In his media availability on Wednesday, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters that the team will be having certain guest instructors during spring training. The three that he mentioned are Mets legends Carlos Beltrán, Edgardo Alfonzo and Darryl Strawberry. Mendoza said that the three former big league All-Stars will have lockers and uniforms available to them just like the rest of the coaching staff.

Carlos Beltrán. USA Today

The new Mets manager mentioned how he is excited to have guys like them around as they can share experiences with the younger players. Having veterans who have “been around the block” could be especially beneficial for the Mets as they continue to embrace their latest youth movement. 

Latest Mets News

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza told the media that Kodai Senga did not work out on Wednesday as he has been dealing with arm fatigue. On SNY‘s Hot Stove, the Mets manager said, “Early reports, seems like we’re not too concerned.” Click here for the full story.

Mendoza also mentioned how he and the Mets coaching and training staff have been conscious of telling Edwin Díaz to pull it back a bit after being out for almost a full year, per Pat Ragazzo of SI.com.

Tylor Megill, José Butto, and Max Kranick are expected to pitch the first three games for the Mets in the Grapefruit League, per Mike Puma of the NY Post. Click here for more on the report!

Latest MLB News

Free agent relief pitcher Derek Law and the Washington Nationals came to an agreement on a minor league deal, per Robert Murray of FanSided. The deal includes an invite to spring training and pays $1.5 million with the opportunity to make $500k in incentives. 

Netflix announced that they are working on a documentary that will detail the happenings around the Expos’ abandonment of Montreal. 

Former White Sox and now free agent shortstop Tim Anderson has reportedly received an offer from the Miami Marlins to be their primary shortstop, per Jon Morosi of MLB Network. 

Eric Hosmer officially announced his retirement from the game of baseball as well as the launch of his new media company, Moonball Media. 

Stephen Nesbitt and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic published an article detailing how the Pirates’ chronically frugal owner is hamstringing their ability to succeed. 

The Red Sox have reportedly shown interest in free agent third baseman Gio Urshela, per Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com. Boston lost third baseman Justin Turner to the Blue Jays this offseason. 

The Milwaukee Brewers officially announced the signings of Brandon Woodruff and Gary Sánchez. In a corresponding move they DFA’d Jahmai Jones to make room on the 40-man roster. 

Brayan Bello and the Boston Red Sox are reportedly working on a contract extension that would keep the 24-year old in Boston for the foreseeable future, per Chris Cotillo. 

Latest on MMO

Take a look at 71-75 in Mike Mayer’s “Top 75 Mets Prospects.”

See the Mets’ pitching plan for the start of their Grapefruit League games.

Mets and Francisco Álvarez not discussing extension, despite erroneous report. 

On This Date in Mets History

Birthdays: Tim Peterson (33), Chris Bassitt (35), Kelly Johnson (42), J.J. Putz (47)

The post Morning Briefing: Beltrán, Alfonzo, Strawberry Mentoring Mets appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Today’s biggest news is that Baltimore Orioles owner John Angelos has agreed to sell the team in a deal worth $1.725 billion to a group led by Baltimore billionaire David Rubenstein. Puck News first reported the deal. 

Mike Arougheti, the co-founder of Ares Management Corp., is a major player in the deal. Rubenstein is worth $4.6 billion, according to Forbes, while Arougheti is worth $1.8 billion. Andy Kostka of the Baltimore Banner reports that former Orioles legend Cal Ripken Jr. will be part of the ownership group. 

A timeline for the deal to be completed is unknown. 

The Orioles surprised many this past season as its young core won 101 games and cruised to an AL East title. 

Baltimore is home to some of the sport’s brightest young stars, with the likes of Gunnar Henderson and Adley Rutschman dazzling the loyal fans at Camden Yards. 

Due to Angelos’ stingy spending style, it was long expected a number of the young stars finding their stride in the majors were going to follow a path blazed by Manny Machado and find their riches elsewhere after their first contract. With new ownership, there may be reason to be optimistic about that fact. 

Latest Mets News 

The Mets announced the return of Adam Ottavino on a one-year contract. 

The Athletic published the annual Mets fan survey.

