In Game 2 on Monday, the White Sox came from behind with a three-run sixth inning in their 4-3 win over Cleveland. Chicago head home after facing Parker Messick and Gavin Williams with a 2-0 series lead.

Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images

Cleveland Guardians (0-2) vs. Chicago White Sox (2-0)
4:00 PM ET – Rate Field – TBS/HBO Max
RHP Daniel Espino (0-0, 4.11 ERA) vs LHP Sean Newcomb (2-5, 3.09 ERA)

Both teams will go with an opener on Wednesday in a pivotal Game 3. Espino retired two batters in Game 1, he allowed a hit and walk. His longest outing of the season is two innings. Newcomb is coming off two scoreless innings as the opener for the White Sox on Monday. The former first round pick was used as an opener six times in the regular season and pitched 90 innings this season.

Slugger Munetaka Murakami has been the White Sox offensive star in the series with a home run and three RBIs. Miguel Vargas has been on base six times with two hits and four walks.

On the Cleveland side, Chase Delauter is the only Guardian with multiple hits, and he’s mustered just two singles.

White Sox Lineup

1. Sam Antonacci – DH
2. Miguel Vargas – 3B
3. Munetaka Murakami – 1B
4. Kyle Teel – C
5. Chase Meidroth – 2B
6. Tristan Peters – CF
7. Randal Grichuk – LF
8. Braden Montgomery – RF
9. Colson Montgomery – SS

Starting Pitcher: Sean Newcomb

Guardians Lineup

1. Steven Kwan – CF
2. José Ramírez – 3B
3. Chase DeLauter – RF
4. Jo Adell – DH
5. Nathaniel Lowe – 1B
6. Angel Martínez – LF
7. Travis Bazzana – 2B
8. Patrick Bailey – C
9. Brayan Rocchio – SS

Starting Pitcher: Daniel Espino

Tampa Bay Rays (2-0) vs. New York Yankees (0-2)
8:00 PM ET – Yankee Stadium – TBS/HBO MAX
RHP Nick Martinez (15-6, 3.10 ERA) vs LHP Max Fried (5-5, 2.80 ERA)

On Monday, the Rays were one of the rare teams to solve Cam Schlittler in 2026 with a 5-2 win putting them potentially one game away from the ALCS. The matchup on Wednesday is right-hander Nick Martinez against lefty Max Fried. Martinez hasn’t pitched yet this postseason. Fried was sharp in a Wild Series win over the Red Sox with six innings of one-run ball.

Jonathan Aranda has led the Rays’ offense with three hits in the series and the teams only home run. Junior Caminero has two hits and two walks coming off a regular season campaign that put him firmly in the MVP conversation.

On the Yankees side, they only have five hits in the series including two solo homers by Ben Rice. Austin Wells has two of the other hits, but made a key baserunning mistake in Game 1.

Yankees Lineup

Starting Pitcher: Max Fried 

Rays Lineup

Starting Pitcher: Nick Martinez 

The National League side is also in action on Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. ET with the Dodgers playing in Atlanta with a 2-1 series lead and then the Brewers and Padres at 10:00 p.m. ET with Milwaukee hoping to close out the series.

The post ALDS Game Thread: Game 3 Wednesday appeared first on Metsmerized.

MLB Pipeline named the 23-year-old outfielder to its All-Rookie Team late Tuesday, with A.J. Ewing and Nolan McLean earning Second Team honors.

Benge started slow, he was slashing .179/.235/.263 on May 2, but the Mets let their 2024 first-round pick ride it out and he showed that their faith was warranted. A five-game hitting streak started the next day and he was off. He finished the year hitting .282/.346/.430 with 20 homers and 22 stolen bases.

He is the first Met rookie with a 20-20 season and 18th in MLB history, joining a club that includes Tommie Agee, Carlos Beltrán, Bobby Witt Jr. and Mike Trout. He is a Rookie of the Year candidate.

Carson Benge by Roberto Carlo

A pitcher in college, he showed a great arm, too, leading the league with assists from right field with 10. SNY broadcaster Ron Darling said during the season that his throws reminded him of Dwight Evans, a Red Sox right-fielder known for his arm who won eight Gold Gloves.

Ewing wasn’t in the Mets’ original 2026 plans, but an injury to Luis Robert Jr. opened the door and he was called up on May 12. The 22-year-old hit .252/.324/.376 with 11 homers and 25 stolen bases. It seems like the Mets have two-thirds of their outfield set for awhile.

