The designated hitter spot is one of the positions that the Mets have struggled to get consistent production out of since it became a full-time spot in the National League in 2022. Outside of the second half and playoff run from Jesse Winker in 2024, the Mets have not extracted enough value from having an additional hitter in the lineup.
This winter presents an option that could provide elite production at the DH spot in the second-best pure DH in the sport (behind Shohei Ohtani) — free agent slugger Kyle Schwarber.
In 2025, Schwarber slashed .240/.365/.563 (.928 OPS), was second in baseball with 56 home runs, and led baseball in runs batted in with 132. He was named an MVP finalist along with Ohtani and Juan Soto.
Despite turning 33 years old before the 2026 season begins, Schwarber should still have a healthy market. Most projections indicate he could be looking at a four-year deal, potentially reaching five years, with an average annual value in the neighborhood of $30-32 million per season.
Here are the pros and cons of New York signing Schwarber…
PROS
Over the last four seasons, Schwarber has not hit fewer than 38 home runs and has exceeded 45 in three of those four. He is tied with Ohtani for second in baseball in home runs during that stretch with 187, trailing only Aaron Judge. Simply put, he is one of the most prolific power hitters in the sport.
As mentioned above, the Mets' primary designated hitters since 2022 have been names like Daniel Vogelbach, Darin Ruf, Winker, and Starling Marte. Schwarber would step right in and be a significant value add at the position.
If the Mets were to make a huge swing at Schwarber, it could allow president of baseball operations David Stearns to pursue his plan of improving the team’s defense. If that meant Pete Alonso departing as a free agent, the Mets would at least have the power that they’d be losing covered with Schwarber.
Beyond the baseline statistics, if you look under the hood, it might even be better.
Schwarber’s Baseball Savant page is mostly lit up red like Christmas lights. He was in the 98th percentile in average exit velocity, 99th percentile in barrel percentage, 100th percentile in hard hit rate, 98th percentile in bat speed, and 97th percentile in walk percentage. Pretty good.
CONS
The power numbers are gaudy, and the walks along with them help raise Schwarber’s floor.
I am personally not the biggest batting average proponent you will meet, but extremes in any category matter. The last two years, Schwarber has settled into hitting in the .240s, which would be perfectly fine in combination with his walk rate and power.
However, in 2022 and 2023, he hit .218 and .197, respectively, and he is a career .231 hitter. If the Mets are confident in the adjustments he has made over the last two years, that would work.
But if Schwarber is hitting near the Mendoza line and striking out at nearly a 30 percent clip while tied up to a long-term, big money contract, that won’t be received quite as well.
With Schwarber being essentially a position-less, full-time DH, it allows for zero flexibility to give Alonso or other players days as a DH unless you are sitting Schwarber.
Looking beyond 2026, is there a point in the next four to five years that Brandon Nimmo needs to be more of a DH? How about Soto? Ultimately, it would be a commitment that going forward, Schwarber is the DH and those two are in the corner outfield as they continue to age.
It is Stearns’ job to be pragmatic and operate in what he believes is in the best interest of the organization, but it would be naïve to think there is zero emotion attached to decisions that are made. Is he going to be willing to give a big contract to Schwarber that he could potentially just bring Alonso back for?
VERDICT
Unlike with Munetaka Murakami, who can play a couple of positions, I think Schwarber only makes sense if the Mets do not re-sign Alonso.
If Alonso continues to seek the reported seven-year type of deal, then a pivot to Schwarber makes a lot more sense. If not Alonso or Schwarber, the Mets may struggle to land a proven slugger this offseason. That would make the lineup just feel light, even if there are other pivots.
One of the big things to consider is timing.
It is realistic to predict Alonso’s free agency to last beyond the new year or maybe even into February. Schwarber’s market is likely much more defined, and a decision by the Mets to pivot would likely have to be made in the next few weeks.
Much like I believe the Mets cannot exit this offseason without a frontline starter, I don’t believe they can come out of it without a thumper in the lineup.
If Alonso is going to hold out and be patient, the Mets may not be able to have the same patience that they did last winter. And wouldn’t it be a statement move to pull Schwarber away from the division rival Phillies?
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