Let’s take a look at some of those moments – even if that moment may have been the season-ending, as you’ll see in one of the answers below.

Ricky Keeler

If I had to pick a favorite moment from the 2023 Mets season, it would have to be the team’s August 30th walk-off win against the Texas Rangers, the eventual World Series champions. Everyone loves a good underdog story and DJ Stewart became one of the favorite underdogs of the year.

On that night, Stewart went 2-for-4 with a pair of home runs and drove in four of the team’s six runs. The key hit was a game-tying two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth against Jose Leclerc.

One inning later, Stewart made a great catch against the wall in right to rob extra bases and an RBI from Marcus Semien. He would later win the game in the 10th by taking one for the team on a hit-by-pitch from Aroldis Chapman.

Yes, the Mets were well out of it by then, but for one night, Stewart got to have his one shining moment in the second half, where he made his own case to stay on the roster in 2024. For a player who had earned the promotion with his power numbers at Triple-A, it was well worth the watch.

Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

John Sheridan

Being in the ballpark for Ronny Mauricio’s debut was my favorite moment of the season. When top prospects are called up, there is just a different energy in the ballpark. Even in lost seasons, you feel hope and dream of what can be.

Mauricio lived up to the hype immediately by destroying a pitch for a double. It was the Mets’ hardest-hit ball, which says something for a team with Pete Alonso. The fact Kodai Senga picked up the win after striking out 12 over seven made the evening even better.

Of course, with the Mets being snake-bit in 2023, Mauricio would tear his ACL during the winter leagues…

Johnluke Chaparro

My favorite moment of the 2023 season was the Mets comeback versus Cleveland. Seeing Lindor win it against his former team after a stellar ninth-inning comeback generated an exciting feeling that the team had been missing over the prior few weeks. This event and the comeback versus the Guardians made the season feel like it was on an upward trend.

It was an exciting blip in a dreadful season.

Allison Waxman

My favorite Mets moment of 2023 might be a hot take. Living in LA, I got to go to the Mets vs. Dodgers game where Scherzer got ejected and witnessed it in real-time with a bunch of other confused Mets fans.

While some might make that the takeaway, it was the first time in a long time I felt the bullpen was somewhat complete (boy, was I wrong). But everyone delivered when it mattered most in every aspect.

Nimmo had a ridiculous 5-for-5 day, Canha came through with a pinch-hit, two-run single, and the bullpen delivered. Sure, they gave up some runs through seven innings, but it was a joy to watch. While most of these players from this game aren’t even on the team anymore, it doesn’t matter in the long run.

It was a game that gave me hope as a Mets fan for what’s to come in the future, even if the 2023 season doesn’t pan out the way anyone thought it would. What was a relatively ordinary game (with the exception of a ridiculous ejection) gave me hope. That’s just being a Mets fan, isn’t it? Here’s to 2024.

Rich Sparago

My favorite moment of the Mets’ 2023 season came on October 1 at about 5:30 pm, when the season ended. It was such a bad season that the outcome fell far short of expectations, resulting in a mid-season gutting of the team. Sure, we saw Mauricio debut and the development of Alvarez. However, watching Jonathan Arauz, Danny Mendick, Rafael Ortega, and Trevor Gott was not what we signed up to see.

It seemed like a bait-and-switch, and the whole thing left a bitter taste. The Mets talked about lowered expectations for 2024. That is clearly the case coming off the highly forgettable 2023 season.

Matt Mancuso

The Mets’ 2023 campaign had highlights far and few between. However, one notable moment stuck out as the pièce de résistance of their season. In May, well before their midseason swoon, the trio of Mark Vientos, Francisco Alvarez, and Pete Alonso combined to smash three home runs in the late innings against the first-place Rays, which allowed New York to tie twice and eventually come out victorious.

The trio contributed 1.249 WPA (Win Probability Added) in the game, an outstanding amount that granted the Mets not only an improbable win, but one reminiscent of impossible comebacks from magical moments in years past.

The post MMO Roundtable: Favorite Moment From 2023 Mets appeared first on Metsmerized.

