Bo Bichette was a somewhat unexpected addition to the Mets roster, so much of the team’s original offseason wishlist remains in place even after Bichette’s three-year, $126MM deal with New York earlier this week. According to The Athletic’s Will Sammon, the Mets remain on the hunt for rotation help, as well as “a versatile outfielder who can handle center field and support the corner spots.”
Looking at the list of available free agent outfielders, Mets target Cody Bellinger is the ideal fit for the team’s needs. Sammon reports that the Mets are still in on Bellinger, but only for the type of shorter-term (and presumably higher average annual value) contract Bichette received. This could be an issue since the hang-up between Bellinger and the Yankees seems to be a matter of contract length, with Bellinger wanting a longer deal than the five-year pact in the $155MM range that the Yankees reportedly have on the table.
Bellinger’s first two free agent contracts were a one-year deal with the Cubs worth $17.5MM in guaranteed money, and then a three-year, $80MM deal with Chicago that included opt-outs after each of the first two seasons. Bellinger passed on his first opt-out opportunity but changed teams anyway last winter when the Cubs traded him to the Yankees, and he then opted out last fall in the wake of a 4.9 fWAR season that saw him hit .272/.334/.480 with 29 homers over 656 plate appearances for the Bronx Bombers.
It isn’t a surprise that Bellinger is looking for some stability with his next deal, and coming off a solid platform season, the former NL MVP and agent Scott Boras have been aiming high in search of a seven-year deal. Whether the Yankees, Mets, or any team will match that ask remains to be seen, but in the Mets’ case, it would run counter to the team’s recent preference to sign players to shorter-term contracts. Perhaps a very large AAV (i.e. Bichette’s deal, or the four-year, $220MM deal the Mets reportedly offered to Kyle Tucker) would get Bellinger to budge, though if so, he could potentially see if the Yankees would also offer a similar pact if Bellinger has a preference to just return to his former team instead of another change of scenery.
Among other free agent outfielders, Harrison Bader is the only option that can truly be a defensive asset in center field. On the trade front, Sammon suggests the Astros’ Jake Meyers, the Cardinals’ Lars Nootbaar, or White Sox center fielder Luis Robert Jr. could be possibilities for the Mets, and both Nootbaar and Robert have been linked to New York already this winter.
Bellinger could also chip in at first base when he isn’t in the outfield. With Francisco Lindor returning at shortstop, the Mets’ revamped infield will also consist of Marcus Semien at second base, Bichette at third base for the first time in his pro career, and Jorge Polanco at first base for the first time in his pro career (save for one late-game cameo with Seattle last season). The designated hitter spot is open, so any of these veterans could be given the occasional DH day for partial rest and to give any of the Mets’ backups some playing time.
Sammon writes that New York views Brett Baty as a candidate to bounce around the diamond as a backup at second and third base, left field, and some first base if necessary. Mark Vientos, Luisangel Acuna, and Ronny Mauricio are also on hand as further infield depth. Any of the depth options could be dealt, of course, if the Mets view trades over bigger-ticket free agent signings as a better way to address their needs.
Turning to the pitching front, Sammon cites the Nationals’ MacKenzie Gore and the Royals’ Kris Bubic as two starters who could be “trade possibilities” for the Amazins, “though both are considered long shots” to be acquired. Within a Mets rotation full of health question marks and inexperienced arms, Bubic or especially Gore could be a stabilizing force.
Gore has been more good than great over his three seasons with Washington and might still have more upside, while the 2025 season represented the first time Bubic truly looked like a frontline arm. Bubic posted a 2.55 ERA, 24.4% strikeout rate, 8.2% walk rate and 47.2% ground ball rate over 116 1 /3 innings with Kansas City last year, before a rotator cuff strain cost him the last two months of the season. Gore is arbitration-controlled through the next two seasons, while Bubic is a free agent next winter.
Nats president of baseball operations Paul Toboni is known to be asking for a ton in return for Gore, and it could be that the Mets might have to pay a particular premium since they are one of the Nationals’ NL East rivals. Bubic’s impending free agency has made him perhaps the most logical trade candidate out of the Royals’ group of starters, but the outfield-needy Mets don’t match up too well with a K.C. team that also needs outfield help. One of New York’s infielders could theoretically be a fit for the Royals at second base, but the Royals appear to be giving Jonathan India a shot at a bounce-back year.
