Mets continue to shop for starting pitching, no meeting scheduled with Brandon Nimmo

The Mets continue to look at options to fill their need in the middle of their starting rotation

What’s Up with the Mets? 🍎

• The Mets and Brandon Nimmo - who is is San Diego for the Winter Meetings - remain in contact, but are not scheduled to meet at this time (New York Post)

  • Read about the consequences for the Mets if Nimmo signs elsewhere here

• Nimmo, Michael Conforto and maybe Cody Bellinger may not sign deals until Aaron Judge chooses his new team (SI)

• The Mets are among six teams interested in signing RHP Kodai Senga (New York Post)

• The Mets remain, “squarely in the mix” for RHP Jameson Taillon, and are also connected with Ross Stripling and José Quintana (Fantrax)

• If they are unable to retain Brandon Nimmo, the Mets will consider signing Kevin Kiermaier for the outfield (New York Post)

• Seth Lugo is drawing interest as a starting pitcher, with the Padres among the teams in on his market (New York Post)

• The Mets signed RHPs Tommy Hunter and Sean Reid-Foley to minor league contracts

• Edwin Díaz has won the 2022 Trevor Hoffman NL Reliever of the Year Award

---

Examining José Quintana, Ross Stripling as mid-rotation options for the Mets ✍🏻

With the Mets agreeing to sign RHP Justin Verlander to a two-year, $86 million contract on Monday, they still need to procure at least one major league starting pitcher for the middle of their rotation. Here’s a look at a few more options the club might be considering this week at the winter meetings…

• José Quintana

  • Quintana, 33, is coming off a strong bounce back season with the Pirates and Cardinals in 2022 proving he was both healthy and effective with a 6-7 record and a 2.93 ERA over 165.2 IP with 137 strikeouts against 47 walks. He was in the 89th percentile in opposing chase rate in 2022 along with the 83rd percentile in hard-hit rate against thanks to his top-tiered fastball/curveball combination, with a -17 and -10 run value respectively on those pitches. He is left-handed and pitches to contact but generally keeps the ball in the yard - he led all of baseball in 2022 with 0.4 home runs allowed per nine innings. After his career got off to a fast start with the Cubs from 2012-2016, he was slightly below league average from 2017-2021, posting a 4.51 ERA and a 96 ERA+ during that five year span. He has an 89-87 lifetime record with a 3.75 ERA over his 11-year career with the White Sox, Cubs, Cardinals, Giants and Pirates.

• Ross Stripling

  • Like Quintana, Stripling, 33, generally keeps the ball in the ballpark - he allowed 0.8 home runs per nine innings in 2022. In addition, he kept his walk total down and has generally been known as a strike thrower throughout his career. He went 10-4 with a 3.01 ERA in 32 appearances, 24 starts over 134.1 IP in 2022, striking out 111 batters and allowing just 12 home runs the entire season. His 1.3 walks-per-nine-innings put him in the 98th percentile in walk rate, and he was in the 93rd percentile in opposing chase rate. In addition, each of his four-seamer, change-up, slider and sinker had above average run value last season, with his slider proving to be his most effective pitch at -7. The 134.1 IP in 2022 marked a career-high for Stripling - he is 38-38 with a 3.78 ERA in his seven-year career with the Dodgers and Blue Jays.

For profiles on Kodai Senga, Jameson Taillon and Chris Bassitt, check out this post from December 3.

---

Buzz from the Winter Meetings 🔥

• The Rangers are signing Andrew Heaney to a two-year, $25 million contract (ESPN)

• The Yankees agreed to sign Tommy Kahnle back on a two-year, $11.5 million deal (Athletic, New York Post)

• The Yankees are still considered the favorites for Aaron Judge, but it is believed the Giants have a $360 million offer on the table for him (New York Post)

• Josh Bell and the Guardians have agreed to a two-year, $33 million contract (ESPN)

• The Angels signed reliever Carlos Estevez to a two-year, $13.5 million deal (New York Post)

• Former Phillies RHP Vince Velasquez has agreed to a one-year, $3.5 million deal with the Pirates (ESPN, FanSided)

• The A’s have agreed to sign Jace Peterson to a two-year deal (FanSided)

• Japanese star OF Masataka Yoshida has officially become an MLB free agent

• Evan Longoria wants to play for a contender - he is discussing options with five teams (New York Post)

• The Dodgers and Marlins are talking to free agent 3B Justin Turner (New York Post)

• The Cardinals are still the favorites to sign C Willson Contreras (New York Post)

• The Guardians are eying 1B Josh Bell, and the Blue Jays have their eyes on Cody Bellinger (New York Post, links)

• The Diamondbacks believe they could deal from their outfield surplus (AZ Republic)

• The Braves intend to go to spring training with all three of their current catchers (Travis d'Arnaud, Manny Piña, and William Contreras (Athletic)

• The Blue Jays have their eye on Michael Brantley as they seek to add a left-handed bat (SportsNet)