On Friday, the Boston Red Sox signed starter Lucas Giolito to a two-year, $38.5 million contract that includes an opt-out after the 2024 season. Giolito, who had a 4.88 ERA across three teams in 2023, is a reclamation project for the Red Sox but has proven to be durable in his career, a desirable attribute even if the product on the mound in 2023 didn’t live up to expectations.

Several reports in recent days and weeks pointed to Giolito as a potential option for the Mets, and Tim Healey of Newsday confirmed the Mets’ interest in the veteran starter on Friday. According to Healey, the team was among the most aggressive for his services and did indeed offer him a contract before Giolito decided on Boston. Now the Mets will continue to look elsewhere, likely not for high-end starters, as they aim to fill out the rest of their rotation for the 2024 season.

David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Latest MLB News

Per Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the White Sox signed former Met Chris Flexen to a one-year contract. Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reported that he would be making $1.75 million in 2024 with the chance to make an additional $1 million.

According to Enrique Rojas of ESPN, the Blue Jays have taken the lead in the race for Cuban pitcher Yariel Rodríguez. Rojas notes that Rodríguez is close to making a decision on where he will play in 2024. He most recently pitched professionally in Japan in 2022, where he compiled a 1.15 ERA in 54 2/3 innings. He also pitched for Team Cuba during the World Baseball Classic earlier this year.

Latest on MMO

Mojo Hill and Jorge Eckhardt argue whether the Mets should sign J.D. Martinez or Justin Turner.

Brian Wright makes a Hall of Fame case for Carlos Beltrán.

The latest Mets Madness Series Recap sees the 1969 Mets matched up against the 1997 Mets.

On This Date in Mets History

1969: Nearly three months after the Mets won the first World Series in franchise history, general manager Johnny Murphy suffered a heart attack which proved to be fatal as he passed away weeks later. Murphy was one of the main architects of the Miracle Mets, bringing manager Gil Hodges to the club and overseeing one of the biggest upsets in World Series history when the Mets bested the heavily-favored Orioles.

Birthdays: Ralph Milliard (50)

The post Morning Briefing: Mets Made Offer to Giolito Before Red Sox Signing appeared first on Metsmerized.

On Friday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported that Yoshinobu Yamamoto‘s 12-year contract with the Dodgers includes opt-outs after years six and eight. Rosenthal added that Yamamoto’s contract is backloaded, so he may miss out on more money if he chooses to opt-out. Yamamoto’s contract was historic, as he signed the largest contract for a pitcher in MLB history, beating Gerrit Cole‘s by $1 million, without even throwing a pitch in the majors. If he lives up to the hype, he may choose to exercise either of his opt-outs making his deal potentially six or eight years long.

Latest Mets News

In reference to the Mets’ pursuit of Japanese superstar Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Steve Cohen told the New York Post on Friday that he “feel(s) good about our efforts and I left it all on the field.” Cohen and the Mets did everything they could, including visiting Yamamoto in Japan and then hosting him in a separate meeting at Cohen’s mansion. Ultimately, the Mets reportedly offered Yamamoto a 12-year, $325 million contract that the Dodgers wound up matching.

Andy Martino of SNY reports that the Mets will likely look to pursue pitchers on relatively cheaper deals after missing out on Yoshinobu Yamamoto. This likely takes the Mets out of contention for players like Jordan Montgomery and Blake Snell and puts them more in the range of a player like Lucas Giolito. While these won’t be flashy moves, David Stearns might deem them in the best interest of a rebuilding Mets club.

Latest MLB News

Per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s contract with the Dodgers includes opt-outs after years six and eight.

Rosenthal also offered nuggets of information from around the league, including:

• Many teams are interested in trading for Angels players including Luis Rengifo and Mickey Moniak.
• The Red Sox are showing interest in free-agent outfielder Teoscar Hernández.
• The Rangers are pursuing Clayton Kershaw, who is expected to miss the beginning of the 2024 season, but Kershaw could potentially land back with the Dodgers as well.
• While the Padres have had trade discussions around Jake Cronenworth, he is now less likely to be moved than previously thought.

