Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

Good morning, Mets fans!

The New York Mets continued their spending ways and made a big splash in the free agent market by re-signing center fielder Brandon Nimmo to an eight-year, $162 million contract as well as signing reliever David Robertson to a one-year, $10 million contract.

These two signings come after the Mets acquired reliever Brooks Raley as well as signing pitchers Jose Quintana and Justin Verlander. Even after these moves, sources say that the Mets are still interested in bringing in Japanese pitcher Kodai Senga. The NPB import wants a team who is ready to win now along with being in a large market. These moves seem to check off every box for Senga, putting the Mets in a very favorable position.

Now onto the morning briefing!

Latest Mets News

Former Met and now current Texas Ranger Jacob deGrom was introduced to his new team during a press conference. In regards to the Mets and the fans, deGrom expressed gratitude and stated that both hold a special place in his heart. Laura Albanese of Newsday goes in-depth on the deGrom press conference and details that in his own words, he did a disservice to his Mets legacy.

Newest Met Justin Verlander’s contract contains numerous award bonuses that include a $200K bonus each for winning an MVP or Cy Young award, $150k for finishing second as well as that same amount for winning World Series MVP. He can also earn $100k each for LCS MVP as well as making the All-Star team. Another note on Verlander’s contract is that he can can exercise his $35 million option for 2025 if he reached 140 innings in 2024 and an outside independent physical determines that he does not have an injury to his right arm would keep him from being on the 2025 active Opening Day roster.

Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports that reliever David Robertson has already passed his physical and that his contract with the Mets contains no options or incentives in his deal.

In an article posted on The Athletic that surveyed MLB player agents, 10 of the 18 agents surveyed by publication believe the Mets will land Shohei Ohtani in free agency and one agent remarked that current Mets owner Steve Cohen is the new century George Steinbrenner, noting that he’s willing to spend money on the team because it’s his passion and owners like him are good for baseball.

Kyle Rogers, via his Twitter account, tweeted that he has accepted a role as Coordinator of Pitching and Performance Integration with the New York Mets, teaming up with new hire Eric Jagers. ⁣

Latest MLB News

The Los Angeles Dodgers announced that they have signed outfielder Jason Heyward to a minor-league contract with an invite to major-league spring training. Released by the Cubs earlier this offseason, Chicago will still be on the hook for the final year of his eight-year contract that was signed prior to the 2016 campaign.

Latest on MMO

MMO is having another Twitter giveaway! Follow the Metsmerized Twitter account and retweet this tweet for a chance to win a Topps autographed Mark Canha baseball card!

Nick Rucco profiles free agent reliever Taylor Rogers.

Is MLB facing a “ball gate” scandal? Rich Sparago goes into detail on how things might shape out.

Christopher Soto breaks down the 2023 Mets’ payroll.

On This Date in Mets History

2000: Raving about the Denver school system, Mike Hampton signed an eight-year, $121 million deal with the Colorado Rockies after only one season with the Mets, the team he had helped reach the World Series just two months prior. Fortunately, the Mets received a compensatory draft pick for losing Hampton, which the team used to draft future Mets Hall of Famer and franchise icon, David Wright.

Birthdays: Geoff Hartlieb (29), Adam Wilk (35), Buddy Baumann (35), Fred Lewis (42), Jeff Duncan (44), Tony Tarasco (52), Mike Fyhrie (53), Juan Samuel (62), Bruce Boisclair (72), Doc Medich (74), Jerry Cram (75), Del Unser (78)