Just Mets Digest - December 7 - 14
Here's a roundup of this week's Mets news and stories, and notes from around the league
What’s Up with the Mets? 🍎
December 14
The Mets will be retiring David Wright’s number 5 and inducting him into their hall of fame in July (Story)
December 13
The Mets officially introduced RF Juan Soto at Citi Field on Thursday afternoon (press conference)
Steve Cohen told reporters at Citi Field on Thursday that the club is “still engaged” with 1B Pete Alonso in free agency (The Athletic)
December 12
Pete Alonso’s agent, Scott Boras, said on Wednesday he and Alonso have begun meeting with teams and insists his market is robust
The Mets are open to trading OF Starling Marte this winter, and are willing to pay down some of the $19.5 million owed over the final year of his deal (SI | Athletic)
The Mets and Reds are talking to the agents for RHP Nick Pivetta (Heyman | Sherman)
The Mets were unable to land Garrett Crochet in part because they weren’t willing to deal both Jett Williams and Brandon Sproat - the White Sox were looking for two top 100 prospects (New York Post)
The Mets lost RHP Mike Vasil to the Phillies and LHP Nate Lavender to the Rays in the Rule 5 Draft - they must be carried on the active roster for the entire season, or be returned to the Mets for a fee - the Phillies traded Vasil to the Rays for cash
December 11
3B Nolan Arenado would approve a deal to the Mets, Angels, Dodgers, Padres, Phillies, or Red Sox (MLB.com)
Rōki Sasaki’s agent, Joel Wolfe, told reporters on Tuesday Sasaki had issues with the media in Japan last season, and while he feels like he would have no problem playing in New York, he could prefer playing in a smaller market
Sasaki's agents like Jeremy Hefner and his/the club's ability to develop pitching
David Stearns met with the media on Tuesday and discussed a variety of topics including Clay Holmes as a starter, the health of Kodai Senga, and the Mets pursuit of Rōki Sasaki. You can listen to his media session here (SNY)
There’s no specific budget number Stearns has to stick to - he expects to always maintain very high payrolls but understands funding is not limitless despite the motivation from ownership to win
The Mets will make every effort to sign Rōki Sasaki, but Stearns also warned that all 30 clubs will be involved and the international free agency rules offers challenges in their pursuit
The Mets will operate under the assumption they will not sign Sasaki given the competition and timetable for his decision
Kodai Senga has not begun throwing yet, but that is normal for him at this point in the winter and he is expected to have a normal off-season, as long as he feels good
With uncertainty around Senga, Stearns said they need 8-10 starting pitchers top to bottom in the organization for the major league team
The team doesn’t believe in innings limits with any major league pitcher - they believe in player monitoring and adjusting their workloads as they go
The Mets are going to be active in both free agency and the trade markets for pitching
Most of the time, the Mets will employ a six-man rotation outside of off-days and exceptions in the schedule
The Mets “have to be” open to trading some of their top prospects to improve the major league club, although they aren’t ever actively looking to trade them
“Its important for us to have space for young players to play,” Stearns said regarding affording opportunities for their prospects to come to the major leagues
December 10
There is “increasing optimism” that the Mets could reunite with LHP Sean Manaea (SNY)
President of baseball operations David Stearns spoke at the Winter Meetings on a number of topics, including stressing the fact that the team will have the resources to bring free agent 1B Pete Alonso back to Queens (SNY)
The Mets are among the teams showing interest in 3B Alex Bregman (KPRC2 Houston)
The Mets officially announced the signing of RHP Clay Holmes to a three-year contract with a player opt out after the 2026 season
December 8 & 9
Inside the Mets negotiation to land Soto (Athletic)
December 7
Brett Baty is garnering interest in trade talks (New York Post)
