First off, I’m going to ignore the upcoming labor negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement.  I fully expect there will be a lockout come December 3rd.  Will we miss games in 2027?  That’s harder to determine, but I’m 100% positive there will be a lockout.  This article however, will ignore all that.  I’m going to pretend (for the purposes of this article) that 2027 will come off like any other season, and we have the full slate of off season activities.  Having said that..

Here’s my thoughts on the status of the roster as it is set up at the end of the season.  What I think will happen with guys on the 40 man roster, what their contract status is, and my own thoughts as to whether they’ll be back or not.

Additionally, the pending CBA could change things like number of years till a player becomes eligible for arbitration and how many years till free agency, so that could change.  But for this article, I’m writing about it using the conditions as they are right now.

It’s a simple concept (really), so here goes…

Section 1: The Locks

These guys are under contract for 2027, and unless someone gets hit by a bus or randomly decides to retire, they’ll be here in 2027.  That list is…

• Jacob DeGrom – Signed through 2027 ($37m) with a 2028 club option (I think is either $20 or $30m, unknown buyout).  We tried to trade him, but he wanted to stay, so he’s staying.  I suppose they could always revisit a trade, but I find that unlikely.
• Corey Seager – Signed through 2031 ($31m annually).  Has limited no trade.  There was a lot of noise about trading him this past trading deadline (from fans), but he’ll be back next year.
• Nathan Eovaldi – Signed through 2027 ($20m).  Could we extend him further?  Possibly, but my guess is they don’t talk about that until after CBA is settled.
• Brandon Nimmo – Signed through 2030 ($20.25m annually).  Has full no trade, which he was paid $1m by the Mets to allow the trade.
• Danny Jansen – Signed through 2027 with 2028 mutual option.  He made $3.5m in 26, will make $7.25m in 27, and there’s a mutual option for 2028 at $8m (w/ a $2.5m buyout).  He’ll be back in 2027.

Section 2: Choices to be made

• Joc Pederson – His original deal was for 2 years (25, 26) plus a 1 year mutual option (at $18.5m – same salary as 2026).  If you had asked me a year ago, I would have said no way – he’s gone.  But based on the way 2026 went, I could easily see them picking up the option and bringing him back in 2027.
• Kyle Higashioka – Had a 2 year  contract (2025/26) plus a 2027 option.  The 2027 option is a mutual at $7 with a $1m buyout.  My guess is they buy him out.  He’s been “ok”, but not a world beater.  Would hate to lose him as he’s a metalhead.  His favorite band is Iron Maiden. #UpTheIrons
• Jakob Junis – Signed through 2026 (at $2.75m) with a mutual 2027 option (at $5m). Given our pen status, I say he’ll be back.
• Jalen Beeks – Signed through 2026 (at $1.6m).  He’s a FA after the season.  My gut says we don’t bring him back.
• Jordan Montgomery – Signed through 2026 (at $1.25m). He’s a FA after the season.  I’m on the fence here.  I think him returning in 2027 might depend on what else we do.
• Tyler Alexander – Signed through 2026 (at $1.125m).  He’s a FA after the season.  I’d say we’ll bring him back.
• Elias Diaz – signed through 2026 (at $2m).  He’s a FA after the season.  We need to do better at catcher, I doubt he comes back.
• Cal Quantrill – signed through 2026 (at $1.1m). He’s a FA after the season.  When we signed him I was against the signing, but he’s been darned good for us in ’26.  My vote is bring him back for next year for sure, maybe even a 2 year deal?
• Alejandro Osuna – much beloved by the fans.  International free agent when signed, so not subject to the arb system.  99% sure he’ll be back.
• Winston Santos – on 40 man.  Another international FA when signed. Unclear where they’ll go with this one.

Section 3: They’ll be back (arb)

These guys are currently under the salary arbitration part of their years.  This means that they’ll be back, unless the team decides to just cut them loose (or trade them).  That usually doesn’t happen.  I don’t think of these guys as “locks”, but are more than likely going to be back.

