- Luis Severino has joined the Mets in free agency after a mixed history with the Yankees. His career with the Yankees was marked by both success and extensive injuries. Severino signed a one-year, $13 million deal with the Mets.
Mets' Catching Depth:
- The Mets' catching depth is a concern, regarding Omar Narváez's performance and health. Cooper Hmel is considered a potential replacement for Narváez. They also picked up Tyler Heineman.
- Joey Wendle was picked up to replace LG as the utility man.
- Kyle Crick, a new Mets relief pitcher, has joined on a minor league deal with hopes of strengthening the bullpen.
The Mets have signed Austin Adams, Joseph Yabbour, Andre Scrubb and Cole Sulser to aid bullpen depth.
Mets Winter Meetings Focus:
- The Mets are expected to be active at the Winter Meetings, with a focus on acquiring an outfielder, starting pitching, and relief pitching. They are also interested in improving run prevention and outfield defense.
- The team may engage in trade talks, expect to hear the usual prospect names such as Kevin Parada, Brett Baty, Mark Vientos, and Ronny Mauricio.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Player Meetings:
- The New York Mets are planning to meet with Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto in the next week and he is expected to continue to draw significant interest from MLB teams.
- Shohei Ohtani is also expected to make a decision on his next team soon, with bids for his services surpassing $500 million.
- The Mets are also considering Korean outfielder Jung Hoo Lee.
Summary from pre Winter Meeting thread:
Hall of Fame Ballot Newbies: Inclusion of players like Big Sexy, Wright, and Reyes in the Hall of Fame ballot.
- Several iconic Yankees and Mets greats were in contention for Hall of Fame induction, but they fell short of the required votes.
Management and Coaching Updates: Significant changes in the Mets' management and coaching staff, including a new contract for manager Mendoza. Bench coach vacancy and role shifts for Eric Chavez and Jeremy Barnes as hitting coaches. Introduction of Kris Gross and Andy Green in player development and amateur scouting.
Pitching Strategy and Market Moves: Focus on fortifying the rotation, implications of the Cardinals' signings, and the pursuit of high-caliber pitchers.
Bullpen and Player Performance: Signing of BP arms to minor league deals and review of the players.
Previous Mets thread: - (
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Quite the resolution to get him.
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Signed Michael Tonkin.
Quite the resolution to get him.
WOW, that was some dad joke. But I'll admit, it cracked me up.
“ The biggest change the Mets are trying to institute in the minor leagues is a lack thereof at the top. Green is the fifth person to lead the player development department in the past five-plus years. As much as the manager and general manager roles have turned over, so has this one, from Ian Levin to Jared Banner to Kevin Howard to Jeremy Barnes back to Howard and now to Green.”
Made a nice play at 3B but also had a ball clang off his glove to end the game. So a mixed overall game
Link - ( New Window )
Unfortunately, II was told Crow’s elbow was worse than just standard TJ. The Mets are more concerned he never gets back to where he was than him being picked and kept.
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Crow is talked about as a possible loss. I am worried about Joander Suarez. Only 3 regular season starts at AA, but showed real well, and is almost 24.
Unfortunately, II was told Crow’s elbow was worse than just standard TJ. The Mets are more concerned he never gets back to where he was than him being picked and kept.
I figured when they got him. Seemed too good of a get for Escobar
Rangers RHP Anthony Hoopii-Tuionetoa.
Hoopii-Tuionetoa, 23, throws a fastball in the mid-to-high 90s and starred as a reliever in the Arizona Fall League.
rosenthal connects dodgers/burnes, that would be good too. maybe they dont want to spend ~1bn on 2 players.
There should be all kinds of reports, leaks and rumors about his free agency because it’s fun and that’s what fans want.
I saw Gelbs on the Mets podcast saying no one is expecting much of anything to happen at these meetings.
the players who get posted have the 45 day window. that's fine. and they do have a very different decision to make so i think that's an appropriate amount of time. maybe 30 days would be better and still enough.
ohtani going this long is his right, but stupid for everyone else. make a decision.
the only players who should still be available in january/feb are 1 year guys or players who are wildly out of step with the market.
the Mets are not the favorite for anyone they have been linked to - which is good and bad.
If they surprisingly get one of the big games (Yamamoto, Ohtani, Soto, etc.) it will be unexpected.
I don't even think they are favored to get Montgomery, Snell, E-Rod, etc.
I was half joking, and I know people on here hate him, but Bauer might be their best option if he checks out legally. I don't concern myself with "he's a POS" or "he's a douche" - this is sports not church and these people are not my role models or moral compasses - they have one skill I care about - they excel in a sport - and when they no longer excel in a sport I have no use for them.
