The ball dropped in Times Square on Wednesday night, signaling not just the start of 2026 but also the final calendar month before baseball resumes.

Access the Mets beat like never before

Don’t miss Mike Puma’s text messages from Queens and beyond — he’s giving Sports+ subscribers the inside buzz on the Mets.

So, it’s go time for free agency, right?

Yes and no. While the majority of free agents will be signed by the start of spring training (for the Mets, that date is Feb. 9 for pitchers and catchers), recent history suggests there will be significant names available beyond the respective report dates and perhaps deep into camps.

Plenty of inventory remains available in this plodding offseason, with Kyle Tucker and Cody Bellinger headlining the list of offensive pieces still unsigned. The top pitching names available include Framber Valdez, Ranger Suarez and Zac Gallen.