Last year’s Rule 5 draft was painful for the Mets, who permanently lost righty Mike Vasil (who was excellent out of the White Sox bullpen) and temporarily lost lefty Nate Lavender (who spent the season on the 60-day injured list with the Rays before returning to the Mets organization last week).
This year they hope it will be more painless, which will begin with Tuesday’s roster decisions.
The biggest decision the Mets will have to make at the deadline for protecting prospects from the Rule 5 draft will concern Nick Morabito, who is a speedy center fielder coming off a nice season with Double-A Binghamton and a strong showing at the Arizona Fall League.
The 2022 second-round pick has stolen 108 bases in the past two years and has hit .291 with a .771 OPS across four minor league seasons. He excels at making contact but does not hit for power (12 homers in 300 minor league games), his skill set usable at the major league level but perhaps not as more than a fourth outfielder.
Mets prospect Nick Morabito runs up the first-base line for the Scottsdale Scorpions during an Arizona Fall League game on Oct. 31, 2025. Getty Images
The Mets, who are seeking a center fielder and already have Tyrone Taylor as a reserve outfielder, could see Morabito as enticing enough to add to the 40-man roster or could view him as redundant on their roster and behind outfield prospects such as Carson Benge, Jett Williams and A.J. Ewing.
“I use all my tools to my advantage, get on base, play a good center field, make a lot of contact and ultimately just try and score,” Morabito said last month. “I’m a huge competitor, and I love to win. I think that’s my biggest trait.”
Mets prospect Nick Morabito (3) runs to third base for the Scottsdale Scorpions during an Arizona Fall League game on Oct. 6, 2025. MLB Photos via Getty ImagesAmong the other Rule 5-eligible Mets prospects are 2022 first-round pick and catcher Kevin Parada, righties Adbert Alzolay (whom the Mets signed for two seasons last year, hoping to rehab him from Tommy John surgery), Saul Garcia, Douglas Orellana, Joander Suarez and Calvin Ziegler and the lefty Lavender once again.
The other Mets decision arriving Tuesday is a foregone conclusion: Edwin Díaz will decline the team’s $22.025 million qualifying offer, thus making him a free agent. If Díaz signs elsewhere, the Mets would receive a 2026 draft pick after the fourth round.
