“Chisholm Jr. will likely need to sign a one-year prove it deal to regain his value,” Pat Ragazzo wrote on FanSided’s Rising Apple. “Chisholm Jr. is one year removed from posting a 30/30 season in 2025, and the Mets need a second baseman. It feels like they could be linked to Chisholm in free agency this offseason.”

Although Chisholm Jr. put MLB on notice with a “winning mindset” confession and made it clear his mind is fully set on winning the World Series with the Yankees, free agency is still knocking at his door whether he cares to look through the peephole or not. With the postseason looming, so is free agency, and that means rumors will only continue to grow louder.

Jazz could fit right in with NY Mets

When it comes to Chisholm’s future, a job with the cross-town neighbors could make sense. Staying in the Big Apple could be the perfect move for Chisholm Jr. It might come at the expense of how Yankees fans see him, but the 2026 MLB season has proven that many didn’t hesitate to be harsh critics of the former two-time All-Star.

Moreover, he could avoid switching addresses, only having to move his equipment from the clubhouse in the Bronx to the one in Queens. For the Mets, the move could also make sense, as they need a second baseman while they wait for former first-round pick in 2025 Mitch Voit, who also plays shortstop, to be Show-ready.

Needless to say, Chisholm Jr.’s arrival in Queens wouldn’t be like Juan Soto’s back in Dec. 2024 or even Luke Weaver’s signing last free agency. Coming off a head-scratching contract year in 2025, Jazz would have a lot to prove, and his contract will reflect those question marks surrounding him.

Chisholm finally meeting expectations

Regardless, the infielder, who will be 29 next season, has recently found his footing. It took a while, but the results are finally showing for him. Jazz’s hitting improved in August, as he finished the month with a .244 batting average and .703 OPS. He’s off to a hot start to September, too, with a .375 AVG and 1.194 OPS. The sample size is very small, but he is sending the right signals all the same.

If Chisholm can keep his recent performances up, he may enter free agency with a revamped stock. Moreover, if he can perform in the postseason, there’s reason to believe the Bronx Bombers may retain him, as long as Chisholm Jr. wants to stay on a pinstripes uniform.

Throughout the season, Chisholm Jr. has said so little about his plans for free agency that it’s virtually impossible to tell what he wants for his future. It appears he will cross that bridge when he gets to it, and by the time he becomes a UFA, he hopes his name tag also reads “World Series champion” next to it.

Chisholm Jr. has balled out in Queens

As much criticism as Chisholm’s 2026 MLB season can receive, his performances in Queens leave no room for complaints. The Yankees’ infielder put on a show during his visits to Citi Field, as he’s put up a .583 batting average and 1.417 OPS at that venue this year.

Although the Yankees dropped the road series against the Mets 2-1, Chisholm wasn’t to blame. He went 7-for-12 at the plate, recording three runs and driving in two more.

Perhaps in foreshadowing fashion, Citi Field has been where Chisholm Jr. has put up his best numbers on the season. Maybe it’s a sign of what stadium he should call home in MLB, or it may only be that Jazz is meant to torment the cross-Big Apple foes with the Bronx Bombers.

At the beginning of July, Vientos suffered a fracture in his right hand during a game against the Kansas City Royals after being hit by a pitch from starter Michael Wacha. From that point on, he remained sidelined in Queens.

Green now gets his experienced infielder back, giving him a chance to regain his rhythm and playing form down the stretch. The No. 27 wants to return to his best form and shift his focus toward what lies ahead for the Mets.

More changes for the Mets

The Mets’ roster saw another change following a new departure. In this case, and according to announcements from the clubs’ official accounts, Luis Robert Jr. was claimed off waivers, with the Baltimore Orioles becoming his new destination.

The center fielder has been quietly locked in over this past month, putting up a strong .267 AVG across 75 at-bats with some legit pop. He crushed 6 home runs and drove in 11 runs, fueling a heavy .520 SLG and an elite .841 OPS. Backed by a healthy .321 OBP and a 128 wRC+, he’s been making high-impact contact and driving the offense as a well-above-average run producer.

What can Vientos’ return bring to the Mets’ lineup?

Early this season, Mark Vientos was putting up modest numbers, hitting .211 with 11 home runs, 35 RBIs, and a .644 OPS over 73 games. With the Mets gearing up for the stretch run, his return injects much-needed power and versatility at third base, first base, or DH.

If he brings any of that crazy rehab momentum from Triple-A—where he launched five homers in just five games—his bat in the middle of the lineup could be huge for driving in key runs down the stretch.

