I could NOT agree more. I have said it here and other places about Stearns. This ain't Milwaukee, Toto. While there are a bunch of good to great (please don't flameout young'uns!), we need a no doubt ace.
And can we stop, outside of the bullpen, with the one year contracts? Some make sense, but it's a bit much.
You left out that the Mets can QO Diaz making his market much more limited and more than likely he will be coming back. Unless Pete gets a stupid offer from somewhere else I believe he will be back too. While he may own all the records when he’s done there a guy on the roster right now who may have most of them when he’s done and may in fact be the first MVP when he’s done and it’s Soto. The pitching market is difficult. Skubal I’d love but if that can’t be done I feel Cease can be had for a prove it offer as he didn’t have a really great year. I love Michael King who also didn’t have the year he had from the back half of ‘24. Mebbe another prove it deal with him. Kirby is Seattle is someone I’d trade for. A Rye NY kid who has great stuff. He could benefit from the lab greatly. I like Ryan and I think he would hurt less as you could also take on Lopez’s contract and he’s a riskier arm as he’s been hurt the last couple of years but as a twofer the upside would be damn good. Love the Hot Stove and Stearns I think is going to be very active. What happened this year cannot happen again and the playoffs aren’t that hard to reach if you think about it. I’m also going keep harking on the lockout that is coming which might seriously cost a season plus as players and the owners are very far apart with their heels dug in. I want action before then GM meetings during the meetings and after the meetings. LGM. Dammit
The national media has decided Skubal is available, which is mighty swell of them, but really not their jobs. Have the feeling the Tigers are going to run it back one more time, at least to mid-summer, as is.
I know what you mean. From what I've read, there's not even a shred of evidence that he's available but they know fans are desperate for this kind of stuff. I try to avoid clicking on all the Skubal and Skenes fantasy trades.
I don't think it's fair to imply that Stearns is some kind of ego-driven obstinate character who's out to prove he's the smartest guy around. That narrative seems to have taken on a life of its own with next to nothing to base it on.
Michael King would be a nice get for the rotation, and very doable.
As to Sugar and Pete ... I think Stearns gives Díaz a qualifying offer to limit his market and bring him back with perhaps a little bump. But I'd bet my bottom dollar on Edwin coming back.
Which leaves Pete. On the one hand, he's basically Harmon Killebrew, and the Killer didn't start to seriously fade until he hit age 35. With modern training techniques, figure Pete to be good to go until he gets past age 36 or so.
That's five really good years ahead. Maybe 200 dingers and 600 RBIs.
On the other hand, Pete's defense just isn't good enough for a championship team. He can pick it, and that's great for errant infield throws, and important. But in other areas, especially range, he's got issues.
One way to solve them would starting a dynamic fielding second baseman with a lot of range (hello, Luisangel) so he can stay closer to the bag. And I have no doubt Pete's already working on his throwing.
But any way around it, we must be better defensively all around, and that includes at first base.
You may be optimistic about Alonso. His substandard fielding isn't a new development and I would think that he's practiced plenty--at least I hope so--but just isn't talented at it.
Can't argue with that. Which is why I think the way to go is start Acuña at second. But I thought that at the start of last season, so what the heck do I know.
I don't think there are many alternatives out there on the free agent wire, though. All the decent possibilities are older than Pete with the exception of Josh Naylor, and he's just a year or two younger. And I can't see Stearns spending prospect capital on first in a trade.
In the realm of wishful thinking, I'd like Soto to consent to move to first, Alonso to DH, and Kyle Tucker in right. We'd score a few runs, I'll tell you that!
I wouldn't want to pitch to that lineup, that's for sure. 😬 LOL
But it is wishful thinking. Soto isn't moving out of right field anytime soon. He's worked hard at improving his arm strength. That tells me he wants to be out there. If anything, he'll get better (he tends to do that) and maybe even get to at least above average.
Bellinger is a possibility, but if we sign him, it's surely for center. Josh Naylor is a dark horse.
When you get right down to it though, nothing works better than Pete. It's just a matter of the number. He's going to be looking for something like 7 years, $280 million for the ask. Best offer would probably be $260 million for a $37.14 million AAV.
Hard no on Pete to a long term contract. His metrics are clearly trending downward. He's got maybe 2 good years left and that's if he get's off 1st base. You're not buying PAST performance. You're buying his future. He's not worth what he's asking for - and I'm not willing as a fan to saddle this time with a whale contact for 8 years of memories. David Stearns knows what he's doing.
"The Mets have acquired right-hander Joey Gerber in a trade with the Rays, MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo reports. Tampa Bay will receive cash in return for Gerber, who was one of six players the Rays designated for assignment yesterday."
Not sure how Stearns and Cohen think about Diaz and Pete. Pete's production was stat-heavy and Diaz performed admirably but we still finished 83-79. Does Cohen adopt the old Branch Rickey to Kiner line or does he cluster Diaz, Alonso, and Soto as the new "core" going forward - damn the cost?
I think the LAD win may portend the latter. Cohen is nothing if not competitive. He wants what he wants so it should make for an interesting hand-warming 'round the ol' hot stove.
Conversely, what is Boras's influence in all this? Does he poison Pete against the Mets with tales of being unappreciated as he shakes down another gullible owner?
Whatever, right?! It's a long 3-1/2 months - even with the nice meal we had at the WS before our baseball hibernation! LGM!
I could NOT agree more. I have said it here and other places about Stearns. This ain't Milwaukee, Toto. While there are a bunch of good to great (please don't flameout young'uns!), we need a no doubt ace.
