- 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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@TimBritton
It's a major-league deal worth $1M for Tonkin, according to a league source. He's actually still arb-eligible, so Mets could control him through 2026.
do they get any options to send him down or would it be waivers? $1m is insignificant either way just curious.
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In comment 16314887 JayBinQueens said:
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Pick do Mets have today
6
Colorado just opened a spot, Mets now pick 7th
What does that even mean lol.. They decided they wanted a top 6 spot?
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In comment 16314887 JayBinQueens said:
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Pick do Mets have today
6
Colorado just opened a spot, Mets now pick 7th
. @mets will now be picking *8th* in today's rule 5 draft with the Royals making room as well.
The Yankees had a payroll in the low $290 millions last year -- second-highest in MLB after the Mets -- and are estimated to be at more than $250 million for 2024 without adding Soto or Yamamoto. Those two alone will cost at least $30 million each before accounting for any other acquisitions, and clubs like to set aside another $10-15 million for the trade deadline.
guess we'll find out whats real and whats not in the next week or so.
Sources: Yankees would raise payroll to accommodate both Juan Soto and Yoshinobu Yamamoto - ( New Window )
@JonHeyman
Things are already percolating with Korean CF Jung Hoo Lee. Padres are a possible landing spot, especially if they complete Soto trade to Yankees as exoected. There are others.
@jonmorosi
Market for free agent CF Michael A. Taylor is beginning to take shape.
Sources say the Reds, Red Sox and Blue Jays are among teams showing interest in the 2021 Gold Glove winner who’s coming off a career-best 21 HR.
@MLB
@MLBNetwork
ule 5 Draft
A favorite of some prospectheads, the Rule 5 Draft will take place Wednesday at 2 p.m. ET and will be streamed live on MLB.com.
Rule 5-eligible players -- ones signed at age 18 or younger with five seasons of pro experience or ones who signed 19 or older with four seasons of pro experience -- had to be placed on their organization’s 40-man rosters by the Nov. 14 deadline or else be left open for this process. The Rule 5 Draft allows buried Minor Leaguers to get Major League experience with a new club, but they have to stick in The Show for a full season to remain with their picking team.
@TimBritton
Tonkin's deal is a split contract. $1M in majors, $400K in minors.
Link - ( New Window )
@NYPost_Mets
David Stearns accompanied Steve Cohen to Japan last week to recruit Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Right now the situation is fluid whether Yamamoto will want a follow up with the Mets in New York before choosing a team.
@GeoffPontesBA
It’s Rule 5 Draft day which means we have another update to the Rule 5 Preview going live @BaseballAmerica
Important notes
- Justin Slaten is the name we’re hearing the most buzz around.
- Up to 48 total names & reports.
- My personal preference list for this year & more…
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.
Drafted: 3rd Round, 2019 from New Mexico (TEX)
Age 25.8 Height 6′ 4″ Weight 222 Bat / Thr R / R FV 40+
Tool Grades (Present/Future)
Fastball Slider Cutter Command Sits/Tops
65/65 70/70 45/50 40/40 94-97 / 98
The Rangers have finally moved Slaten to the bullpen and he’s carving. He isn’t throwing any harder than he was in 2022, but Slaten has taken to a single-inning, air-it-out approach and isn’t walking anyone. He’s sitting 94-97 with plus-plus carry, bending in his usual knee-buckling low-to-mid-80s slider, and he’s also added a cutter. Slaten’s delivery is violent and he has a high-maintenance frame, so his prospectdom is a little less stable than a premium on-mound athlete’s, but he has late-inning stuff and seems to have taken a step forward from a control standpoint. He could be in Texas’ big league bullpen by the end of the year and, if not, is almost certainly a post-season 40-man add who’ll debut next year.
One of the top performers in the organization over the past 2 seasons. AFL showcase might have contributed to getting him sniped
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Surprised they did not keep him
One of the top performers in the organization over the past 2 seasons. AFL showcase might have contributed to getting him sniped
2022+2023 Hardy was 2nd in the organization in FIP (2.58, trailing only Christian Scott) and 2nd in K/9 (trailing only Paul Gervase). It would not shock me to see him have an MLB career.. Colorado obviously complicates things #Mets
@MarinoMLB
·
1m
Don’t believe Mets are one of those teams. Have shown more interest in Jordan Montgomery, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and even Blake Snell.