The door isn’t necessarily closed on the Mets signing a prominent free agent starter, though one might expect that the team would again prefer such a pitcher on a shorter-term contract. For pitchers like Framber Valdez (who has been linked to the Mets) or Zac Gallen who rejected a qualifying offer, the Mets would need to surrender two 2026 draft picks and an additional $1MM in international draft pool money to sign either player. New York already gave up that bounty to sign another qualified free agent in Bichette, and Sammon says the Mets wouldn’t be entirely adverse to giving up more QO-related penalties again for Valdez or Gallen, if the money was right.
What we learned about the Bichette deal is that Stearns FO does a great job keeping unintended leaks out of the press. It wont surprise me if they pull off a couple of unexpected moves.
Seemed more reactionary tbh, missed out on tucker after thinking they probably had him in the bag so they signed the next biggest name to save face to play a position he never has. They also realized they’ve done nothing to replace Alonso’s bat and the lineup was looking weak so they took plus righty bat.
Signing Bichette to play a position he has never played and will likely be terrible at less than 24 hours after Tucker signed elsewhere wasn’t “reactionary”?
The contract negotiations were in place for weeks. Having a shortstop play third base is both doable and full of previous precedent
@rey
giving Bo 4/$168 to play 3b was equal parts foolish and reactionary.
They had preliminary discussions with Bichette earlier in the winter. I would image they had a plan A, B, C scenario for their off-season.
Dude you are a jays fan and so am I, Bo was a beauty in Toronto, stop whining.
The Mutts signing Bichette made no sense whatsoever. They should have signed Bellinger and Framber instead.
They still might sign them both. Which should get them into the postseason.
They weren’t sure Tucker would sign w them. They obviously had a plan B and Bitchette was waiting for Tucker deal or he would have taken Philly offer. This offer was in the works as a pivot/plan B. You don’t sign that quick if there wasnt conversations in the works . Stearns obviously didn’t care or doesn’t care to save face when he literally gutted half the roster from last year. If he cared to save face he wouldn’t have traded fan favorites and/or would have signed fan favorites. Nothing to do with that at all.
Rey,
From the beginning of the offseason Stearns had said that improving defense up the middle, adding to the pitching staff, bringing back Alonso or bringing in 2 IF, and acquiring 1 OF was what the team was shooting for.
He got Semien which just made his 2B-SS combo one of the best in the game.
After Alonso signed in Baltimore, he got Polanco. Polanco’s 132 wRC+ last season and 114 wRC+ over the past 3 seasons is not as good as Alonso’s 141 last season and 127 over the past 3 seasons, but close enough that saving $11 million per season gave him the ammunition to go after some other big names.
Adding another plus bat in Bichette and his 134 wRC+ takes them into the black in hitting from the IF. That is a 23 percent increase at 3B to balance a 9 percent drop at 1B.
Bellinger would be an 11% increase over Nimmo if they are able to land him. I do think that adding an OF is a must at this point.
Devin Williams is one of the best relievers in baseball. Weaver is a rock solid setup man. It would have been nice to have both Diaz and Williams, but Diaz at that price and going into his age 32 season is someone that I personally would have passed on.
The only position the Mets have not added at is SP.
Players moving from SS to 3B as they age or lose a step is not an anomaly, it is the norm in MLB. What would be an anomaly would be a team signing the SS with the worst range in the game to play SS.
lol like they just began speaking and in less than 24 hours hammered out that ridiculous and complicated contract?
They signed Polanco to play 1st base. Was that reactionary too? He has literally played one pitch — not one inning — one PITCH at that position. In his entire career.
Like it or not, fan or not, right or wrong, Stearns is just not operating in any kind of usual way. Not even really defending him honestly. I think his moves this offseason (thus far) are quite confusing on the whole and are much more likely to not work out than they are to work out. But one of the last words I’d use to describe anything he’s ever done is ‘reactionary’.
Bichette was a back-up Plan B if Plan A (Tucker, obviously) didn’t work out.
Agree 100%. It’s not as if they are moving an outfielder to 3B.
Plus, there’s ST to work on defense. I still don’t like Polanco at 1B. Make him the DH and move Baty to 1B and sign Goldschmidt for defense in the 8th or 9th.