The Mets acquired minor league RHP Sean Harney in exchange for international bonus pool money, and signed OF Edward Olivares to a minor league contract with an invite to spring training
The Mets made their two-year deal with RHP Frankie Montas official on Friday (release)
Injury Updates 🏥
RHP Paul Blackburn is on track to be ready for Opening Day after undergoing spinal fluid leak surgery in October
INF Ronny Mauricio has resumed baseball activities and is heading “in the right direction” following surgery to repair a torn ACL in December
Hot Stove ♨️
The Cubs signed catcher Carson Kelly to a two-year, $11.5 million contract
The Yankees acquired RHP Devin Williams from the Brewers in exchange for LHP Nestor Cortes, and infield prospect Caleb Durbin (official)
The Yankees are interested in Anthony Santander, who is looking for a five-year contract (New York Post)
The Cubs got Kyle Tucker from the Astros in exchange for INF Isaac Paredes, RHP Hayden Wesneski, and infield prospect Cam Smith (ESPN)
The Mariners are fielding a high volume of calls from teams interested in trading for RHP Luis Castillo (MLB.com)
The Padres have discussed potential trades for 2B Luis Arráez (San Diego Union-Tribune)
The Yankees have Pete Alonso on their radar (New York Post)
The Blue Jays and Giants are currently the most aggressive teams vying for RHP Corbin Burnes (MLB.com)
The Red Sox are also looking at Corbin Burnes (Boston Globe)
The Astros are talking to the Cubs and the Yankees about a trade involving OF Kyle Tucker (Athletic)
The Red Sox are trying to acquire a starting pitcher from the Mariners (MLB Network)
The Nationals are interested in signing Gleyber Torres as a third baseman (New York Post)
Boston has interest in RHP Walker Buehler (Boston Globe)
The Angels and Blue Jays are showing interest in INF Gleyber Torres (MLB Network)
The Red Sox intend to make an offer to Corbin Burnes (MassLive)
The Reds are among many teams showing interest in Cubs OF Luis Robert Jr. (Cincinnati Enquirer)
The Padres are exploring interest in RHP Dylan Cease (San Diego Union Tribune)
The agent for Cubs OF Seiya Suzuki, Joel Wolfe, said the player was unhappy about being relegated to DH duties in 2024, but only has a small number of trades he would consider a move for (ESPN)
The Blue Jays are interested in a reunion with free agent OF Teoscar Hernández (Toronto Star)
The Marlins are fielding a ton of calls on LHP Jesús Luzardo with Miami open to listening to trade offers (MLB Network)
The Dodgers have checked in on both RHP Devin Williams and LHP Tanner Scott, two of the top relievers available this offseason (The Athletic)
Detroit is showing interest in seven-time All-Star 1B Paul Goldschmidt, who is a first-time free agent (MLB Network)
After missing out on Juan Soto, the Blue Jays, Yankees and Red Sox are all showing strong interest in free agent OF Anthony Santander (MLB Network)
Detroit is looking to be active this winter and the ballclub is in on righties Walker Buehler and Kyle Gibson, as well as LHP Andrew Heaney (Detroit Free Press)
Houston is aggressively shopping RHP Ryan Pressly (USA Today)
The Athletics are hopeful to reach a contract extension with Brent Rooker (MLB.com)
The Yankees, Dodgers, Red Sox and Blue Jays could turn their attention towards a pursuit of Anthony Santander and Teoscar Hernandez (MLB Network)
The Braves are willing to exceed the luxury tax in 2025 (Athletic)
The Giants are receiving a lot of interest on hard throwing RHP Camilo Doval (SF Chronicle)
The Reds are showing interest in trading for Lane Thomas and Josh Naylor (Cincinnati Enquirer)
The Cubs are determined to trade Seiya Suzuki or Cody Bellinger (New York Post)
Stories ✍️
A new era of Mets baseball has begun (MacLeod)
Where might Pete Alonso’s market be right now? (Baron)
What is the Mets plan for DH in 2025? (Mears)
Digesting the game-changing impact of Soto’s arrival to the Mets (Baron)
Juan Soto is just the beginning for the Mets this winter (Steele)
Steve Cohen delivers his signature moment (Mears)
Notes on where the Mets might stand in their pursuit of Roki Sasaki (Baron)