The Mets’ next challenges

Sitting at a tough 61-76 record and locked into last place in the NL East, the Mets are heading into September looking to finish the year on a high note. Up first, they close out a road trip visiting Tropicana Field to wrap up a series against the Tampa Bay Rays, before returning to Citi Field for a three-game weekend set against the San Francisco Giants.

“I think, definitely belongs in the conversation right now, with the guy who pitched last night for us. I know there’s other good rookies throughout the game,” the interim manager started.

“I think Carson, throughout the year, shows the ability to bounce back from tough moments really well. A really talented hitter, can hit any pitch at any time. Even as he goes through funks, he maintains the right perspective and the right attitude and the right approach.”

From a team standpoint, the Mets’ season has not gone as planned, even with the constant injuries they have dealt with. Still, based on Green’s comments, it appears there is plenty of reason for optimism about the future with Benge’s talent leading the way.

Benge’s outstanding season with the Mets

Carson Benge has been an absolute breath of fresh air in Queens this year, proving he belongs on the big stage from day one. Slashing around .278 with 16 home runs, 54 RBIs, and nearly 20 stolen bases, he’s shown off a rare tool set that separates him from the typical first-year player.

What really sets Benge apart is his elite dual-threat versatility and poise under pressure—ranking near the top of the league in both base-running efficiency and raw outfield arm strength while delivering clutch hits, like his walk-off knock back in May.

Rather than looking like a newcomer adjusting to big-league pitching, he’s stepped right in as a complete, multi-dimensional playmaker that Queens can build around for years to come.

Great appearances this 2026 MLB season

This year’s Rookie of the Year race features standout talent pushing hard down the stretch. In the AL, Kevin McGonigle (Detroit Tigers) leads as an all-around star with elite defense and discipline, challenged by Parker Messick (Cleveland Guardians) and Munetaka Murakami (Chicago White Sox).

Over in the NL, JJ Wetherholt (St. Louis Cardinals) makes his case with Gold Glove-caliber defense and on-base prowess, while Sal Stewart (Cincinnati Reds) counters with heavy run production in the heart of the lineup.

“Seeing how everything is clicking for us, it’s cool to see. It means a lot – not only for this year, but for next year. I’m just really happy about it,” he revealed to the press following his Mets’ convincing 6-2 victory over the Houston Astros.

Dealing with frustration is part of the process while recovering from an injury, and Soto is happy to be back: “It’s really frustrating to be down and not being able to help your team…to not perform out there, have fun with the boys. That keeps me motivated to be out there again.”

Lifting a dismal season for the Mets

Stuck at the bottom of the NL East well behind the division-leading Atlanta Braves with a 61-75 record, the Mets have just 26 games remaining in the regular season and are mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. With the postseason out of reach, New York is using this final stretch to restore pride and evaluate its core before an off-season reset.

Rather than tearing everything down, the front office plans to re-tool around their core stars—headlined by Juan Soto, Bo Bichette, and Francisco Lindor—aiming to fix roster depth, stabilize pitching, and build a competitive lineup capable of bouncing back in 2027.

Mets want to finish the season on a high note

The Mets wrap up a three-game series against the Houston Astros on August 30 at Citi Field before embarking on an important stretch of games. They hit the road to face the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field from August 31 to September 2, return home for a three-game set against the San Francisco Giants from September 4 to 6, and then travel south to take on the Miami Marlins at loanDepot park from September 7 to 9.

Following the mid-season firing of manager Carlos Mendoza, the team is focused on steadying the ship, avoiding a complete collapse, and finishing an otherwise disappointing campaign on a dignified note.

“The family consideration is real,” Green said. “We’re all trying to do the best we can balancing career and family, my twins have one year left in high school, I want to be present as much as possible, like any dad would.”

For most, family takes priority, and Green made his choice clear. Still, situations can change, and the Mets still have plenty of ground to cover before the end of the regular season.

In the meantime, New York is working to diagnose its issues from this season to position the roster for a rebound, with leadership looking to key contributors to set the tone for the team’s younger players, like Bo Bichette.

Mets’ decisions so far

Beyond evaluating Green’s role with the organization moving forward, the Mets have already confirmed that President of Baseball Operations David Stearns will remain in place, a point owner Steve Cohen recently reinforced.

While the front office has yet to issue official announcements regarding individual player futures, the upcoming offseason will be critical for restructuring and upgrading the roster.

Though this campaign won’t end as hoped, with the Mets sitting at the bottom of the NL East, fans are eagerly awaiting upcoming decisions regarding both the roster and the coaching staff as the organization retools for a postseason run next year.