Per Kiley McDaniel of ESPN, the Tigers signed pitcher Shelby Miller. The Tigers announced that it is a one-year, $3 million deal with a $4.25 million club option for 2025.

The Padres announced that they claimed reliever Luis Patiño off waivers from the White Sox.

The Orioles announced the passing of Ryan Minor, a former third baseman who had a long career as a minor league manager.

Latest on MMO

Rich Sparago takes a look at the latest rule changes for the 2024 MLB season.

Michael Mayer breaks down Baseball Prospectus’ list of the top 10 Mets prospects.

Michael Mayer analyzes the state of the Mets’ rotation after the team failed to land Yoshinobu Yamamoto in free agency.

On This Date in Mets History

1999: Just a week after Ken Griffey Jr. vetoed a trade that would have sent him to the Mets, the team pivoted and acquired reigning Cy Young Award runner-up and 22-game winner Mike Hampton, who had spent the previous six years with the Astros. The Mets sent Roger Cedeño, Octavio Dotel, and minor leaguer Kyle Kessel to Houston. In Hampton’s lone season in New York in 2000, he went 15-10 with a 3.14 ERA while also batting .274 in 84 plate appearances.

Birthdays: Jordany Valdespin (36), Josh Satin (39), Rick White (55), Tim Leary (65), Jerry Koosman (81), Tim Harkness (86)

The post Morning Briefing: Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s Contract Includes Two Opt-Outs appeared first on Metsmerized.

On Friday, Jeff Wilson of Rangers Today reported that former Met Max Scherzer had surgery on Thursday for a herniated disc. The recovery is expected to sideline Scherzer until June or July. Scherzer, who was with the Mets for 2022 and the first half of 2023, was traded to the Rangers and won a World Series with the club despite allowing seven earned runs in 9 2/3 postseason innings. The 39-year-old and future Hall of Famer will now start the 2024 season on the injured list and will hope to rejoin the team in their effort to become back-to-back World Series champions.

Max Scherzer. Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Latest Mets News

Per Mike Puma of the New York Post, the Mets have been in discussions with the agent of former Met Justin Turner. With Ronny Mauricio out for the entire 2024 season, Turner would be a fit as a designated hitter with third baseman flexibility for the Mets this season.

New Mets bench coach John Gibbons spoke on the Baseball Isn’t Boring podcast about how he was offered the role on the Mets’ staff.

Latest MLB News

Per Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Royals signed outfielder Hunter Renfroe to a tw0-year, $13 million deal with a player option after one year. The Royals also signed pitcher and former Met Michael Wacha to a two-yaer, $32 million deal.

After being traded to the Dodgers, pitcher  Tyler Glasnow signed a five-year, $135 million contract with the team per ESPN’s Jeff Passan.

The Cardinals hosted Japanese reliever Yuki Matsui on Thursday. Matsui, 28-years-old, is a five-time All-Star in Nippon Professional Baseball and has a 2.43 ERA and 236 saves in 10 seasons.

The PGA Tour is nearing a deal with Strategic Sports Group, a group that includes Mets owner Steve Cohen, to infuse more than $3 billion into PGA Tour Enterprises, a new for-profit entity.

Per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Athletics signed former Met Trevor Gott to a one-year major league contract.

Latest on MMO

Michael Mayer writes about how the Mets could pursue Shōta Imanaga as a backup plan if they miss out on Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

Michael Mayer breaks down the remaining top free agents that the Mets could pursue.

On This Date in Mets History

1982: The Mets traded back for arguably the best player in franchise history, Tom Seaver, five years after he was traded to the Reds. In his first year back and his last overall season with the Mets, he recorded a 9-14 record with a 3.55 ERA.

2012: The Mets traded reining National League Cy Young Award winner R.A. Dickey to the Blue Jays for prospects Travis d’Arnaud and Noah Syndergaard. While losing Dickey hurt, Syndergaard and d’Arnaud developed into key pieces of the mid-2010s Mets including the 2015 team that won the National League pennant.