The Mets signed José Rondón to a minor league deal. 

Andy Martino of SNY said pitcher Brandon Woodruff is “worth keeping an eye on” for Mets fans. 

Latest MLB News

Pieces of a stolen Jackie Robinson statue were found burned in Kansas. A GoFundMe to replace the statue has been made. 

Justin Turner will sign with the Blue Jays, per Jon Morosi of MLB Network. 

Longtime New York Post writer Andrew Marchand has announced he is leaving for The Athletic. 

The Yankees are signing outfielder Greg Allen to a minor league contract, per Robert Murray of Fansided. 

The Royals made a trade with the Mariners to clear a roster spot with Adam Frazier, per Mark Feinsand of mlb.com. 

World Series MVP Corey Seager underwent sports hernia surgery, the Rangers announced. 

The Cubs are the most likely landing spot for Cody Bellinger, per Morosi. 

Nick Solak is joining the Mariners on a minor league contract, per Murray. 

Latest on MMO 

Christian De Block profiles free agent Brandon Belt. 

The Mets Madness series between the 2006 and 2019 Mets went seven games. Patrick Glynn details the thrilling series. 

If the Mets have to choose between adding pitching or power, what should they do? Patrick Glynn gives an answer. 

On this Date in Mets History

1962: Ralph Kiner officially signed on to the Mets broadcast team, kickstarting a stint full of memorable moments, affectionately remembered as “Kinerisms.” 

Birthdays: Alex Claudio (32), Guillermo Heredia (33), Rafael Santana (66), Bob Apodaca (74), Nolan Ryan (77)

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The deal will be worth $13 million with $1.5 million in performance bonuses. That is just about the same base salary Turner declined in a player option from the Red Sox in November, but that contract had a $6.7 million buyout, too. Thus, Turner will earn close to $20 million this season in total and will now sit at around $120 million for his career. Amazing.

David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

Even at his older age, Turner put in a solid season for the Red Sox in 2023. He slashed .276/.345/.455/.800 over 626 plate appearances—the second most on the team. He slugged 23 homers, knocked in 96 and post 1.2 WAR. (Having to log 300 innings in the field—primarily at first base—affected his overall value.)

The Mets were reportedly interested in Turner all offseason, but the team doesn’t seemed inclined to spend big dollars on someone who is primarily designated hitter. Mark Vientos will seem to get the lion’s share of DH at-bats as the team heads into spring training.

If the Mets do decide to sign a DH, players like J.D. Martinez, Jorge Soler and Brandon Belt are still on the market.

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Pederson, who spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers and then the most recent two with the San Francisco Giants, has played 1,003 of his 1,140 career games for NL West teams. The Diamondbacks are one of three teams he has played against more than 100 times, and he has a .746 OPS in 56 games at Chase Field — his second-worst mark among NL West ballparks.

Pederson’s signing could kick off the designated hitter market, which has moved slower than most other positions even in this offseason. Pederson can still play the field, but had just 23 starts in the outfield compared to 72 starts at DH in 2023.

Aside from Shohei Ohtani, who is really in a category of his own, only Mitch Garver has signed among free agents expected to primarily DH. Players still available include J.D. Martinez, Justin Turner and Jorge Soler. While the Mets were never linked to Pederson, they have been linked to the other three at various points in the offseason. Maybe Pederson to Arizona, if the deal gets done, could get the ball rolling.

The post Arizona Diamondbacks Close to Deal With Joc Pederson appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Some of the prime free agents—Cody Bellinger, Blake Snell, Jordan Montgomery—remain unsigned, and that’s trickled down to the designated hitter market. J.D. Martinez, Justin Turner, and Jorge Soler have merely had rumors attached to them (the Mets being connected somehow to all three), but there’s been no significant movement with them. It’s been mum around Joc Pederson, Rhys Hoskins and Brandon Belt, too.

Despite the Mets’ need for power bats, Ken Rosenthal’s Tuesday report analyzing the DH market reported that the Mets “do not seem inclined to spend on a DH, preferring to create opportunities for internal options such as Mark Vientos.”

Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports

He also suggested Starling Marte, who is trying to get back to full speed in the Domincan Winter League after an injury-riddled 2023, could get plenty of run at DH this season. That makes sense given Marte is entering his age 35 season, and his defensive capabilities have fallen off. But this would also create a log jam at DH without a ton of solid defensive replacements in right field. Jeff McNeil could certainly play there, as could DJ Stewart. But you’d probably rather have Vientos’ power threat in the lineup as often as possible over Marte at DH, given Vientos acclimates better to MLB pitching this year.

Signing a DH wasn’t one of David Stearns’ priorities entering the offseason. Starting pitching and improving the defense were areas Stearns looked to improve the team without breaking the bank. But the Mets have made no improvements in the power department this offseason. Could the market reach the point where one of the aforementioned names become a steal? The Mets could then be inclined to sign someone. But for now, as the spring approaches, it looks like Mark Vientos will get a good and honest look at DH. They’ll be banking on his success.

Read our Crossfire on if the Mets should stick with internal DH options or sign someone.

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However, after all that, the Mets made only one postseason appearance since Cohen’s takeover. They took on the Padres in the Wild Card round in 2022 and looked like ghosts of their 100+ win season. Cohen landed his white whale this offseason in David Stearns, years after pining for him. After naming him president of baseball operations, the two agreed that the previous approach didn’t work and the Mets would pivot.

Gone were the days of splashy signings, although the Mets made an admirable run for Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Instead, the team agreed to multiple minor league deals with veteran players, especially with infielders noted for their defense. In addition, they signed Luis Severino, Harrison Bader, Sean Manaea, Joey Wendle, Michael Tonkin and Jorge López. The Mets then traded for Adrian Houser, Tyrone Taylor and Yohan Ramirez, to name a few.

Manaea signed the lengthiest contract, only two years. A majority of the players signed have high upside, with low-medium risk. It’s a new approach for a team accustomed to shopping in the designer aisle. All that said, the question is: is this approach enough for the Mets to compete in 2024 and make it back to the postseason?

Photo via New York Mets

IT STARTS UP TOP

While Stearns is heading the baseball operations department, one of the most crucial signings of the offseason was to fill the vacant manager spot. The Mets and Buck Showalter mutually parted ways in October, and the team hired former Yankees bench coach Carlos Mendoza to replace him.

With glowing reviews from around the baseball community, Mendoza brings a refreshed mindset and mentality to Queens. He brings youth, leadership and compassion, all critical skills for someone to lead a team to a playoff race. Mendoza will be the fifth manager in Queens in just the past seven seasons. New York is a challenging place to play, and Mendoza isn’t just up for the task; he welcomes it.

Photo by John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports

DEPTH IS THE NAME OF THE GAME

You’ve heard it countless times because it’s one of the most vital parts of the game: you can never have too much depth. The Mets found that out the hard way last season on Opening Day when they placed Verlander on the IL. Scherzer joined him on and off throughout his stint in Queens, and the Mets relied on Tylor Megill, Joey Lucchesi, David Peterson and José Butto. 

With only Kodai Senga and José Quintana as the two shoo-ins for the rotation, the Mets bulked up their rotation depth. Peterson is out until mid-season recovering from hip surgery. To compensate, the team acquired Houser and signed both Manaea and Severino. While Severino remains a wild card and Manaea looks to bounce back, the Mets will likely have to rely on their depth throughout their season.

While Severino is a bit of a wild card right now, the Mets also have the Keep an eye out for Christian Scott and Mike Vasil, who look to join the big league rotation at some point during the season. 

However, the bullpen remains on shaky ground. With Edwin Díaz, Brooks Raley and Drew Smith the only returning arms, plenty of slots remain up for grabs. While names like Wandy Peralta and David Robertson remain on the reliever market, the Mets also have Nate Lavender in the minors. He’s sure to get a good look this spring.

Photo by Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

NO LONGER A LIABILITY

For some time, the Mets’ defense was, well, comical. They ranked towards the bottom of the league years in a row and made easy plays look difficult. Their combined fielding stats for the 2018-2023 seasons land them 25th in the league. In this time span, they committed 469 errors, and their total defensive runs saved was -67.