“I see potential in them that they could be really great players for a long time. They’ve already shown they are good players. But they could be great players for a long time. I really just want to be a small part in their journey toward becoming those players,” Bichette stated via The Athletic‘s Will Sammon.

Bichette also added: “As the season has gone on, the more time I spend here, the more I feel like a Met. They’re a huge part of the future here, and I just want what’s best for them.”

It’s clear that things didn’t go as expected for the Mets this season. However, judging by Bo Bichette’s comments, there are still plenty of reasons for optimism. Will Benge and Ewing become the faces of the franchise in the near future?

Mets rookies have made a statement this season

Even in what’s been a rough 2026 campaign for the Mets, the emergence of Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing has given Queens plenty of reason for optimism. Benge has stepped up nicely as a major-league regular, posting a .282 average alongside 16 home runs, 53 RBIs, 19 stolen bases, and a .342 OBP over 476 at-bats.

Meanwhile, Ewing has shown impressive flashes of his toolset with a .244 average, 7 homers, 28 RBIs, and 41 runs scored through 89 games. With their blend of hit tools, athleticism, and early poise at the highest level, many around the organization already view this young duo as core pillars of the franchise’s future.

Will Bichette remain with Mets?

Bo Bichette is under contract with the Mets on a 3-year, $126 million deal he signed prior to the season ($42M AAV). However, his deal features an opt-out clause after this 2026 campaign, leaving his future in Queens somewhat up in the air.

While he has publicly stated how much he’s enjoying his time with the team, whether he actually suits up for the Mets next season hinges entirely on his decision this winter: he can either exercise his opt-out to test free agency again or stay put to collect the remaining $84 million on his contract over the next two years.

“[The Yankees] play the Mets on Sept. 11-13, it’s not an unimportant weekend for a variety of reasons, including the 25th anniversary of 9/11, the Yankees and Mets are playing that Friday. If I had to set an over under, I would set it the day before against Colorado on September 10th,” Joel Sherman stated on the New York Post’s Pinstripe Post podcast.

Most reports surrounding Judge point to September as the month when the star outfielder is finally activated from the 60-day injured list (IL). Thus, the Subway Series against the Mets at home from Sept. 11-13 could make a lot of sense for Judge’s first game back in MLB action. The three-time MVP hasn’t played since May 31.

Circling the series opener against the Mets on Sept. 11 for Judge’s long-awaited return might be a deliberate decision by the Yankees, adding yet another layer to an already emotionally charged fixture for both teams and the league as a whole. Judge could be back at the plate a day earlier, however.

NY Yankees could use Judge as DH

As suggested by Sherman, Judge could be activated from the IL and serve as the designated hitter for the series finale against the Colorado Rockies on Sept. 10. That way, the Yankees could get Judge back in action while avoiding a setback by keeping him out of the garden.

It would be fitting. In fact, it’s almost expected at this point. Not that Judge will return as a DH on Sept. 10, but that he will be exclusively a batter in his first game back from a stress fracture in his first right rib. Just like Aaron Boone disclosed Ryan Weathers’ potential new role, Judge could have a temporary new job, too.

That was the case when Judge was activated from a 10-day IL stint last season. When Judge returned from a flexor tendon strain in his right elbow in August 2025, his first lineup appearance was as a DH, and that followed only a 10-day absence. Judge has been sidelined for 85 days—and counting—since being placed on the IL this time around, so it’s safe to assume the Yankees will be even more cautious in his first game back.

Judge expected back soon

Whether it will be against the Mets, Rockies, or a different team entirely, on Sept. 10, 11, or another date with little to no special meaning remains to be seen. One thing is clear, though: barring a disaster, Judge will be back this season.

Given how this year has gone for the Pinstripers on the medical front, that’s all the fans in the Bronx want to hear. They will wait for Judge to return as long as it takes. As long as he’s back and has some games under his belt by October, the Bronx Bombers can afford to stay patient.

According to OptaSTATS, Tatis became the first MLB player since Mike Cameron in 2002 to hit multiple home runs and rob a grand slam in the very same game. Twenty-four years later, Tatis reminded the baseball world of his unmatched ability to dominate on both sides of the ball.

Amid an up-and-down regular season for San Diego, Tatis’ heroic play has served as the anchor for a squad determined to secure a NL Wild Card berth, especially with the division-leading Los Angeles Dodgers setting a blistering pace atop the NL West at 76-51.

Even as trade rumors swirl around potential deadline targets like Mason Miller, the Padres already possess the ultimate game-changer in Tatis to spearhead another deep October postseason push.

Comparing Tatis Jr.’s pre- and post-All-Star splits

The numbers back up what the eye test clearly shows: Tatis has elevated his game to an MVP-caliber level since mid-July. His stark contrast in offensive production before and after the All-Star break highlights just how hot he has been at the plate.

