Position: 1B/2B/3B

Age: 36 (12/17/1987)

2023 Traditional Stats: 134 G, 450 PA, .282/.369/.391, 5 HR, 26 2B, 111 H, 100 SO, 40 BB

2023 Advanced Stats: 1.7 bWAR, 110 OPS+, .366 BABIP, .109 ISO, 90.2 HardH%, 43.7% EV, 41 GB%, 31.9 LD%

Rundown

Donovan Solano thrived as a utility infielder for the Twins at age 35 last season.

Solano, who signed a one-year, $2 million contract before the 2023 season, continued his contact-first approach. He slashed .282/.369/.391 in 134 games played and was a consistent bat for the Twins, who won the 2023 American League Central Division.

While Solano was an on-base and average-first hitter last season, he finished with shockingly high hard-hit rates. He owned a 90.2 mph average exit velocity and a 43.7% hard-hit percentage.

These hard-hit numbers showed in the doubles column, but did not translate to home runs. Solano finished with 26 doubles on the season but only recorded five homers. This was due to the lack of lift in his swing, which could be seen in his 41% groundball rate and his 13.1-degree launch angle.

The lack of homers wasn’t an issue for Solano and the Twins. He still provided an 110 OPS+, 1.7 bWAR, and played the second-most games of any player on the team at 35 years old. Plus, along with his offensive production, Solano provided defensive versatility in the field.

The Columbian native played at three positions in 2023: first base (83 games), second base (28 games), and third base (19 games). While Solano tallied a negative outs above average (OAA) figure (-7 in 2o23) between all the positions he played in 2023, he only committed five total errors in 793 innings, and provided relief to the Twins who lost Edouard Julien, Royce Lewis, and Alex Kirilloff for significant periods due to injury.

It’s fair to say the Twins got more bang for their buck with Solano. He played three positions for the club, was an above-average offensive player, while playing in 134 games in 2023, which only Carlos Correa accomplished for the Twins last season.

Contract

Solano is projected to sign a one-year, $5.4 million deal per Spotrac.com.

While this price point may seem fair based on his 2023, Solano might not receive a deal in the $5 million range due to his age. He’s going to be 36 in 2024 and has averaged only 82 games played per season in 10 major league seasons.

Sure, one reason for the lack of games played is due to a minimized role throughout his career, but Solano has an injury history as well. He had a serious hamstring injury with the Reds in 2021 that landed him on the 60-day injured list and also dealt with a knee sprain with the Twins last season.

A one-year deal closer to $3 million makes more sense. Regardless, not a lot of resources will be dedicated to brining the veteran in.

Recommendation

There’s a multitude of reasons why the Mets shouldn’t sign Solano.

The first is he’s redundant on the roster. The Mets have Jeff McNeil, who can play third base, second base, and the outfield. First base is also already covered by Pete Alonso and Mark Vientos.

Secondly, Solano is somewhat of a wildcard. He’s going to be 36 next season and played in the most games in his career last season. Solano could easily repeat his offensive numbers from last year, as he broke out in 2020 with the Giants, but he could reinjure his hamstring or knee.

Finally, and most importantly, Solano is a step in the wrong direction for the Mets. Stearns and the front office have young players in Brett Baty, Vientos, Drew Gilbert, and Luisangel Acuña who are on the horizon of either becoming productive major league players or debuting in Queens. Solano would take at-bats away from those players and wouldn’t move the needle for a team competing for a wildcard.

Not to mention, an apparent large theme with new president of baseball operations, David Stearns, is bringing in guys who are terrific fielders. Solano is the opposite of that, as his -7 OAA last season indicates.

Solano simply doesn’t fit.

The post Free Agent Profile: Donovan Solano, INF appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

According to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, the Tampa Bay Rays are set to announce a new agreement with the city of St. Petersburg for a new St. Pete stadium, meaning the Rays will be departing the Trop soon enough.

The Mets began a three-game series by scratching out a 2-1 win over the Marlins, who are in the thick of a Wild Card race. Check out the full recap here.

Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Latest Mets News

News came out on Monday that Edwin Díaz is not expected to pitch in the 2023 season. According to Anthony DiComo of SNY, Díaz is expected to continue to throw bullpen sessions through the end of September, but the Mets don’t want to risk him in a game given their place in the standings. He is expected to be ready for a normal offseason and the start of the 2024 season.

NBA Communications on Monday announced the passing of public relations expert and member of the NBA family, Dennis D’Agostino. D’Agostino was formerly one of the New York Mets’ PR officials, statistician, writer, and was also an MLB official scorer. MLB Communications went on to extend their condolences to his wife Helene and their family…

Howie Rose of WCBS880 released a statement with his condolences as well: “This is an incredibly sad day for the Mets family. Dennis D’Agostino, a former right hand man to Jay Horwitz in the Mets PR department, including in 1986 died suddenly last night. He spent many years working for the Knicks. Beloved by all who knew him. RIP, dear friend.”

