Offseason acquisition Jose Siri shined at the plate in Dominican Winter League play on Friday night. The center fielder had two hits in five at-bats with a triple, a walk, two RBIs, and two runs. Siri has played well this winter and figures to split time with Tyrone Taylor in center field in 2025.

Photo Credit: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports

Latest Mets News

According to SNY’s Jim Duquette, Pete Alonso‘s camp has offered the Mets a three-year contract that features opt-outs. Duquette noted that no deal is close at the moment.

The Brooklyn Cyclones, the Mets’ High-A affiliate, announced on X that they are installing an upgraded video board for the 2025 season.

Latest MLB News

The Blue Jays signed reliever Jeff Hoffman to a three-year, $33 million deal Friday night. Hoffman excelled with the Phillies in 2024, pitching to a 2.17 ERA and an All-Star nod. According to Robert Murray of FanSided, Hoffman was in agreement with the Orioles on a three-year, $40 million deal but it fell through when the Orioles flagged his physical.

According to Dan Martin of the New York Post, the Yankees fans who notoriously interfered with Mookie Betts during Game 1 of the World Series have been banned indefinitely from all major league ballparks.

The Cubs signed starter Colin Rea to a one-year, $5 million deal. Rea had a 12-6 record with a 4.29 ERA with the Brewers in 2024.

The White Sox signed former Met Omar Narváez to a minor league contract with an invite to spring training. Narváez played in 28 games with the Mets in 2024 before latching on with the Astros’ Triple-A team.

Tyler Skaggs’ family’s trial against the Angels has been delayed again and will now take place in September this year. It was initially scheduled for October 2023.

Latest on MMO

Mathias Altman-Kurosaki profiles pitcher Jakob Junis as a potential free agent target for the Mets.

Sean Kenny writes about Mets prospects included on Baseball America’s latest article ranking top prospects at each position.

On This Date in Mets History

2022: The Mets announced they would be retiring Keith Hernandez‘s no. 17 jersey. The team held a ceremony during the following season on July 9.

2024: Bud Harrelson passed away one year ago today. Harrelson enjoyed a career that spanned parts of 16 seasons, 13 of which he spent in a Mets uniform. He was a two-time All-Star, a Gold Glove winner, and a member of the 1969 World Series champion Mets.

Born On This Date: Stephen Nogosek (1995), Jermaine Allensworth (1972), Rey Ordóñez (1971), Dan Norman (1955), Jim McAndrew (1944), Danny Napoleon (1944).

The post Morning Briefing: Jose Siri Shines in Winter League Play appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Pete Alonso remains a free agent, as the first base market has not developed as nicely as he would have hoped. According to multiple reporters, that bodes well for the Mets in their hopes to re-sign their homegrown player.

On MLB Network on Friday, reporter Jon Morosi said, “I still do not see any team in the major leagues that has a better chance of signing Alonso than the New York Mets.”

The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal then appeared on Foul Territory on Friday, also talking about Alonso’s free agency. Like Morosi, Rosenthal called the Mets the “logical” landing spot for the slugger. At this point, it would be a surprise if Alonso plays anywhere but Queens in 2025.

Pete Alonso, photo by Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Latest Mets News

Sean Manaea has several bonuses included in his three-year, $75 million contract with the Mets, including five-figure bonuses for earning an All-Star nod, a Gold Glove, and finishing top-three in Cy Young balloting. He’ll also earn $100,000 if he is named World Series MVP and $50,000 if he’s named LCS MVP.

Carlos Beltrán, who currently serves in the Mets front office as a special assistant to David Stearns, will be the general manager for Team Puerto Rico in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

The Mets hired Andrew Riddell, who currently serves as a national player development manager for Baseball Australia, as an international scout. In a post on X, Riddell noted he will remain in his role with Baseball Australia while serving as a scout for the Mets.

Latest MLB News

The Orioles announced that they signed starter Charlie Morton to a one-year contract. Mark Feinsand of MLB.com noted the deal is for $15 million. The 41-year-old has been in the league since 2008 and was with the Braves since 2021. He’s not as effective as he used to be, but he remains a workhorse even in his 40s: the last time he started less than 30 games in a full season was in 2017, when he started 25 games.