And can we stop, outside of the bullpen, with the one year contracts? Some make sense, but it's a bit much.
You left out that the Mets can QO Diaz making his market much more limited and more than likely he will be coming back. Unless Pete gets a stupid offer from somewhere else I believe he will be back too. While he may own all the records when he’s done there a guy on the roster right now who may have most of them when he’s done and may in fact be the first MVP when he’s done and it’s Soto. The pitching market is difficult. Skubal I’d love but if that can’t be done I feel Cease can be had for a prove it offer as he didn’t have a really great year. I love Michael King who also didn’t have the year he had from the back half of ‘24. Mebbe another prove it deal with him. Kirby is Seattle is someone I’d trade for. A Rye NY kid who has great stuff. He could benefit from the lab greatly. I like Ryan and I think he would hurt less as you could also take on Lopez’s contract and he’s a riskier arm as he’s been hurt the last couple of years but as a twofer the upside would be damn good. Love the Hot Stove and Stearns I think is going to be very active. What happened this year cannot happen again and the playoffs aren’t that hard to reach if you think about it. I’m also going keep harking on the lockout that is coming which might seriously cost a season plus as players and the owners are very far apart with their heels dug in. I want action before then GM meetings during the meetings and after the meetings. LGM. Dammit
The national media has decided Skubal is available, which is mighty swell of them, but really not their jobs. Have the feeling the Tigers are going to run it back one more time, at least to mid-summer, as is.
I know what you mean. From what I've read, there's not even a shred of evidence that he's available but they know fans are desperate for this kind of stuff. I try to avoid clicking on all the Skubal and Skenes fantasy trades.
I don't think it's fair to imply that Stearns is some kind of ego-driven obstinate character who's out to prove he's the smartest guy around. That narrative seems to have taken on a life of its own with next to nothing to base it on.
Michael King would be a nice get for the rotation, and very doable.
As to Sugar and Pete ... I think Stearns gives Díaz a qualifying offer to limit his market and bring him back with perhaps a little bump. But I'd bet my bottom dollar on Edwin coming back.
Which leaves Pete. On the one hand, he's basically Harmon Killebrew, and the Killer didn't start to seriously fade until he hit age 35. With modern training techniques, figure Pete to be good to go until he gets past age 36 or so.
That's five really good years ahead. Maybe 200 dingers and 600 RBIs.
On the other hand, Pete's defense just isn't good enough for a championship team. He can pick it, and that's great for errant infield throws, and important. But in other areas, especially range, he's got issues.
One way to solve them would starting a dynamic fielding second baseman with a lot of range (hello, Luisangel) so he can stay closer to the bag. And I have no doubt Pete's already working on his throwing.
But any way around it, we must be better defensively all around, and that includes at first base.
You may be optimistic about Alonso. His substandard fielding isn't a new development and I would think that he's practiced plenty--at least I hope so--but just isn't talented at it.
Can't argue with that. Which is why I think the way to go is start Acuña at second. But I thought that at the start of last season, so what the heck do I know.
I don't think there are many alternatives out there on the free agent wire, though. All the decent possibilities are older than Pete with the exception of Josh Naylor, and he's just a year or two younger. And I can't see Stearns spending prospect capital on first in a trade.
In the realm of wishful thinking, I'd like Soto to consent to move to first, Alonso to DH, and Kyle Tucker in right. We'd score a few runs, I'll tell you that!
I wouldn't want to pitch to that lineup, that's for sure. 😬 LOL
But it is wishful thinking. Soto isn't moving out of right field anytime soon. He's worked hard at improving his arm strength. That tells me he wants to be out there. If anything, he'll get better (he tends to do that) and maybe even get to at least above average.
Bellinger is a possibility, but if we sign him, it's surely for center. Josh Naylor is a dark horse.
When you get right down to it though, nothing works better than Pete. It's just a matter of the number. He's going to be looking for something like 7 years, $280 million for the ask. Best offer would probably be $260 million for a $37.14 million AAV.
We might do that. 💰 😉
Hard no on Pete to a long term contract. His metrics are clearly trending downward. He's got maybe 2 good years left and that's if he get's off 1st base. You're not buying PAST performance. You're buying his future. He's not worth what he's asking for - and I'm not willing as a fan to saddle this time with a whale contact for 8 years of memories. David Stearns knows what he's doing.
"The Mets have acquired right-hander Joey Gerber in a trade with the Rays, MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo reports. Tampa Bay will receive cash in return for Gerber, who was one of six players the Rays designated for assignment yesterday."
Mets announce they’ve re-signed Brandon Waddell to a major-league deal.
Frankie Montas Won’t Opt Out Of Final Year Of Mets Contract. 😢
Mets Exercise Club Option On Brooks Raley, Decline Drew Smith’s Club Option
Not sure how Stearns and Cohen think about Diaz and Pete. Pete's production was stat-heavy and Diaz performed admirably but we still finished 83-79. Does Cohen adopt the old Branch Rickey to Kiner line or does he cluster Diaz, Alonso, and Soto as the new "core" going forward - damn the cost?
I think the LAD win may portend the latter. Cohen is nothing if not competitive. He wants what he wants so it should make for an interesting hand-warming 'round the ol' hot stove.
Conversely, what is Boras's influence in all this? Does he poison Pete against the Mets with tales of being unappreciated as he shakes down another gullible owner?
Whatever, right?! It's a long 3-1/2 months - even with the nice meal we had at the WS before our baseball hibernation! LGM!
What do you mean that Alonso's production was "stat heavy"? You mean his stats paint a rosier picture than his actual contribution?
Any thoughts about acquiring Pablo Lopez?