• MacKenzie Gore – made $5.6m in 2026.  He has one more year of arbitration (2027), and then he’s a FA in 28.  Given what we gave up to get him, and his overall upside, they’ll pay him to be back in 2027, no doubt.
• Jake Burger – made $3.2m in 2026.  He’s arb eligible through 2028, and not a FA till 29.  He’ll be back.
• Josh Jung – made $2.9m in 2026. He’s arb eligible through 2028, and not a FA till 29.  He’ll be back – I suspect.  Although how much longer they’ll put up with injuries is a question.
• Ezequiel Duran – made $1.375m in 2026. He’s arb eligible through 2028, and not a FA till 29.  He’ll be back.  Also wouldn’t shock me if he gets a fairly substantial bump in salary too – if not a flat out extension buying out some FA years.
• Wyatt Langford – made $805k in 2026 in his least year of team control.  2027 is his first year of arbitration – not a FA till 2030.  He’ll be back 100%.
• Robert Garcia – made $800.5k in 2026 in his least year of team control.  2027 is his first year of arbitration – not a FA till 2030.  He’ll be back 100%.  I know fans don’t like him, but we traded for him BECAUSE of the team control.  He’s not going anywhere.
• Jake Latz – made $793.5k in 2026 in his least year of team control.  2027 is his first year of arbitration – not a FA till 2030.  Given his closer status now, I suspect he’ll make a couple of million in 2027.
• Cody Bradford – made $793k in 2026 in his least year of team control.  2027 is his first year of arbitration – not a FA till 2030.  When he’s on the field, he’s done well.  Just needs to stay there.
• Evan Carter – made $791.5k in 2026 in his least year of team control.  2027 is his first year of arbitration – not a FA till 2030.  He’ll be back, but could find himself passed in the pecking order if he doesn’t take a step forward.
• Logan O’Hoppe – signed through 2026 (at $2.62m).  His second year of arb is 2027.  Before he came up, I didn’t want him to, but now I’m all for it.  Big turnaround for me.

Section 4: They’ll be back (no choice)

These guys here are currently under the full team control.  They have no choice in what they make or anything, they just take what the team gives them.  Assuming the team doesn’t just cut them loose (which can always happen).

Additionally, when I say “back” that means on the 40 man roster.  Whether they play in the bigs or AAA is another story – the kind of thing that gets worked out in spring training.

• Jack Leiter – made $794k in 2026. He’s not arb eligible until 2028.
• Kumar Rocker – made $789k in 2026. He’s not arb eligible until 2029.
• Justin Foscue – made $1.2m in 2026.  Not arb eligible until ??? – although seemed to do much better this year. He’ll be back for sure, probably on big league club too.
• Nicky Lopez – made $663k in a split contract this year.  Fair amount of time in bigs – he’ll be back, probably with big club.
• Cole Winn – made $788k in 2026.  He’s not arb eligible until 2028.
• Chase Silseth – made ??? in 2026.  He’s not arb eligible until 2028.
• Cody Freeman – made $785k in 2026.  Not arb eligible until ???
• Adam Macko – made ??? in 2026.  Not arb eligible until ??? – likely back just because of team control issue.
• Robby Ahlstrom – made major league debut this year.  Fared decently enough. He’ll be back.
• Cameron Cauley – made major league debut this year.  He’ll be back.
• Gavin Collyer – made major league debut this year.  He’ll be back.
• Peyton Grey – made major league debut this year.  He’ll be back.
• Jose Corniell – pitched only two games in majors, but not arb eligible. He’ll be back – likely in AAA.
• Ben Peoples – made major league debut this year.  He’ll be back – likely in AAA tho.
• Emolio Teodo – made major league debut this year – pitching a single game (17 Jul).  He’s on the 40 man, so easy AAA assignment there.
• Michael Helman – played 15 games in bigs this year, but not since Jun 13.  Not arb eligible yet, could re-sign, but could also see us cutting him loose.  Hard to say.
• Carter Baumler – made $780k in 2026.  He’s a Rule V guy and since he’s been hurt most of the season, I’m pretty sure that we keep him in 2027, but still have the “have to keep him in the majors rule”.  Would have to confirm that, tho.
• David Davallilo – in minors all year, but on 40 man.  He’ll be back – in AAA.
• Leandro Lopez – in minors all year, but on 40 man.  He’ll be back – in AAA.

I’m pretty sure I covered everyone, but if there’s someone I’ve missed, let me know.