Predicting the Mets' 2025 roster: Prospects, free agents, keepers, and trades

Over the last two years, the Mets have been players for the biggest trade targets and most expensive free agents on the market.

With that has come a slew of new players, including Francisco Lindor (whom the Mets signed to a massive extension after trading for him) and Max Scherzer (who was given the largest average annual value in the history of baseball).

As the Mets strive to become a perennial contender, annual headline-grabbing acquisitions should be expected. But the team should also see a big influx of high-end talent from their minor league system starting in 2022.

Using our crystal ball to jump three years into the future, when Steve Cohen's impact on the organization should be fully felt, here's a prediction of what the Mets' roster will look like in 2025...

Starting Lineup

C: Francisco Alvarez

One of the best prospects in baseball, the 20-year-old Alvarez will likely spend most of the 2022 season with Double-A Binghamton. That puts him on track for a possible Mets debut in 2023, and gives him a strong chance to be the starter behind the plate starting in 2024 -- which happens to be the final season of James McCann's four-year contract.

1B: Pete Alonso

As of now, Alonso is eligible for free agency after the 2024 season, which is set to be his final year of arbitration. But we'll predict that the Mets work out a long-term deal with him well before then. The Polar Bear belongs in Queens.

2B: Jonathan Schoop

Regardless of what happens with Jeff McNeil in the near future, we'll predict that his time with the Mets will end before the 2024 season, which would make Schoop -- a free agent after 2023 who will be entering his age-32 season -- a strong fit.

SS: Francisco Lindor

Lindor, who excelled at the plate after a rough start in 2021 and should be on the upswing, is locked in through the 2031 season at an average annual value a tick above $34 million. So unless something very strange happens, he'll still be manning short for the Mets in 2025, after which his modified no-trade clause becomes a full no-trade clause.

3B: Brett Baty

Alvarez has gotten more coverage, but Baty has a chance to be special as well. A consensus Top 100 prospect in baseball, Baty could begin the 2022 season back in Double-A Binghamton. But with him so close to Triple-A, a big league debut in 2022 is possible. And he could be entrenched at third base by 2023.

LF: Brandon Nimmo

Nimmo is set to become a free agent after the 2022 season, but SNY's Andy Martino reported earlier this offseason that the Mets have interest in discussing an extension with him. Getting Nimmo locked up would be wise, and we'll predict it happens before Opening Day.

CF: Starling Marte

Marte's four-year deal ends after 2025, which is his age-36 season, but don't be surprised if five-tool center field prospect Alex Ramirez starts eating into Marte's playing time by then.

RF: Juan Soto

A free agent after the 2024 season, the Washington Nationals will likely try hard to keep their generational player. But it's hard to see the Nats, who rely on deferrals in contracts and who in the last few years lost Bryce Harper to the Philadelphia Phillies and traded Trea Turner -- giving Soto the $500 million it could take to sign him.

For the Mets, adding Soto before 2025 would take them back over the luxury tax threshold one year after (we predict) they get under it to reset.

And when you think about it, Soto to the Mets makes perfect sense. In this scenario, he would be their first truly enormous signing since Lindor and Scherzer (whose contract will be off the books after 2024), would fill a corner outfield need, and would be joining a team that will be full of inexpensive, young talent -- making the bundle of cash it would take to sign him much more palatable.

DH: Mark Vientos

Along with Alvarez and Baty, Vientos could make an impact with the Mets sooner rather than later. But unlike Alvarez and Baty, there are questions about Vientos' positional fit. He could play third base, but that's where Baty will be. And he could play the corner outfield. But he could be perfect as a DH with massive power, which is what we have him being.

Starting Rotation

1. Jacob deGrom

In addition to the question about deGrom's health is the fact that he can opt out of his contract after the 2022 season and is set for free agency after 2024 if he doesn't opt out. But it's impossible to see the Mets letting deGrom walk if he opts out after 2022 (which would mean he's healthy) -- not with them in full go-for-it mode. So we'll predict that deGrom will opt out after the season, sending fans into a panic, before the Mets bring him back on a deal that runs through 2026.

2. Luis Castillo

The Mets will acquire Castillo from the Cincinnati Reds after the 2022 season in a deal revolving around infield prospect Ronny Mauricio. New York will then extend Castillo before he hits free agency, which is currently set to happen after the 2023 season.

3. Matt Allan

Allan, who is rehabbing from Tommy John surgery and has the upside to be a top of the rotation starter, should be back on the mound before 2022 ends and firmly back in the Mets' plans in 2023. Depending on how fast he moves through the minors, Allan could debut by 2024.

4. John Means

Beginning in 2022, Means will settle in as a reliable mid-rotation starter who sometimes offers more. And he'll sign with the Mets after 2024, which will be before his age-32 season.

5. J.T. Ginn

The 22-year-old Ginn should spend a large chunk of the 2022 season with Double-A Binghamton, setting him up for a Mets debut in 2023 and giving him the chance to become a key cog in the rotation by 2024.

Bullpen

Closer: Edwin Diaz

A pending free agent after the 2022 season, the Mets will extend the soon-to-be 28-year-old Diaz before he gets there, giving them an electric closer through 2025.

Setup: Liam Hendriks

The Mets will sign Hendriks after the 2024 season, when he will be 35 years old and still really good -- but not as expensive as he is right now.

RHP: Robert Dominguez

Dominguez is a high-upside starter in the Mets' system right now and could wind up staying in the rotation, but we'll predict that he ends up as a dominant reliever.

LHP: Aaron Loup

The Mets will reunite with Loup when he signs following the 2023 season. Bring on the postgame news conferences with beer.

RHP: Drew Smith

A really good reliever who has had some injury setbacks recently, Smith is a free agent after 2024, but he'll carve out a role starting in 2022 and re-sign.

RHP: Junior Santos

Another one of the Mets' Top 20 prospects, Santos' future is likely in the bullpen.

RHP: Joel Diaz

An intriguing starting pitching prospect, Diaz will end up in bullpen long-term, where he could be used in multi-inning stints.

Bench

C: Francisco Mejia

A free agent after the 2024 season, the Mets will sign the switch-hitting Mejia -- who provides pop and solid defense -- to be the backup for Alvarez.

INF: Luis Guillorme

The slick-fielding Guillorme is under team control through 2025, and he'll still be a strong bench player who grinds at-bats while filling in at third base, shortstop, and second base.

OF: Khalil Lee

Lee could have a bench role as soon as 2022. And while he has the upside to be an everyday player, we'll predict that he'll settle in as a very good fourth outfielder.

Utility: Carlos Cortes

The 24-year-old Cortes is a solid hitter who can play all over the diamond (left field, right field, second base, first base), and could make his big league debut at some point in 2022.

Utility: Jaylen Palmer

Even more versatile than Cortes, with the ability to play second base, shortstop, third base, and all three outfield spots, Palmer is likely a few years away. And his mix of versatility and speed (he swiped 30 bags in 105 games last season) makes him an intriguing bench option.