Birthdays: Héctor Santiago (36), Chris Jones (58), Chris Jelic (60), Tom Gorman (66)

The post Morning Briefing: Max Scherzer Sidelined Several Months Following Surgery appeared first on Metsmerized.

The free agency saga of Shohei Ohtani took many turns on Friday. It was first reported Friday morning by Jon Morosi of the New York Post that Ohtani’s free agency decision was “imminent.” J.P. Hoornstra of Dodgers Nation then reported that Ohtani made his decision and was signing with the Blue Jays. Morosi then claimed that Ohtani was en route to Toronto which prompted the entire baseball world to think that Ohtani was going to be a Blue Jay. However, these reports were debunked by several reporters, including Bob Nightengale and Jon Heyman, who claimed that Ohtani was not going to Toronto, but was rather home in southern California. He may or may not wind up a Blue Jay, but the reports by Hoornstra and Morosi appeared to be a bit premature. For MMO’s live reporting of this series of events, click here.

Morosi later apologized to the baseball community for reporting false information.

Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports

Latest Mets News

On Friday, the Mets announced that they signed outfielder Taylor Kohlwey to a minor league deal. The 28-year-old Kohlwey was a career minor leaguer before making his major league debut this past season with the Padres, though he only saw 13 at-bats. He is a career .296/.387/.444 hitter at the Triple-A level.

MMO’s own Mike Mayer reported on a few coaching changes in the Mets’ minor league system. According to Mayer, A.J. Sager will be the pitching coach for Triple-A Syracuse. Sager spent last season as the pitching coach for Double-A Binghamton, and will be replacing Kyle Driscoll who has accepted a job as pitching coordinator in the Diamondbacks organization. Mayer also reported that Gilbert Gomez, a former Mets prospect, will manage High-A Brooklyn this year. He most recently served as the manager for Low-A St. Lucie.

Latest MLB News

The Cardinals announced that they traded outfielder Tyler O’Neill to the Red Sox in exchange for pitchers Nick Robertson and Victor Santos. Jon Heyman of the New York Post was the first to report O’Neill being sent to Boston. O’Neill had a huge year in 2021 when he recorded a .912 OPS, but has struggled the past two seasons. He replaces Alex Verdugo in the Boston outfield and will hope a change of scenery can allow him to return to his 2021 form.

Jon Heyman also reported that the Giants signed Yoshi Tsutsugo, who spent part of the 2023 season in their minor league system.

Jeff Passan of ESPN reported that the Braves acquired infielder David Fletcher and catcher Max Stassi from the Angels in exchange for infielder Evan White and pitcher Tyler Thomas.

The Tigers signed catcher Anthony Bemboom to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training. Bemboom spent 2023 in the Orioles’ system and received 11 at-bats at the big league level.

Latest on MMO

Brian Wright makes the case for Bobby Abreu to make the Hall of Fame. Abreu was a longtime Phillie but ended his playing career with the Mets.

The latest preview in MMO’s Mets Madness series features the 2016 Mets matched up against the 1988 Mets.

On This Date in Mets History

2000: Mike Hampton signed an eight-year, $121 million deal with the Colorado Rockies, just two months after helping the Mets reach the World Series. It was the largest contract in major league history at the time.

Birthdays: Geoff Hartlieb (30), Adam Wilk (36), Buddy Baumann (36), Fred Lewis (43), Jeff Duncan (45), Tony Tarasco (53), Mike Fyhrie (54), Juan Samuel (63), Bruce Boisclair (71), Doc Medich (75), Jerry Cram (76), Del Unser (79)

The post Morning Briefing: Ohtani Saga Takes Wild Turns Before Coming to Standstill appeared first on Metsmerized.

Ronny Mauricio had a stellar night at the plate, yet a forgettable night in the field for the Tigres del Licey of the Dominican Winter League on Friday night. In just his second game since joining the team, Mauricio went 4-for-4 with a double, a triple, and 2 RBIs but also recorded three errors in the field playing third base. Mauricio appears to have picked right back up from when he won Dominican Winter League MVP last year, however his fielding issues are cause for concern. He has always struggled in the field, despite only recording one error in a month’s worth of games for the Mets last year, but he continues to prove his hitting and slugging ability that the Mets hope will only continue to improve.