The Dodgers signed Korean infielder Hyeseong Kim to a three-year deal on Friday. The New York Post’s Jon Heyman was first on the money, noting the deal is for $12.5 million guaranteed with a chance to earn as much as $22 million. The 25-year-old Kim’s best tools are contact and speed, as he had a .304 batting average and averaged 30 stolen bases per year in seven full seasons in the KBO. He doesn’t have much power as he only hit 37 home runs across those seven years, recording more triples (39) than long balls.

In a corresponding move, the Dodgers DFA’d catcher Diego Cartaya. The 23-year-old was once considered a top prospect but has not performed well in the upper minor leagues.

Dodgers GM Brandon Gomes was asked if the team has been granted a second meeting with coveted free agent pitcher Roki Sasaki. Gomes replied, “Not able to say at this time. I hope so.”

Walker Buehler, the newest Red Sox player, said that he has made a pitch to Alex Bregman to join him in Boston.

Latest on MMO

Mathias Altman-Kurosaki profiles reliever Chris Martin as a potential free agent target for the Mets.

Christian De Block profiles first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. as a potential trade target for the Mets.

On This Date in Mets History

2005: Darryl Strawberry fell off the Hall of Fame ballot on this day 20 years ago after receiving just six votes in his first year of eligibility.

Born On This Date: Kevin Pillar (1989), Daryl Boston (1963), Paul Gibson (1960), Bart Shirley (1940).

The post Morning Briefing: Mets Remain Likeliest to Sign Pete Alonso appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Latest Mets News

The Mets officially announced that they signed Sean Manaea to a three-year contract. It was reported this past week that Manaea would return to the Mets on a three-year, $75 million deal, which now becomes official.

President of baseball operations David Stearns said in a statement, “Sean was an integral part of what the team accomplished last season. He impressed on the field leading the rotation and in the clubhouse with his character, attitude, and composure. I am excited to watch him continue to flourish over the next few years.”

Manaea went 12-6 with a 3.47 ERA and became a fan favorite in his first season with the Mets, and now, he’ll be sticking around for the foreseeable future.

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Latest MLB News

The Diamondbacks made a late-night surprise signing, inking right-hander Corbin Burnes to a six-year, $210 million deal. It is their largest contract in franchise history.

The Tigers signed second baseman Gleyber Torres to a one-year, $15 million contract. Torres spent all of his past seven years in the big leagues with the Yankees, where he was a two-time All-Star but struggled a bit in 2024.

The Dodgers re-signed outfielder Teoscar Hernández to a three-year, $66 million contract. Hernández shined in his first season with the Dodgers in 2024, earning an All-Star nod and winning a World Series championship. He now returns through the 2027 season.

A’s president Dave Kaval announced on Friday that he is resigning from his position.

The Hanshin Tigers in Japan signed former Mets prospect Stanley Consuegra to a developmental contract. Consuegra is still just 24 and had a .646 OPS between the Mets’ High-A and Double-A teams in 2024.

Latest on MMO

Jack Markowski previews reliever Andrew Chafin as a potential free agent target for the Mets.

On This Date in Mets History

1967: Johnny Murphy became the Mets’ general manager, becoming the third person to hold the title in the organization’s brief history. Murphy oversaw the 1969 World Series championship team but sadly passed months afterwards due to a heart attack.

Born On This Date: Benny Agbayani (1971), Ray Knight (1952), John Milner (1949).

The post Morning Briefing: Mets Officially Announce Sean Manaea Deal appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Topps announced on Friday that over 34,000 copies of the Juan Soto signing with the Mets card have sold. Topps announced this number in addition to the cards from his previous transactions. When he was traded to the Padres, that card sold just over 3,000 times. When he was traded to the Yankees, that card sold just over 7,000 times. Mets fans are, clearly, beyond excited for their newest superstar.

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Latest Mets News

According to MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo, the Mets will retire David Wright‘s No. 5 jersey in a ceremony before their July 19 game against the Reds. It’s sure to be an exciting and emotional day for one of the most beloved figures in Mets history.

FOCO released a Juan Soto press conference bobblehead.

