Which Mets Prospects Must Be Added Before the 40-Man Deadline?

WHO:

MLB.com - Mets prospects Mitch Voit (organization’s No. 4 prospect) and Émilien Pitre (No. 10) are possible second-base contributors in the first half of 2027; Voit has not played above Double-A, while Pitre could be closer to the Majors.

MLB.com - Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said Jefferson Rojas could compete for a Major League job in spring training and could enter the second-base picture by midseason; he said Rojas would indicate when he was ready.

MLB.com - Mets second-base prospects Mitch Voit, the organization’s No. 4 prospect, and Émilien Pitre, its No. 10 prospect, are also potential contributors in the first half of 2027.

MLB.com - The New York Mets’ seven listed prospects eligible for protection are Jefferson Rojas, Jacob Reimer, Jack Wenninger, Ryan Clifford, Gary Gill Hill, Chris Suero and Jose Chirinos.

MLB.com - Jefferson Rojas is the Mets’ No. 1 prospect and No. 68 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100; he is listed as a third baseman/shortstop.

MLB.com - The other Mets prospects’ organizational rankings and positions are: Jacob Reimer, No. 6, third base; Jack Wenninger, No. 8, right-handed pitcher; Ryan Clifford, No. 14, outfielder; Gary Gill Hill, No. 16, right-handed pitcher; Chris Suero, No. 17, catcher/outfielder/first baseman; and Jose Chirinos, No. 26, right-handed pitcher.

NY Post - The article frames the Mets’ roster decisions around whether teams would risk exposing top prospects to the Rule 5 Draft amid a possible lockout.

WHAT:

MLB.com - The Mets’ seven prospects listed as needing Rule 5 protection are Jefferson Rojas, Jacob Reimer, Jack Wenninger, Ryan Clifford, Gary Gill Hill, Chris Suero and Jose Chirinos.

MLB.com - The Mets could use Brett Baty and Marcus Semien in a second-base platoon; Semien’s OPS against left-handed pitching was at least 46 points higher than against right-handers.

MLB.com - Mets second basemen collectively posted a .629 OPS, ranking 26th in the Majors. The team is not currently seeking an outside addition at the position.

MLB.com - Marcus Semien recorded a .620 OPS, .280 on-base percentage and .340 slugging percentage in 2026. Semien is under contract for two more seasons and $46 million.

MLB.com - Brett Baty played 25 games at second base in 2026; with Bo Bichette at third, the Mets could use Baty and Semien in a second-base platoon.

MLB.com - The Mets must decide whether to add eligible prospects to their 40-man roster; players left unprotected may be selected by another club in the Rule 5 Draft.

MLB.com - Rojas is one of eight MLB Pipeline Top 100 prospects identified as needing protection; the others are Christian Zazueta (No. 33), Travis Sykora (No. 48), Jarlin Susana (No. 66), Demetrio Crisantes (No. 84), Josue Briceño (No. 86), Nolan Perry (No. 90) and Bryan Rincon (No. 96).

MLB.com - MLB Pipeline reported that all 104 eligible Top 100 prospects over the previous 11 seasons received 40-man roster spots.

MLB.com - Players signed at age 18 or younger must be protected within five seasons; players signed at 19 or older must be protected within four seasons. The relevant signing groups were international or high-school players signed in 2022 and college players drafted in 2023.

MLB.com - A club pays $100,000 to select a player in the Major League phase of the Rule 5 Draft; if the player does not remain on the 26-man roster for the full season, he must be offered back to his former team for $50,000.

WHERE:

MLB.com - The Rule 5 Draft is scheduled to take place in San Diego.

WHEN:

MLB.com - The 40-man roster deadline is Tuesday at 6 p.m. ET; the Rule 5 Draft is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 9.

WHY:

MLB.com - David Stearns said the Mets are not currently looking to add an outside second baseman and expect greater production from the position in 2027.

MLB.com - Adding eligible prospects protects them from being selected by another organization in the Rule 5 Draft.

HOW:

MLB.com - Teams protect eligible players by adding them to their 40-man rosters before the deadline.

The Mets face roster decisions to protect seven prospects from the Rule 5 Draft. Top prospect Jefferson Rojas is among those needing protection. New York expects second base to improve, with Brett Baty and Marcus Semien possible platoon partners.