If the Mets BELIEVE in Carson Benge, EXTEND Him! | The Case for a Pre-Arb Extension to Start 2026

New York Mets set the stage for a big 2026 with Carson Benge as their potential everyday left fielder—will the team lock up their prized prospect with a pre-arbitration extension?  Excitement grows as David Stearns expresses unwavering confidence in Benge, prompting questions about service time manipulation, PPI eligibility, and the blueprint for early-career deals that could shape the future of the franchise.Ryan Finkelstein breaks down recent trends in MLB contract extensions, examining deals like Luis Robert’s six-year, $50 million contract, Jackson Chourio’s record-setting pre-debut pact, and the unique incentives around the prospect promotion incentive (PPI).  Key topics include the strategic impact of Benge’s service time decisions, historical extension precedents, and the Mets’ outfield roster with stars like Juan Soto and Luis Robert.  Can the Mets maximize both Benj’s talent and their draft capital as Opening Day approaches?Everydayer Club  If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub  JOIN THE LOCKED ON METS INSIDER COMMUNITY: https://joinsubtext.com/lockedonmets Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Turbo TaxFor a limited time, you can have your taxes done by a local TurboTax expert for just $150 — all in, if a TurboTax expert didn’t file for you last year. Just file by February 28. Take taxes off your plate and get back to your life. Visit https://TurboTax.com/local to book your appointment today. IndeedListeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcastFanDuelIf you’re a new customer, bet just $5 and get $200 in Bonus Bets if you win. Make it count — because after the Super Bowl, the season is over. Last call for football on FanDuel, an Official Sportsbook Partner of Super Bowl Sixty.  FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.