Good morning Mets fans! The New York Mets concluded the Winter Meetings by adding to their rotation. A day after agreeing to a deal with RHP Michael Wacha, the Mets agreed to a one-year, $10 million contract with RHP Rick Porcello on Thursday, per Jon Heyman of MLB Network.
The New Jersey native and 2016 Cy Young Award winner has been linked to the Mets at various times throughout the offseason to the point where it only seemed like a matter of time before the two parties reached a deal. Porcello is coming off a rough year in which he went 14-12 with a 5.52 ERA, 1.394 WHIP and 143 strikeouts in 174 1/3 innings.
Latest Mets News
The Mets had trade talks with the Texas Rangers involving 1B/OF Dominic Smith and INF Jed Lowrie that have failed to progress according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. MetsMerized Online‘s own Michael Mayer added that the Mets also talked with the Rangers about RHP Jose Leclerc.
The Mets signed RHP Pedro Payano to a minor league contract according to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com.
The Mets selected RHP Adam Oller from the San Francisco Giants and lost OF Jason Krizan to the Oakland Athletics in the Triple-A phase of the Rule 5 Draft.
Latest MLB News
Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com listed the entire Rule 5 Draft results.
MLB and the MLBPA agreed to significant changes to the Drug of Abuse provisions of their Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.
The New York Yankees and OF Brett Gardner agreed to a one-year, $12.5 million contract according to George A. King III of the New York Post. Gardner’s deal includes a $2 million signing bonus, $8 million 2020 salary and a $10 million 2021 option with a $2.5 million buyout.
The Detroit Tigers and C Austin Romine agreed to a one-year, $4.1 million contract according to Evan Woodbery of MLive Media Group.
The Los Angeles Angels acquired LHP Garrett Williams from the Giants as the player to be named later in their trade of INF Zack Cozart and INF Will Wilson.
Latest NL East News
The Miami Marlins selected RHP Sterling Sharp (the Washington Nationals’ No. 13 prospect) with the third pick in the Major League phase of the Rule 5 Draft and C Julian Leon from the Angels with the third pick in the Triple-A phase of the Rule 5 Draft. The Marlins also lost CF Jhonny Santos to the Seattle Mariners who was selected 26th overall in the Triple-A phase.
The Nationals selected SS Manuel Geraldo from the Giants with the 18th pick in the Triple-A phase of the Rule 5 Draft. In addition to Sharp, the Nationals also lost SS David Masters to the Chicago Cubs who was selected 42nd overall in the Triple-A phase.
The Philadelphia Phillies selected SS Vimael Machin from the Cubs with the eighth pick in the Major League phase of the Rule 5 Draft.
The Atlanta Braves selected 2B Wendell Rijo from the Yankees with the 21st pick in the Triple-A phase of the Rule 5 Draft. The Braves also lost RHP Alex Aquino from the Pittsburgh Pirates in the Triple-A phase.
Latest on MMO/MMN
Matt Musico wrote an article about how the Mets will likely have to make some unpopular moves with their current roster if they plan to make any further improvements.
Marshall Field wrote about how general manager Brodie Van Wagenen’s comments about the Mets’ pitching depth leaves LHP Steven Matz‘s role uncertain for 2020.
John Sheridan wrote about how the Mets did not lose anyone in the Major League portion of the Rule 5 Draft and looked at who they managed to hold onto despite not protecting them.
This Day in Mets History
Birthdays: 2B Doug Saunders turns 50, RHP Ron Taylor turns 82, C J.C. Martin turns 83 and OF Joe Christopher turns 84.