Francisco Lindor and Brandon Nimmo spoke to Mike Puma of the New York Post about just how happy they are with the Soto signing and how committed the team is to bringing a championship to Queens.

Brandon Nimmo told Mike Puma of the New York Post that he received a PRP injection on his foot early in the offseason and has been working out four days a week in Florida.

MLB.com ranked Pete Alonso‘s game-winning home run in Game 3 of the National League Wild Card series the No. 5 play of the MLB season.

Lindor and his wife, Katia, announced that they will be having another baby, extending their family to a family of five.

Giles Turner of Bloomberg wrote about the Mets’ crossover with Steve Cohen’s hedge fund, Point72, including the fact that they built MetsGPT, “an internal function that mimicked AI chatbot ChatGPT, giving staff the ability to pull up anything of use to the Mets.”

Latest MLB News

Per ESPN’S Jeff Passan, the Yankees acquired closer Devin Williams from the Brewers in exchange for starter Nestor Cortes and infield prospect Caleb Durbin. Williams was injured for much of the beginning of 2024 but he remains one of the elite relievers in baseball. He has a career 1.83 ERA in 235 2/3 innings, including a 1.25 ERA in 21 2/3 innings in 2024. Nestor Cortes had a 3.77 ERA in 31 appearances (30 starts) for the Yankees this past season, while the five-foot-six Durbin broke out in the Arizona Fall League with a .976 OPS and 29 stolen bases in 24 games.

Passan also reported that the Cubs signed catcher Carson Kelly to a two-year, $11.5 million deal. Kelly had a .687 OPS between the Tigers and Rangers in 2024.

The Cubs also swung a huge deal, per Chandler Rome of The Athletic. Chicago landed outfielder Kyle Tucker from the Astros in exchange for infielder Isaac Paredes, pitcher Hayden Wesneski, and 2024 first round pick, third baseman Cam Smith. Tucker is one of the most underrated players in baseball, owning a career .870 OPS including a .993 OPS in 2024, while Paredes should thrive in Houston with the Crawford boxes in left field. Wesneski is a solid young pitcher, and Smith is a highly touted prospect.

Following the trade of Kyle Tucker, Astros general manager Dana Brown told reporters that the team plans to compete in the AL West and will likely keep starter Framber Valdez despite listening to trade offers.

ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez wrote about the exponentially increasing price on starting pitchers in Major League Baseball.

Private equity billionaire Justin Ishbia is exploring a potential bid to purchase the Minnesota Twins. Ishbia and his brother Mat Ishbia, purchased the NBA’s Phoenix Suns relatively recently.

According to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, the Blue Jays signed pitcher Eric Lauer to a NRI deal. Lauer was solid for the Brewers in 2021 and 2022 before drastically regressing in 2023.

According to Robert Murray of FanSided, the Pirates signed pitcher Carson Fulmer to a minor league deal. Fulmer had a 4.15 ERA in 37 appearances for the Angels in 2024.

Latest on MMO

Ricky Keeler profiles reliever Carlos Estévez as a potential Mets free agent target.

On This Date in Mets History

1995: The Mets signed Lance Johnson to a two-year contract, following a year in which he was the AL hits leader with the White Sox. In his first and only full season with the Mets, Johnson led the National League with 227 hits and 21 triples. He had an .841 OPS and was named an All-Star for the first time in his career.

Born On This Date: Shaun Marcum (1981), Greg Goossen (1945), Jerry May (1943).

The post Morning Briefing: Topps’ Soto-to-Mets Card Selling Fast appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

On Friday, the Mets signed former Yankee Clay Holmes to a three-year, $38 million contract according to the New York Post’s Joel Sherman. The deal also includes an opt-out after year two. The Mets intend to convert Holmes to a starting pitcher despite Holmes not having started games since 2018. Holmes joins Frankie Montas as the two newest members of the Mets’ starting rotation for 2025.

Roberto Carlo

Latest Mets News

The Mets officially announced that they signed Alex Ramírez, Grant Hartwig, and Edward Olivares to minor league deals with invites to spring training. Ramírez and Hartwig were known to be returning to the organization for a few days, but Olivares’ signing was not. The 28-year-old outfielder has spent time with the Padres and Royals and spent 2024 with the Pirates. In 196 major league plate appearances in 2024, he had a .624 OPS.

