Just Mets Digest: January 26 - February 1

Here's a roundup of this week's Mets news and stories, and notes from around the league

USA Today Sports

What’s Up with the Mets This Week? 🍎

February 1

• The Mets signed INF Nick Madrigal to a split major league contract, and designated INF Luis De Los Santos for assignment - Madrigal will earn $1.35 million if in the majors (NY Post)

• There is some belief the Mets have made progress on a deal for Pete Alonso,although they have checked in on the availability of Rays 1B Yandy Díaz as another backup possibility (SI)

• The Mets have shown interest in reliever Ryan Brasier, who was recently designated for assignment by the Dodgers (SI)

• The Mets equipment truck left for Port St. Lucie on Friday

January 31

• The Mets are interested in acquiring and have engaged in discussions with the Padres for RHP Dylan Cease (NY Post)

• The Mets have offered old friend Mark Canha a non-guaranteed deal for this season (NY Post)

• The Reds are seen as a dark horse team that could potentially sign Pete Alonso(NY Post)

• Former Met Howard Johnson planned on being at Amazin’ Day but unfortunately missed the event since is due to have surgery on his foot (Jay Horwitz)

• The team designated Dylan Covey for assignment to make room for Ryne Stanek on the roster

January 30

• The Mets bolstered their bullpen by reportedly re-signing right-handed reliever Ryne Stanek to a one-year contract (story)

• The Mets have spoken to the Padres about RHP Dylan Cease and RHP Michael King, who are both available via trade. The Braves are among other teams also showing interest (Sports Illustrated)

• MLB agents have recently been informed that they can no longer contact free agent 1B Pete Alonso, which suggests that Alonso intends to continue his working relationship with Scott Boras (Sportsnet)

• There is still a school of thought that the Mets and Alonso can come to some sort of agreement (Heyman)

• The Mets attended a bullpen session for former ace Max Scherzer, and have some level of interest in reuniting with the free agent RHP (SI)

• INF Jett Williams ranked (No. 34), RHP Brandon Sproat (No. 62), INF Ronny Mauricio (No. 67), and CF Drew Gilbert (No. 84) all featured in Kiley McDaniel’s Top 100 Prospects for 2025 List (ESPN)

• Spring is (nearly) here! The Mets equipment truck will leave from Citi Field for Port St. Lucie this coming Friday

January 29

• It’s going to be difficult for the Blue Jays to top the most recent contract that the Mets offered 1B Pete Alonso (SNY)

• Last week, the Mets reportedly offered Alonso a three-year contract worth $70 million that included opt-outs and deferrals

• Steve Cohen has re-engaged with Scott Boras in the Alonso negotiations (Heyman)

• Mets SS Francisco Lindor should be the franchise’s next captain (Heyman)

• The Mets have expressed interest in a trade for 1B Ryan Mountcastle (SI)

January 28

• The Mets are among several teams that remain in the mix for free agent left-handed reliever Tim Hill (SI)

• Gary Cohen will be hosting an ‘Amazin’ Conversations’ event with Steve Cohen, David Stearns and Carlos Mendoza at 7 p.m. ET on SNY on Tuesday night

• RHP Brandon Sproat (No. 30), SS Jett Williams (No. 61) and INF Ronny Mauricio (No. 91) all featured in Keith Law’s 2025 Top 100 MLB Prospects ranking list (The Athletic)

• OF José Siri was on the winning team as Leones del Escogido defeated the Tigres del Licey in a thrilling Game 7 of the LIDOM Championship on Monday night

January 27

• Pete Alonso pivoting to a Yoenis Cespedes type deal with the Mets makes sense on both sides (SI)

• Scott Boras has proposed a player opt-out with a buy out proposal for Pete Alonso to the Mets (WFAN)

• Mets Manager Carlos Mendoza assured Clay Holmes he will remain in the rotation even if he struggles (New York Post)

January 26

• Scott Boras - who is representing Pete Alonso - feels his client’s parameters are fair and not extraordinary with respect to other All-Star caliber players (Athletic)

• Mets Manager Carlos Mendoza said, in advance of the possibility of Pete Alonsodeparting, both Mark Vientos and Brett Baty have begun working at first base during their off-season workouts. He also noted both Jared Young and Joey Meneses - who are non-roster invitees - could be options at first base as well

• The Mets unveiled their 2025 road jersey at Amazin’ Day at Citi Field on Saturday, paying homage to their 1987 road jersey with the “NEW YORK” script on front (video)

• Clay Holmes has begun his transition program to a starter in Port St. Lucie

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Injury Updates 🏥

• Brandon Nimmo - who dealt with plantar fasciitis in 2024 - has not added running to his off-season workouts yet

• AJ Minter - who underwent hip surgery in August - has not yet begun to throw off a mound. He hopes to do so this week

• Ronny Mauricio - who tore his ACL in December, 2023 and had surgery to remove scar tissue in the knee last summer - is performing all baseball activities except for sprinting. He will not be sprinting by the time spring training begins on February 12

• Dedniel Nunez - who suffered an elbow strain that cost him much of the second half in 2024 - is throwing bullpen sessions in the Dominican Republic

• Paul Blackburn - who underwent spinal leak surgery in October - just began to throw lightly from a mound this week

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Hot Stove Roundup ♨️

February 1

• The Blue Jays might have a six-year offer on the table for Alex Bregman (USA Today)

• RHP Lance Lynn is drawing interest in the relief market (Athletic)

• JD Martínez has decided he wants to play in 2025 (NY Post)