Jordan Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Latest Mets News

The Mets signed reliever Kyle Crick to a minor league deal on Friday, reported first by Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. While he did not pitch in 2023, he holds a career ERA of 3.56 in 194 total relief appearances.

The Mets made a couple more moves on Friday, announcing that they claimed utilityman Cooper Hummel and catcher Tyler Heineman off waivers. Both players each have a minor league option remaining.

New Mets’ pitcher Luis Severino posted a statement on Instagram saying goodbye to the Yankees organization and his teammates, and posted a separate statement thanking the fans and expressing his excitement to remain in New York.

Latest MLB News

Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet reported on Friday that Shohei Ohtani‘s free agency is entering its final stretch, and a small group of teams are expected to meet with Ohtani and his representatives this weekend. The Mets are not expected to be in the running anymore, according to ESPN‘s Jeff Passan, as they have turned their attention elsewhere. Passan said the known remaining teams still in the running for Ohtani include the Angels, Cubs, Blue Jays, and Dodgers.

Per Craig Mish of MLB Network, the Marlins hired former Phillies and Giants manager Gabe Kapler to their front office as assistant general manager. Kapler interviewed for the open head of baseball operations job in the Red Sox organization before they hired Craig Breslow to that role. Now, Kapler will work under Miami’s new general manager, Peter Bendix.

Jackson Chourio was in Milwaukee on Friday with his representatives, where his historic contract with the Brewers was nearing its final stages of completion. Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reported that, when completed, the deal will be eight-years, $82 million with two club options and incentives that could max the deal out at over $140 million.

The eighth Hall of Fame ballot was released on Friday, belonging to first-time voter Joe Reedy. Reedy voted for former Mets Carlos Beltrán, Billy Wagner, and Bartolo Colón, while also voting for Adrián Beltré, Todd Helton, Andruw Jones, Joe Mauer, Álex Rodriguez, Gary Sheffield, and Chase Utley. The vote for Colón was the first one he has received.

Latest on MMO

Jack Sargente writes a free agent profile on third baseman Matt Chapman.

Allison Waxman breaks down the Mets’ signing of reliever Austin Adams.

On This Date in Mets History

1991: Bobby Bonilla became the highest paid player in baseball by signing a five-year, $29 million deal with the Mets. His first season in New York was underwhelming by his standards, but he began to live up to the hype in 1993 when he hit a career-high 34 home runs and was an All-Star.

1998: The Mets signed another third baseman to a notable contract, getting Robin Ventura to sign to a four-year deal. Ventura had a fantastic debut season with the Mets, where he recorded 32 home runs and a .908 OPS while winning a Gold Glove and finishing sixth in the MVP race.

Birthdays: Gary Sánchez (31)

The post Morning Briefing: Ronny Mauricio Records Four Hits, Three Errors in Winter Ball appeared first on Metsmerized.

On Friday, the Baseball United league in Dubai featured its first game between the East and West All-Stars, and there were several former Mets on hand. The most notable of the bunch was a 50-year-old Bartolo Colón, who showed he still has something left in the tank by retiring former Mets Robinson Canó and Alejandro De Aza, as well as Didi Gregorius in his first inning of work. Akeel Morris and Akeem Bostick were the two other players to have played for the Mets that were featured on the All-Star rosters.

The East ended up winning Game 1, 3-2. The two teams will play the second and final game of the All-Star Showcase Satuday at 7:00 p.m. local time and 10:00 a.m. ET.

Latest Mets News

Former Mets catcher Ron Hodges passed away on Friday. Mets VP of Alumni Relations Jay Horwitz received a call from his wife, Peggy, who shared that he passed after a short illness.

Latest MLB News

Korean outfielder Jung-hoo Lee is expected to be posted in early December, at which point he will be able to sign with an MLB team. Lee’s 2023 season was cut short due to an ankle injury, but he was named KBO’s Most Valuable Player for the 2022 season.