The Mets acquired reliever Sean Harney from the Rays in exchange for international pool money. The 2022 eighth-round pick had a 3.76 ERA between rookie ball, High-A, and Double-A in 2024.

According to Mike Puma of the New York Post, the Mets have received trade interest in Brett Baty. The third baseman has struggled in his brief major league career but is still highly thought of as a former top prospect.

New Met Frankie Montas had his introductory press conference on Friday. He spoke highly about the Mets’ lineup and how he’s glad he doesn’t have to face them anymore. He also mentioned how he hopes his former teammate and one of his best friends Sean Manaea returns to the Mets next season.

Latest MLB News

Buster Olney of ESPN reported that Shane Bieber is returning to the Guardians in 2025. Jeff Passan noted the deal is one-year, $14 million with a $16 million player option for 2026. Bieber will miss the start of the regular season after undergoing Tommy John surgery this past year.

Robert Murray of FanSided reported that the Rays signed catcher Danny Jansen to a one-year, $8.5 million contract. According to Murray, Jansen had multi-year offers on the table but wanted to bet on himself after a down offensive year. The 29-year-old had a .658 OPS between the Blue Jays and Red Sox last year, but has a career .727 OPS.

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic said on Foul Territory that he expects both Nolan Arenado and Steven Matz to be traded from the Cardinals, but they are likelier to hold on to Ryan Helsley.

The A’s officially announced that they signed former Met Luis Severino.

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred announced that the controversial “Golden Bat” rule is not likely to happen. The rule would allow teams to use any player they want for one at-bat a game.

MLB Pipeline released their Top 100 for the 2025 MLB Draft. Jim Callis of MLB Pipeline called high school infielders “the strength of this class.”

Joel Sherman of the New York Post wrote that with or without Juan Soto, the Yankees should pursue a trade of Cody Bellinger.

In the lawsuit involving the family of Tyler Skaggs and the Angels, the judge in the case rejected the Angels’ request to delay the trial. Mike Trout will be deposed by attorneys in January and owner Arte Moreno will be required to release some of the contents of his cell phone.

Latest on MMO

Jordan Baron profiles outfielder Teoscar Hernández as a potential free agent target for the Mets.

On This Date in Mets History

1984: The Mets acquired Howard Johnson from the Tigers in exchange for Walt Terrell. Johnson went on to become a two-time All-Star and World Series champion with the Mets. He spent parts of nine seasons with the club and had an .801 OPS in a Mets uniform.

Born On This Date: Pete Alonso (1994), Mike Baxter (1984), Don Cardwell (1935).

The post Morning Briefing: Mets’ Rotation Beginning to Take Shape appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, the Dodgers signed Tommy Edman to a five-year, $74 million contract extension. The deal runs through 2029 and has a sixth-year team option. The longtime Cardinal had a .711 OPS in the regular season with the Dodgers and played a big hand in eliminating the Mets in the NLCS, recording a whopping 11 RBIs in the series and being named NLCS MVP.

Edman’s contract includes $25 million in deferred money to be paid out over a span of 10 years, says Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic.

Latest Mets News

Former Mets general manager Jared Porter spoke out about his inappropriate actions which caused his firing in 2021 for the first time since then in a new article by Will Sammon of The Athletic.

Latest MLB News

According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, several MLB teams have expressed interest in outfielder Socrates Brito. Brito spent the last three seasons playing in Korea and had an .875 OPS and 26 home runs for the reigning champion KIA Tigers. The 32-year-old last played in an MLB game in 2019 and has a .525 OPS in 207 career major league at-bats.

According to MLB Trade Rumors, the Cardinals are expected to field interest in Steven Matz. The former Met had a 5.08 ERA in 12 games in 2024 with the Cardinals.

Per Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY, the Braves signed reliever Connor Gillispie to a major league deal. Gillispie has eight major league innings under is belt, all of which came in 2024 with the Guardians.

Latest on MMO

Kai Chang profiles second baseman Gleyber Torres as a potential free agent target for the Mets.

Jack Markowski lists the top free agent bargains for the Mets.