However, Stearns commented that defensive upgrades would be a priority this offseason, something he was known for in Milwaukee. First and foremost, they receive one of the best center fielders in the game in Bader. According to Statcast, the speedy outfielder ranked in the 93rd percentile (10) in fielding run value, 95th percentile in fielding range [OAA] (9) and 91st percentile in arm strength (91.7 mph). He also landed in the 85th percentile in sprint speed (28.8 mph).

As a fourth outfielder, Tyrone Taylor also landed in the top percentiles in both sprint speed (28.8) mph and arm strength (90.4 mph). In the team’s overlooked moves, like Wendle, comes defensive flexibility. One of the team’s main issues in 2023 was the lack of versatility on the field. Stearns nipped this in the bud and brought in a crop of players who can complement Jeff McNeil and play multiple positions when needed.

Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

POWER OUTAGE

The team mustered 1,276 hits last season, 27th in baseball. Ironically, the Mets hit 215 home runs in 2023, the 10th most in baseball. To add to the seriousness, the Braves hit 307 home runs and 1.543 hits. Both led all of baseball. The Mets have to compete with this.

Sure, every player goes through their share of slumps, as does every team, but when the Mets found themselves in the thick of it last season, they felt every bit of it. The team hit .237/.310/.398/.708 against lefties and .238/.319/.411/.730 against righties. They also struck out 422 against lefties but a staggering 909 times against righties.

Although the roster is all but set, the only addition outside of relief pitching is a DH. J.D. Martinez, Jorge Soler and Justin Turner remain on the market, and most would accept a short-term deal in line with the Mets’ offseason strategy.

The DH role has been abysmal for the Mets since it became a staple. There hasn’t been a clear-cut answer, and when things weren’t working, they weren’t handled clearly. It’s a position that still might need looking at as the season inches closer.

THE VERDICT

So, did the Mets do enough? Comparing the 2024 and 2023 roster, I think they have a better squad moving forward with much to look forward to. The rotation is a question mark — they can either be really good if all goes according to plan, or things can go downhill quite fast. But that’s how every season goes, just look at last year.

I don’t think the Mets are there to compete on the level they need to with the Braves just yet. Another DH and bullpen help might get them there. But until then, anything can happen. That’s what makes the game so great.

The post Did the Mets do Enough This Offseason to Compete in 2024? appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

After bringing in David Stearns as the president of baseball operations, the Mets decided to take a different approach. They signed players like Harrison Bader and Sean Manaea, both looking for bounce backs and traded for Tyrone Taylor and Adrian Houser to fill roster gaps.

While the Mets improved as a team defensively, there’s still a question mark in various roles. Who will fill out the remaining spots in the bullpen? How does Starling Marte fit into the roster? One of the most important questions the team faced entering the offseason, and still does, is how they plan to address the DH spot.

The DH spot was a revolving title last year, and while many hoped Daniel Vogelbach would take to the role, he never hit for consistency, was benched, and then later non-tendered. Mark Vientos hasn’t received a fair look in any role since his debut in 2022. Then names like J.D. Martinez, Jorge Soler and former Met Justin Turner remain on the market.

MMO challenged two writers to decide whether the Mets should explore external candidates or internal options for the DH role. Mike Ayer believes the Mets should go outside the organization for a DH, and Allison Waxman thinks the Mets could be fine in-house. 

Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

EXTERNAL DH

David Stearns and company have tried to improve on the margins this offseason by handing out short-term deals to players and putting depth together. Signing an external DH candidate would continue that trend and likely bring the Mets closer to being a playoff contender in 2024.

Another reason why I believe the Mets should sign a DH is the hearty market at the position. Justin Turner, J.D. Martinez, Jorge Soler, and Brandon Belt are all coming off good 2024 seasons and are still on the market. Rhys Hoskins –though likely hoping for a spot to play more first– had a 123 OPS+ when he last played in 2022. There are legit big league bats available still who could DH for the Mets.