Per Jon Morosi of MLB Network, talks between the Tigers and starting pitcher Kenta Maeda have picked up in recent days. Morosi noted that the Tigers have serious interest in Maeda, who was 6-8 with a 4.23 ERA in 2023 with the Twins.

Tickets are on sale for the 99th annual New York Baseball Writers’ Dinner, where several of the game’s biggest stars will receive awards from this past season. The event is set to take place on January 27, 2024.

Latest on MMO

Michael Mayer looks back on the trade that made Carlos Delgado a Met, an event that happened 18 years ago Friday.

Allison Waxman examines how much Shohei Ohtani could make in free agency.

While MMO’s Black Friday merchandise sale has passed, you can still get 15% off all MMO merchandise plus free shipping until December 1. You can check out the merch here.

On This Date in Mets History

1996: The Mets and Braves swapped relievers, with New York sending Paul Byrd to Atlanta in exchange for Greg McMichael. After four seasons as a solid reliever for the Braves, McMichael shined in his first and only full season with the Mets in 1997, recording a 2.98 ERA despite a 7-10 record.

Birthdays: Octavio Dotel (50), Shingo Takatsu (55), Chico Walker (66)

The post Morning Briefing: Former Mets Participate In Baseball United Debut appeared first on Metsmerized.

Following a busy Friday that saw the non-tender deadline come and go, the Mets’ 40-man roster currently sits at just 28 players. Before the deadline struck, the Mets announced that they non-tendered pitchers Sam Coonrod, Trevor Gott, and Jeff Brigham, as well as infielder Luis Guillorme and designated hitter Daniel Vogelbach. In addition to these moves, the Mets signed DJ Stewart to a one-year deal to avoid arbitration. He will make $1.38 million in 2024.

With 12 roster spots to fill before the season begins, David Stearns is primed to have a busy offseason where he will be tasked with implementing his vision and building a team that will be competitive in 2024.

Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Latest Mets News

Eric Chavez, who spent the 2023 season as the Mets’ bench coach, is returning to the role of hitting coach for the 2024 season. Jeremey Barnes, succeeded Chavez as the Mets’ hitting coach in 2023, is also returning to the staff as a co-hitting coach.

Latest MLB News

Buster Olney of ESPN reported that Yoshinobu Yamamoto will be posted for MLB teams on Monday, November 20. He will then have a 45-day window to sign with any MLB team.

There were several players non-tendered on Friday across the league, but most notable was Brandon Woodruff who is expected to miss the 2024 season. Dakota Hudson, Jacob Stallings, Albert Abreu, and Nick Senzel were among some of the other notable names non-tendered.

The Arizona Diamondbacks unveiled new uniforms on Friday, with the most notable change being the color teal becoming a permanent part of their new look.

The Guardians traded pitcher Cal Quantrill to the Rockies in exchange for catcher prospect Kody Huff.

The Braves traded pitcher Nick Anderson to the Royals for cash considerations. The two teams also completed a separate trade, in which pitcher Kyle Wright was sent to Kansas City in exchange for former first round pick Jackson Kowar. Wright is set to miss the 2024 season after undergoing shoulder surgery.

The Yankees traded outfielder Jake Bauers to the Brewers in exchange for minor leaguers Jace Avina and Brian Sánchez.

The Rays traded pitcher Calvin Faucher and utility player Vidal Bruján in exchange for Erick Lara, Andrew Lindsey, and a player to be named later or cash considerations.

The Guardians and Padres swapped relievers, with Cleveland sending San Diego Enyel De Los Santos in exchange for Scott Barlow.

The Red Sox traded infielder Luis Urías to the Mariners in exchange for Isaiah Campbell.

Corbin Burnes joined Foul Territory to talk about why shortening the pitch clock may be a mistake and lead to more injuries. This comes days after MLB’s competition committee proposed to shorten the pitch clock from 20 seconds to 18 seconds when runners are on base.

The Atlanta Braves’ High-A affiliate, formerly known as the Rome Braves, rebranded their team name and image into the Rome Emperors.

Latest on MMO

Michael Mayer analyzes the current betting odds to land Shohei Ohtani this free agency, with the Dodgers and Cubs sitting atop the list.