On This Date in Mets History

Born On This Date: DJ Stewart (1993), Matt Lawton (1971), Juan Berenguer (1954), Craig Swan (1950).

The post Morning Briefing: Dodgers Sign Tommy Edman to Extension appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Grade: A

2024 Review

The Mets have had to endure brutal stretches in the front office in the past. Brodie Van Wagenen handing $20 million to Jed Lowrie, the invisible man. Then there are the guys who made positive contribuitions to the organization but made some baffling moves along the way. Steve Phillips sending Scott Kazmir away for Victor Zambrano, for example. Or Omar Minaya giving Jason Bay $66 million.

No executive can be perfect; they all have their flaws. But they can strive to emulate the best of the best. Theo Epstein. Billy Beane. Those two stand as perhaps the most famous general managers of all time, yet David Stearns isn’t far behind — and might even be at the same level.

The Mets clearly had their sights set on Stearns, wasting no time hiring him as soon as the 2023 season ended. His résumé spoke for itself — he guided the small-market Brewers to four consecutive postseason appearances from 2018 to 2021. He orchestrated the trade that brought Christian Yelich to Milwaukee and became one of the youngest general managers in MLB history, taking over the Brewers at just 30 years old.

Stearns’ offseason moves sparked plenty of debate, especially for a 2024 season meant to be a ‘transitional year.’ First of all, his choice of manager: Yankees bench coach Carlos Mendoza was largely unknown, and many questioned Stearns’ decision. Mendoza ended up finishing third in the 2024 Manager of the Year voting. Many also questioned the short-term, high-average annual value contracts he handed out to players like starting pitcher Luis Severino (one year, $13 million), defensive wizard Harrison Bader (one year, $10.5 million), and left-hander Sean Manaea (two years, $28 million).

These moves were criticized, given Severino’s injury history, Bader’s inconsistent bat, and Manaea’s uneven performances in recent seasons. Yet despite these challenges, these moves worked to perfection — each of the three players exceeded expectations by far. Manaea pitched like an ace, Severino performed like a reliable #3 starter, and Bader excelled in center field.

Stearns was also a magician at finding bargains. While perhaps Manaea, Severino, and Bader were some of the more lucrative contracts he gave out, some other moves flew under the radar. He acquired a solid fourth outfielder in Tyrone Taylor and signed an unknown reliever in Danny Young. And on December 4th, one of the most productive Mets of all of 2024 was signed to a minor league contract. OMG. He also added some underrated depth pieces, like veteran catcher Luis Torrens. Each move, while low-profile, was calculated to strengthen the roster without breaking the bank. Stearns knew that in a long season, these seemingly small moves would help push the Mets past the finish line.

As the Mets fought their way back into contention, Stearns knew the playoffs weren’t guaranteed with the NL Wild Card chase wide open. Unlike some teams on the fence, such as the Cardinals, who traded Tommy Edman for Erick Fedde and began rebuilding, Stearns carefully preserved the Mets’ farm system. If Rhylan Thomas, Kade Morris or Tyler Stuart make it big in the league, then a tip of the cap to them, and good luck. But Ryne Stanek, Paul Blackburn, and Jesse Winker all were huge reasons why the Mets made it so far. Additionally, he acquired Phil Maton for just cash considerations. Maton delivered a 2.51 ERA in the regular season, providing tremendous value for virtually nothing.

Stearns’ ability to strengthen the team without sacrificing the future is admirable. He didn’t trade away any top prospects but still got solid production from the players he brought in, who contributed in key roles across the bullpen and lineup. Winker, for example, was the Mets’ best hitter in the postseason, while Stanek was their most reliable reliever.

Stearns also wasn’t afraid to give the younger players a chance to shine. Who knew that come October, a 24-year-old Mark Vientos would be leading New York to the National League Championship Series? The Mets began the 2024 season with Brett Baty manning third, and it wasn’t like Stearns gave up on Baty right away. He stuck with him until the very last straw — Baty’s time at the big league level ended with a dreadful .229/.306/.327 slash line. On May 15th, Stearns called up Vientos for good, effectively ending Baty’s season and making way for Swaggy V to take over. It’s even reasonable to say that he could have called up Vientos even earlier given Baty’s struggles offensively.

