Good Morning, Mets fans! This is my first of what I hope to be many morning briefings. Let’s get into it.
Latest Mets News
Trevor Bauer is allegedly looking for a five- or six-year deal worth over $200 million, says Jon Heyman, who also said Bauer was looking for around $36-$40 million annually. His agent, Rachel Luba, declined to comment on the report.
There are always reports about what a free agent wants, but what they can get is often a different story. Will Bauer get the money he wants over five or six years?
Also, Steve Cohen wants to remind you that it will take time for the Mets to replenish their farm and ultimately make big splashes like the Padres did this week while still retaining top talent in the system.
Marcus Stroman is working on a new pitch–a circle-change–that he tells Pitching Ninja’s Rob Friedman was “inspired” by Robert Gsellman‘s pitch.
Stroman working on a new pitch for next season 👀😎
pic.twitter.com/QAXuhb43eC— Metsmerized Online (@Metsmerized) December 30, 2020
Latest MLB News
The Phillies, Dodgers, and Rays completed a three-team trade Tuesday that sent flame-throwing lefty Jose Alvarado to the Phillies.
The Cubs announced that their trade for Yu Darvish is official. Jon Heyman reported that $3 million is going to the Padres in the deal.
The Dodgers officially announced that they signed former Yankees reliever Tommy Kahnle to a two-year deal. Kahnle is recovering from Tommy John surgery and expected to miss the 2021 season.
Former Mets reliever Hansel Robles *points to the sky* signed a one-year, $2 million deal with the Minnesota Twins, reports Jon Heyman.
Bob Nightengale says the Chicago Cubs, now in full-on fire-sale mode, are shopping catcher Willson Contreras. He is entering his last year of arbitration and is projected to make just north of $6 million.
The Kansas City Royals signed veteran pitcher Ervin Santana to a minor-league deal. The 38-year-old last pitched in the majors in 2019 with the White Sox. Santana also pitched for the Royals in 2013.
Latest on MMO
Tim Ryder and Jacob Resnick joined up on the latest Simply Amazin’ podcast to talk about the latest flurry of Padres’ trades and what that means for the Mets’ chances at some of the bigger free agents.
Expect a heavy emphasis on analytics and scouting from Jared Porter, says Rich Mancuso.
With the year coming to a close, and an upsetting 2020 season for the Metsies, Michelle Ioannou takes a look at the Mets’ bright silver lining from the year.
On This Day in Mets History
So I was originally going to write about how there was nothing to write about in today’s “On This Day in Mets History” section. I was browsing and browsing and browsing for important events or birthdays on December 30, but then Mojo Hill tipped me that today is Ralph Milliard‘s birthday.
“WHO?” you may ask yourself, as I did Mojo. Milliard is a now-47-year-old who former infielder for the Mets for one season. It was 1998 — his last in the majors — and he had one at-bat. He struck out.
But! Milliard was a defensive replacement in six games, and he pinch-ran three times, scoring each time. (Show me a stat where another player scored 100 percent of the times he pinch-ran, and let’s make it a minimum of three pinch runs, for Ralph Milliard‘s sake.)
His final run in the major leagues came as one of three in the top of the 9th in what ended up as an 11-inning win against the Astros on September 16. He pinch-ran for John Olerud, then Mike Piazza came up next and hit a three-run home run off none other than Billy Wagner to put the Mets up 3-2. The game went to extras, and Todd Hundley won the game for the Mets in the 11th. How’s that for some late ’90s nostalgia.
Happy birthday, Ralph Milliard!
Oh, also today? The great Sandy Koufax turns 85 years young. Happy birthday, and happy new year, Sandy (and to everyone reading this).