They wanted to focus on offense. It’s time to put all their chips on a full season of McLean, sproat, tong, Scott , Peterson, menace, Holmes, along with their existing starters. If they get something out of kodai Senga that will be great, but these other starters should give enough quality starts that if the offense is good, the Mets could still add a plus starter at the trade deadline, especially because they will still have majorly pieces like Baty and Vientos to potentially include in a trade. With that said, they will still sign Framber if he will agree to a three-year contract
I think the Mets like many reporters knew the Dodgers were lurking waiting to strike and top any offer to secure Tucker, which is why I think the Mets upped the ante to 4 years @ $55M to give the Dodgers a taste of their own medicine and run the price up on them. That said you don’t offer the deal unless you’re also ok with the possibility the player accepts it. Mets were loosely connected to Bichette prior and didn’t put that deal together in 2 hours they had definitely been engaged with Bichette camp who fits them better anyways, Tucker reeks of Anthony Rendon when it comes to passion for the game. I think the Mets just had to wait for Tuckers decision before getting to the finish line with Bichette on the off chance Tucker took their deal.
They had met with Bichette multiple times going back as far as November, it just wasn’t leaked. Their plan was to sign both Tucker and Bichette. This was confirmed by multiple sources. It was not reactionary.
Nah, they met with Bo before they traded for Semien. After that trade Bichette was not considered a possibility.
Cohen was on tilt and called Boras offering 3 years 126 to Bellinger. Boras said Bellinger doesn’t want a 3 year deal, but what about Bichette? And Stevey said, I guess it’s better than nothing
lol
If that’s what you want to believe, more power to you lol.
I don’t think they ever thought that Tucker was in the bag.
How do you expect anyone to take you seriously or to think you’re not 14 years old when you constantly refer to them as The Mutts? Do you think that’s funny or original? Genuinely curious.
Yeah, Stearns has impressed me in that regard.
The Bichette signing reeks of Cohen panic-buying because he didn’t get his dude. Not sure if Stearns was super involved on this deal as much as he might have been with the other moves made. Oh well, it does open up a potential trade to fill OF or SP.
I don’t see it as panic buying. Bichette has a very high on-base percentage. He is at the top or near the top in batting average with runners in scoring position. He has a little power also. He will likely be slightly better than average third base or at least average at third base, but he has a very potent bat. Salary may seem like an overpay, but major league baseball is getting used to the Dodgers obliterating any concept of rational salaries. In the same lineup as Soto he should easily have 100 RBI year. He could either bat before or after Soto.
It’s just that he isn’t a great fit with the already crowded infield and his defense is really bad at shortstop and completely unknown whether he can play 3B or 2B. Hard to say what they do, and this does give Stearns some options to play with as he completes the roster, but Cohen talked smack on Twitter regarding Tucker before he signed with the Dodgers and subsequently came out saying they offered him 220M. Then like a day later Bo signs to 3/126. It might not be full panic, but it sure does look that way.
The most casual take in the game. Even when owners are “involved” it’s still the GM/POBO running the show, ownership signs off on every move and get a little more involved when trying to court big fish but the idea that the Gm just steps to the side and the owner takes control of negotiations is naive and simple minded. Many analysts who are former GM addressed this take of yours after the Bichette deal. For some reason many fans want to give Cohen all the credit for the big signings and Stearns all the heat for everything else, it’s quite the agenda.
I’m not saying Stearns stepped aside completely either. Just that it might not have been all his idea or doing.
Letting Baty leave would be a mistake IMO. He seemed to turn the corner last year…
I would say makes sense to trade him at this point but it’s also quite likely bo is only there 1 year
Agreed. He may not mature into a superstar but I think he will be a valuable player over his career.
I thought he would be like Gregg Jefferies. Still might be.
iron: Huh? Jefferies had stone hands, no place on the field to hide him.
Baty’s defense isn’t something to write home about either, not as bad as Gregg though. Gregg also was versatile around the IF and Baty may become the same. I was mainly addressing hitting. If Baty can hit like Gregg and can still field, it would be a win. But if his hitting doesn’t advance, he becomes a bench player in his late 20’s.
Disagree, I think he’s an above average third baseman and statcast agrees in part. They list his arm as below average which conflicts with what I’ve observed. Jefferies wasn’t versatile: he was poor everywhere he was tried! I was a big fan of his and it was mighty disappointing.