A closer look at the split comparison reveals a dramatic surge in power and productivity:

• Pre All-Star Break
  • .714 OPS
  • 5 HR in 372 AB (1 HR every 74.4 AB)
• Post All-Star Break
  • 1.016 OPS
  • 10 HR in 114 AB (1 HR every 11.4 AB)

Moving forward, the Padres will rely heavily on Tatis to keep his hot hand going as San Diego wraps up its critical home series against the Mets before welcoming the Minnesota Twins to town this weekend.

“I’m committed to David… we’re going to move forward. I thought we had a great trade deadline. David is smart. He knows what he’s doing. He’s very adaptable. He learns from mistakes. That’s what I want in a leader,” Cohen recently revealed to the press.

It is clear that the Mets need to take matters into their own hands, including determining Andy Green’s future with the team. With next season already in mind, it appears that Stearns has his place secured in Queens.

Stearns’ numbers with the Mets

Since taking over as the Mets’ President of Baseball Operations in October 2023, Stearns led the front office through a dramatic 2024 turnaround, orchestrating a roster that posted an 89–73 regular-season record (a 14-game improvement from 2023) and advanced all the way to the National League Championship Series (NLCS).

However, his sophomore campaign in 2025 saw a step backward as the club finished 83–79, missing the postseason by a single game. Combined across his first two full regular seasons (2024–2025), Stearns built a total record of 172–152 (.531 winning percentage) and a 6–7 playoff record with the franchise.

The challenges of adapting to MLB

This season failed to meet expectations for a team that decided to part ways with Carlos Mendoza midway through the year. The additions of Bo Bichette, Jorge Polanco, Luke Weaver and others were not enough to turn things around, and the adjustment period may have played a key role, according to Cohen.

“It’s not easy to come to New York with a big media presence and lots of eyes on you. It’s not easy to change teams in general,” he said.

“It’s my expectation that he returns to the front office,” Stearns said during his press conference regarding Green returning to player development role. “I think he’s done a great job here. It helps that he had that familiarity with some of those players that have come through our system.”

Green has taken the team on his shoulders since taking over in Queens. With the Mets sitting last in the NL East, it may be a matter of starting fresh and seeing what the future holds for the franchise next season.

Are there candidates to take over the Mets in 2027?

While there are still several games left to be played before this season comes to an end, the truth is that the Mets have already shifted their focus, in some ways, toward what lies ahead. And, as a main priority, they will need to determine who could take over as manager in Queens.

One of the names emerging as a leading candidate to take over the job in 2027 is Hall of Famer Carlos Beltran, who currently serves as a special assistant to David Stearns. It will be a matter of waiting until the end of the season to see who will ultimately be chosen.

Green improved on Mendoza’s numbers

Andy Green has somehow managed to turn around the Mets’ season after what had been a very difficult stretch under Carlos Mendoza. The interim manager currently has a 22-22 record, while Mendoza had a 34-47 record at the time of his firing.

What’s next for the Mets?

The New York Mets host the San Diego Padres at Citi Field through August 19 before heading out for a three-game series against the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field from August 21 to 23. Afterwards, they return to Queens to open a three-game home stand against the Milwaukee Brewers starting August 25.

That was made clear as the 22-year-old issued a powerful and honest statement about his recent outings. Instead of searching for excuses, the former fourth-round selection in the 2023 MLB Draft vowed to improve and promised results to interim manager Andy Green and the devoted fanbase in Queens.

“I am not enthusiastic with how the results have been recently, but I am more than uber-confident that I am going to turn it around and I am going to finish the year how I am going to finish,” Ewing stated, via the New York Post.

Ewing’s first year in the Show

Selected with the 134th overall selection in the 2023 MLB Draft, Ewing patiently waited for his opportunity with the Mets. Finally, he made his debut in the Show on May 12, 2026, when New York blew the Detroit Tigers out of the water by a score of 10-2.

Ewing had one hit and two runs in his debut. Since then, Ewing has had his ups and downs, but particularly in August, his production has hit a big bump in the road. Still, the young center fielder expects to turn things up a notch soon and end the season on a bright note, albeit any postseason dream is already completely crushed for the Orange and Blue.

Ewing’s stats so far

Leaving this past month out of the equation, Ewing has batter at .265 with a .338 OBP, .399 SLG, and .737 OPS. However, his numbers so far in August bring Ewing’s stats down considerably. As a result, Ewing now averages .255 on the season, along with a .326 OBP, .386 SLG, and .712 OPS through 82 games with the Mets.