reed Garrett easily led the club in holds, and Geovany Soto and Tyler Rogers were effective after arriving at the trade deadline.

Things that went wrong

The Mets might have won their first NL East title since 2015 if not for a brutal stretch from July 28 to Aug. 15. They led the Phillies by 1.5 games on July 28, but by the time their Aug. 15 game ended, they had gone 2-14 and sat six games back of Philadelphia. It was especially frustrating that most of that slump occurred immediately after the Mets’ front office made several acquisitions at the trade deadline. Another brutal losing streak — eight consecutive defeats from Sept. 6 to 13 — caused the club to fall back in the NL wild-card race before ultimately missing the postseason entirely.

The veteran members of the rotation were a problem, especially down the stretch. Clay Holmes, David Peterson, Kodai Senga deserve credit for each making at least 22 starts and maintaining ERAs below 4.30. But Peterson logged a 6.68 ERA in August and an eye-popping 9.72 in September. Meanwhile, Holmes was removed from the rotation in the middle of September, and Senga spent the final weeks of the season in Triple-A. Sean Manaea didn’t debut until July 13 and finished the season with a 5.64 ERA.

Despite having plenty of star power, New York’s offense was only slightly better than average. The lineup became a top-heavy group, as the supporting cast included a few disappointments. Mark Vientos got off to a slow start and then missed most of June due to a hamstring strain. He was batting .223 with a .640 OPS at the All-Star break. Tyrone Taylor received a surprising amount of playing time (113 games) but did little with the opportunity (.598 OPS). Cedric Mullins couldn’t do his part to lengthen the lineup after arriving at the trade deadline. Finally, Luisangel Acuña and Ronny Mauricio didn’t thrive when given extended opportunities.

[Get more New York news: Mets team feed]

Offseason outlook

Most of the Mets’ infield is in a state of flux. Francisco Alvarez endured a rocky season that included multiple IL stints and offensive struggles in the first half. Still, he showed enough in the second half to enter spring training as the No. 1 catcher. Alonso will head to free agency for a second straight year, as he confirmed he will decline his 2026 player option. Jeff McNeil and Brett Baty should share second base, with McNeil also spending time in the outfield and Baty getting some starts at third. Vientos will hope to bounce back from a down year and earn the lion’s share of third-base opportunities. Mauricio will challenge Vientos but could end up as a super utilityman.

The Mets are set in the corner outfield spots, with Soto in right and Nimmo in left. Center field is wide open, as Mullins is heading to free agency and Taylor is a better fit as the fourth outfielder. McNeil can pick up some starts in center, but the organization might want to maintain his positional flexibility by adding a center fielder in the offseason.

There are also plenty of rotation options. Holmes, Senga, Peterson, Manaea and Tylor Megill are all under contract for 2026, and with Sproat, Tong and McLean in the big leagues, there are three more arms who could push veterans to the bullpen. The hope is that Tong or McLean can quickly ascend to ace status, as this deep group lacks someone who can match up with the top starters on other contenders. Christian Scott is a wild card for a rotation spot, as the former prospect with nine career starts should return in spring training from 2024 Tommy John surgery.

The bullpen is a bit of an unknown. Díaz can opt out of the final three years of his contract, which would leave a huge void in Queens. Garrett and Huascar Brazobán will return to form a setup duo after leading the team in holds, but the trio of Rogers, Soto and Ryan Helsley were all available at the trade deadline because it was the final year of their contracts, and thus, they’re all free agents.

Prospects on the horizon

Partly thanks to the rapid ascensions of Tong and McLean, the Mets boast a deep group of high-end prospects who are ready to contribute in 2026. Both hurlers were dynamite at times down the stretch and will be serious contenders for rotation spots. In fact, there’s a scenario in which Tong and McLean are leading the Mets’ rotation by the second half of next season.

Sproat is the other pitcher who could help the team next year. He spent most of 2025 in Triple-A before debuting with the Mets in September. Although he wasn’t dominant in Triple-A, his major-league results were respectable (4.79 ERA in 20 2/3 innings). Like many young starters, Sproat could stand to improve his walk rate.

Carson Benge is the team’s top position-player prospect and is rising rapidly through the minors. The 2024 first-round draft pick reached Triple-A by the end of the season and could fill the void in center field to start 2026, though it’s more likely that he debuts later in the season.

A natural shortstop, 2022 first-round pick Jett Williams has reached Triple-A. He is, of course, blocked by Lindor, which caused him to spend some time at second base and in center field this year. Like Benge, Williams will be looking for a roster spot by the summer.

Goals for 2026

As long as Steve Cohen owns the Mets, they will be a win-now team that ranks among baseball’s biggest spenders. Plus, this team is full of superstars who aren’t getting any younger. The window is now.

But there is work to be done in the offseason, starting with the decisions on retaining Alonso and Díaz in free agency. Whether those two are playing in Queens next year will likely determine if the organization adds high-priced players from other teams.

Overall, New York has as good a chance to win the NL East in 2026 as any of their division rivals. The Phillies will be difficult to surpass, and the Braves will likely climb back into the race after a down year. But with a big-budget roster centered on a legit superstar in Soto, with a few additions here and there, the Mets will have what they need to go toe-to-toe with anyone.

Fantasy focus

Just as they lead the Mets on the field, Soto and Lindor will lead New York’s fantasy options in 2026 drafts. Both players will be drafted within the initial 20 picks, with Soto likely to go slightly earlier than Lindor. Whether or not they return to the Mets, Alonso and Díaz will be selected in the range of Rounds 3-5. In some drafts, Díaz will be the first closer off the board.

There are a few Mets who should be drafted in the middle rounds, including Nimmo, Senga and the young starters, Tong and McLean. There’s a chance that Tong or McLean could sneak into the initial 10 rounds by having a dominant spring. Later in drafts, Manaea and Alvarez will have their names called.