That’s why he has value.
Vientos had the same kind of “turning the corner” type of season in 2024 that Baty had in 2025. I like that Baty’s footwork on defense got so much better and that he was able to play well at 2B too.
If I was the one having to make the decisions, I think I would trade Vientos over Baty because of that positional flexibility on defense.
Web’s: that’s an easy one. Doubt if there’s any of us who’d disagree.
No they did not. Veintos had a good second half and playoff run with the bat but that’s it. Baty had a good second half with the bat and a major improvement defensively playing between second and third base.
It would have to be for a very good player. I would consider him for Bostons Duran
Not sure who you are responding to baked? Duran has a 6.7 WAR average the past 2 seasons which is in the top 3 OF in the game and there are 3 years of team control. McLean and Baty might not be enough to get him.
Web’s#2: I don’t know why Boston would consider trading him. If I’m Stearns, McLean is untouchable.
I don’t think it’s a 1-1 but Duran has been mentioned many times as a trade candidate because the Sox have a crowded OF and need a 3b
I’ve seen packages around Sproat and Baty
The Mets have a ton of infielders that they should use to get a quality pitcher in return.
Vientos & baty maybe have value the other 2 do not
Baty has some value. Vientos has almost none.
Those infielders have thus far underachieved and not proven much. Not sure how much quality you think the Mets would get for them.
If the Mets are looking to exchange prospect who haven’t worked out as hoped in a change of scenery trade, sure. If you think they will get a star, or even a solid starting player in return, its not happening.
Straight up Peralta for Baty please…
Would still wager Bellinger goes back to NYY. Stearns operates in silence to the consternation of Heyman. upper tier SP to pair with stud McLean seems greater immediate need. Still have that logjam of young IF you’d have to assume they deal from.
Pitching is easily their need. The lineup has taken a hit since last year but it’s still above average, it’s good enough to win games. The SP simply isn’t
I would push back against their current lineup being a step back. Less HR’s? Sure. Overall production? I would expect the run output to be the same or better, and that’s before another potential addition.
What makes you think that? Polonco has been a below average bat for the majority of his career but because he a good postseason at his age 30 something season people are expecting him to suddenly become good, siemen hasn’t been a good hitter for over 2 years and was down right awful last season, Veintos had one good second half and post season run and then was boarderline unplayable for stretches last season, there’s zero offense in the outfield aside from Soto, sure Bo is a nice pick up (from a strictly offensive standpoint) but even with him the additions no where near make up for the subtractions.
Bellinger is returning to the Yankees because he wants to play in the playoffs instead of watching the playoffs at home. Like the Mets did last year. That the Reds made the playoffs and not the Mets and their payroll is an epic fail
Bellinger should return to the Yankees so he can put up good numbers to inflate his value for future opt outs.
Have you seen his home/away splits? He’s nothing more than a 2 WAR player without 81 games at Yankee Stadium..
Streams should also be commended for outside the box thinking. No other team has previously tried a five-man rotation at 2nd base.
*Stearns
Don’t you hate it when you lay out a great joke and its left hanging by spellcheck?
Autocorrect/spellcheck is truly the nemesis of the snarky commentator.
Yup. Usually teams load up on pitching or SS.
New market inefficiency is to load up on as many 2b as u can
If the Mets want to do anything this year to compete with the Dodgers, the least they can do is also sign Bellinger and perhaps go after Valdez. Bellinger is a must since he can cover two major positions of need.
The Mets signing all three of Bichette, Bellinger, and Valdez would be highly unlikely. Bichette plus one of them would be very unlikely.
Bill, why? Its not like they don’t have the money and they have at least $43 million and possibly $85 million coming off the books at season’s end.
Because it would cost an absurd amount of draft capital from their 2026 draft(2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th picks). Then they would have to acquire almost $2M in international funds just to be possible as well that they would then turn around and forfeit. Forfeiting 4 draft picks from a single draft plus trading at least 2 prospects for international money just to forfeit for short term solutions is just not good team building and is so unlike Stearns. Also from the money standpoint because they are 110% tax payers it would cost Cohen a ton, if Bichette opts out after 1 year it cost the Mets $97M for 1 season between his salary, the bonus & tax penalties, now imagine a similar cost x2 to bring in Valdez & Bellinger. Just not realistic at all, they may bite the bullet and acquire 1 if it’s on their terms but any other acquisitions will be via trade.
