Andy Martino of SNY reports that the New York Yankees and San Diego Padres continue their talks about star outfielder Juan Soto, and they’ve gotten to the point where they’ve started exchanging names.

Martino notes that the Padres asking price is understandably high and that San Diego wants top prospects/rookies and young major league pitchers.

Original Post – Nov. 10 at 5:59 PM

San Diego Padres outfielder Juan Soto is “100%” going to be traded before the 2024 season, Buster Olney of ESPN said on The Michael Kay Show on Friday.

Soto, still just 25 years old, has already played seven major league seasons and established himself as one of the brightest stars in the game. Given the slew of large contracts the Padres are already committed to, though, Olney said he sees Soto as the most obvious choice to be dealt.

“It makes sense that they would do that, given the other assets that they have, and the fact you can’t trade Manny Machado with his contract,” Olney said. “You can’t trade Xander Bogaerts with his contract. Yu Darvish. Joe Musgrove. Those are massive contracts that just can’t be moved, so I do think Soto’s gonna be moved. People who are in other front offices absolutely believe the Padres are gonna trade Soto.”

Soto is set to become a free agent in 2025, giving him one year left on his current contract. There have been reports of the Padres discussing a potential contract extension with Soto, but nothing has materialized from that.

Ross Cameron-USA TODAY Sports

Soto was drafted and developed by the Washington Nationals, then got dealt to the Padres as the headliner of a blockbuster deal at the 2022 trade deadline. But the Padres, despite being a potentially lethal force on paper, had a disappointing 2023 campaign where they missed the playoffs entirely. Soto was relatively disappointing as well during his first 52 games with San Diego in 2022, batting .236 with with a .778 OPS, though he put up a strong individual 2023 season with a .410 OBP and .930 OPS. He owns a remarkable .421 OBP in his first 779 games as a big leaguer, along with a .946 OPS and 154 wRC+.

If the Padres trade him, they’re sure to be moving a generational star who’s primed to receive a massive contract in 2025.

“That’s one where AJ Preller and Scott Boras can come out and say, ‘No, that’s not gonna be the case.’ All you have to do is look at the math,” Olney said. “If in fact the Padres are gonna get their payroll down to $200 million or $220 — which would be a massive reduction — they’re gonna have to make a move with Soto.”

The Padres’ total payroll in 2023 was listed at $281,578,933 by Spotrac, with Soto making $23 million. He was the second-highest paid player on the team behind Bogaerts, but unlike many of San Diego’s other key players, his contract is set to expire soon. Fernando Tatis Jr. just finished the third year of a massive 14-year contract, while Machado and Bogaerts each just completed the first season of their respective 11-year deals. Soto’s impending free agency offers a lot more flexibility than those who are locked up for the long term.

Given that Soto only has one guaranteed year left, he wouldn’t necessarily garner the largest haul. Still, the Padres should be able to get some quality prospects for him if nothing else. At the end of Olney’s comments on The Michael Kay Show, he mentioned the New York Yankees as a possible landing spot — another team that disappointed in 2023.

“And if you’re trying to map out a potential Yankees offseason, he, to me, is the most logical target because he’s not gonna necessarily require a big deal,” Olney said.

A team’s confidence that it could extend Soto after trading for him could also factor in to what it’s willing to give up, and how aggressive it’s going to be to make a potential Soto deal happen. In any case, Soto is the most coveted name on the trade market right now, complementing the intense Shohei Ohtani interest on the free agency side of the hill. He’ll be receiving a lot of money from someone in the near future — the question is whether it’ll be an extension from the Padres, an extension from somebody else, or a free agent deal in 2025.

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Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Just a day after signing ace starter Jacob deGrom to a blockbuster contract, the Texas Rangers could look to reunite their new acquisition with a familiar face in New York Mets catcher James McCann, per Buster Olney of ESPN.

