For several weeks now, the New York Mets have been operating with a clear focus on the future. Since the trade deadline passed, attention has shifted away from what certain players can provide immediately and toward determining who could have a role with the club in 2027. Young players such as Nate Lavender have started to draw interest, while veterans like Sean Manaea have occasionally shown enough to suggest they could still contribute next season.
At the same time, several players remain stuck in the minor leagues. Cristian Pache, Christopher Morel, Robert Stock, and others have received occasional opportunities, but a handful of players continue to wait for their chance. The Mets haven’t necessarily done anything outrageous by keeping them down, but with the season winding down, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to justify delaying their opportunities.
After spending much of August evaluating different options, the Mets appear to be nearing the end of their tryout period. That makes it even more important for the organization to give three remaining minor leaguers a chance to show what they can offer before the offseason arrives.
These Mets players should get their 2027 auditions sooner rather than later
Jonah Tong’s development has taken a noticeable step backward this season. The right-hander has posted a 4.86 ERA over 100 innings and 22 starts. He could potentially make one more Triple-A appearance before receiving a September call-up, but there doesn’t seem to be much reason to keep waiting.
Robert Stock has essentially served as depth, and while his story and intelligence are certainly appealing, the Mets don’t need to keep giving him opportunities at the expense of evaluating Tong.
Tong has appeared in only three games for New York this season. After being promoted too quickly in 2025, the current state of the Mets makes this an ideal opportunity to see how he handles major league competition again. The organization shouldn’t enter the offseason still wondering whether Tong can realistically become part of its rotation. They need to get a better answer before winter arrives.
Nick Morabito may never wear No. 8 for the Mets again, but what he should be wearing is a major league uniform.
His short stint with New York in May was extremely difficult, and his minor league production hasn’t exactly forced the organization to call him back up. Entering Friday’s game, Morabito was hitting .256/.355/.384 with 12 home runs and 41 stolen bases.
Still, with the Mets increasingly focused on building for 2027, giving Morabito another opportunity at the major league level could provide valuable information about whether he belongs in their future plans.
Morabito deserves a major league opportunity for many of the same reasons as Tong. He appears to be a natural candidate to replace Tyrone Taylor, bringing a right-handed bat, plenty of speed, and the defensive ability to handle the outfield. If he can consistently hit left-handed pitching, he could even give the Mets another option in center field if A.J. Ewing has difficulty against certain matchups.
Considering the Mets’ current situation, there is little justification for continuing to rely on journeymen throughout August when a player like Morabito is available. Even if his playing time were limited, giving him regular exposure to major league competition could provide the organization with much more useful information heading into 2027.
Zach Franklin entered Friday’s action carrying a 3.24 ERA across seven appearances with the Syracuse Mets. That’s a significant improvement from his Triple-A performance with the Chicago White Sox and has brought his overall season ERA down to 4.19.
His strikeout numbers haven’t been particularly impressive, while his walk rate has climbed somewhat. Still, those issues shouldn’t be enough to prevent the Mets from taking a closer look, especially given that Franklin is 27 years old and eligible for the Rule 5 Draft.
The biggest factor potentially keeping Franklin in the minors could be the uncertainty surrounding whether a Rule 5 Draft will even take place this offseason because of the Collective Bargaining Agreement’s expiration. Once Franklin is placed on the 40-man roster, he could become ineligible to play in the minor leagues next season if Major League Baseball games are not being played.
Beyond that concern, however, there is a strong argument for giving Franklin a chance against major league hitters before the 2026 season ends. The Mets need as much information as possible about their potential 2027 roster, and Franklin is another player who deserves an audition.
