The New York Mets will certainly be a team to keep an eye on during the 2026 season. After disappointing in a major way during the 2025 campaign, the Mets will be looking to turn things around this season.
The Mets responded to their frustrating 2025 season by having themselves a very busy offseason. They brought in several new players during the winter, with star infielder Bo Bichette and pitcher Freddy Peralta being the most notable. They also added other players like Luis Robert Jr, Marcus Semien, Devin Williams, Jorge Polanco, and Luke Weaver. With this, the Mets are entering the season with optimism and will be looking to prove that they can be contenders.
Yet, when looking at the Mets’ current roster, it is fair to argue that they could use another impactful outfielder. Because of this, they are now being linked to a notable outfielder trade candidate from the St. Louis Cardinals.
Mets Named Potential Landing Spot for Cardinals Outfielder Lars Nootbaar
CBS Sports’ Mike Axisa recently took a look at a handful of trade candidates to watch once the MLB trade deadline gets closer. Among the players who Axisa discussed is St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar. It makes sense that Nootbaar was mentioned, as he has been in the rumor mill for quite some time.
“New POBO Chaim Bloom had an active offseason and moved nearly every veteran on the St. Louis roster (Nolan Arenado, Willson Contreras, Brendan Donovan, Sonny Gray, etc.). Only Nootbaar remains, possibly because he had double heel surgery early in the offseason,” Axisa wrote. “As with most players in this post, the question is not will Nootbaar get traded, but when.”
With the Cardinals being in full-on selling mode, it would not be surprising in the slightest if Nootbaar found a new home by the deadline. Due to this, Axisa listed three potential landing spots for Nootbaar, and the Mets were one of them.
With the Mets needing a boost in their outfield, it would make a lot of sense for them to add Nootbaar. He would provide them with another solid outfielder, and he could very well hit a new level if given a much-needed fresh start.
Nootbaar appeared in 135 games this past season with the Cardinals, where he had 13 home runs, 48 RBIs, and a .234 batting average. He also had a career-high 24 doubles, so he would have the potential to provide the Mets’ offense with a bit of a boost if acquired.
Nootbaar Should Be a Popular Trade Target
When noting that Nootbaar is a solid outfielder who provides a bit of everything, the Mets should not be the only team interested in him this season. This is especially so when noting that he has an affordable $5.35 million salary for this season and will remain under team control until the end of the 2027 season.
Due to this, if the Mets try to land Nootbaar, they will certainly have competition for his services. It will be interesting to see if the Mets can swing a deal for Nootbaar, but the fit looks good on paper.
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