According to Olney, the Rangers are going to continue to be aggressive this offseason as they look to build around their sparkly new toy in deGrom, and McCann may be a potential target. McCann is widely known to be available and owed $24 million over the next two years. Per Olney, the Mets could shed at least some of that salary in any potential deal. The Rangers are in the market for a catcher and McCann could make some sense given that he has caught 12 of deGrom’s starts over 75 2/3 innings. During that span, deGrom has a 1.67 ERA with 114 strikeouts and nine walks.

McCann signed a four-year, $40 million contract with the Mets back in 2021. Considered as the second best catcher available behind J.T. Realmuto that winter, McCann was seen as a big upgrade both defensively and offensively for the Mets having slashed a career-high .289/.360/.536 with seven home runs and 15 RBI in 2020 for the Chicago White Sox. He also had a fielding percentage of .985 and a caught stealing percentage of 33 that year.

However, McCann has been somewhat of a disappointment in Queens. In 182 games as a Met, the 32-year-old has hit .220/.282/.328 with a combined 13 homers and 64 RBI. His ugly -0.1 WAR in 2022 is indicative of the veteran’s offensive struggles over his first two years as a member of the New York Mets. While McCann has been solid behind the plate with his strong arm, his offensive struggles have already made the contract he signed two years ago look like a bad one.

Plus, McCann has become somewhat expendable. With Tomas Nido establishing himself as a solid role player, the Mets could decide to move forward with a catching tandem of Nido and phenom prospect Francisco Álvarez in 2023. Álvarez was called up to the majors late on during the 2022 regular season and he could be ready to make the leap on a full-time basis come the start of spring training. As such, the Mets could afford to trade McCann now and if they can get a team to eat some of his remaining salary, then that will give the front office the freedom to go out and make other moves this winter.

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The All-Star Game is officially coming to Coors Field.

MLB sent shockwaves through the sports world last Friday when they decided to move the 2021 All-Star Game from Truist Park in Atlanta in response to Georgia’s new and controversial voting laws that have civil rights groups concerned about its potential to restrict voting accessibility to minority voters.

In a statement, Commissioner Rob Manfred said that he discussed the matter with individual big leaguers and the Players Alliance, an organization of minority players formed after the death of George Floyd last May, before finally pulling the trigger on April 2 as “the best way to demonstrate our values as a sport.”

Since the announcement of the All-Star Game pulling out of Atlanta, speculation of where to take the Midsummer Classic ran rampant. Late this weekend, it looked as though we were finally headed towards an answer.

Per ESPN’s Buster Olney, hitter-friendly Coors Field in Denver was expected to be announced as the host of the 2021 All-Star Game, set to take place on July 13. Major League Baseball made this official on Tuesday afternoon.

Commissioner Manfred said in a statement, “Major League Baseball is grateful to the Rockies, the City of Denver, and the State of Colorado for their support of this summer’s All-Star Game. We appreciate their flexibility and enthusiasm to deliver a first-class event for our game and the region. We look forward to celebrating our sport’s best players and entertaining fans around the world.”

The league said they picked Colorado because the Rockies “were already in the bidding process to host a future All-Star Game. The Rockies had supplied a detailed plan for hotel, event space, and security that took months to assemble, and MLB staff has made several site visits to Denver.”

The last time Coors Field hosted the All-Star Game was in 1998, when the American League beat the National League 13-8. PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Phoenix’s Chase Field, Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Chicago’s Wrigley Field and American Family Field in Milwaukee — site of the infamous 2002 All-Star Game tie — were also discussed as possibilities before Denver was ultimately chosen.

The post MLB Announces Coors Field Will Host 2021 All-Star Game appeared first on Metsmerized.

Good Morning, Mets fans!

Latest Mets News

Per a Baseball America tracker, the Mets have not yet signed an undrafted free agent. Teams could start signing UDFAs yesterday at 9 a.m; the majority of teams have already begun to do so.

Dominic Smith posted about the racial injustices surrounding our country. Pete Crow-Armstrong weighed in on Smith’s post, commenting “🗣🗣🗣 .”

Latest MLB News 

The Owners will send a proposal to the MLBPA today on how to restart the season after the players made it clear over the weekend that they just want to play ball.

Buster Olney’s latest column on ESPN is on how greed has influenced the game of baseball.