“His ball, it tails but also rises — that’s very hard (to hit), especially at his arm angle, which is kind of a low three-quarter arm slot,” Minter said. “For him to get that much ride on his ball is pretty impressive.”
Tonkin was added to the Braves 40-man roster in November and made the Opening Day roster after an impressive spring coupled with a couple of pitching injuries elsewhere on the roster. So far, he’s making the most of his long-awaited return to the majors.
Entering Monday, only two of the 43 major-league relievers with five or more innings pitched had a WHIP as good or better than Tonkin’s — the Angels’ Andrew Wantz (0.20 in 5.0 innings) and the Mets’ John Curtiss (0.56 in 5 1/3 innings).
Michael Tonkin took a circuitous, worldwide journey back to the majors with the Braves - ( New Window )
the players who get posted have the 45 day window. that's fine. and they do have a very different decision to make so i think that's an appropriate amount of time. maybe 30 days would be better and still enough.
ohtani going this long is his right, but stupid for everyone else. make a decision.
the only players who should still be available in january/feb are 1 year guys or players who are wildly out of step with the market.
Definitely his right to take this long. I think this shroud of secrecy is a bit of a turn off. There are many millions of interested parties here called fans who like to follow reports on free agency activity. Perhaps if Ohtani’s process wasn’t so secretive some more teams would know better where they stand and they could get on with other business which seems like it would be better for everyone.
We all forget how boring and slow it was the year before that, and the year before that.
We just remember the highlights of a four month process as opposed to the minute by minute of while it's happening. Social media turned what used to be a day by day thing, into a second by second thing - making it feel longer and slower.
We all forget how boring and slow it was the year before that, and the year before that.
We just remember the highlights of a four month process as opposed to the minute by minute of while it's happening. Social media turned what used to be a day by day thing, into a second by second thing - making it feel longer and slower.
Not really. I mentioned 2 weeks ago how baseball has killed their off-season. I was told wait until the winter meetings. Well here we are and not much going on here either. The MLB off-season process to keep fans engaged has taken a bad turn in the last decade and getting worse not better. Yes ofc course we'll remember the signings when ST begins but people are starting to notice how bad this drags now.
I'm so glad the Mets won a few meaningless games against the Phillies and the Marlins last September.
Tank Commander, report to my office immediately !!
And it’s terrible for the fans and franchises for it to drag into ST, I agree.
But it’s been that way for how long now? It’s not new at all, unfortunately .
if the Mets miss on Yamamoto and the other names, maybe sit this one out, trade Alonso, get the Verlander and Scherzer money off the books and reset to get under the luxury tax.
Hope people like Marte come back (unlikely) and establish value and deal them. Even Diaz, if he's right he could get a haul, and then let Stearns build his team.
Or that all of the biggest cities in America are rumored to be in on the best two way player in the world, since Bo Jackson. Or Babe Ruth?
Or the most unknown famous pitcher in baseball is rumored to go to all the top teams in the sport?
I thinks that kind iconic, honestly. And if they all were done on day one, think about how boring December would be.
Not defending it, but if those three names and rumors are boring, I think expectations may be off 😂
if the Mets miss on Yamamoto and the other names, maybe sit this one out, trade Alonso, get the Verlander and Scherzer money off the books and reset to get under the luxury tax.
Hope people like Marte come back (unlikely) and establish value and deal them. Even Diaz, if he's right he could get a haul, and then let Stearns build his team.
I think you're right at that point. Let the young bats go through the full season so it's easier to determine which ones will be here for long haul. Get some of the young SP up as season goes on. Sucks for the vets but probably the best thing for the organization this season. Trading Alonso I still don't know. When you have the most money in the sport you shouldn't be trading one of the best power hitters.
We all forget how boring and slow it was the year before that, and the year before that.
We just remember the highlights of a four month process as opposed to the minute by minute of while it's happening. Social media turned what used to be a day by day thing, into a second by second thing - making it feel longer and slower.
there have been plenty of busts before but the last 2 offseasons were good ones:
nov/dec 2021 was great bc of the lockout deadline.
last year:
JDG was pre-WM on 12/2
JV was announced 12/7 on wed of WM
most of the relief market moved
Nimmo + Trea turner were day after 12/8
boegarts was a day after that
senga was reported right around the Wm
this year would have been fine if ohtani just announced before or during the WM. then a bunch of stuff would have happened.
And it’s terrible for the fans and franchises for it to drag into ST, I agree.
But it’s been that way for how long now? It’s not new at all, unfortunately .
it was that way when teams werent spending aggressively (remember the harper/machado offseason?) and the QO situation was more punative (1st rd pick for michael freaking cuddyers).
in the last few years teams have been spending aggressively, and judging by the number of teams beating down doors for ohtani and yamamoto, that's still the case.
