Free Agency has been a case of slow cooking so far with a lot of the big, flashy names still on the board. However, with some notable names non-tendered on Friday, Hot Stove season is now showing some signs of life when it comes to catching fire and giving us some actual news to digest. As a result, we at MMO are going to give you a quick recap of all the latest rumors involving the New York Mets and the rest of MLB.

Dodgers Honing in on Judge

The LA Dodgers are getting ready to make a major move, and all signs point to slugger Aaron Judge being the next superstar to be added to the already impressive stable of big names in Hollywood. Per Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Dodgers have now positioned themselves to make a real run at Judge in free agency. After non-tendering former MVP Cody Bellinger on Friday, the Dodgers have now cleared $100 million off the books which would allow them to go out and make yet another huge splash in free agency. With the likes of Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman already on the roster, the thought of Judge joining those big hitters in a Dodgers uniform should act as a very, very scary proposition for the rest of the National League.

And, as Heyman also noted, with needs at shortstop, third base, starting pitching, in the bullpen and in the outfield, LA should be a major player throughout free agency and they will be a team to watch given the amount of wealth they have to play with. It is worth noting that, per Bryan Hoch of MLB, the Yankees have made an updated offer to Judge who turned down a $213.5 million extension before Opening Day in 2022.

Farewell Dom

We witnessed the end of an era on Friday after Dom Smith was non-tendered by the Mets, along with RHP Sean Reid-Foley. It was a sad day given that Smith had spent his entire career with the organization, making his major league debut in 2017. The slugger hit .246/.308/.424 with 46 home runs and 179 RBIs in 447 major league games spanning six years. However, after struggling in 2022, Smith will now need to find a new home and, per Mike Puma of the New York Post, the lefty bat is already attracting interest from the Royals and the Rays, with both teams needing a power bat in the middle of the lineup.

Giants Looking to Bolster Bullpen 

The San Francisco Giants crashed back to earth in 2022, finishing with a 81-81 record and missing the postseason just a year removed from winning 107 games and winning the National League West Division in 2021. As a result, President of Baseball Operations Farhan Zaidi is looking to improve his team heading into 2023 and, per Jon Morosi of MLB Network, they are interested in closer Kenley Jansen. The shutdown arm posted a 3.38 ERA with 41 saves and a 5-2 record with the Atlanta Braves in 2022, and the closer knows both Zaidi and Giants manager Gabe Kapler from their time together with the Dodgers.

Padres Latest Stop on Senga Tour

Kodai Senga is a man in demand as he continues his recruitment tour throughout MLB, and his latest meeting was with the San Diego Padres on Friday. According to Dennis Lin of The Athletic, Senga would fill a big hole in the rotation for the Padres and he’s very close with Yu Darvish, while he played with both Nick Martinez and Robert Suarez in Japan. That could be a big factor in San Diego coming out on top in the Senga sweepstakes. Speaking of which, Senga has already met with the Mets and he’s one of the most intriguing free agents available this winter. The righty posted a 1.89 ERA and a 3.18 strikeout-to-walk ratio across 148 innings for the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks of the Nippon Professional Baseball League in 2022.

Senga boasts a lethal fastball and a filthy forkball, and his curveball should also be a pretty decent option in the majors. Per his agent, the 29-year-old would like to pitch for a contender in a big market and, given that the Mets need to rebuild their rotation for the 2023 season, the two could prove to be a pretty good fit. Watch this space.

OF Options For Dodgers

As mentioned above, the Dodgers are looking for outfield help after non-tendering Cody Bellinger. While they are now believed to be in on Aaron Judge, they are also looking at alternative options. Per Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY, LA has expressed interest in free agent center fielder Kevin Kiermaier. The veteran hit .228/.281/.369/.649 with seven home runs and 22 RBI in 63 games with the Rays in 2022, but he played a big role in Tampa’s run to the World Series in 2020. Even if the Dodgers do end up winning the Judge sweepstakes, Kiermaier could prove to be a solid depth option on a legitimate contender.

Finishing Off

Let’s round this up by taking a quick look at some other tidbits from Heyman of The Post. The Mets would like to bring back righty Adam Ottavino who posted a 2.06 ERA with a 2.3 WAR in 2022. It does appear that the New York native would be happy remaining in Queens, too. Also, the Yankees are interested in a reunion with LF Andrew Benintendi, while they are looking to shop Gleyber Torres. Don’t be surprised if both New York teams dominate the offseason once again.