McLean debuted with eight strong starts in 2025, but maintained rookie status this season and delivered again. He went 12-10 with a 3.16 ERA and 1.17 WHIP. He struck out 194 and walked 70 in 179 2/3 innings. The strikeouts and innings pitched totals both ranked 14th in baseball.

McLean was the first Met rookie to start 31 games since Jae Weong Seo in 2003. Before that, it was Darling and Dwight Gooden in 1984.

To see the full All-Rookie teams, click here. Selections were based on 2026 MLB performance, not future projections.

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According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, Alex Cora told the Phillies he’s not going to manage in 2027. The Phillies also tried to hire Cora in April when they fired Rob Thompson, but Cora said he was going to spend time with family.

The Phillies narrowly avoided an epic collapse in the final week of the season before they were eliminated in the Wild Card round by the Braves. Don Mattingly, son of Phillies’ GM Preston, was hired in to be manager in April.

Latest Mets News

The Mets told three coaches that they won’t be back in their roles for the 2027 season.

The coaches were: Jeff Albert, director of hitting, Danny Barnes, quality assurance coach, and Kevin Mahoney, batting practice pitcher. The Mets informed the trio they may stay with the organization in other jobs but are also free to speak with other clubs, according to a team press release. MMO’s Jack Ramsey has more here.

All other coaches were told they will return for Andy Green‘s first full year as New York’s skipper.

Carson Benge was named to MLB Pipeline’s All-Rookie Team. A.J. Ewing and Nolan McLean were named to the All-Rookie Second Team.

In the Arizona Fall League, Boston Baro went 0-for-2 with a walk and a strikeout and Bruin Agbayani struck out in his only at-bat in the Surprise Saguaros’ 7-2 loss to the Salt River Rafters.

Latest MLB News

Four playoff games are on tap for Wednesday.

Jake Cronenworth broke a 2-2 tie in the fifth inning with a solo homer and the Padres held on for a 4-3 win over the Brewers in NLDS Game 3 to keep their season alive. Before the game, All-Star closer Mason Miller was placed on the paternity list. He could be available for Game 4, which is at 10 p.m. ET on FS1.

Also pre-game, Padres manager Craig Stammen dismissed speculation that Miller was tipping pitches during the Brewers’ 4-3 win in Game 2 on Sunday. Stammen said that he may limit Miller to one-inning appearances moving forward. He pitched a perfect eighth inning in Game 2 before allowing three walks and the game-ending single to Jackson Chourio in the ninth.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto struck out 10 over seven innings, Kiké Hernández and Freddie Freeman homered and Edwin Díaz earned the save in the Dodgers’ 3-1 victory over the Braves in Game 3 of the NLDS. The Braves will try to stay alive at 6 p.m. ET on FS1. Atlanta’s Tyler Mahle opposes Tyler Glasnow.

In the American League, the White Sox will look to finish a sweep of the Guardians at 4 p.m. ET on TBS/truTV. Both teams will use openers. Daniel Espino will open for Cleveland and Sean Newcomb for Chicago.

The Rays will try for a sweep in the Bronx at 8 p.m. ET on FS1. Tampa Bay’s Nick Martinez will face Max Fried.

Fred Claire, general manager of the Dodgers from 1987-1998, died in Pasadena, Calif., Monday on his 91st birthday. He had dealt with cancer for 11 years and recently entered hospice care. The team issued a statement.

Sam McDowell, a six-time All-Star pitcher who spent 11 of his 15 seasons in Cleveland, died Monday at his Florida home at 84. McDowell became a counselor for athletes dealing with addiction and depression after his playing days. He was the inspiration for the Sam Malone character on the sitcom “Cheers.” In 1965, he led the American League with a 2.18 ERA and struck out a career-high 325. He led the league in strikeouts five times and was inducted into Cleveland’s Hall of Fame in 2006.

Latest on MMO

Robert Colonna looked at the good moves David Stearns has made during his tenure. (Yes, a follow-up on his poor decisions is coming soon.)

A review of the many ways the Mets could go at first base next year.

It was Jonah Tong‘s turn for a report card. He took home a B-.

On This Date in Mets History

2006: Shawn Green goes 3-for-5 and doubles twice against his former team as the Mets finish an NLDS sweep of the Dodgers in Los Angeles with a 9-5 win. Paul Lo Duca, Carlos Beltrán and Cliff Floyd each add two hits.