Outside of Vientos, the pitching staff received a huge boost from the performances of previously inconsistent David Peterson and long man José Butto. After Peterson’s rehab, Stearns put his faith in the southpaw, sticking with him through thick and thin. Peterson responded by delivering the best ERA of his career. Butto, a mid-tier prospect, was used perfectly by Stearns and his manager, Mendoza. In 30 games (7 starts), Butto posted a brilliant 2.55 ERA over 74 innings, becoming one of, if not the best, Mets reliever of 2024.

As established earlier, no leader is perfect – everyone makes mistakes. Stearns signed Joey Wendle, Jorge Lopez, and Jake Diekman, while also trading for Adrian Houser and Huascar Brazobán — all of whom may forever live in Mets infamy. They were dreadful, to put it bluntly. Wendle was paid $2 million for 37 plate appearances and a .493 OPS. It’s not quite Jed Lowrie, but it’s close. It became clear that players like Wendle, Diekman, Lopez, Houser, and Omar Narváez weren’t contributing. So Stearns made the tough decision to cut them loose, preventing wasted roster spots. When things weren’t working, he had the guts to move on.

2025 Overview

Since 2024 was meant as a transition year, nobody is 100% sure what direction the Mets president will take this offseason. When in control of the Brewers, we know he couldn’t spend money and had to finagle his way into the playoffs. Of course, he now manages the richest team in baseball. Last year, Stearns said in an interview that “there are going to be times…where we can go after premium free agents and execute very aggressive buy-side trades.” If there’s any point to go all in, now is the time. With glaring holes in the rotation and a lineup that could use a superstar like Juan Soto, this offseason will reveal just how aggressive Stearns plans to be in shaping the Mets’ present and future.

2024 was amazing, and Stearns was the mastermind who plotted everything. Making the NLCS in a transition year is awesome, but nothing is complete until he brings the Mets a championship. There is work to be done. Will he go for the big fish in Soto, or will he go for multiple second-tier free agents? Will he commit himself to long-term contracts, or keep the Mets signing shorter deals? Only time will tell.

The post 2024 Mets Report Card: David Stearns, President of Baseball Operations appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Player Data: Age: 28 (06/05/1996), B/T: R/R

Primary Stats: 25 G (0 GS), 35 IP, 2.31 ERA, 0.914 WHIP, 2-0, 48 SO, 8 BB
Advanced Stats: 172 ERA+, 35.6 K%, 5.9 BB%, 2.40 xERA, 2.22 FIP, 2.32 xFIP, 0.9 fWAR

2024 Contract: $740,000

Grade: A

2024 Review

Núñez, 28, was originally signed by the Mets in 2016, before taking a brief detour in the Giants organization and then eventually returning to New York. The Mets promoted him to the big league roster on April 9th and he would debut against the Braves. In his debut, Nuñez tossed two innings in relief of Adrian Houser, giving up one run.

After being shuffled between Syracuse and Flushing a few times, Núñez cemented his place in New York’s bullpen in June. He seized his opportunity and ran with it. Despite the struggles of the Mets bullpen, Núñez wasn’t given high-leverage innings that month. He was only called upon in the seventh inning or earlier, but in those appearances, he dominated. Over 14 1/3 innings, Núñez posted a 1.88 ERA, tallied three holds, and earned two wins during that stretch.

The Mets finally recognized Núñez’s talent and gave him real opportunities in July. He became New York’s primary setup man and did not disappoint. Over ten innings, Núñez posted a 2.70 ERA and struck out 15 batters, showcasing his ability to not wilt under pressure. Unfortunately, just as Núñez was settling into his new, high-leverage role, injury struck the reliever.

Núñez was initially diagnosed with a right pronator strain, landing him on the 15-day injured list on July 26. Carlos Mendoza predicted a short stay for the right-hander, and that’s kind of exactly what happened. After some rest and a brief rehab assignment in Syracuse, Núñez was reactivated on August 23. With the Mets desperately needing bullpen help, they wasted no time, calling on him immediately to finish off a game against Wild Card rivals in the Padres.

Unfortunately, the optimism surrounding Núñez’s return quickly faded. He mentioned that his throwing sessions felt off, and before long, he was back on the injured list with a right flexor injury. Thankfully, he avoided surgery, though his season would end after just that one appearance in San Diego.