Justin Dirden, OF, Astros
Dirden was one of the breakout performers of 2022, going from a nondrafted free agent in 2020 to one of the 10 best prospects in the Astros system in 2022. But he struggled to a .231/.314/.396 line over 84 games in extended Triple-A action in 2023. Injuries may have played a factor. He hit .276/.345/.489 with 24 extra-base hits over his 58 games until a hamstring injury sent him to the injured list on June 23. Dirden returned on July 16, but hit just .126/.243/.179 over 26 games before returning to the IL on Aug. 30. While we don’t know how much the hamstring injury hampered Dirden, he clearly was not the same player upon returning. Dirden is an above-average athlete with the ability to play all three outfield positions. Prior to his injury Dirden was a .288/.380/.536 hitter with 48 home runs over 265 games.
Or that all of the biggest cities in America are rumored to be in on the best two way player in the world, since Bo Jackson. Or Babe Ruth?
Or the most unknown famous pitcher in baseball is rumored to go to all the top teams in the sport?
I thinks that kind iconic, honestly. And if they all were done on day one, think about how boring December would be.
Not defending it, but if those three names and rumors are boring, I think expectations may be off 😂
the boring aspect is that 0 multi-year agreements have been announced during the WM.
not an exaggeration gray was 5 days ago, nola extended where he was weeks ago before tg, lopez went to atlanta weeks ago before tg, gray signed right around tg, maeda/severino signed right before WM, pagan signed 1 week ago.
As far as more expensive pitchers like Jordan Montgomery, Eduardo Rodriguez and Blake Snell, the Mets are saying in meetings that they would likely only go in that direction if they miss on Yamamoto. That is why, for example, they’ve had absolutely no interest in signing Rodriguez prior to or at the meetings.
Stearns and his staff are also busy looking for a strong defender in the outfield, who could provide insurance for Starling Marte’s health, push Brandon Nimmo to a corner position at times, and help with run prevention by catching the baseball. Michael A. Taylor is believed to be a top target, ahead of Harrison Bader, who might also come into play.
Mets would pursue frontline starter if they miss out on top target Yoshinobu Yamamoto The Mets are intensely focused on Yamamoto - ( New Window )
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The Mets are intensely focused on Yamamoto, but have stiff competition from many other clubs, including the Yankees, who seem to like their chances. The Mets are also continuing to pursue rotation depth in the vein of the Luis Severino signing.
As far as more expensive pitchers like Jordan Montgomery, Eduardo Rodriguez and Blake Snell, the Mets are saying in meetings that they would likely only go in that direction if they miss on Yamamoto. That is why, for example, they’ve had absolutely no interest in signing Rodriguez prior to or at the meetings.
Stearns and his staff are also busy looking for a strong defender in the outfield, who could provide insurance for Starling Marte’s health, push Brandon Nimmo to a corner position at times, and help with run prevention by catching the baseball. Michael A. Taylor is believed to be a top target, ahead of Harrison Bader, who might also come into play.
Mets would pursue frontline starter if they miss out on top target Yoshinobu Yamamoto The Mets are intensely focused on Yamamoto - ( New Window )
Looks like Mets aren't in on Bellinger then? I think he'd be a good fit. Lengthen the lineup and play solid OF defense.
@JonHeyman
Marlins are at least listening to trade talk on their fine stash of young starting pitchers, That presumably includes Luzardo, Garrett and Cabrera (and more)
@JonHeyman
Marlins are at least listening to trade talk on their fine stash of young starting pitchers, That presumably includes Luzardo, Garrett and Cabrera (and more)
Said it all last year and will this year. Mets match up well with them in a trade. Mets have excess in young hitting prospects and the Marlins lack there. Meanwhile, the Marlins are flush with young pitching.
@JonHeyman
Marlins are at least listening to trade talk on their fine stash of young starting pitchers, That presumably includes Luzardo, Garrett and Cabrera (and more)
This is interesting, no?
After a command-plagued season in 2022, Slaten straightened out his strike-throwing in 2023. He cut his walk rate from 19.5% in 2022 to 8.5% in 2023. The improved control resulted in much better results at Double-A Frisco and a late-season promotion to Triple-A. Slaten is a pure reliever who mixes four pitches with plenty of power across his arsenal. Slaten sits 95-97 mph on his four-seamer with ride and at times cut. He pairs his four-seam primarily with a mid-80s sweeping slider that generates heavy rates of swings and misses in and out of the zone. His cutter is his third pitch, but is an effective weapon as a bridge between his fastball and slider. The cutter sits 89-91 mph with true cutter shape. He’ll infrequently mix in a low-80s two-plane curveball. With the strike-throwing improvements, upper-level minors experience and major league quality stuff, Slaten could be a worthy choice. "
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