We’re a few weeks into free agency and all of the big names are still on the board with teams taking their time before making moves. However, Hot Stove season always moves at a fast pace and, as ever, MMO is here to round up all the latest rumors for you concerning the New York Mets and the rest of MLB.

Padres Going Big-Game Hunting For A Shortstop 

Yes, you read that right. According to Jon Heyman of The New York Post, the Padres are shopping in the big shortstop free agent market as general manager A.J. Preller looks to make yet another major splash. Not content with already having superstar Fernando Tatis Jr. at the position, not to mention Ha-Seong Kim, the Padres are showing interest in free agent SS Xander Bogaerts. Bogaerts is one of the top free agents available this winter and has produced an OPS+ north of 125 over the past five seasons. He can hit for power, he can hit for average and he draws a lot of walks. Per Heyman, if the Padres were to add Bogaerts or indeed another shortstop to their already star-studded roster, they could slide Tatis to the outfield and move Kim to a depth role. Whatever happens, the Padres are always a fun team to keep an eye on in free agency.

Rays Enter Nimmo Sweepstakes

Brandon Nimmo is one of the top free agent outfielders available so it should come as no surprise that he is attracting plenty of interest early on in the offseason. And, per Heyman, the Tampa Bay Rays are the latest team to enter the Nimmo sweepstakes, joining the Mets, Toronto Blue Jays and the San Francisco Giants in all having interest in the 29-year-old. Nimmo is an on-base machine with a .367 on-base percentage in 2022, he’s established himself as an elite leadoff hitter and he’s improved his glove in the field. Having parted ways with centre fielder Kevin Kiermaier earlier this winter, the Rays are looking for outfield help but whether they can dish out the kind of blockbuster deal Nimmo is looking for remains to be seen.

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Cubs In On Conforto

That Heyman is a busy man and he has also reported that the Chicago Cubs are looking into the possibility of signing former Met Michael Conforto. The free agent outfielder didn’t play in 2022 due to a shoulder injury and has been linked to a return to Citi Field as a backup plan should Nimmo sign elsewhere. Conforto posted a solid .824 OPS across seven seasons with the Mets and could provide an intriguing option for the Cubs, who are believed to be big players in free agency this winter. Per Heyman, Conforto is seeking a two-year deal with an opt-out as he looks to get his career back on track.

Interest Growing In Rodón

The Mets are believed to be in on a number of the biggest free agents available this offseason, including starter Carlos Rodón who is coming off an impressive two-year run on the mound with both the White Sox and the Giants. But, per Heyman again, the Mets face competition with the Dodgers and the Twins also interested in the lefty. It is hardly surprising given that Rodón posted a 2.88 ERA with the Giants in 2022, to go along with a 33.4 strikeout rate and a 2.35 FIP. He also ranked second among major league starters with a 6.2 fWAR. The Mets, Dodgers and Twins all need rotation help and, for the Mets, Rodón could be the type of elite arm they need should Jacob deGrom sign elsewhere in free agency. Per Heyman, the Yankees and the Rangers are also in on the free agent starter.

Bellinger Man In Demand

Former Rookie of the Year and MVP Cody Bellinger was shockingly non-tendered by the Dodgers earlier this month and, despite a couple of down years, he is attracting a lot of interest. Per Heyman, there is interest from no less than 11 teams with the Astros, Cubs and Giants among the suitors. Heyman also notes that Bellinger is seeing a one-year, prove-it deal in order to reset his value.

Twins Refuse To Let Go

One of the biggest shocks of last offseason was the fact that it was the Minnesota Twins who came out on top in the Carlos Correa sweepstakes, signing the big-time shortstop to a three-year, $105.3 million deal. Now, the contract did include opt-outs and Correa did just that this offseason in order to try and secure the blockbuster long-term deal he missed out on last year. There is plenty of interest in Correa with Heyman noting that eight teams are in the race, but the Twins are going all out to try and keep the two-time All-Star in Minnesota for the long-term.

Clevinger Drawing Interest From Chicago

Per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Chicago White Sox are interested in signing free agent starter Mike Clevinger. The righty posted a 4.33 ERA in 22 starts for the Padres in 2022, striking out 91 batters and giving up 35 walks. He could be a good fit for a White Sox team that needs starting pitching.