The Mets have completed a very disappointing 2026 season. Despite spring training expectations of a playoff spot and even a division title, they finished at the bottom of the NL East. Untimely injuries to stars Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor are one reason. The true reason was underperformance by key offseason acquisitions: pitcher Freddy Peralta and hitters Luis Robert and Jorge Polanco didn’t live up to their billing, and now all three appear to be off the team in 2027. An early-season 12-game losing streak was the first sign of a failed season and ultimately hampered any playoff aspirations. That losing streak doomed the Mets, but even in the gloom and doom, a few bright spots emerged. Rookie outfielders Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing emerged as a dynamic duo of speed, timely offense, and gold-glove-level defense. Paired with young pitchers Nolan McLean, Christian Scott, Jonah Tong, and Zac Thornton, the Mets’ future appears to be in good hands. Now, the focus is on combining that future with the two stars in Soto and Lindor and adding solid depth and complementary players in the offseason.