You realize that is lunch money to Cohen. As for the draft picks they currently have one of the best farm systems out there and have acquired more international money. While I don’t believe they’d get both, Bellinger would be my guess.
At some point all teams have to decide if a ring is more important than a draft pick. Statistically a high 1st round pick that has 3% shot at having one season in his career as good as Bellinger’s average the past 3 seasons. With a farm system as strong and as close to contributing as the Mets have, it makes sense to go for it now.
They have already given up one draft pick for Bichette. It would be just two more for Bellinger and Valdez.
The upcoming draft is as meh as the FA market is looking to be. There is no one exciting at all at the back of the 1st round. If there was ever a time to go all in, now is the time.
They would be adding at least one and possibly 2 draft picks this coming offseason from the FA they are going to give QO’s to. Yes, they will be 4th round picks, but in a draft as bad as the upcoming one, you have as much shot at them contributing at some level as any of the ones they would be giving up. In fact, they might be some of the ones they ARE giving up.
Cohen has never shown any indication that spending any amount of money was off the table. Prior to signing Bichette he was willing to go nuclear on Tucker and saying that they would have still been looking for pitching and another veteran infielder even if they had signed him.
Not saying they will go all scorched earth, but flags fly forever. The Mets have a very good team right now and a few more pieces will make it an exceptionally good team.
Bellinger doesn’t have a QO attached so he doesn’t cost any picks. They’re also only losing one pick by signing Bichette because the comp pick they would get for Diaz cancels out the other one.
So since flags fly forever, why aren’t you celebrating the one you have? Did they take it down? Or does the flag being able to fly mean nothing?
It doesn’t matter what they do since they banking on young starters so if they dknt perform, they are not going anywhere.
Add in they will need an MVP type season from Soto n maybe Lindor.
Then Bo and Palonco need to repeat last years numbers, mutts in business
Not to be overly pessimistic, but when was the last time a team of mercenaries like the Mets are going to be have enough runway to build a culture and the team cohesion needed to get them to a World Series?? Getting rid of the players whom the fan base adored. Sticking new guys at positions they have never played before. Homegrown players? Maybe at catcher and a couple starting pitchers. It’s a lot to ask for a hodge-podge team like this to instantly come together and succeed.
Some uninformed takes on this site re: Bichette deal. Multiple reports have come last 48 hours that the two sides had been in contact since November.
So?
Teams are always in communication w FA players but that isn’t saying much. While it’s possible the Mets wanted Tucker and Bichette this sure reeks of a desperation pivot. It kept him away from Philly but wouldn’t they have been better off w Alonso at 5/155 than Bichette at 3/126? They talked about improving defense this offseason. Having Bichette play third doesn’t help matters.
@johncal25
They already had talks with him and is how a deal got done so quickly. Opportunistic for both sides.
You have made this same comment multiple times. It doesn’t reek of anything. You want it to be a desperation pivot because that would fit with a narrative you have about Stearns. The facts speak otherwise.
Sign Bellinger, Sign Valdez
Trade for Peralta & Megill, Trade for Luis Robert, Jr.
And have a payroll of almost a half of a billion dollars?
Leave off Robert in his scenario and they are at about $404 million. Still 2nd to the Dodgers in total spending.
Signing Bellinger and Valdez for $65 million and trading for Peralta at $8 million would be a huge increase in performance for that team. To me it would make them the odds-on favorites to win the NL East and put them on par with the Dodgers overall.
It had been reported early in the offseason that the Mets were looking to run with a $310-325 million dollar payroll in 2026. Signing Bichette pushed them to $336 million, which is $11 million over their own stated goal. I can’t see them pushing $400 million. More likely they sign Griffin Canning than Framber Valdez at this point (unless Valdez gets desperate enough for a pillow contract)
I’d pay money to see the Megill brothers beat the tar out of Judge and Stanton. Hee hee hee.
I’d be shocked if the Mets don’t make a trade or two before opening day. Especially if we don’t sign Bellinger and/or Valdez.
After a relatively quiet weekend there’s lots of chatter regarding Bellinger tonight. Finality to this situation could be coming soon.
