Here are three things for MLBTR readers to keep an eye on throughout the day:
1. Relief market buzzing:
Last night saw the Mets sign right-hander Devin Williams to a three-year, $51MM deal (with $15MM in deferrals). It’s the latest in a string of relief signings that also includes deals for Ryan Helsley, Raisel Iglesias, and Phil Maton. With three impact closers already off the board and a number of teams (including the Blue Jays, Dodgers, and Marlins) known to be looking for relief help this winter, that can only be good news for the remaining high-leverage relief arms on the market. Edwin Diaz remains at the front of the pack, with Robert Suarez, Pete Fairbanks, Emilio Pagan, and Kyle Finnegan among the many noteworthy bullpen arms still available on the market.
2. Mets land a big fish:
Last night’s Williams deal provides cover for the Mets if Diaz winds up signing elsewhere, though they’re also not ruling out a reunion with their star ninth-inning man. Regardless of what happens with Diaz, there’s plenty more work to be done for the Mets this winter. Pete Alonso needs to be re-signed or replaced on the infield, there are multiple holes in the outfield, and trade candidacies for players like Jeff McNeil and Kodai Senga have yet to be resolved. And that’s all before considering the Mets’ well-known desire to improve the front of their rotation this winter. It’s already been a busy offseason in Queens — the Mets also swapped out Brandon Nimmo for Marcus Semien — but president of baseball operations David Stearns shows no signs of slowing down yet.
3. MLBTR chat today:
The offseason is underway, and the hot stove is starting to sizzle. Five of MLBTR’s top 50 free agents have signed so far (in addition to the four who accepted qualifying offers), and the trade market has started buzzing early as Taylor Ward, Grayson Rodriguez, Marcus Semien, and Brandon Nimmo have all changed hands in the first few weeks of the offseason. Whether your team is looking to load up for a playoff run next year or rebuild for the future, MLBTR’s Steve Adams has you covered in a live chat at 11am CT later today. You can click here to ask a question in advance, join in live once the chat begins, or read the transcript once the chat is complete.
I can’t say that the trade market is ‘buzzing’ when all it has managed is one swap of sharply negative value players and one of very low value players. (Ward value is like $3mm since he is close to fully paid for his 1 yr, and who knows what Rodriguez’s scans look like. Well the O’s and Angels do and they swapped a very low value for him.)
Interesting names but nothing much in value moving. Whispering? Murmuring? Not buzzing.
FA relievers, that’s buzzing.
AJ Preller hasn’t even had his morning coffee this off-season.
Buzzing indeed.
@Saj”Ward value is like $3mmsince he close to fully paid for his 1 year” WTH are talking about?? And who gave him a thumbs up?
It’s excess value, i.e. the amount his projected performance is worth after subtracting his salary.
Baseball Trade Values site has a pretty good model for valuation and it gives him that price. He will be paid about $13mm and they assess his on the field value at $17. This valuation makes sense because he has been with 2.2 bWAR per year over the past 3, which at $8mm each works out to about that. You could call it $5mm if you want.
it’s still a pretty small number when the average team spends $150mm.
Devin Williams is a “big fish”??? LOL 😆. More like a goldfish floating belly up in the fish bowl.
They paid him like one. The little I saw or heard about him last season he really struggled.
I believe you will be wrong (so do the Mets). At least a goldfish is small if you have to eat your words, LOL. Sorry, but I really hope you have to.
LGM! (And the ’86 team was my favorite, except for Gil’s boys in ’69.)
I’m stoked the Mets are overpaying for what they think is their set up man. It’s and indication of them spending that casino money now.
No Offense but Cohen is the richest owner in Baseball. They have the richest player in Baseball and Cohen has spent big money since he bought the team. The Casino $$$ will be a small drop in the bucket of his huge bank account.
Kenny Powers is THE pitcher that all other pitchers are measured by.
More like a former big fish they hope will regain his status.
S/o to Rich Paul for a nice mlb FA signing. I think his agency is in the nba, wnba, nfl and mlb now. I think he has other mlb guys too. next? nhl? Good going coming from humble beginnings. a nice story as to how LBJ didn’t give him a fish but helped him learn how to fish for himself.
Lindon B Johnson?
Lindon?
Baines?
Harold?
sarcasm, is that you?
MLB needs to have end of off season shutdown say mid December and then a reopening on February 1st. This slow slog of free agency provides little excitement. Need to have a closed window which will allow for a flurry of activity prior to Holiday season and then a pile of activity in February before Spring training opens… Current slog system makes little sense in generating interest….
@jmid-2 You should have been around in the 60s and 70’s. No cable TV. No DVR to watch games you recorded during the season to fill the void. No internet to get news about your favorite team. You had to rely on the local news. Living in Orange County the Angels were the 2nd banana.
If the Dodgers sneezed they reported it. The Dodgers used to host a game on a Sunday Afternoon in February vs The USC Trojans. Free admission and free parking.. Got every excited about the upcoming season.
It’s times like this that I can understand why Hoyer doesn’t like signing big free agent relievers. Devin Williams is not worth what he got from the Mets, but good luck to him.
I agree it’s not something all teams like to do but if we’re a betting man I’d bet Williams has a much better year and earns that money. I’d prefer my team do that than sign Diaz for even more and even longer…