Before the Mets traded Brandon Nimmo to the Rangers for Marcus Semien — a move that will lead to aftershocks for New York as the offseason progresses — there was no question about what their left field plan was going to be for 2026.
It was going to be Nimmo, who had five seasons left on his contract.
Yes, there was a possibility Nimmo could've been asked to serve as the designated hitter more than he had in prior seasons (he spent a grand total of four games at DH in 2025). But he probably would've been in left field nearly every day, with Juan Soto in right field.
Now, the possibilities are endless — not just when it comes to who the Mets turn to in left field, but who might be brought in to play center.
It's possible New York goes internal in the outfield in both left and center, but that would be a relatively risky proposition.
Regarding left field specifically, how could the Mets address it?
Let's break it down…
The Internal Candidates
The second the Nimmo deal became official, things got more interesting for top Mets outfield prospect Carson Benge.
When Nimmo was still in the fold, Benge was viewed by president of baseball operations David Stearns as someone who could break camp as the starting center fielder. Now, he could possibly be looked at as an option to start in left field instead.
Benge played all over the outfield last season in the minors, spending 67 games in center, 26 games in right, and 22 games in left.
Whether Benge opens the season with the Mets or gets some more time with Triple-A Syracuse, he is expected to play a big role in 2026. And what New York decides to do with Benge could also have an impact on fellow prospect Jett Williams.
Williams might profile better as a second baseman (the spot now blocked by Semien) than a center fielder, so it's possible New York decides to shift Williams to center full time in 2026 in preparation for him to make that his long-term home. That could pave the way for a Mets outfield at some point next season of Benge, Williams, and Soto from left to right.
However, the possibility also exists that Williams is traded this offseason — perhaps as part of a deal for a top-of-the-rotation starting pitcher.
There's also the case of Jeff McNeil, who could also possibly get dealt. But when speaking about him following the Nimmo trade, Stearns said he had spoken to McNeil after it went down — saying the infielder/outfielder was on board with what New York was doing.
McNeil could theoretically be a left field option for 2026. However, given his offensive profile, it's hard to envision New York turning to him there on a regular or even semi-regular basis unless they make a big center field addition.
The presence of Tyrone Taylor could also have a big impact when it comes to what the Mets do in left. In a world where Taylor is the starting center fielder at the start of the season, it likely means either Benge or an external acquisition is in left.
The External Candidates
The two who immediately come to mind are Kyle Tucker and Cody Bellinger.
Tucker is the crown jewel of the free agent position player market. A relatively young star (he'll be entering his age-29 season in 2026) who controls the strike zone at an elite level and whose Baseball Savant page lights up red, the expectation is that he will get a massive deal this offseason.
Whether Tucker lands something in the range of 10 years remains to be seen, but it will take a huge payday to snag him — especially with the Blue Jays and Dodgers possibly among his top suitors.
The Mets certainly have the wherewithal and open spot for Tucker, but whether they're prepared to hand out another megadeal after giving one to Soto last offseason remains to be seen.
Bellinger will cost a lot less than Tucker, but is still expected to be handsomely paid.
In addition to being able to play all three outfield positions, Bellinger would also give the Mets a first base option — something that would be huge in the event they re-sign Pete Alonsobut ask him to DH a lot of the time.
Another thing to consider with Bellinger is that while his struggles in 2021 and 2022 seem like an aberration, there are some underlying concerns regarding his offensive production.
One of those concerns? Bellinger slashed .302/.365/.544 (.909 OPS) at the hitter's haven that is Yankee Stadium in 2025. On the road, he hit just .241/.301/.414 (.715 OPS).
There aren't many strong fits on the free agent market beyond Tucker and Bellinger, but there is one very intriguing one who could be available via trade — Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran.
Duran, who is entering his age-29 season, has been a very strong offensive performer for Boston over the last three seasons, slashing .276/.339/.471 (.810 OPS).
In 157 games last season, Duran filled up the stat sheet, smacking 41 doubles, 16 home runs, and 13 triples, while swiping 24 bases.
He strikes out at a high clip and his defense has been up and down (elite in 2024, poor in 2025), but Duran — who will make $7.7 million in 2026 and is under team control through 2028 — is the kind of player it would make a lot of sense for New York to pursue.