On the latest MMO Weekly, Michael Mayer and Sal Manzo discuss Carlos Mendoza‘s introductory press conference, among other topics.

On This Date in Mets History

1985: A 21-year-old Dwight Gooden unanimously won the Cy Young Award in just his second big league season. Doc secured a Pitching Triple Crown by leading the majors that year in wins (24), ERA (1.53), and strikeouts (268).

Birthdays: Matt Wise (48), Allen Watson (53), Gary Sheffield (55), Steve Henderson (71), Jay Hook (87)

The post Morning Briefing: Mets’ 40-Man Roster At 28 After Non-Tender Deadline appeared first on Metsmerized.

Position: 3B Bats/Throws: S/R
Age: 29 (11/24/1993)

2023 Traditional Stats: 140 G, 576 PA, .251/.336/.471/.807, 22 HR, 39 2B, 70 RBI, 127 H
2023 Advanced Stats: 119 OPS+, 117 wRC+, 3.1 bWAR, 3.3 fWAR, 22.1 SO%, 9.2 BB%, .292 BABIP, .319 xwOBA, -4 DRS, 0 OAA

Rundown

The 2023 season was arguably the best of Jeimer Candelario‘s career. A standout bat in a depleted Nationals’ lineup, Candelario set himself up as one of the hottest trade chips of this past season’s trade deadline, where he saw himself land with the Cubs. His play fell off a bit following the trade, but Candelario still enjoyed a season where he set career highs in home runs, RBIs, and OPS (excluding the shortened 2020 season).

Candelario has enjoyed a successful MLB career until now, even if it’s one that hasn’t been worthy of any accolades. After beginning his career with a brief stint with the Cubs, Candelario became a fixture in the Tigers’ lineup from 2017 to 2022, where he experienced highs and lows. Among the highs were a 19-home run season in his first full year with the Tigers in 2018, a .872 OPS season in 52 games in 2020, and a 42-double season in 2021 to lead the majors in that category. Among the lows were two seasons with an OPS below .650 and no All-Star, Silver Slugger, or Gold Glove awards.

A disappointing 2022 season in Detroit forced the Tigers to non-tender Candelario, and he became a free agent for the first time. He chose to sign with the Nationals and immediately became one of the best players on the team. Before the trade deadline, Candelario hit 16 home runs with 53 RBIs and a .823 OPS. He was then traded to the Cubs and hit six home runs with 17 RBIs and a .764 OPS with the team. He finished the year with 22 home runs, 70 RBIs, 39 doubles, and a .807 OPS.

Despite putting up quality numbers, Candelario finished the year well below average in expected batting average (21st percentile), hard-hit percentage (22nd percentile), and average exit velocity (29th percentile). He also finished around league average in barrel percentage (44th percentile), chase percentage (48th percentile), and whiff percentage (56th percentile). Candelario also struggled against non-fastballs, putting up a batting average of .170 against breaking balls and .238 against offspeed pitches.

Defensively, Candelario played exclusively third base with the Nationals last year but split time between third and first base with the Cubs. At third, Candelario finished the year with -5 DRS and 2 OAA, and at first, he finished with 1 DRS and -2 OAA. Being that he’s not exactly a wizard with the glove, he could potentially serve as a team’s designated hitter, although he can more than hold his own if he plays the field for his next team.

Contract

Spotrac.com projects Candelario to receive a three-year, $34.85 million contract, which is good for $11.6 million annually. That would put him right around league average in terms of salary for third basemen, which is probably what the 29-year-old is looking to get after his 2023 season.

Recommendation

If I’m David Stearns, I’m looking elsewhere for bats to supplement the lineup. Candelario is a good player, but he isn’t someone who fits this Mets team or someone who projects to improve upon last year’s performance. If anything, a regression is the likeliest outcome. That’s not to mention that Stearns recently stated that the Mets will be constructed so that “young, talented players do get a chance over the course of the year,” meaning either of Brett Baty or Ronny Mauricio will likely be the team’s third baseman.