2000: Benny Agbayani hits a walk-off solo homer in the 13th inning to give the Mets a 3-2 victory and a 2-1 series lead vs. the Giants in the NLDS. Five relievers (Dennis Cook, Turk Wendell, John Franco, Armando Benitez and Rick White) combine to throw seven scoreless innings behind Rick Reed. Time of game: 5 hours, 22 minutes.

1973: Jon Matlack throws a two-hit shutout and strikes out nine in a 5-0 win that evens the NLCS vs. the Reds at one game apiece. Pete Rose, Joe Morgan, Tony Pérez and Johnny Bench go a combined 0-for-16 with two strikeouts. Rusty Staub homers. Time of game: 2 hours, 19 minutes.

On This Date in 1986 Mets

An off day before the start of the NLCS vs. the Astros. Tomorrow, 1985 Cy Young winner Dwight Gooden will face the soon-to-be 1986 Cy Young winner Mike Scott. Spoiler: the pitcher’s duel will live up to its billing.

Born on This Date: Justin Hagenman (1996), José Cardenal (1943), Sammy Drake (1934).

The post Morning Briefing: Alex Cora Will Not Manage Phillies in 2027 appeared first on Metsmerized.

Most notably, Albert has spent four seasons with the Mets after being hired by then general manager Billy Eppler following the conclusion of the 2022 season. This past year was his first in the Mets dugout, leading the team’s major league hitting approach with hitting coach Troy Snitker.

Reasonably, it would be fair to assume that Albert could return to a front office role within the organization, a spot where he found success in his first three seasons based out of Port St. Lucie, Florida. Signs would also point to Snitker becoming the lead hitting voice on the Mets’ bench.

Barnes began with the Mets in 2022 as an assistant on Buck Showalter’s initial staff in Queens and has been the only consistent coaching staff member over that time. Spending time under three managers, Barnes has consistently been one of the Mets’ top assistants, rising to the rank of Quality Assurance Coach before his departure. It was telling that he remained with the team despite coaching staff changes seemingly every year, but 2026 will be his final in the dugout. Like Albert, Barnes would be a candidate to move to a front office role this winter.

Finally, Mahoney joined the Mets before the 2025 season as an assistant coach after a successful tenure as the manager of the Johnson City Doughboys of MLB Draft’s Appalachian League, where he was skipper for three seasons. Mahoney spent 12 years playing in the New York Yankees’ farm system, where he overlapped with former Mets manager Carlos Mendoza.

All three reached the end of their contracts with the Mets. The rest of the Mets’ major league coaching staff is expected to return, according to MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo.

The post Mets Announce Departures From 2026 Coaching Staff appeared first on Metsmerized.

The NLCS nearly faced the same threat, but the Braves unloaded all of their best arms on Sunday to beat the Dodgers 3-2 in a thrilling game. Now, the Dodgers head to Atlanta with an even series and facing the Braves’ one true ace.

The other matchup on this side of the bracket is the Brewers and Padres, with the Brewers taking the first two games of the series. Game 2 was capped off by a walk-off single by Jackson Chourio.

What will the Game 3s bring tonight? Let’s find out, and follow along below.

Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images

Los Angeles Dodgers (1-1) vs. Atlanta Braves (1-1), 6:00 PM, FS1

In what might be the best pitching matchup of the entire Divisional Series, the Dodgers’ Yoshinobu Yamamoto (14-9, 2.53 ERA) faces off against Chris Sale (14-9, 2.16 ERA). They’ll likely end up as two of the Top 5 Cy Young vote getters in the NL.

Yamamoto has yet to pitch in the playoffs this year, as this is just the Dodgers’ third game. Sale, on the other hand, has already pitched twice in the last seven days, today making his third appearance. He kicked off the Wild Card round with 6.1 innings, allowing three runs. He then clinched Game 3 with 1.1 innings (and the save) out of the bullpen. It’ll be interesting to see how much gas Sale has in the tank and if the Braves empty their bullpen as much as they did in Game 2.

Milwaukee Brewers (2-0) vs. San Diego Padres (0-2), 9:30 PM, FS1

Facing elimination, the Padres are sending Nick Pivetta (3-2, 2.86 ERA) to the mound. He missed most of the season with elbow inflammation, but he’s been solid in his return. He pitched 3.1 innings in Game 2 of the NLWCS, allowing a run on three hits and two walks.