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Jon Heyman
@JonHeyman
·
5m
Free agent LHP Eduardo Rodriguez, who met with clubs at the Winter Meetings, is down to two teams and is expected to have a decision by tomorrow.
if Yamamoto in fact ends up something like 10 x $330m+
is one time AL CY and reigning NL CY Snell (mlbtr projection = 7x$200m) simply a better buy at $130m (+posting fee) less?
i know yamamoto covers more years theoretically within prime since he is 25, but i think it's highly circumspect to try to predict a 10 year productivity run for any pitcher. look no further than syndergaard, jdg, harvey, severino, lincecum, etc. Even predicting 5 years out may be pushing it.
even with yamamoto's projections going as high as they are ($33m per year) he's #1 for me if Snell is getting $200m (28.5m per year). a $4.5m discount a few years isnt nothing but it doesnt move any needles. 7 years still longer than comfortable for any pitcher.
but if Snell's market only allows something closer to Nola (say 7 years 175m) now all of sudden it's almost literally half price and an $8m or so annual discount (essentially 25% off each year for a CY winner). at that point i think it starts becoming a valid question.
and clemens projected 5x140m. so it's possible he's even less than half (though clemens also appears more than $100m low on yamamoto too).
Joel Sherman
@Joelsherman1
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5m
If the Soto deal goes through with the Yankees, the expectation is they also would receive Trent Grisham, with plans to use as 4th OF/late-game defense in CF.
Add Slaten, Donovan Antonia catcher, Alan Perdomo pitcher and trade for minor league RP Ryan Ammons
Add Slaten, Donovan Antonia catcher, Alan Perdomo pitcher and trade for minor league RP Ryan Ammons
I could be wrong, frequently am, but I dont think Antonia is a catcher
Add Slaten, Donovan Antonia catcher, Alan Perdomo pitcher and trade for minor league RP Ryan Ammons
ammons is weird, he was a below slot 10th round pick (50k bonus) who hasnt debuted yet bc he basically went straight to 60 day IL within a week.
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Hardy, Benito Garcia, Daison Acosta and Tyler Thomas
Add Slaten, Donovan Antonia catcher, Alan Perdomo pitcher and trade for minor league RP Ryan Ammons
I could be wrong, frequently am, but I dont think Antonia is a catcher
I’ve never even heard of him but that’s how BA had him listed
“ New York Mets — Donovan Antonia, C, Reds”
presumably tjs?
August 13, 2019
Cincinnati Reds signed free agent C Donovan Antonia to a minor league contract.
So he was signed as a C
so essentially sold the pick for ammons. presumably that means there was nobody they liked enough to pick? or they really like ammons?
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Mets traded Slaten for Ammons
so essentially sold the pick for ammons. presumably that means there was nobody they liked enough to pick? or they really like ammons?
Almost certainly the first one.
@timbhealey
David Stearns on his trip to Japan with Steve Cohen to meet with Yoshinobu Yamamoto: “Long trip, quick stay.”
agree w/ that.
i think other than whichever top SP they get (moto, monty, snell) - we are likely to see them value hunt quality depth with a bunch of signings sort of like severino. 10-20m range, short term, low risk, good upside. same with BP.
i think id bet against more than 1 contract greater than 3 years this offseason. maybe 2 if they get imanaga too.
based on how he has operated so far with all the cleared 40 man spots and split deals, i think we are going to see him really try to fill out every active roster spot with a meaningful player in some capacity. also wouldnt be surprised to see him continue to create more open 40 man spots if he can get quality players he likes on good deals later.
they are at 34 right now i think so that means there are still at least 6 adds coming in. i think plan A is 2 of them go to yamamoto/imanaga. probably at least 3 more BP adds and 1 or 2 OF. i dont think more than 1 of bickford, garrett, short will still be on the 40 in a few months.
@timbhealey
David Stearns on his trip to Japan with Steve Cohen to meet with Yoshinobu Yamamoto: “Long trip, quick stay.”
Is this supposed to mean anything? If he's being literal, traveling to Japan for dinner with a free agent is literally a long trip for a quick stay.
If he's speaking figuratively, this would seem negative.
Mets may not be very good next year or two.
Mets may not be very good next year or two.
I hear what you’re saying but I don’t think “not very good” is acceptable for this team with Steve Cohen as owner. Not saying they should be short-sighted but they already have a pretty good nucleus and some intriguing youth. They have enough resources to supplement that to a level of competitive baseball. Being an afterthought in even the wildcard chase is unacceptable.
@jonmorosi
Juan Soto trade agreement is being finalized now, source confirms.
The deal, as @JackCurryYES
and @Joelsherman1
reported, sends Soto and Trent Grisham to New York for Michael King, Drew Thorpe, Jhony Brito, Randy Vásquez, and Kyle Higashioka.
@jonmorosi
Sources: Free agent RHP Robert Stephenson is drawing broad interest throughout the industry this week, with the Dodgers, Angels, Yankees, and Rangers among the clubs involved.
Stephenson, 30, had a 0.678 WHIP in 42 games with the Rays this year.
@MLB
@MLBNetwork