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.
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.
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.