Could be had for 6/225 IMO.
and that is too much to pay for him, IMO for any team except the Yankees. He is perfectly suited to their ballpark.
BTW, the Yankees were supposedly at 5/$155 with him already. So you want to give him $70 million for that last year????
Just used to having to overpay being a SFG fan. You want a power bat ?
Add a year, add a million to the AAV, and round up with a signing bonus.
That’s what it takes to come in second.
5/$155 is already an over pay. Why would any team top that?! With Tucker, the argument can be made that he can put up better numbers than last year. With Bichette, the argument can be made that a top of the order hitter can greatly increase the offense. With Bellinger, most think he was a product of the stadium, and even if he stays put, he’s pretty much what he did last year, and unlikely to put up better numbers, especially if he leaves.
Plus Bo is still so young
Really hard to name a signing this year that isn’t an overpay.
Small market team fans are always angry over because they don’t get free agents. They get better draft picks.
All baseball clubs develop entitled fanbases. Giants have in just keeping large money names on payroll. Quick rookie stars taunting unforgiving vampires would xerox young zombies.
Now say that completely backwards as fast as you can. Seibmoz gnuoy xorex dluow seripmav …
I learned long ago from a cop that when asked to do the alphabet backwards during a sobriety test, the fail is merely trying.
I passed one once and was let go, but that was in simpler times.
Pour out the beer and move along days are over. Maybe it’s a good thing.
Astros, the Padres are a small market team. They realized that high attendance combined with the money the team earns for playoff games can make all the difference. Add exceptional scouting and analytics staff to that and you have a team that has been in the playoffs 4 of 6 years, has sold out season tickets 4 years running, and has seen revenue skyrocket.
San Diego is 100% a small market by any metric besides franchise value. And even then they’re only like 17th or something.
‘Market size’ isn’t the same thing (or even close to the same thing) as ‘city population’.
Umm, no. The Padres are cutting payroll now. They’ve been losing money for a couple years. Your version is just convenient fantasy.
Seam, the Padres are not cutting payroll now. They are close to where they were last season and have said they are still adding, specifically a SP and a 1B. Stop listening to the idiots on here and look at what they have actually done.
They dipped under the CBT one season and then went right back to spending. Most teams other than the Dodgers and Yankees who have nearly unlimited revenue streams operate exactly like that.
The Padres are in the 30th largest media market in the US and 27th largest in MLB. Look up Nielsen DMA rankings 2025.
The city of San Diego ranks 12th in population among MLB cities, but the metro area ranks 18th with a population of 3,298,799, just behind Tampa.
Because they are locked in by an international border on the south, the Imperial Valley desert with practically no people on the east, and the LA/OC market to the north, they are extremely limited in the area they can draw revenue from.
Yes, San Diego is definitely a small market.
According to Sports Business Journal, San Diego ranks as the 30th largest TV/media market in the US.
There are 30 MLB teams, and the only teams in smaller media markets than San Diego are the ones in Kansas City, Cincinnati, Milwaukee, and soon to be Las Vegas.
Objectively, yes, San Diego is a small market.
sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2025/09/29/us-m…
Sounds exactly like you’re explaining a mid sized market not a small one. Didn’t realize 3.3 million metro population was small
Houston is the #5 in America.
I don’t get why we don’t operate like a big market team. I mean, at least extend your stars.
Did I say the Padres were a large market team?
Let Bellinger walk Yanks, aren’t winning with him anyway.
Sky is Blue type article
Let Baty play LF and maybe bring in a RH platoon option (Grichuck, McCormick)
Bring back Jose Quintana or take a flier on Lucas Giolito. Maybe Gallen would be willing to sign a pillow deal?
The Mets payroll is sitting at about $336 million and additions of Bellinger and Valdez would push them over $400 million, which they probably don’t want to go to
“Take a flier on Giolito.” Not a bad idea, hadn’t thought of that one. His name hasn’t been mentioned much lately.
Please that’s the guy that wants Dominguez, Jones, Lombard and Rodriguez for Hunter Greene. Greene apparently is afraid of NY. No need for him here. (Sonny Gray) He could have Chapman back if he wants him so badly.
@99
Where did this narrative of Hunter Green bring scared of NY come from?
He made it up.