Jim Baumbach and Laura Albanese of Newsday discussed the recent financial troubles facing the Mets and Yankees.

Sandy Alderson wrote an op-ed for the San Francisco Chronicle on the military’s role in politics

ESPN aired its long-awaited Long Gone Summer documentary yesterday, which chronicled the home run record chase between Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa.

Latest on MMO

Jack Hendon had an excellent piece on opponent infielders that have tortured the Mets for years.

Violeta Pietronico previewed the upcoming free-agent center-fielders.

Tim Ryder is of the opinion the MLBPA didn’t do much wrong in their negotiations with the owners.

On This Day in Mets History

1977: The Mets completed the Midnight Massacre, trading away franchise stalwart Tom Seaver to the Cincinnati Reds.

1983: Mest acquired a mustachioed first baseman you may have heard of: Keith Hernandez.

Birthdays: Brett Butler (63), Tony Clark (48), Ken Henderson (74), Dave Liddell (54), Jeremy Reed (39)

Stay safe, folks!

The post Morning Briefing: MLB Expected To Send Proposal To MLBPA appeared first on Metsmerized.

Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald reports that the Marlins want an impact player for star catcher J.T. Realmuto, and heard that CEO Derek Jeter is behind the team pushing for major league ready player instead of all prospects.

Spencer says that a deal will in fact get done, and likely this week.

The Yankees are reportedly willing to trade Miguel Andujar according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. Late on Tuesday night, it was reported that the Mets, Marlins and Yankees were discussing a possible three-way deal around J.T. Realmuto and Noah Syndergaard.

Original Post: Dec. 11, 9:08 a.m. ET

News dropped late last night (for the East Coasters, not quite as crazy for us here in Vegas) that the Mets had discussed a three-way deal with the Yankees and Marlins that would send righty Noah Syndergaard to the Yankees and catcher J.T. Realmuto to the Mets.

Joe Frisaro of MLB.com (Marlins beat) reports that while the Mets are considered one of three teams still in the mix for Realmuto. He also noted the rumored Yankees, Mets and Marlins three-way is seen as a long shot.

According to Buster Olney of ESPN, says the sense other teams are getting is the Marlins have begun to push a trade of Realmuto.

The post Realmuto Likely Gets Traded This Week appeared first on Metsmerized.

Good morning, folks!

Latest Mets News

The Mets do not appear to be in the Manny Machado market per Jon Heyman. Heyman also mentions that the Mets are interested in Wilson Ramos and Martin Maldonado.

J.P. Riccardi is leaving the Mets organization for the Athletics.

Amed Rosario homered in the Japanese All-Star Series.

Keith Hernandez was inducted into the Rawlings Gold Glove Hall of Fame.

The Mets were listed as a team whose needs matchup with Cleveland per Buster Olney. Aside from Corey Kluber, Olney also lists Jason Kipnis and Yan Gomes as targets.

Mark Simon writes about who the most clutch Mets were.

Lindsey Adler of The Athletic chatted with Peter Alonso about his love for baseball.

Tim Britton of The Athletic writes about Brodie Van Wagenen’s first impressions.

Latest MLB News

Rob Manfred will be given a contract extension.

The Cubs will “listen” to offers for Kris Bryant per Buster Olney.

The Yanks have discussed a James Paxton deal with Seattle per Ken Rosenthal.

Joe Mauer is calling it quits after an illustrious career.

Carlos Zambrano is plotting a comeback.

Mark Feinsand writes about names generating buzz at the GM meetings.

Latest NL East News

Mark Zuckerman of MASN writes about the Nationals pursuit of a catcher.

Todd Zolecki of MLB.com writes about the Phillies pursuit of Bryce Harper.

Latest on MMO

Yehuda Schwartz chats with Peter Alonso.

This Day in Mets History

Birthdays: Shawn Green turns 46, Butch Huskey turns 47, Kenny Rogers turns 54, Junior Noboa turns 54, Mike Vail turns 67.

Let’s go Mets!

The post Morning Briefing: Free Agent Market Starting To Take Shape appeared first on Metsmerized.

