The Mets face a pivotal offseason: balance defense and offense without gutting a potent core. Nimmo could be a payroll lever, while Lindor's sometimes shaky defense creates a trade/position-change debate. Alonso and Soto anchor the lineup, with internal options like Vientos and McNeil in the fringe. The plan centers on improving run prevention and defensive leverage rather than an all-out rebuild.

The path forward aims to keep Alonso-Soto intact, shore up the infield defense, and possibly deploy a defensive DH. Expect gradual roster reshaping—moving a core piece or two if it unlocks defensive upgrades—while preserving enough offense to contend in 2025.