I am beginning to feel like this is just about what the team will look like headed into ST. Bellinger being the only one who might come and I almost feel the Yankees are just moments away from announcing their biggest get on their list is coming back. I think Bassit or Quintana will be the guys to look at
Hi James, I think you could be right. I don't think major improvements are coming, and I still think Bellinger will end up back with the Yankees. They can't really afford not to sign him. They need to do something, but I have no idea what that will look like.
More and more, I'm beginning to think we're treading water a little in 2026 thanks to the looming lockout (not to mention the deepening political instability).
What if the end result of the labor dispute is a salary cap with a salary floor? How does that change the salary profile of any given team? Who becomes available? What does the free agency market look like?
If I'm Steve Cohen and David Stearns, I very much have these questions in mind. Building a team under current conditions when the conditions are about to change, and possibly dramatically, does not make sense from a strategic point of view.
That being said, signing Tucker now and trading for Peralta make sense. That would be enough to challenge for the division, and maybe a lot more should the pitching really round into shape, and no matter what happens in 2027, they fit.
A blockbuster for Tatis or Ketel Marte also makes sense and would lock in the core (that's especially true if Tatis is the guy). But neither seems to be in the cards right now.
Beyond that, how much is really out there which fits in with a long-term plan, given the fact the long-term plan can't really be solidified right now anyway? There are really only a couple options today. All the rest simply has to wait for tomorrow.
It seems that this offseason is too much for David Stearns. While I like Semien, I'd understand it more if the Mets got a younger, faster 2b. I'm losing confidence in this team.
We'll see what happens between now and the start of spring training, but it is getting harder and harder to see what the plan is, unless it is a rebuild. I'd be surprised if Tucker, Bellinger, or any other notable name ends up in Queens. Happy to be proved wrong on that, obviously.
Doesn't seem right to say the Mets are not approaching things with urgency. I wish they signed Tucker and Valdez or Sanchez yesterday. But the fact is, we just don't know because Stearns doesn't leak. For all we know, he might be on the phone all day, every day, and feeling a lot of heat. I sure hope he doesn't plan on going forward with what they have and sacrificing the season for the sake of "development of the young 'uns". My guess is that as presently constituted, they're a 75-80 win team. I'm very glad they didn't bite on Cabrera, the starting pitcher on the "injury all-star team". Finally, describing the remaining big name free agents as "twisting in the wind" is inapt. The idiom "twisting in the wind" means to be left in a difficult, vulnerable, or uncertain situation without support, often abandoned by those who should have helped,..."
Hi Joel, I disagree on the urgency side of things. The Mets are being bailed out on that because some of the top free agents are still available, but I don't think that should take away from the fact that I'm becoming more and more convinced this team is happy to punt on 2026. The fact some big names are out there still just gives them cover, but I don't think they have any urgency to make any kind of big move. I hope to be proved wrong, but I think the team they have now will be similar to the one we see on Opening Day. I agree with your wins projection though, and also agree that they are better off using prospect capital on other pitchers not named Cabrera. In relation to your last comment, I used it in regards to free agent starters, not players like Tucker. It is a phrase I felt worked for the point I was trying to make, and I stick by that it works and isn't inapt. But, with anything, it is personal preference. If you were writing the piece, you no doubt would have gone for something different, but factually or grammatically I don't think it was incorrect to use. I mean, we're in January and those free agent pitchers are still out there. Anyway, regardless, always appreciate the feedback, always take it on board, and always appreciate your support and readership. Hope we're both wrong on the wins total
Andrew, look around the MLB market and what do you see? No one is giving these guys what they want! It’s not like the Mets are just watching the parade go by, it’s that they are patiently waiting and they are the ones with the money; they hold the cards! These free agents are the ones unemployed. You never give up the hammer.
I disagree, Texas Gus. I don't think the Mets hold any cards. I don't think they are really interested in anyone, it is just agent talk to make it seem as though they are. Read between the lines and the 2026 season screams rebuild. Happy to be proved wrong but, as of right now, that's my opinion, and that's based on a lot of things
Owen Cassie is almost a mirror image in numbers, K’s, and position to Ryan Clifford; there is no need to give up Tong or Sprout. Further, Cabrera has a history of wildness and with his first sign of a little improvement, the Marlins found a sucker. I don’t think either Cassie or Cabrera moves the needle too much.
I wouldn't give up Clifford. He's young and a power hitter. Pencil him to be our first baseman soon enough. Agree on at least Tong—he's also young and has three quality pitches. He's a keeper. Sprout is the guy I'd give up, but only in a deal for someone better than Gore—and not for one year of Peralta.