Dustin May gets the ball as the Brewers look to close out the sweep. After acquiring May from the Cardinals at the trade deadline, he slotted in at the end of the Brewers’ rotation and had a paltry 5.06 ERA in 10 starts. It will be May’s first postseason appearance since 2020 with the Dodgers, with whom he won a World Series.

The post NLDS Game 3 Thread: Dodgers, Braves Face Off, Padres Face Elimination appeared first on Metsmerized.

On Monday, MLB announced the finalists for the American and National League Hank Aaron awards, and while no Mets are listed, a familiar face appeared.

Pete Alonso is a finalist in the AL, while former top Mets prospect Pete-Crow Armstrong is a finalist and favorite for the award in the National League. Other notable front runners include Yordan Alvarez, Junior Caminero, Shohei Ohtani and Kyle Schwarber.

Pete Alonso by Roberto Carlo

Latest Mets News

Jay Horwitz reported that Ethan Wilson, who has worked with the Mets for 19 years, underwent surgery last week and he is on the road to recovery.

FanGraphs reported that the Mets have multiple job postings, all in the analytics and technology field.

Latest MLB News

The White Sox beat the Guardians 4-3 to remain undefeated this postseason and go up 2-0 in the ALDS. Former Met Anthony Kay started for Chicago and only last 1/3 of an inning, but Sean Burke threw 5 1/3 innings of one-run ball in long relief and rookie Braden Montgomery hit a go-ahead two-run double in the sixth.

The Rays, meanwhile, went up 2-0 in the other American League series with a 5-2 win over the Yankees — behind none other than Freddy Peralta, who allowed one run over 4 2/3 innings. Jonathan Aranda and Junior Caminero had multi-hit performances for Tampa Bay.

The ALDS is off Tuesday, with the NLDS resuming. The Dodgers and Braves, tied at one game apiece, play at 6 p.m. ET in Atlanta, while the Brewers look to complete a sweep of the Padres in San Diego starting at 9:30 p.m. ET.

Jon Heyman of the NY Post reported that Manny Ramirez is seeking a hitting coach job in MLB, agent Hector Zepeda said. He is so determined to do so that he would even take a minor league job.

Joel Sherman of the NY Post reported that the qualifying offer figure for the 2027 season will be $23.1 million.

Latest on MMO

Robert Colonna gave Brett Baty‘s season a C grade.

On This Date in Mets History

1969: The Miracle Mets defeated the Atlanta Braves 7–4 in Game 3 of the inaugural National League Championship Series at Shea Stadium. Winning the game completed a three-game sweep and secured the franchise’s first-ever National League pennant.

1991: Mets ace David Cone put together an absolute masterclass against the Philadelphia Phillies at Veterans Stadium. Cone struck out 19 batters in a complete-game 7–0 shutout, tying Tom Seaver’s franchise record and the National League mark for strikeouts in a nine-inning game.

2016: The Mets saw their season come to an abrupt end in the National League Wild Card Game. Noah Syndergaard delivered a gem, pitching seven scoreless innings and striking out ten San Francisco Giants batters. However, a late three-run home run off Jeurys Familia in the ninth inning sealed a 3–0 loss, eliminating the Mets from the postseason.

2024: The Mets faced the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 2 of the NLDS at Citizens Bank Park. Mark Vientos slugged a pair of two-run home runs, and Pete Alonso and Brandon Nimmo also went deep. However, the Mets dropped a heartbreaking 7–6 decision after a late ninth-inning rally by the Phillies.

On This Date in 1986 Mets

The regular season had come to end and as the team looked to begin their magic run to the World Series, the New York Times ran a lighthearted piece. They playfully joked that manager Davey Johnson was preparing his team for the upcoming postseason by installing a “single-wing offense” with Lenny Dykstra at tailback.

Born on This Date: Jerry Grote (1942), Gene Clines (1946), Gary Gentry (1946), Robert Person (1969), Darren Oliver (1970).

The post Morning Briefing: Hank Aaron Award Finalists Revealed appeared first on Metsmerized.

In Game 1, the White Sox dominated Cleveland, taking Game 1 in a 4-0 victory. The Rays, led by ace Drew Rasmussen, held the Yankees hitless until Austin Wells hit a double with two outs in the eighth. Wells tested the arm of Victor Mesa Jr. and Taylor Walls, and was thrown out trying for third to end the inning.

