You're right, it's very hard to wait to see how things unfold. Checking sportspyder 10 times a day doesn't seem to generate any Mets transactions. I'm having to accept that it's plausible that they try to plug all their holes with prospects and keep publicly repeating, "No, we're not in rebuilding mode. We think we have a competitive team". I still think that given the huge investment in Soto, spending big bucks on Kyle Tucker makes perfect sense and would instantly transform this into a good team, assuming there's some pitching additions as well.
Tucker is the only free agent who makes sense to me. (I'm assuming Belli has no intention of leaving the friendly confines of Yankee Stadium and brought the Giants in as a stalking horse.)
And even there, I'm not so sure. He doesn't answer the glaring need for a right-handed stick in center who can also go and get it.
He definitely answers the question in left field — or, I should say, corner outfield, since he and Soto might flip. I'd certainly rather have him out there than McNeil, who I assume is penciled in to start in left right now.
Stearns has a plan and highly doubt Bellinger will be signed now too. The trade market is where this team gets better. AJ Preller is trying to pry McClean in any deal that includes Mason Miller so the Mets can forget about him too. There are some real good bullpen arms there besides him that fit the Stearns philosophy. Guys who are ascending and have years of control before they hit free agency. Their names are not household ones which is why they escape me at the moment. The Mets have a ton of minor league players that will enter the rule 5 draft next year and if they aren’t going to make the big league club it’s better they are used in a trade than lose them for nothing. I’d look at Mauricio at first base too. He ha great hands and it tall. He also is having a great winter ball I’m hearing. Polanco is t going to be the Mets first baseman. He might be passable around the infield but a gold glover he is not. The Mets overpaid for him as he was set to go back to Seattle. He will be mostly a DH. With the lockout coming it’s more of a be year deal really. I’d also look for a deal with the Brewers. Sal Frelick and maybe Megil plus or minus Peralta. I also believe a deal with the Padres will happen as I’ve heard Pivetta being the headliner. I doubt Tatis is coming but Preller needs to cut payroll and with him anything is possible. Stearns has his philosophy and we may not like it but he’s implementing it. My hope is he doesn’t become so rigid with it that it makes the Mets a team nobody wants to play for. Stay tuned
Playing Polanco at 1B makes no sense at all. He's a sub par defender who spent the majority of last season as e DH and would be ideal in that capacity for the Mets. On the other hand, it perfectly illustrates why first basemen aren't valued as highly in free agency as other position players--anyone can play there. Dave Kingman played there. So did Pete Alonso. Mark Vientos can play there.
Speaking of Vientos, I think trading him would be a mistake. Coming off a poor season, his trade value is diminished. I believe the root of his problem last season was that he let his success in 2024 go to his head. He came into the season full of himself as the incumbent third baseman and didn't work hard in Spring Training. Once the season started, he got off to a poor start and wasn't able tobl pull his head out of his butt and start to turn things around until he found himself out of a starting role. I believe that experience has humbled him and he'll come back strong next season.
Very sceptical of playing armchair psychotherapist with athletes. We don't really know them. I do agree that his trade value must be rock bottom right now and I wouldn't be disappointed if they keep him and see if he can bounce back. Same can be said about Senga.
You're right, it's very hard to wait to see how things unfold. Checking sportspyder 10 times a day doesn't seem to generate any Mets transactions. I'm having to accept that it's plausible that they try to plug all their holes with prospects and keep publicly repeating, "No, we're not in rebuilding mode. We think we have a competitive team". I still think that given the huge investment in Soto, spending big bucks on Kyle Tucker makes perfect sense and would instantly transform this into a good team, assuming there's some pitching additions as well.
Tucker is the only free agent who makes sense to me. (I'm assuming Belli has no intention of leaving the friendly confines of Yankee Stadium and brought the Giants in as a stalking horse.)
And even there, I'm not so sure. He doesn't answer the glaring need for a right-handed stick in center who can also go and get it.
He definitely answers the question in left field — or, I should say, corner outfield, since he and Soto might flip. I'd certainly rather have him out there than McNeil, who I assume is penciled in to start in left right now.
So, maybe.
Stearns has a plan and highly doubt Bellinger will be signed now too. The trade market is where this team gets better. AJ Preller is trying to pry McClean in any deal that includes Mason Miller so the Mets can forget about him too. There are some real good bullpen arms there besides him that fit the Stearns philosophy. Guys who are ascending and have years of control before they hit free agency. Their names are not household ones which is why they escape me at the moment. The Mets have a ton of minor league players that will enter the rule 5 draft next year and if they aren’t going to make the big league club it’s better they are used in a trade than lose them for nothing. I’d look at Mauricio at first base too. He ha great hands and it tall. He also is having a great winter ball I’m hearing. Polanco is t going to be the Mets first baseman. He might be passable around the infield but a gold glover he is not. The Mets overpaid for him as he was set to go back to Seattle. He will be mostly a DH. With the lockout coming it’s more of a be year deal really. I’d also look for a deal with the Brewers. Sal Frelick and maybe Megil plus or minus Peralta. I also believe a deal with the Padres will happen as I’ve heard Pivetta being the headliner. I doubt Tatis is coming but Preller needs to cut payroll and with him anything is possible. Stearns has his philosophy and we may not like it but he’s implementing it. My hope is he doesn’t become so rigid with it that it makes the Mets a team nobody wants to play for. Stay tuned
Playing Polanco at 1B makes no sense at all. He's a sub par defender who spent the majority of last season as e DH and would be ideal in that capacity for the Mets. On the other hand, it perfectly illustrates why first basemen aren't valued as highly in free agency as other position players--anyone can play there. Dave Kingman played there. So did Pete Alonso. Mark Vientos can play there.
Speaking of Vientos, I think trading him would be a mistake. Coming off a poor season, his trade value is diminished. I believe the root of his problem last season was that he let his success in 2024 go to his head. He came into the season full of himself as the incumbent third baseman and didn't work hard in Spring Training. Once the season started, he got off to a poor start and wasn't able tobl pull his head out of his butt and start to turn things around until he found himself out of a starting role. I believe that experience has humbled him and he'll come back strong next season.
Very sceptical of playing armchair psychotherapist with athletes. We don't really know them. I do agree that his trade value must be rock bottom right now and I wouldn't be disappointed if they keep him and see if he can bounce back. Same can be said about Senga.