All of the guys mentioned above would give the Mets a proven veteran at DH, something they have been solely missing for years, but Turner stands out to me as the best fit. He would give the Mets more flexibility, given his ability to play first base, second base and third base. The offense is still there (114 OPS+ in 146 games for the Red Sox last year), and I believe having him around Brett Baty and other young Mets hitters could pay long-term dividends.

Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports

INTERNAL CANDIDATE

I go back and forth on this. However, David Stearns and Co have stuck with a concrete plan this offseason. There would be no flashy signings, instead adding players on short-term deals who provide plenty of upside. That said, Stearns should stick to his word and see what the Mets farm system is capable of.

Vientos, Marte, Taylor and DJ Stewart should and will get good looks in spring training. Younger prospects like Drew Gilbert and Luisangel Acuña will also receive their fair chance, but Stearns mentioned the former would begin the season in Syracuse. The knee injury to Ronny Mauricio threw the Mets’ plans up in the air, but that shouldn’t change how they approach DH.

Vientos and company need their at-bats, plain and simple. Vientos, especially, has never had the opportunity to reach his potential at the big-league level. With the DH spot up for grabs, and essentially his to lose, the Mets now can see what they have in their final “Baby Met” before the new batch makes their debut.

The post Crossfire: External DH or Rely on Internal Candidate? appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

The designated hitter spot provided plenty of headaches for the Mets in 2023 as the team mustered a .217/.309/.391 slash line to go with a 95 wRC+ at the position. Daniel Vogelbach exiting stage left this offseason has freed up nearly 300 plate appearances in his absence, though the current in-house solutions aren’t exactly inspiring. As of this moment, DJ Stewart and Mark Vientos would appear to be the leading candidates to step into that role. Stewart impressed with 11 home runs and a .244/.333/.506 slash line, but concerns with his profile still exist, and he doesn’t yet have a track record of consistency in the majors.

As for Vientos, he showcased his dynamic raw power at times during his rookie season and has the pedigree of a former top prospect in the organization, so it’s fair to assume he has his fair share of believers. However, he also displayed a concerning lack of plate discipline and dependability that makes it tough to heap a ton of responsibility on him as he transitions into what would be his first full season with the big-league club.

While the thought process behind giving Stewart, Vientos, and others a chance to prove themselves in what may turn out to be a transition year makes sense in theory, the Mets simply cannot rest on their laurels as it relates to the designated hitter role. There’s an abundance of quality options on the open market deep into the offseason, and it would behoove the Mets to seriously explore their choices. With that, let’s take a look at four players that would make a ton of sense for the Mets’ theoretical designated hitter opening.

Jorge Soler 

Jorge Soler encompasses everything the Mets should be looking for in a designated hitter. After signing a three-year, $36 million deal with the Miami Marlins heading into 2022 following a heroic postseason run with the Atlanta Braves that culminated in a World Series MVP, Soler appeared in only 72 games during his first year with the Fish due to injury and did not play up to his usual standards. He bounced back in a big way in 2023, however, as he hit .250/.341/.512 with 36 home runs and a 126 wRC+ en route to the first All-Star nod of his career.

Soler is one of the game’s premier power hitters who possesses a strong eye at the plate while also having an affinity for mashing lefties, evidenced by his 1.080 OPS and 181 wRC+ against them last season. With his long track record of success, Soler has no shortage of suitors after opting out of the last year of his pact with Miami and will likely command another multi-year commitment. While that may push Stearns and company past their comfort zone, pairing Soler with Pete Alonso and Francisco Lindor in the middle of the lineup would do wonders for the Mets’ offense.

J.D. Martinez

If there were any questions about whether or not J.D. Martinez still had it going into 2023, he answered them right out of the gate. After dealing with an adductor injury and a host of back issues that appeared to sap some of his power with the Boston Red Sox in 2022, Martinez returned to prime form upon being reunited with Mookie Betts and hitting coach Robert Van Scoyoc as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers. A few swing changes later, and he hit .271/.321/.572 with a 135 wRC+ and 33 home runs in 113 games on his way to being named the National League’s starting designated hitter in the All-Star Game.