I am beginning to feel like this is just about what the team will look like headed into ST. Bellinger being the only one who might come and I almost feel the Yankees are just moments away from announcing their biggest get on their list is coming back. I think Bassit or Quintana will be the guys to look at
Hi James, I think you could be right. I don't think major improvements are coming, and I still think Bellinger will end up back with the Yankees. They can't really afford not to sign him. They need to do something, but I have no idea what that will look like.
More and more, I'm beginning to think we're treading water a little in 2026 thanks to the looming lockout (not to mention the deepening political instability).
What if the end result of the labor dispute is a salary cap with a salary floor? How does that change the salary profile of any given team? Who becomes available? What does the free agency market look like?
If I'm Steve Cohen and David Stearns, I very much have these questions in mind. Building a team under current conditions when the conditions are about to change, and possibly dramatically, does not make sense from a strategic point of view.
That being said, signing Tucker now and trading for Peralta make sense. That would be enough to challenge for the division, and maybe a lot more should the pitching really round into shape, and no matter what happens in 2027, they fit.
A blockbuster for Tatis or Ketel Marte also makes sense and would lock in the core (that's especially true if Tatis is the guy). But neither seems to be in the cards right now.
Beyond that, how much is really out there which fits in with a long-term plan, given the fact the long-term plan can't really be solidified right now anyway? There are really only a couple options today. All the rest simply has to wait for tomorrow.
It seems that this offseason is too much for David Stearns. While I like Semien, I'd understand it more if the Mets got a younger, faster 2b. I'm losing confidence in this team.
We'll see what happens between now and the start of spring training, but it is getting harder and harder to see what the plan is, unless it is a rebuild. I'd be surprised if Tucker, Bellinger, or any other notable name ends up in Queens. Happy to be proved wrong on that, obviously.
Doesn't seem right to say the Mets are not approaching things with urgency. I wish they signed Tucker and Valdez or Sanchez yesterday. But the fact is, we just don't know because Stearns doesn't leak. For all we know, he might be on the phone all day, every day, and feeling a lot of heat. I sure hope he doesn't plan on going forward with what they have and sacrificing the season for the sake of "development of the young 'uns". My guess is that as presently constituted, they're a 75-80 win team. I'm very glad they didn't bite on Cabrera, the starting pitcher on the "injury all-star team". Finally, describing the remaining big name free agents as "twisting in the wind" is inapt. The idiom "twisting in the wind" means to be left in a difficult, vulnerable, or uncertain situation without support, often abandoned by those who should have helped,..."
Hi Joel, I disagree on the urgency side of things. The Mets are being bailed out on that because some of the top free agents are still available, but I don't think that should take away from the fact that I'm becoming more and more convinced this team is happy to punt on 2026. The fact some big names are out there still just gives them cover, but I don't think they have any urgency to make any kind of big move. I hope to be proved wrong, but I think the team they have now will be similar to the one we see on Opening Day. I agree with your wins projection though, and also agree that they are better off using prospect capital on other pitchers not named Cabrera. In relation to your last comment, I used it in regards to free agent starters, not players like Tucker. It is a phrase I felt worked for the point I was trying to make, and I stick by that it works and isn't inapt. But, with anything, it is personal preference. If you were writing the piece, you no doubt would have gone for something different, but factually or grammatically I don't think it was incorrect to use. I mean, we're in January and those free agent pitchers are still out there. Anyway, regardless, always appreciate the feedback, always take it on board, and always appreciate your support and readership. Hope we're both wrong on the wins total
Andrew, look around the MLB market and what do you see? No one is giving these guys what they want! It’s not like the Mets are just watching the parade go by, it’s that they are patiently waiting and they are the ones with the money; they hold the cards! These free agents are the ones unemployed. You never give up the hammer.
I disagree, Texas Gus. I don't think the Mets hold any cards. I don't think they are really interested in anyone, it is just agent talk to make it seem as though they are. Read between the lines and the 2026 season screams rebuild. Happy to be proved wrong but, as of right now, that's my opinion, and that's based on a lot of things
Owen Cassie is almost a mirror image in numbers, K’s, and position to Ryan Clifford; there is no need to give up Tong or Sprout. Further, Cabrera has a history of wildness and with his first sign of a little improvement, the Marlins found a sucker. I don’t think either Cassie or Cabrera moves the needle too much.
I wouldn't give up Clifford. He's young and a power hitter. Pencil him to be our first baseman soon enough. Agree on at least Tong—he's also young and has three quality pitches. He's a keeper. Sprout is the guy I'd give up, but only in a deal for someone better than Gore—and not for one year of Peralta.