According to Buster Olney of ESPN, the Mets plan to keep starters Noah Syndergaard, Jacob deGrom, and likely Zack Wheeler through Tuesday’s Non-Waiver Trading Deadline.

He adds that “They intend to contend next year. and will need to round out their rotation, and looks like Wheeler will be part of it.”

Olney did not mention the availability of Steven Matz, how ever, who has been topic of much discussion leading into the deadline.

deGrom, Syndergaard, and Wheeler have all been topic of trade discussion over the last month, with multiple teams checking in on all of them.

The Mets have been rumored to have giant price tags on all three, as they are all under club control for at least one more season.

Wheeler and deGrom have both taken massive steps fore ward, and when healthy, Syndergaard has continued to be dominant.

The Mets are expected to be active today and tomorrow, looking to move aging veterans like Jose Bautista, Jerry Blevins, and Devin Mesoraco.

The Non-Waiver Trading Deadline is this Tuesday at 4 p.m.

The post Olney: Mets Will Keep DeGrom, Syndergaard and Likely Wheeler Through Deadline appeared first on Metsmerized.

The New York Mets are still in on free agent reliever Addison Reed according to Marc Carig of Newsday.

Earlier Tuesday night it was falsely reported by Buster Olney that the Philadelphia Phillies were close to a deal for the former Met.

The 28-year-old is expected to command a three-to-four year deal on the open market and is coming off a season in which he pitched to the tune of a 2.84 ERA in 77 appearances between the Mets and Boston Red Sox.

This is the second consecutive year with 77+ appearances for Reed as he had 80 the previous year. He also had 19 saves and a fantastic 5.07 SO/BB ratio.

The relief market is starting to go fast with Tommy Hunter and Bryan Shaw signing on Tuesday night with the Phillies and Rockies respectively.

In other reliever news, a source told me that the Mets have shown interest in former Red Sox lefty Robbie Ross.

The post Mets Still In On Addison Reed appeared first on Metsmerized.

The Colorado Rockies have signed reliever Bryan Shaw according to multiple sources. Buster Olney of ESPN reports that the deal is for three years and worth about $9 million annually.

In 2017, Shaw led the MLB in appearances. For the past five seasons, he’s been one of the most durable relievers, leading the majors in pitches thrown and tying the MLB lead in innings pitched. As one of the most underrated pitchers in baseball, Shaw finished 2017 with a 4-6 record, having a 3.52 ERA, a 1.21 WHIP, and 28 holds, which was sixth in MLB.

The Mets had been linked to Shaw for nearly a month, having offered him a multi-year deal. Shaw and Tommy Hunter are both relievers the Mets have attempted to sign unsuccessfully so far this offseason.

You can check out Shaw’s complete free agent profile here.

The post Rockies Sign Reliever Bryan Shaw For Three Years appeared first on Metsmerized.

(AP Photo/Steve Nesius)

The Texas Rangers have agreed to sign Mike Minor according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

The deal is for multiple years and is pending a physical. Jon Morosi of MLB Network notes that the Rangers plan on using Minor as a starter.

He’ll be called upon to help improve a rotation which finished 17th in MLB last season with a 4.66 ERA.

Original Report – Nov. 29

The Mets have reportedly already extended a multi-year contract offer to right-handed reliever Bryan Shaw, but it doesn’t appear they are going to stop there.

According to Buster Olney of ESPN, the Mets and Houston Astros have expressed in signing top left-handed relief option Mike Minor.

Minor, 29, appeared in 65 games for the Kansas City Royals in 2017 where he recorded a 2.55 ERA, 2.62 FIP and 1.017 WHIP across 77.2 innings.

The former starter caught on with the Royals prior to the 2016 season, but missed that entire year due to injury.

Perhaps the most appealing southpaw option on the market, Minor also held lefties to a .163/.228/.196 clip over 102 plate appearances.

MLB Trade Rumors has predicted Minor will land a four-year, $28 million contract this winter. Olney added that he believes Minor will be one of the first dominoes to fall and could sign sooner rather than later.

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