The Division Series is a best-of-5, and Game 2 takes on even more importance before the teams travel for Game 3.

Chicago White Sox (1-0) vs. Cleveland Guardians (0-1), 5:00 PM ET @ Cleveland

It was a tale of two stories for the AL Central teams on Saturday, as the White Sox went with another bullpen game, while the Guardians opted for rookie breakout Parker Messick. However, Munetaka Murakami, one of the South Side’s multiple breakout starts in 2026, took Messick deep for a two-run homer in the fourth inning, and Chicago never looked back.

In Game 2, former Mets prospect Anthony Kay (10-9, 4.44) starts for Chicago, while the Guardians will hand the ball to Gavin Williams (14-8, 3.76 ERA). Kay, the Mets’ former first-round pick in the 2016 MLB Draft, has made two postseason appearances for the White Sox in the Wild Card round against Houston. He pitched in two innings, earning a win in Game 1. While he’s been used primarily as a starter in 2026, it remains to be seen how the White Sox will use him in Game 2. Williams was sensational for the Guardians in 2026, leading the American League in strikeouts (248), just four strikeouts behind MLB leader Jacob Misiorowski (252).

White Sox Lineup:

1. Sam Antonacci, LF
2. Kyle Teel, C
3. Miguel Vargas, 3B
4. Munetaka Murakami, 1B
5. Andrew Benintendi, DH
6. Tristan Peters, CF
7. Braden Montgomery, RF
8. Chase Meidroth, 2B
9. Colson Montgomery, SS

Starting Pitcher: Anthony Kay

Guardians Lineup:

1. Steven Kwan, CF
2. José Ramírez, 3B
3. Chase DeLauter, RF
4. Jo Adell, DH
5. Nathaniel Lowe, 1B
6. Angel Martínez, LF
7. Travis Bazzana, 2B
8. Patrick Bailey, C
9. Brayan Rocchio, SS

Starting Pitcher: Gavin Williams

New York Yankees (0-1) vs. Tampa Bay Rays (1-0), 8:00 PM ET @ Tampa Bay

After dominating the Red Sox in the Wild Card Series and outscoring them 18-2, the Yankees were held scoreless and almost hitless against the Rays. Of course, Gerrit Cole was dominant in his own manner, giving up just one run on a Jonathan Aranda solo homer in a 1-0 game. However, the Yankees will look to bounce back and even the series before returning to the Bronx on Wednesday.

Presumptive AL Cy Young winner Cam Schlittler (14-6, 1.95 ERA) takes the mound for New York, while former Met Freddy Peralta (10-11, 4.42 ERA) gets the ball for the Rays. Schlittler was superb in Game 1 of the AL Wild Card, delivering 6.1 innings of two-hit ball and 10 strikeouts. On the flip side, Peralta struggled immensely in his time with the Mets, pitching to a 4.99 ERA in 22 starts. However, it’s been a different story for Freddy in Tampa Bay; in his ten starts with the Rays, he went 5-2 with a 3.25 ERA.

Yankees Lineup:

1. Ben Rice, DH
2. Cody Bellinger, LF
3. Luis García Jr., 1B
4. Spencer Jones, RF
5. George Lombard Jr., SS
6. Jazz Chisholm Jr., 2B
7. Trent Grisham, CF
8. Austin Wells, C
9. Ryan McMahon, 3B

Starting Pitcher: Cam Schlittler

Rays Lineup:

1. Yandy Díaz, DH
2. Jonathan Aranda, 1B
3. Junior Caminero, 3B
4. Liam Hicks, C
5. Chandler Simpson, LF
6. Victor Mesa Jr., RF
7. Jonny DeLuca, CF
8. Richie Palacios, 2B
9. Taylor Walls, SS

Starting Pitcher: Freddy Peralta

The post 2026 ALDS Game Thread: Game 2 Monday appeared first on Metsmerized.

The Mets received INF Émilien Pitre, RHP Gary Gill Hill, and OF Aidan Smith in exchange for Peralta, and, at the time, it was hard not to feel uninspired for a player of Peralta’s stature, regardless of his down year. This isn’t a knock on the players’ abilities, but rather the expectation of a return that simply wasn’t. At the time of the trade, Smith was the Rays’ 12th-best prospect, Pitre at 15th and Hill at 17th.

However, as all three players have entered the Mets’ pipeline, they now rank as the 10th-best prospect (Pitre), 15th-best (Smith) and 16th-best (Gill Hill) at the end of 2026.

