MLB insider reveals Mets at center of ‘juiciest rumor’ as free agency heats up

With the Winter Meetings starting Sunday, the Mets are at the center of what ESPN MLB insider Buster Olney described as the “juiciest rumor.”

They could make a play for free agent designated hitter and outfielder Kyle Schwarber, according to Olneyafter hitting free agency after four seasons – with at least 38 home runs in each – with the Phillies.

Olney also reported that even if the Mets don’t think they can top Philadelphia’s offer to land the 32-year-old slugger, they could at least turn it into a bidding war, as the Braves did before the Phillies ultimately gave starting pitcher Aaron Nola a seven-year, $172 million deal.

If the Mets were to land Schwarber, it would boost the lineup already featuring Juan Soto (.263 average, .921 OPS) and give Carlos Mendoza’s command a new threat to not only launch home runs, but simply get on base — with Schwarber and Soto recording 108 and walking 127 in the league, respectively, in 2025.

The Mets may also need to replace Pete Alonso’s bat in the lineup if he leaves in free agency, and they have already begun to retool their lineup after a campaign in which they missed the playoffs — trading Brandon Nimmo to the Rangers in exchange for Marcus Semien, who is seen as an infielder who could also help their clubhouse.

Olney also described Schwarber as “someone who works to bring players together.”

ESPN reported last month that the Pirates are also seen as a potential option for Schwarber.

Schwarber, a former Cubs first-round pick who made his MLB debut in 2015, spent the first six years of his career in Chicago before spending part of a season with the Nationals, part of a season with the Red Sox and the final four with the Phillies.

While in Philadelphia, Schwarber remained a fixture at or near the top of a lineup that also included Trea Turner and Bryce Harper, anchoring playoff runs and laying the foundation for what would become a productive offense.

Schwarber led the National League with 56 home runs in 2025, while also driving in an MLB-high 132 runs.

In the aftermath of the Phillies’ season-ending loss in Game 4 of the NLDS, Schwarber asked a question about feeling like he might be playing his last game for the franchise, and to begin an emotional response, he said, “It doesn’t feel good, you know?”

“You just build a lot of different relationships in the clubhouse,” Schwarber told reporters at the time, “and you never know how it’s going to work out, right? You just build so many personal relationships with guys, and you know, how much time do you spend with these guys, you know, over the course of a year? And they become family.”