@Knicks: his source is ‘Trust me bro’
Kuty has consistently reported numbers below what the actual offers were and significantly underestimated what players actually signed for. The Yankees are at $35 million AAV and 5 years.
The AAV doesn’t seem to be the hang up in the negotiations with the Yankees, the years are. Opt outs have no value to a 31-year-old player and will not influence Bellinger to take a deal unless the AAV is much higher. If the Mets wanted to offer 3/150 with opt outs after year 1 and 2, then that might sway him, but offering the Yankees offering the same AAV with opt outs in 2 to 3 years is not worth anything to a player his age.
I’m not so sure that after the arbitrators give Skubal $32 million that the Tigers won’t call the Mets.
McLean isn’t going anywhere, but Tong, Baty, Jett Williams and Sprout would get the Tiger’s attention.
That would be an absurd offer.
How about the Tigers take Mauricio over Baty and throw in Max Anderson.
Skubal and Anderson for Tong, Sprout, Mauricio and Williams.
Tigers don’t want or need a LH 3B. They have invested long term in Keith, and have an All-Star in McKinstry, both LH. Taking McLean off the table just makes it easier for other teams to top your offer. Guess you weren’t serious.
Yea, let build our 3b future around Zach mckinstry
McLean should be off the table. When Skubal is making $32 million, it decreases his value in a trade. He should still command a lot, but not nearly as much as if he was making $20 million or less. And this is a RENTAL. No reason McLean needs to be included when they have so many other assets to trade.
No mention of Duran? That fits the bill for them
Wait? Higher annual value than Bichette on a short term deal? Really?
I have a feeling the Mets are gonna swoop in and steal Bellinger for three years at $120-$130m. Opt outs after year one and two. I bet something happens within 24 hours. I just have that feeling.
It would go against what Bellinger wants. Dude isn’t getting younger.
100%
He takes anything w heavy opt outs, hes staying w yanks to inflate his numbers and re enter.
Only way hes going to mutts is 7 years 240ish
Bret Baty is almost exactly what Seattle is looking for in a veteran for 2B/3B help. And they have MLB-ready former #1 draft pick SP Emerson Hancock to trade, as well as an outfielder in either Luke Raley (hurt in 2025) or Dom Canzone. You’d think they’d be talking and making a move soon.
Curious if the Mets fans would make this deal:
Mets Get: Jarren Duran (3yrs), Brayan Bello (5yrs)
Red Sox Get: Brett Baty (4yrs), Jett Williams (#3), Jonah Tong (#4), Jacob Reimer (#6)
It’s far more of a perfect trade for the Mets than the Red Sox (Baty is a LHH with short track record), so the prospect package would have to be steep.
On a side note: any chance the Mets would include Francisco Alvarez in a Duran deal?
I don’t know anything about Bello, but I like Duran. I really don’t wanna give up on Brett Baty. Maybe Mauricio instead? And I say hell no to getting rid of Alvarez. I think he still needs some time to show whether or not he can be more consistent, but I really like him.
Not a chance. Bello isn’t that good, and Duran has had his attitude questioned at times.
Stearns isn’t so apt to trade 3 of his top 6 prospects in a deal.
Bello is no better than Peterson Manaea, Holmes, Sproat or Tong. Why don’t the RS trade Abreu instead of Duran?
Based on past performance Bello is a clear upgrade over Holmes or Sproat. He also has better pure stuff than most (probably all) of those guys but hasn’t been able to put it all together to be more than a mid rotation starter – which is the only reason he’s available at the age of 26.
There’s no ‘question’ to Duran’s attitude. He’s an extremely hard worker who has become one of the Red Sox clubhouse leaders. He once used a gay slur when yelling back at a heckling fan, which he apologized for, is that what you’re referencing?
Trading Duran makes a bit more sense than trading Abreu as he would likely provides a larger return and his plus CF defense is wasted in the smallest LF in baseball, but I’m sure they’re open to trading Abreu. Abreu is a RFer, so I don’t see him as the best fit for the Mets.
The high price is due to the seemingly perfect fit for these two win-now players on the Mets and the Red Sox need to pivot toward other moves after the trade.
Good information on Duran, and as a Sox fan I take your word for it. He’s a solid OFer.
I do disagree about Bello. He’s a decent innings eater (and admittedly young), but doesn’t K many (2.08 K/BB rate is not good), and has a meh WHIP and FIP.