This was very much a portfolio return for New York, finding players who best fit their desired profile when scouting players: ones who display discipline, flexibility and control.

Émilien Pitre

At the time of the trade, Émilien Pitre had the most concrete minor league success of the Rays prospects the Mets received. A true helium guy, at the time of the trade was slashing .309/.370/.443/.814 in Double-A with a plus hit tool, good athleticism, and average to below-average power.

After the trade, he slashed .275/.286/.375/.761 across ten games, earning a quick promotion to Triple-A where he slashed .260/.357/.370/.727. Pitre will all but likely receive an invitation to spring training, and could find himself competing for an Opening Day roster spot a la Carson Benge in 2026.

Players who fit Pitre’s profile have found success in the majors; think of a Miguel Rojas, Geraldo Perdomo, Jeff McNeil, and recently Pedro Ramirez and Brett Bateman. Prospect outlets debate where his defense stands in the infield, and he has the athleticism that could profile well in a corner outfield spot if needed.

Gary Gill Hill

Gary Gill Hill is better than the 4.43 ERA he recorded in Double-A at the time of the trade, and his second half with the Mets put questions to bed. He pitched to a 3.76 ERA and 1.25 WHIP across five starts. This earned him a promotion to Triple-A, where he threw one start of five-inning ball with one earned run.

Gill Hill is a low slot pitcher who has plus spin rates on his breaking balls and a good mix of pitches that break to both sides of the plate. This is a profile the Mets have shown an ability to optimize. Gill Hill’s bread and butter is the groundball, and he ran over a 50% ground ball rate with the Mets post-trade deadline. His fastball comes in the mid-90s, and he utilizes his secondaries to keep hitters off balance.

He is rule five eligible, so the Mets will have to decide whether or not to add him to the 40-man roster to protect him in the Rule 5 Draft. He could benefit from a pitch to use against left-handed hitters, which could come from adding a splitter or reworking his changeup, which bleeds into his sinker more than preferred.

Aidan Smith

Drafted in the fourth round of the 2024 Draft, Smith was the centerpiece return in the trade that sent Randy Arozarena to Seattle.

At the time of the trade to New York, Smith was struggling in High-A with a .693 OPS. Under the hood, he looked like a project struggling in the Rays’ system.

That all changed with the Mets, where he slashed .321/.414/.524/.938 across 21 games with Brooklyn, compared to a .215/.283/.410/.693 line in 49 games with the Rays’ High-A affiliate.

Smith was a clear swing-change candidate, and he decided to trade contact for power, swinging harder and pulling the ball in the air at a much higher rate. His swing-and-miss rate spiked, but he was pacing 39 home runs with the Mets compared to 33 with the Rays. He also walked at a much higher rate (14.1% with NYM compared to 8.8% with TB) and continued to flash his plus glove.

If the Mets development team can get Smith to unlock and sustain his potential, New York could have a potential top-100 prospect on their hands.

Retrospective

Peralta started strong for the Mets, pitching to a 3.63 ERA in his first 13 starts but then posted a 7.34 ERA in his next nine starts. It would have been nice for him to carry his success through his full run and either get them back in a playoff race or bring back a larger prospect return, but the Mets did well at the deadline. They started to have Peralta make adjustments near the end of his Mets tenure, throwing the changeup more and improving his extension, but they could notright the ship.

He carried those changes to the Rays and continued to adjust. His first couple of starts in Tampa Bay were reminiscent of his time with New York, but he finished with a 3.25 ERA and 1.01 WHIP across 10 starts with the Rays.

On the Mets’ end, they received three strong prospects who could all make an impact in the majors over the next few years. Émilien Pitre and Gary Gill Hill could both see time in the majors in 2027, and Aidan Smith could be up by 2028 or 2029. All three had strong second halves, and both Pitre and Gill Hill ended their seasons in Syracuse.

The Mets did not get a consensus top 100 prospect back for Peralta like they did for Clay Holmes when they received Jefferson Rojas, but they got three strong prospects that fit needs within the system. Right now, it’s a win-win for both sides.

The post Mets Went for Upside in the Freddy Peralta Trade appeared first on Metsmerized.

