Sep 8, 2020; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Tigers second baseman Jonathan Schoop (8) makes a throw to first base for an out during the first inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Happy Saturday, Mets fans!
Friday was an extremely busy day around Major League Baseball, so let’s dive in and take a look at all the activity!
Latest Mets News
According to MLB Network insider Jon Heyman, the Mets won their arbitration case against third-baseman J.D. Davis. Davis will make $2.1 million during the 2021 season.
The Mets offered 2020 NL Cy Young Award winner Trevor Bauer a three-year, $105 million contract with opt outs after both the first and second year, according to Heyman. Bauer would have made $40 million in year one, $35 million in year two, and $30 million in year three should he have chosen to come to New York.
The Mets were reported to have given Trevor Bauer a 12 p.m. deadline to decide where he wanted to play, but this was not confirmed by the club. The Mets offer to Bauer was more than the Dodgers, according to New York Post reporter Joel Sherman, but Bauer instead choose to return home to Southern California.
Finally, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com joined the rest of the Mets Hot Stove team on SNY to discuss Bauer alternatives.
Latest MLB News
2020 NL Cy Young Award winner Trevor Bauer signed a record-setting contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers for three-years and $102 million, according to Heyman. Bauer will be paid $40 million in 2021, and $45 million in 2022, should he choose to stay. The contract marks the largest single-season salary in MLB history.
The Atlanta Braves and Marcell Ozuna reached a four-year, $65 million deal, with a fifth-year option that could bring the contract to $80 million, per MLB insider Robert Murray.
Free agent Jonathan Schoop signed a deal to return to the Detroit Tigers for one-year and $4.5 million, per Rosenthal again.
Pending a physical, starting pitcher Mike Foltynewicz agreed to a one-year, $2 million deal plus incentives with the Texas Rangers, according to ESPN Baseball insider Kiley McDaniel.
The Washington Nationals and veteran shortstop Jordy Mercer agreed to a minor league deal with an opt-out if he doesn’t make the majors by a certain date. Mercer would make $1 million plus $400k in incentives if he were to make the Major League team.
The Boston Red Sox held a virtual town hall on Thursday evening with Sam Kennedy, Chaim Bloom, and Alex Cora in attendance. Kennedy announced that the team is hopeful that fans will be allowed into Fenway park by Opening Day. Bloom also announced that he may not be done with signings for the offseason, and further restated that the club is still interested in free-agent outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr.
The Baseball Writers Association of America overwhelmingly voted to remove the name of former publisher J.G. Taylor Spink from the most prestigious member award, passing with 97% approval.
According to AP News, the average salary in Major League Baseball fell for the third straight year in 2020, dropping to $3.89 million projected if the season had played out in full. This trend began dropping before the COVID-19 pandemic began.
According to Houston Chronicle reporter Chandler Rome, former Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow’s lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice after the two parties “resolved their differences”.
Latest on MMO
Many believe that there are better things that the Mets can do with the $40 million they saved by not signing Trevor Bauer in 2021. Ryan Finkelstein gave an example of how the Mets could get Kris Bryant, Jackie Bradley Jr., and Jake Odorizzi for the same amount, and reacted to the signing on his latest podcast episode.
Alexis Farinacci snapped a photo of Mets’ player vehicles making their way down to Port St. Lucie in anticipation of Spring Training.
On This Date in Mets History
1998: The Mets traded A.J. Burnett, Jesus Sanchez, and Robert Stratton for left-hander Al Leiter.
Leiter remained with the team through the 2004 season and pitched to a 3.42 ERA over 213 games started. His average WAR was 3.8 in his time with the Mets, and he pitched well in multiple post-season runs during the 1999 and 2000 seasons, in which the Mets made the NLCS and the World Series, respectively. Leiter holds the fifth best winning percentage in Mets history, and is seventh best in ERA and in strikeouts.
Let’s go Mets!