Martinez will be entering his age-36 season in 2024 and missed considerable time last season while seeing both his strikeout and walk rates move in the wrong direction, so any pursuit should come with a bit of hesitation. Still, Martinez will likely only command a one-year deal that would fit into both the Mets’ short and long-term financial plans while also providing a dependable veteran bat that satisfies the team’s need for pop in the middle of the order and could be flipped at the trade deadline if necessary.

David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

Justin Turner 

A long-time Stearns target, Justin Turner, returning to his old haunts in 2024 would be beneficial for both parties. Turner spent parts of four seasons in New York before getting designated for assignment following the 2013 season. He never looked back from there as he blossomed into one of baseball’s best third basemen as well as a two-time All-Star and World Series champion during his nine-year stint with the Dodgers. With the Red Sox in 2023, he appeared in 146 games and hit .276/.345/.455 with 23 homers and a 114 wRC+.

Turner’s experience at the hot corner may make him a better fit on paper over the other candidates after Ronny Mauricio’s season-ending knee injury, though it’s unlikely he’d be seen as anything more than insurance in that regard after playing only seven games at the position last season. The 39-year-old Turner is a fantastic clubhouse presence as well, and his bat still has enough mileage to the point where he could situate himself as the Mets’ primary designated hitter while remaining productive.

Joc Pederson

If the Mets were set on implementing a platoon at designated hitter alongside Vientos in order to ease his workload, you can’t do much better in that department than Joc Pederson. Pederson was an All-Star in 2022, his first year with the San Francisco Giants, and finished the year with a .274/.353/.521 slash line to go with 23 home runs and a 146 wRC+ in 433 plate appearances. He took a slight step back in 2023 while hitting .235/.348/.416 with 15 homers and a 111 wRC+, though his improved plate discipline was a notable development to keep an eye on.

Pederson’s inability to play every day certainly hurts his case here as carrying a platoon DH on your roster isn’t optimal, which the Mets learned with Vogelbach last season. Pederson’s skill set may also be a bit redundant with Stewart’s, though Pederson’s upside and resume would likely set him apart. With the team’s need for power, Pederson may still represent a fit for the Mets, depending on what direction they take their search.

The post Evaluating the Mets’ Options at DH appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Steve Cohen may not be done yet.

During a broadcast of Mets Hot Stove on SNY, Andy Martino said the Mets have about $10 million left to spend. 

“What the priority is within that is the relief pitching, they will bolster the bullpen before spring training or early on in spring training, while the offseason business is still going on,” Martino said. 

Making additions to the lineup is less than a priority, he added. Martino noted with the number the Mets are aiming for, it would be difficult to sign the likes of J.D. Martinez or Justin Turner. However, he did say that Cohen “is always willing to stretch for the right opportunity.”

Steve Cohen. Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Latest Mets News 

The Mets have been linked to lefty relievers Brent Suter and Wandy Peralta, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post. Read more here. 

Starling Marte played the entire game in right field for the first time during the winter season last night. He went 0-for-4. 

Former Mets pitcher Anthony Kay signed with the Yokohama BayStars, per Sponichiyakuu on Twitter. 

Latest MLB News

Japanese pitcher Shōta Imanaga is signing with the Chicago Cubs, according to Bob Nightengale. Read more on the deal here.

Rachel Balkovec has agreed to become the new Marlins director of player development, according to MLB.com.  

The National Sports Media Association announced its 2024 Hall of Fame class and 2023 award winners. 

The Mississippi Braves announced Double-A affiliate will relocate to Columbus, Georgia, moving from Pearl. 

Shohei Ohtani’s landmark $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers has prompted the California Controller to congress cap deferred payments, per reporting from the Associated Press. 

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office has determined it will not file felony charges against former Dodgers pitcher Julio Urias, per Alden Gonzalez of ESPN. The case is moving to the City Attorney’s Office for misdemeanor filing considerations. 

MLB Network’s top 10 rankings at each position opening with starting pitchers. 

Latest on MMO 

Patrick Glynn wrote about the state of the Mets’ starting pitching depth. 

Episode 69 of Metsmerized Weekly discusses the additions of Harrison Bader and Sean Manaea, as well as a number of other topics. 