Player Data: Age: 26 (11/13/1999) B/T: L/R
Primary Stats: 143 G, 473 PA, .236/.309/.371/.681, 99 H, 22 2B, 11 HR, 56 RBI, 53 R, 5 SB, 44 BB, 125 SO
Advanced Stats: 91 OPS+, 91 wRC+, 26.4% K%, 9.3% BB%, .304 BABIP, .321 xwOBA, 1.0 fWAR, 0.6 bWAR
2026 Salary: Pre-Arbitration

Grade: C

2026 Review

Each of the last few seasons, it seems that Brett Baty shows up to camp trying to hit for contact instead of power, struggles for a few weeks to a few months, and then trades contact for power and has a great second half. However, if the Mets tender Baty a contract for 2027, and all signs as of now point to that being the case, he must stay deep in the box, look to drive the ball and swing hard, which brought him the most success in 2026.

Through the end of June (82 games), Baty slashed .210/.294/.294/.589, which was good for a 69 wRC+. However, in May, he posted a 116 wRC+, hitting .265/.365/.386. From the start of July through the end of the season, Baty slashed .273/.332/.483/.814, with a 124 wRC+.

Looking deeper month by month, clear trends point to why Baty struggled.

In those first three months, Baty looked completely different than he did from July onward. From March through June, he put up:

• Bat Speed: 72.1 miles per hour
• 90% EV: 105.4 miles per hour
• Max EV: 111.4 miles per hour
• Hard-Hit rate: 37.9%
• Zone-Contact: 81.6%
• Pull Fly Ball Rate: 10.3%

From July onwards:

• Bat Speed: 73.9 miles per hour
• 90% EV: 107.7 miles per hour
• Max EV: 114 miles per hour
• Hard-Hit rate: 47.6%
• Zone-Contact: 79.6%
• Pull Fly Ball Rate: 18.3%

Now, compare that to May 2025 through the end of the season when Baty slashed .263/.324/.448/.772:

• Bat Speed: 74.8 miles per hour
• 90% EV: 106.8 miles per hour
• Max EV: 115.6 miles per hour
• Hard-Hit rate: 47.2%
• Zone-Contact: 80.5%
• Pull Fly Ball Rate: 11.8%

When Baty prioritizes power and driving the ball over contact, he is at his best. Baty can hit the ball very hard. His hardest hit ball this year was roughly the same as Pete Alonso’s. He has better bat speed than Alonso, pulls the ball more, and their 90% EV are within 1% of each other. So why isn’t Baty hitting 30-40 home runs?

Baty’s issue is his pitch recognition. He takes almost one-third of hittable pitches. His selectivity and SEAGER both rate as below average. While he puts up plus damage rates overall, his ability to spot which pitches he can do damage on by every metric is poor. That makes it even more imperative that he prioritizes driving the ball when he does make contact. This was not something he did early in the season, and his success came when he made that switch, similar to when he made the same switch in 2025.

Defensively, he looked good across the infield and outfield. He spent most of his time at second base and first base, but saw time at third base and the outfield occasionally, even spending time at shortstop for a game. While he’s not a plus-plus defender, Baty posted a +1 OAA in 2026.

2027 Outlook

The Mets should not construct their roster in any way that revolves around Baty as an everyday player in 2027. Injuries and his performance could help him force his way into that role.

However, the best use for him would be as a bench utility player. He should have the opportunity to come to camp and compete to be a bridge to the young guys at second base, but even there the Mets should bring some non-roster invitees to compete alongside him to take that role from Marcus Semien.

Across the last two seasons, Baty has a .245/.311/.402/.713 slash line, which is good for an exactly league-average 100 wRC+. He has 29 HRs in 273 games (17/162 pace) and put up 3.3 WAR (2 WAR/162). If he can average that in 2027, he’s a useful player off the bench (until he can prove himself otherwise). If he struggles again to start the season and the Mets are competitive, he also has an option. The Twins optioned Matt Wallner this year, who had far more tenure, so there is precedent.

In terms of depth, looking at some of the playoff contenders for 2026, the Dodgers dedicated 1,194 PA to players with a sub-100 wRC+, the Phillies gave 3,865 PA, the Brewers 1,968 PA, the Yankees 3,462 PA, etc. Even contending teams typically utilize 20-25 or more position players across a major league season. If Brett Baty is able to give 300-450 PA of roughly league-average offense, with the ability to move around the diamond and be optioned if he struggles, there is a lot of value. Another team may even view him as an everyday player and look to trade for him this offseason.