Sproat had some mechanical things last year that made his offerings more hittable compared to previous. Personally I think they should ease him into the rotation via the pen next year.
As for your proposal of Baty, Sproat, Jett and Reimer for the duo, I would not. I actually still like Jett as PCA-lite.
Baty-Sproat for Duran I would have to think hard.
Bello is coming off his worst K/BB season. Strikeouts have never been a strength for him, and this is why he hasn’t become a top-of-rotation starter. But he throws 96mph with movement and solid off speed pitches, so from a ‘stuff’ perspective he should be able to get Ks, but hasn’t after 3 years. However he’s a good ground ball pitcher, which is how he’s been able to out perform his peripherals. But if you were wanting to keep one of your top prospects and Boston keeps Bello, that’s good by me.
Sorry, but Sproat + Baty is a non-starter. Baty isn’t a perfect fit for Boston and Sproat would be their 10th or 11th best starting pitcher – no point adding a guy who would struggle to make the AAA rotation (which will be best in baseball) while using up a 40-man spot. It would have to be Baty+Williams/Tong+more for Duran. The gap between Duran and Baty is too large and the player fits benefit the Mets more than the Red Sox.
Duran would be a perfect fit for the Mets, but he’s a great fit for a bunch of other teams and the Red Sox aren’t in a rush to trade him.
If I am Stearns, I am looking at more of a Jake Meyers anyhow rather than the two they are always tied to…Duran and Robert.
Benge and Williams are both going to be very good, and Ewing is right behind them.
I disagree on Sproat. I think you are undervaluing him. But I think we all do that.
I wouldn’t be moving any pitching other than maybe Gordon in any deal this winter. Let them percolate while Peterson, Manea, Senga cycle through.
They are absolutely loaded if even 1/3 of the pitching prospects pan out.
Jake Meyers is a solid platoon CFer – is that what you mean? Can’t imagine he’s available as the Astros are a bit thin in the OF. Seems like you are looking for more of a short-term band-aid CF until Jett is ready (looks like he may still be a year or so off).
Kyle Harrison is currently the Red Sox #10 starter (11th when Houck returns) and he was a top-25 prospect. I think I’d still take Harrison over Sproat, who’s a year older. So there’s just no place for Sproat on the Red Sox. I’m sure he’s valuable to many teams, but not a good fit, and not good enough to be a 2nd piece in a Duran trade.
McLean looks like the real deal. I really like Tong’s upside as well. Not so high on the rest of them, but as you mentioned, you don’t need them all to hit for a good result.
The article was about how the Mets were still looking for starting pitching, and I doubt any top starters are getting moved at this point (Valdez is still out there or course). But if the Mets don’t want to trade their top prospects, then maybe Patrick Sandoval would be a good option if he’s looking good in spring training. He has only one year left, so unlikely to be too pricey.
Who is Gordon?
baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=gor…
I don’t get it. Why would he factor into this? 4th or 5th piece?
Not trading. Another arm that is on the rise that I might include in a trade for a need.
Price for Duran and rentals isn’t worth it at the moment. Too many prospects that could near or exceed pitchers and Oafs on the market.
Cardinal rule: never trade pitching for anything other than pitching or up the middle needs (C, SS, CF). Cardinal rule 2: never trade prospects for rental pitching unless you are sure they are the difference.
That was my point with Gordon. Honestly, I don’t think the Mets need to add anything other than a flexible OF under control that is not super pricey in prospects (Austin Hays, Jake Meyers types), and someone like Kopech to shorten the game.
Whether everyone agrees with me or not, they have enough pitching with high upside. If they can sign a Giolito, Bassitt, Littell on the short term one year, perfect.
Peralta, Skubal will be on the market soon enough.
Red Sox need a RH INF, Baty is too similar to Mayer offensively. Duran and Bello are worth much more than that offer
If I’m trading Williams, it had better be for an ace or elite player. He’s looked fantastic every step of the way, is ready to make the jump to ML and can play premium positions like CF.
If the Mets go for pitchers with lower walk rates, that would help.
They have had an abundance of infield prospects that they could have traded for pitching when their value was high. Now they load up on infielders and will have to trade those prospects now that they have little value. I just don’t get Stearns