• The Rangers are receiving a lot of trade interest in OF Leody Taveras (Dallas Morning News)

• The Padres avoided arbitration with RHP Michael King, signing him to a one-year, $7.75 million contract with a $15 million mutual option for 2026 (SD Union-Tribune)

• The Orioles acquired INF Luis Vázquez from the Cubs (official)

• The Diamondbacks signed INF Garrett Hampson to a minor league deal and invited him to major league spring training

January 31

• The Cubs are also interested in Dylan Cease, but the Padres may prefer the Mets crop of prospects (NY Post)

• Lance Lynn is reportedly drawing interest from teams as a closer (The Athletic)

• The White Sox were working on a potential deal to send Luis Robert Jr. to the Reds, but the trade fell apart when the two sides couldn’t agree on how much salary Cincinnati would take on (The Athletic)

• The Yankees are still in the market for and infielder and a lefty reliever (MLB.com)

• The Blue Jays signed Max Scherzer to a one-year deal worth $15.5 million

• The Mariners brought back Jorge Polanco one a one-year, $7.75 million contract

• Ha-Seong Kim signed with the Tampa Bay Rays for two years and $29 million

January 30

• The Blue Jays have appeared as a major front runner for the services of RHP Max Scherzer (MLB.com)

• It is appearing less and less likely that free agent 3B Alex Bregman will end up in Boston with the Red Sox (Talkin’ Baseball)

• Nolan Arenado may have to settle for starting the year with the Cardinals with the third baseman’s trade market having all but stalled (MLB Network)

• The Kansas City Royals agreed to terms with closer Carlos Estévez on a two-year deal (ESPN)

• The Cincinnati Reds swung a trade, acquiring reliever Taylor Rogers from the Giants for RHP Braxton Roxby (FanSided)

• INF Ha-Seong Kim reached an agreement with the Rays on a two-year, $29 million contract with an opt-out after the first season (ESPN)

• The Tigers bolstered their bullpen by signing free agent reliever Tommy Kahnle to a one-year, $7.75 million deal (FanSided)

• The Pittsburgh Pirates announced that 2B Adam Frazier was returning to the team on a one-year deal

• The Chicago Cubs announced a major addition to Wrigley Field, with “The Yard” set to make its debut in 2025 (SBJ)

January 29

• Even after acquiring RHP Ryan Pressly from Houston, the Cubs are “not done” looking to upgrade their bullpen (670 The Score)

• The Reds have signed OF Austin Hays to a one-year, $5 million contract (Rosenthal)

• The Orioles officially re-signed UTL Jorge Mateo to a one-year, $3.55 million contract extension with a club option for 2026

• The Padres have reportedly re-signed C Elias Díaz to a one-year, $3.5 million contract with a mutual option for the 2026 season (El Extrabase)

January 28

• The Astros are showing strong interest in free agent veteran infielder Jorge Polanco (The Athletic)

• Former Met righty reliever Ryne Stanek is drawing interest with the Braves and the Cubs, with other teams perhaps involved too (MLB.com)

• The Padres have discussed RHP Michael King in trade talks, with RHP Dylan Cease also remaining in play too (The Athletic)

• The Angels are still looking to fill two, maybe even three bullpen spots this offseason (The Athletic)

• The Texas Rangers signed RHP Jesse Chavez to a minor league deal with an invite to Major League spring training

• The Baltimore Orioles agreed to terms with free agent OF Dylan Carlson on a one-year contract for the 2025 season

• The Orioles also announced that they are bringing back Adam Jones to the organization as a special adviser and community ambassador

• The Rangers announced the creation of Rangers Sports Network, a club-affiliated entity that will handle all of the franchise’s broadcasting deals

January 27

• Astros RHP Cristian Javier is targeting a 2nd half return from Tommy John surgery (KPRC2)

• Cardinals President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak would like to create a clean slate for his successor, a philosophy that is guiding the Guardians roster decisions this winter (St. Louis Post Dispatch)

• Former Mets righty Chris Mazza threw for interested teams yesterday as he attempts to return from Tommy John surgery that cost him all of 2024 (FanSided)

• The Padres are expected to have a top 10 payroll in 2025 (San Diego Union Tribune)

• The Diamondbacks are still looking for relievers and a right-handed hitter (AZ Republic)

• Right-handed closer Ryan Pressly waived his no trade clause to facilitate a trade that will send him from Houston to the Cubs (Athletic)

• Trevor Bauer is signing with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars in the NPB for the 2025 season (Nikkan Sports)

January 26

• The Brewers and the Cubs are showing interest in RHP Ryne Stanek (MLB.com)

• Alex Bregman and the Astros have had positive conversations recently, but GM Dana Brown still views a reunion as a long shot (MLB.com)

• The Red Sox would sign Bregman to a short-term deal (Boston Globe)

• Carlos Correa has fully recovered from his plantar fasciitis and is ready to go at 100% for spring training (Star Tribune)

• Neither Lance McCullers Jr. or Luis García will be ready for the Astros on Opening Day (Athletic)

• Charlie Blackmon is joining the Rockies as a special assistant to the GM (official)

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Stories ✍️

• How realistic is a Dylan Cease trade for the Mets? (Baron)

• Mark Canha would be a good low cost addition (Surovich)

• Does the Ryne Stanek signing pave the way for a Pete Alonso return? (Steele)

• What can the Mets realistically expect from Jeff McNeil? (MacLeod)

• The Mets should really consider a trade for Dylan Cease (Steele)

• At what point does stubborn become silly? (Mears)

• Two things which could be factoring into the Pete Alonso calculus (Baron)