Núñez finished his rookie season anticlimactic, but when he was healthy, he was absolutely lights-out. Nobody expected anything of this nature from Núñez, and his success should not be considered mere “luck.” A 2.31 ERA over 35 innings pitched is no small feat. However, his two primary pitches stood out even more, which were nearly unhittable. Núñez threw his slider 48.9% of the time, and batters had no answer, hitting just .145 against it. In fact, 38 of his 48 strikeouts in 2024 came from that filthy slider. Additionally, had he qualified, he would have ranked in the top 10 for both xERA (2.32) and xFIP (2.32) among pitchers with a minimum of 30 innings pitched—both stats stronger than Emmanuel Clase‘s.

2025 Overview

The Mets are still hoping for a quick return for Núñez. Not so long ago, Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns discussed Núñez’s progress. Stearns stated that he is progressing well, and the Mets hope to get him back on a mound by about November. Hopefully, all goes well in that regard.

Contractually, Núñez will not impact the Mets’ payroll whatsoever. He is still on a rookie contract, so he’ll earn just six figures. The Mets will be looking to build around closer Edwin Diaz this offseason, and ideally, Núñez can be another high-leverage arm for the team. Looking ahead to 2025, Núñez’s combination of talent and a potential role as a high-leverage reliever should make him a key piece of the Mets bullpen for the upcoming season and beyond.

The post 2024 Mets Report Card: Dedniel Núñez, RP appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Player Data: Age: 29 (7/28/1995), B/T: R/R

Primary Stats: 4-5, 4.04 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 78 IP, 91 SO, 32 BB, 16 G (15 GS)

Advanced Stats: 0.5 bWAR, 1.4 fWAR, 98 ERA+, 27 SO%, 9.5 BB%, 4.22 xERA, 3.55 FIP, 3.79 xFIP

2024 Salary: $766,250

GRADE: C

2024 Review

Tylor Megill beat out José Buttó for a spot in the rotation that opened after the Kodai Senga injury was revealed during spring training. A bumpy ride ensued. He left his season debut on March 31 after throwing four innings with an injury of his own. It would be diagnosed as a shoulder strain and after a rehab stint in the minors, he returned to the big leagues about seven weeks later.

His second start back on May 28 was his best of the season – he struck out nine Dodgers over seven scoreless innings and gave up just three hits and a walk. The bullpen blew the game, the Mets lost in 10 innings, and a day later came the well-chronicled team meeting that was a catalyst in turning the season around.

But while the Mets took off in June, Megill struggled. He gave up five runs in a start at Washington, six in Chicago, and four against Houston. He never pitched more than 5.1 innings in five turns that month and his June ERA was 7.43. He was sent to Triple-A Syracuse.

“Comes down to executing pitches and being consistent and staying on the attack,” manager Carlos Mendoza said then.

Megill returned to the Mets a month later, but with David Peterson back from injury and Paul Blackburn acquired in a trade, he was out of the rotation. But when Blackburn got hurt in late August, Megill got a chance again and ran with it.

Megill closed the regular season on a high note, pitching to a 2.45 ERA in five September starts. “I’m definitely proud and happy to be pitching well, and to compete with these guys has been a lot of fun,” he said after a win over the Nationals on Sept. 17. He was the starter in Atlanta (5.2 innings, three runs) in the game where Francisco Lindor homered to send the Mets to the playoffs.

In two outings out of the bullpen in the postseason, Megill gave up a walk-off single to Nick Castellanos in Game 2 of the NLDS and home runs to Shohei Ohtani and Max Muncy in an 8-0 defeat in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series.

2025 Overview

Megill would appear to be in good shape for a spot in the rotation with three starters testing free agency. But in a news conference after the postseason, David Stearns named Megill, Buttó, and Peterson as three pitchers who may be used as starters or relievers next year. Megill is under contract for $2.3 million in 2025.

Megill is 21-21 with a 4.56 ERA in his four-year career. His September was encouraging, but he needs to prove he can be consistent for a full season. He may earn the chance to start once more, but there is also the chance the Mets acquire pitchers via trade or free agency, which could bump Big Drip to the bullpen.