On this Date in Mets History

2006: Mike Pelfrey, the ninth pick in 2005 MLB draft, signed a four-year major league contract with the Mets worth $5.3 million and $3.5 million with a signing bonus.

Birthdays: Kevin Baez (57), Mario Diaz (62), Jim Lindeman (62), Kelvin Torve (64)

The post Morning Briefing: Mets Reportedly Have About $10 Million Left to Spend appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

On the one hand, it has confused some Mets fans that they would continue to sign former players from the rivals in another borough. On the other hand, it continues what could be a new trend that the president of baseball operations, David Stearns, and the front office could be targeting in what might be a transition year in 2024. 

Photo by Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

That trend could be finding players who can fit in New York and have experience playing in the bright lights of the big city. Back when the Luis Severino signing was announced, Stearns said that one of the things he liked about Severino was his New York experience. 

“This is a really talented pitcher, first of all, he’s demonstrated that he’s performed in New York.”

When you look at Harrison Bader, the 29-year-old had some of his best playing moments in the Bronx. During the 2022 postseason, he was one of the bright spots for the Yankees offense when he hit five home runs (three of them in the ALDS against Cleveland). During that ALDS, Bader was tied for second on the team in hits with four behind only Anthony Rizzo (5). 

True, the postseason is a very small sample size and doesn’t correlate with Bader’s slash line of .237/.274/.353 with seven home runs, 46 RBIs, and a .627 OPS in 98 regular season games. However, the Bronxville, New York native did enjoy his time in the Bronx with the Yankees. 

HARRISON BADER 2-RUN HOMER HIS 3RD OF THE PLAYOFF, 3-0 YANKES LFGG pic.twitter.com/svTC6mlI83

— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) October 16, 2022

While the Yankees had their fair share of offensive struggles last season, Bader did a decent job when it came to hitting with runners in scoring position. He slashed .257/.289/.419 with three home runs, 31 RBIs, a .708 OPS, and 14 strikeouts in 74 at-bats. If Bader continues this trend, he could find a way to put the ball in play and manufacture a run in a lineup that struggled with strikeouts. 

If you go back to when it was announced that Bader was being claimed off waivers by the Cincinnati Reds in August, he had a very tearful goodbye to the media while New York was in Detroit talking about how much it meant for him to play in New York. 

“Growing up in Manhattan, my family lives in Bronxville, I went to Horace Mann on 242nd street,” Bader said outside the Yankees clubhouse after hearing the news. “Obviously, Yankee Stadium is on 161st St. in the Bronx. You know, I never thought I’d play in the big leagues let alone in the Yankees uniform. I have no idea what’s to come for the future. I certainly hope it’s in a Yankees uniform again, if that’s an option.”

As Bader now gets to come back home to New York, he has the opportunity to not only earn himself another contract down the road as he heads into his 30s but also has the chance to help Mendoza set up a different clubhouse culture going forward. 

In addition, Bader could help with a different strategy Stearns might be having going into 2024. If the Mets do fail to bring in another impact bat whether it’s JD Martinez or someone of that stature, their focus for winning games could fall mainly on run prevention. 

With Bader’s defense in center field, the former gold glove outfielder could go a long way to help with keeping opponents off of the scoreboard. Last year, he had four defensive runs saved (according to FanGraphs). Even though his range runs above average have fallen from 10.2 in 2021 to 4.3 last year, he gives the Mets more roster flexibility with his ability to play all three outfield positions. 

Even though he wouldn’t fit the ex-Yankee narrative, Stearns could continue the New York experience trend by going after Justin Turner, who could be a good veteran boost for third base and he knows what it’s like to be in New York. 

While it may pain some Mets fans to see former Yankees switching to the other side, their experience in New York could help form a different clubhouse in 2024 that can only help some of the younger players on the roster prepare for what to expect. 

When players get signed to one-year contracts, the opinion on them is usually that it’s a low-risk, high-reward type of deal. If Bader can stay on the field (five IL stints in the last two years), then it’s a move that can work if New York makes additional moves to help the offense.

The post Harrison Bader Signing Continues New York Experience Trend appeared first on Metsmerized Online.