Get real, guys. The Mets are not landing Tucker or Bellinger!!!!
Stearns wants to make room for Benge and Jett Williams in the OF for 2026. They both may not arrive until ASB, but Stearns does not want to block their progress and ascent to
"The Show".
Instead, they will sign a player like Bader and split CF/LF between him, Taylor and Acuna until the young uns ' are ready.
One other caveat:
AJ Ewing is the future CF in this organization. He may not be ready until 2027. But they also need to make room for him as he may be the most exciting player to arrive on the Mets in the next several years (think Lenny Dykstra with more base-stealing potential).
Your degree of certainty is duly noted. Hope you haven't hacked Stearns's phone. And I hope you're right about Ewing. Maybe he should get a couple of AAA at bats before we get over-enthused. Remember Kelenic? OPS of 1.106 in AAA at age 21. The idea of not signing someone of Tucker's stature because you have a blue chip prospect in AA is quite a reach.
I think that Stearns has been quite transparent in his predilection towards fortifying a future team with the prospects who are on the horizon. I.e., no new contracts which will block future prospects (i.e., Benge, Jett Williams, etc.).
Re: Ewing. He is a much different type of hitter than Kelenic. Ewing is a contact hitter who has a great eye. His hitting skills are much more likely to translate to MLB than Kelenic's.
Nope. Stearns speaks in generalities as he must and he's never said long terms are out. It depends on how long is long and, of course, the price. While we're at it, suppose the Mets don't sign bellinger or tucker or valdez or sanchez because they find other teams who'll give them the terms they seek. Care to hazard a guess what the Mets record will be?
Joel, they could sign all 4 of your aforementioned players and finish behind the Phils & Braves.
It's not necessarily about 2026, but as both Stearns and Cohen alluded to (5 years ago), it is about building a consistent winner.
I believe that the Mets will go all-in when the talent is undisputed. None of the 4 you have mentioned are stars; Tucker is real good, but he wasn't even the best hitter on the Cubs last year or the Astros in previous years.
Overspending and tethering yourself to long-term contracts on the top FAs for a given year (when they are not franchise players) is just foolish and impulsive!
If the immediate future and the WS is in his mind, at this point in time, LA and Toronto are way better situated than the Mets. If money will do it, the Mets gotta go high and aggressively upfront.
Is there an angle? Yes, less taxes than both the Jays and Bums.
As a QO player, all these guys come with a $1MM international signing forfeiture and losing two draft picks. Too, they lose 10 spots every year. We may as well expect MLB to raise these penalties with the new Dodgers tax over the Cohen tax. The Mets need to reset, it’s obvious.
Sign Chris Bassett and a plug and play outfielder, and get under the cap when $74MM come off next year.
Also, do they need to wait until after January 15th to sign a QO so the penalty in funds is next year? They are trying to steal a big prospect and need to actually trade for international money…
The Mets aren’t giving out any long term FA contracts this year. Should a Tucker fall to them it’ll be with opt outs.
Get real, guys. The Mets are not landing Tucker or Bellinger!!!!
Stearns wants to make room for Benge and Jett Williams in the OF for 2026. They both may not arrive until ASB, but Stearns does not want to block their progress and ascent to
"The Show".
Instead, they will sign a player like Bader and split CF/LF between him, Taylor and Acuna until the young uns ' are ready.
One other caveat:
AJ Ewing is the future CF in this organization. He may not be ready until 2027. But they also need to make room for him as he may be the most exciting player to arrive on the Mets in the next several years (think Lenny Dykstra with more base-stealing potential).
Your degree of certainty is duly noted. Hope you haven't hacked Stearns's phone. And I hope you're right about Ewing. Maybe he should get a couple of AAA at bats before we get over-enthused. Remember Kelenic? OPS of 1.106 in AAA at age 21. The idea of not signing someone of Tucker's stature because you have a blue chip prospect in AA is quite a reach.
Joel,
I think that Stearns has been quite transparent in his predilection towards fortifying a future team with the prospects who are on the horizon. I.e., no new contracts which will block future prospects (i.e., Benge, Jett Williams, etc.).
Re: Ewing. He is a much different type of hitter than Kelenic. Ewing is a contact hitter who has a great eye. His hitting skills are much more likely to translate to MLB than Kelenic's.
Nope. Stearns speaks in generalities as he must and he's never said long terms are out. It depends on how long is long and, of course, the price. While we're at it, suppose the Mets don't sign bellinger or tucker or valdez or sanchez because they find other teams who'll give them the terms they seek. Care to hazard a guess what the Mets record will be?
Ewing (should he continue to develop) will be an ideal leadoff hitter. (Think Jose Reyes-like).
Get him!
Joel, they could sign all 4 of your aforementioned players and finish behind the Phils & Braves.
It's not necessarily about 2026, but as both Stearns and Cohen alluded to (5 years ago), it is about building a consistent winner.
I believe that the Mets will go all-in when the talent is undisputed. None of the 4 you have mentioned are stars; Tucker is real good, but he wasn't even the best hitter on the Cubs last year or the Astros in previous years.
Overspending and tethering yourself to long-term contracts on the top FAs for a given year (when they are not franchise players) is just foolish and impulsive!
I don't see any FA signings from the Mets other than - maybe - one starter.
I don't see any FA signings from the Mets other than - maybe - one starter.
If the immediate future and the WS is in his mind, at this point in time, LA and Toronto are way better situated than the Mets. If money will do it, the Mets gotta go high and aggressively upfront.
Is there an angle? Yes, less taxes than both the Jays and Bums.
As a QO player, all these guys come with a $1MM international signing forfeiture and losing two draft picks. Too, they lose 10 spots every year. We may as well expect MLB to raise these penalties with the new Dodgers tax over the Cohen tax. The Mets need to reset, it’s obvious.
Sign Chris Bassett and a plug and play outfielder, and get under the cap when $74MM come off next year.
Also, do they need to wait until after January 15th to sign a QO so the penalty in funds is next year? They are trying to steal a big prospect and need to actually trade for international money…
Texas Gus,
You are absolutely in tune with the formula that Stearns intends to put in place. Great job!!!