The post 2024 Mets Report Card: Tylor Megill, P appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Player Data: Age: 31 (03/25/1993), B/T: R/R

Primary Stats: 31 G (0 GS), 28.2 IP, 2.51 ERA, 0.837 WHIP, 2-1, 30 SO, 6 BB
Advanced Stats: 159 ERA+, 26.5 SO%, 5.3 BB%, 2.57 FIP, 3.39 xFIP, 0.7 fWAR

2024 Salary: $6.25 million

Grade: B+

2024 Review

The first domino to fall in president of baseball operations David Stearns’ trade deadline plans for the Mets was acquiring Phil Maton to help fix the bullpen. Stearns added the eight-year veteran during a down year; Maton had pitched to a 4.58 ERA and an even rougher 5.63 FIP over 40 appearances with the Tampa Bay Rays, which is why they were willing to part ways with him for just cash considerations.

Maton’s experience likely factored into the Mets’ decision to bring him in over other potential options. Leading into the 2024 season, he had posted a career ERA of 4.25 with four teams, translating to an about average 98 ERA+. Additionally, there was reason to believe his struggles with Tampa Bay were largely due to bad luck. Maton’s stats over 68 games in 2023 included an expected batting average against and hard-hit percentage in the 95th percentile or better. He also showed promise by turning in ten scoreless outings over his prior eleven appearances before joining New York.

After joining a contending team, Maton left his Rays troubles behind him. In July, he allowed just two runs across seven innings while picking up three holds and a win. As the Mets piled up victories, Stearns added more relievers in Ryne Stanek and Huascar Brazobán. However, it was the soft-throwing Maton who outshined both flamethrowers. The right-hander tossed another 12 1/3 innings in August, finishing out four games over that span, and pitched to a brilliant 1.59 ERA. He parlayed that success into a slightly less amazing but still respectable September as his ERA on the month rose to 3.86, but he held opponents to a .222 batting average and a .560 OPS.

Maton was a lock for a spot on New York’s postseason roster—and rightfully so. After joining the Mets, he posted an impressive 2.51 ERA with a matching 2.57 FIP in the regular season. However, as the team entered October, the reliability fans had come to expect from him started to fade. In Game 2 of the Wild Card series against the Milwaukee Brewers, Maton surrendered a 3-2 lead in the eighth inning by giving up two big home runs to Jackson Chourio and Garrett Mitchell. It was a concerning turn of events, raising questions about whether Maton’s pitch-to-contact and low velocity style could hold up under postseason pressure, especially after he’d managed to limit hard contact all season. His blunders left Mets fans unable to rest easy, robbing them of a good night’s sleep.

Yet, Maton was surprisingly solid for the squad overall. Despite a fastball velocity in the literal 1st percentile, he posted impressive hard-hit and ground-ball rates in the 88th and 75th percentile, respectively. The Mets relied on Maton whenever they needed strikes, which was a vital role for a team whose pitchers struggled to find the zone throughout 2024. His playoff struggles likely reflected the challenge of facing more skilled lineups, which exposed some of Maton’s vulnerabilities. His 88.7 mph cutter wasn’t pretty, but it got the job done in the regular season, proving that sometimes a change in scenery is all it takes for a veteran to find his groove.

2025 Overview

Maton now enters free agency with eight years of Major League experience under his belt. He’s managed a sub-4 ERA in each of the past three seasons, with an especially encouraging second half in 2024. At 31-years-old, there’s a chance he could land a multi-year deal, but a one-year contract around $5 million would make sense for a team looking for a steady, experienced arm.

While it didn’t guarantee the Mets were saying goodbye when they declined Maton’s $7.75 million club option for 2025, it also could have meant they were thanking him for his service and moving on. Plenty of fans will remember his playoff blunders, but the reality is that Maton gave the Mets bullpen a much-needed lift. Not everyone will recall those bases-loaded jams he escaped to keep the season alive, or the calm he showed on the mound no matter the stakes. Yet somewhere inside, we know that without Maton, this 2024 team isn’t quite the same.

The post 2024 Mets Report Card: Phil Maton, RP appeared first on Metsmerized Online.