New York Mets lock in Kai Correa as bench coach for 2026 and promote Jeff Albert to director of Major League hitting, signaling a rapid, data-driven rebuild under David Stearns. Correa brings elite defensive analytics and infield teaching; Albert translates minor league scouting into big-league hitting prep. The hires came with zero leaks, underscoring Stearns’s preference for stealth and speed. Gold Glove finalists Torrens and Peterson highlight Mets defensive emphasis, while Soto and Lindor show mixed defensive marks. Rookie Tong and catcher Alvarez add intriguing winter notes as the organization presses ahead.

Max Fried headlines the AL Gold Glove finalists after leading MLB pitchers with 10 defensive runs saved and 39 assists in his first season with the Yankees, edging Jacob deGrom and Luis Severino for the trio. In the NL, Ryan McMahon anchors the infield after joining the Yankees midseason, with Ke’Bryan Hayes and Matt Shaw also in the mix at third. Catcher Luis Torrens heads the Mets’ catching group alongside Patrick Bailey and Carson Kelly, while David Peterson joins Torrens as a Mets finalist on the mound with Logan Webb and Matthew Boyd. The Yankees last Gold Glove winner was Volpe in 2023, and the Mets’ last was Lagares in 2014.

Mets overhaul after playoff miss: Mendoza stays, but Hefner exits as pitching coach and Barnes, Chavez, Sarbaugh depart; Gibbons resigns and Sherlock retires. The franchise signals a reset as payroll and roster expectations loom into a pivotal off-season.