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Peralta went 5-2 with a 3.25 ERA in 10 starts for the Rays after 22 outings with the Mets and will face Cam Schlittler in Game 2 of the ALDS Monday at 8 p.m. ET on TBS/truTV. The Rays leads the series 1-0. The Mets dealt Peralta to Tampa Bay for second baseman Émilien Pitre, outfielder Aidan Smith and RHP Gary Gill Hill.

It took Pitre, who turned 24 on Sunday, just 10 games to get promoted from Double-A Binghamton to Triple-A Syracuse. He went 15-for-40 for the Rumble Ponies and then 19-for-73 (.260/.357/.370) with one homer, three doubles and a triple in 20 games at Triple-A.

Smith, 22, hit .321/.414/.524 with five homers and two doubles in 99 plate appearances for High-A Brooklyn.

Gill Hill, 22, went 2-0 with a 3.76 ERA in five starts for Binghamton. He struck out 28 and walked five over 26 1/3 innings. He made one start for Syracuse and allowed one earned run over five innings.

MMO’s Mike Mayer updated his rankings of the Met prospects after the trade deadline and had Pitre at No. 1o, Smith at No. 11 and Gill Hill at No. 20. Who won the deal? Time will tell.

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

An ex-Met will start in the other ALDS series, too. Anthony Kay was drafted by New York in the first round (31st overall) in 2016, but traded to Toronto before he got to the big leagues in a deal for Marcus Stroman in July 2019. Four years later the Mets picked him up off waivers from the Cubs and he appeared in three games at the end of the season. He was the last Met to pitch in the Buck Showalter era.

Kay will start for the White Sox, who are looking to go up 2-0 against the Guardians and Gavin Williams at 5 p.m. ET on TBS/truTV.

The National League has the day off.

Latest Mets News

Third baseman Boston Baro went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a strikeout and the Surprise Saguaros beat the Salt River Rafters 6-4 in an Arizona Fall League game. Baro, 22, played in just nine games for Low-A St. Lucie and two games in Rookie Ball this year because of a shoulder injury.

RHP Calvin Ziegler threw a perfect inning. The 24-year-old has dealt with injuries since the Mets selected him in the second round of the 2021 draft out of a high school in Florida. In 13 1/3 erratic innings this year at four levels, with the highest Double-A, he allowed 11 earned runs. He struck out 17 and walked 24.

Latest MLB News

A fantastic finish in Milwaukee. The Brewers were a strike away from losing when Jackson Chourio lined a bases-loaded, two-run single to center off of Mason Miller to walk off the Padres. Milwaukee’s 4-3 victory gave them a 2-0 series lead. Game 3 is Tuesday in San Diego.

Michael Harris II went 3-for-5 with a double and a triple to help lift the Braves to a 3-2 win that evened their series with the Dodgers. Game 3 is Tuesday in Atlanta.

Latest on MMO

It is report card season. Our crack staff gave Bo Bichette a C+.

Robert Colonna undertook a project. He looked through a directory of 80 members of David Stearns’ front office to see which departments have seen the most change during his tenure.

Cole Mathis, Bruin Agbayani and four Met pitching prospects saw action on Opening Day in the Arizona Fall League.

On This Date in Mets History

2001: Lenny Harris singles for his 150th career pinch-hit in an 8-6 loss to the Expos at Shea Stadium, breaking the MLB record held by Manny Mota.

2000: With two outs and nobody on in the top of the 10th of Game 2 of the NLDS against the Giants, Darryl Hamilton doubles and Jay Payton singles him home. The Mets win 5-4 to even the series at 1-1. J.T. Snow had tied the game with a three-run homer with one out in the ninth off Armando Benitez.

1999: Edgardo Alfonzo‘s second homer of the game is a grand slam in the top of the ninth that breaks a 4-4 tie in Game 1 of the NLDS at Arizona. His first homer was in the first inning off of Randy Johnson. The Mets win 8-4.

On This Date in 1986 Mets

The Mets end the regular season in style. Ray Knight hits a two-run homer, Gary Carter smacks a three-run shot and Darryl Strawberry connects for a grand slam in a 9-0 win over the Pirates. The 1986 Mets finish a franchise-best 108-54. Ron Darling (five innings) and Sid Fernandez (four innings) combine on the four-hit shutout. The pair would pitch together in a win again in 22 days in Game 7 of the World Series. Knight and Strawberry would homer in that one too.

Born on This Date: Rey Sánchez (1967), Brent Gaff (1958), Dennis Bennett (1939).

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