Candelario has had an inconsistent career and would probably serve as the Mets’ designated hitter if signed. With better DH options on the market, such as Teoscar Hernández or Jorge Soler, the Mets should stay away from Candelario.

The post MMO Free Agent Profile: Jeimer Candelario, 3B appeared first on Metsmerized.

Position: RP

Age: 29 (4/12/1994)

2023 Traditional Stats: 64 G, 79 IP, 7-8, 7.18 ERA, 1.494 WHIP, 83 SO, 45 BB
2023 Advanced Stats: 57 ERA+, 23.3 SO%, 12.6 BB%, 4.80 xERA, 4.61 FIP, 5.05 xFIP, 0.2 fWAR, -2.1 bWAR

Rundown

An initial glance at Shintaro Fujinami‘s rookie season would suggest that his transition from Nippon Professional Baseball to Major League Baseball was a major adjustment. Beginning your MLB career with one of the worst teams of all time—in the 2023 Oakland Athletics—certainly doesn’t make things easier, but a midseason trade saw him land with the Baltimore Orioles where he ultimately demonstrated the potential of the quality pitcher he can become.

While Fujinami began the season as a member of Oakland’s rotation, his status as a starter lasted just four games. Four starts into the season, Fujinami was a baffling 0-4 with a 14.40 ERA, which prompted Oakland to try him out as a reliever in hopes that would allow his stuff to play better. (His best start was actually against the Mets on April 15.)

From the point at which he became a reliever to the time he was traded, Fujinami posted a 6.03 ERA in 34 1/3 innings despite having a FIP of just 3.87. The Orioles clearly believed in his potential as they were ready to start their playoff push, which prompted them to trade for the rookie just months into his MLB career.

Fujinami joined an elite Baltimore bullpen and was allowed to feel more comfortable by being put in low-pressure situations. He still struggled at times, though, and ended the year with a 4.85 ERA as a member of Baltimore’s bullpen. Still, he was much more effective and less volatile than he was with the A’s. Because of that, his season ERA of 7.18 doesn’t exactly reflect the progression he made throughout the season, even if that progression wasn’t enough to make him a completely polished pitcher.

Teams will still be enamored with Fujinami this offseason, though, based on his stuff alone.

Fujinami relies on five pitches, with his fastball (56.6%), splitter (20.1%), and cutter (16%) being his primary pitches. He also deploys a sweeper (6.1%) and rarely goes with a slider (1.2%). (This difference is likely just depending on how well he gets his slider to break horizontally.) Fujinami’s fastball and splitter are especially impressive, with his fastball able to top 100 mph and his splitter capable of reaching 95 mph. Being 6-foot-6 certainly helps Fujinami in extending closer to the plate and making his pitches seem even faster coming out of his hand. That could explain, despite his struggles, why he ranked in the 78th percentile for whiff rate among all pitchers in 2023.

Because of his struggles as a starter at the beginning of the 2023 season and the way he profiles as a pitcher, Fujinami will almost certainly be sought after as a reliever this offseason. The way he was able to settle in with Baltimore after a disastrous stint in Oakland bodes well for him and his future as he looks to fully round into form as one of MLB’s most electric pitchers.

Contract

Prior to the 2023 season, Fujinami signed a one-year, $3.25 million deal with the A’s. Whether he’s worthy of a larger contract now is still a question after an up-and-down first major league season.

Based on potential alone, he could certainly receive a contract worth more whether that’s for one year or for multiple years. My best guess is he signs another one-year deal worth a little bit more than the one he signed with Oakland a year ago.

Recommendation

The Mets’ bullpen at this point in time essentially consists of just Edwin Díaz and Brooks Raley so, yes, they should absolutely be interested in signing Fujinami. They won’t have to break the bank to sign him, and David Stearns knows how to construct an elite bullpen like he did in Milwaukee.

Fujinami could use Kodai Senga as a resource for how to successfully transition to MLB after years of playing in Japan. If Fujinami is open to playing in New York, Stearns should definitely pursue him.

The post MMO Free Agent Profile: Shintaro Fujinami, RHP appeared first on Metsmerized.