The Mets continue to overhaul their roster for 2026.
One day after slugger Kyle Tucker spurned the Mets’ offer and signed with the back-to-back World Series champion Dodgers, New York agreed to sign infielder Bo Bichette to a three-year contract worth $126 million last Friday.
On Tuesday night, the Amazins traded for White Sox centerfielder Luis Robert Jr., a high-upside slugger who has struggled in Chicago over the last two years, dealing infielder Luisangel Acuña and minor league pitcher Truman Pauley. And on Wednesday, New York added the front-end starter that the rotation has been missing, trading for Brewers ace Freddy Peralta in a move that sends top prospects Jett Williams and Brandon Sproat to Milwaukee.
The 27-year-old Bichette fills a big hole in the Mets’ lineup after the team lost power-hitting phenom Pete Alonso to the Orioles in free agency. Bichette, a two-time All-Star, rebounded from a rough year in 2024 and batted .311/.357/.483 with 18 homers in 139 games last season for the Blue Jays. He missed most of September and the first two rounds of Toronto’s playoff run due to a knee injury before returning for the World Series and batting 8-for-23 (.348) with four walks, one homer and six RBIs against the Dodgers.
Bichette, who has been a shortstop his entire career, will likely slide over to third base in New York with Francisco Lindor occuping short at Citi Field. That puts Brett Baty and Mark Vientos, who split time at third base last year alongside utility man Ronny Mauricio, either on the trade block or platooning in the lineup.
Robert will slot in at centerfield, where he won a Gold Glove in 2020 and remains a strong defender. While he’s struggled at the plate for Chicago, he is just two years removed from a 38-home run season, capturing the Silver Slugger in ‘23.
Peralta should become the top arm in New York’s rotation, filling the franchise’s most significant remaining hole.
Elsewhere in the lineup, the Mets also traded longtime outfielder Brandon Nimmo to the Rangers in exchange for Marcus Semien, and signed switch-hitter Jorge Polanco to likely take over at first base.
There’s still plenty of offseason left to work things out, but here is how the Mets’ Opening Day lineup could look like (as of Jan. 16):
Mets’ projected Opening Day lineup (vs. RHP)
| ORDER | PLAYER | POS |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Francisco Lindor | SS |
| 2 | Juan Soto | RF |
| 3 | Bo Bichette | 3B |
| 4 | Jorge Polanco | 1B |
| 5 | Marcus Semien | 2B |
| 6 | Brett Baty | DH |
| 7 | Francisco Alvarez | C |
| 8 | Luis Robert Jr. | CF |
| 9 | Carson Benge | LF |
Mets’ projected Opening Day lineup (vs. LHP)
| ORDER | PLAYER | POS |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Francisco Lindor | SS |
| 2 | Juan Soto | RF |
| 3 | Bo Bichette | 3B |
| 4 | Jorge Polanco | 1B |
| 5 | Marcus Semien | 2B |
| 6 | Luis Robert Jr. | CF |
| 7 | Mark Vientos | DH |
| 8 | Francisco Alvarez | C |
| 9 | Tyrone Taylor | LF |
Mets’ projected starting rotation
| ROLE | PITCHER |
|---|---|
| SP1 | Freddy Peralta |
| SP2 | Nolan McLean |
| SP3 | David Peterson |
| SP4 | Clay Holmes |
| SP5 | Sean Manaea |
More MLB on Sports Illustrated
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- Mets Acquire All-Star Pitcher Freddy Peralta From Brewers in Latest Blockbuster Move
- Why Bo Bichette Decided to Sign With Mets Over Other Offers
- Cardinals Hire Franchise Legend Yadier Molina to New Role With Team
- Cody Bellinger’s Return Still Doesn’t Move the Needle for the Yankees
This article was originally published on www.si.com as Mets’ Projected Opening Day Lineup After Trades for Luis Robert, Freddy Peralta.