Jay Horwitz of Mets PR also released a sentimental tribute to D’Agostino: “Heartbroken today. Dennis D’Agostino, my friend of over 40 years and co-worker for 5 with the Mets, died suddenly. We shared the 1986 Championship. Couldn’t have done it without him. He went on to enjoy a great PR career with the Knicks. He was a Met forever. Love you Dennis.”

The Mets on Monday announced that infielder Luis Guillorme was returned from his rehabilitation assignment and reinstated from the injured list. Infielder Jonathan Araúz was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse.

William Ladson of MLB.com talked in an article about why Buck Showalter is not surprised by Coach Prime’s successes in 2023 at Colorado.

According to Anthony DiComo of MLB, Ronny Mauricio’s six stolen bases are the most ever by a Mets player through 14 career games. Keith Miller and Mookie Wilson both had five, and Lee Mazzilli had four.

Per SNY, Steve Cohen could make Shohei Ohtani the “biggest offer” if he is willing to come to New York. 

MLB Pipeline on Monday released their newest rookie power rankings. Kodai Senga of the Mets ranks No. 3.

Latest MLB News

Per Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com, the Minnesota Twins announced that Carlos Correa exited Monday night’s game against the Cincinnati Reds with an aggravation of his plantar fasciitis.

Per Robert Murray of FanSided, the Cincinnati Reds designated outfielder Hunter Renfroe for assignment.

According to Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times, there will be a new Silver Slugger Team award honoring MLB’s top offensive clubs. It will combine analytics and a fan vote. It is set to be put in place this season.

Tim Healey of Newsday Sports caught up with David Robertson who now pitches for the Marlins and discussed whether he would entertain reuniting with the Mets and making a deal with the team during the offseason.

Adam Wainwright of the St. Louis Cardinals collected his 200th major league win.

Major League Baseball announced on Monday that Rafael Devers (AL) and Juan Soto (NL) are the Chevrolet AL and NL Players of the Week.

Latest on MMO

Johnluke Chapparo recapped Mark Vientos’ strong performance on Sunday against the Reds as he continues to improve at the plate.

Jack Markowski discusses the Metsmerized Players of the week, Ronny Mauricio and Kodai Senga who continue to lead the Mets’ rookie surge.

Daniel M. recaps the Mets’ minor league affiliate performances from Sunday, September 17 that included Jeremiah Jackson finishing his season strong.

Jack Sargente looks at the report by MLB executives that Steve Cohen is expected to make the biggest offer for Shohei Ohtani.

Andrew Steele-Davis discusses the positives and negatives in the Mets’ series against the Reds as they avoided being swept by the Reds.

Jack Markowski talks about why Ronny Mauricio could be the Mets’ long-term answer at third base.

Michael Famulari previews the Mets’ series against the Marlins in their final road trip to Miami, FL.

Mojo Hill elaborates on the report that Mets closer Díaz will not pitch during the 2023 season.

Johnluke Chaparro recaps the Mets’ 2-1 win over the Marlins in which José Butto and Jeff McNeil led the way.

On This Date in Mets History

Birthdays: Randy Myers (61), Hall-of-Famer Duke Snider (97)

The post Morning Briefing: Rays to Depart Tropicana Field appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

David Peterson. Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Saturday, September 9, 2023 • 2:10 PM
Target Field • Minneapolis, MN
LHP David Peterson (3-7, 5.40) vs. RHP Kenta Maeda (3-7, 4.73)
SNY

The Mets will try to get back in the win column this afternoon as they take on the Twins in game two of their three-game set. Kodai Senga kept the Mets in the game last night but the bullpen behind him melted down as the Mets allowed three runs in the seventh inning to give the Twins a 5-2 lead. The Twins never looked back after that and could take the series today.

Mets Lineup

Brandon Nimmo CF
Jeff McNeil LF
Pete Alonso 1B
Francisco Lindor SS
Daniel Vogelbach DH
DJ Stewart RF
Ronny Mauricio 2B
Brett Baty 3B
Omar Narváez C

David Peterson goes for the Mets tonight. Over 23 games and 88 1/3 innings, he has a 5.40 ERA, 4.73 FIP, 1.608 WHIP and a 77 ERA+. He’s coming off of a start where he allowed four runs over four innings against the Mariners, the second time in three starts he allowed that many runs. Curiously, thanks to the new interplay roles in baseball, this will be his third consecutive start against an American League team. Very few Twins have faced him before in a major league game:

• Christian Vázquez 0-2, 2 K
• Kyle Farmer 1-2, 2B, K
• Donovan Solano 0-2, K

Opposing Lineup

Donovan Solano 1B
Jorge Polanco 2B
Royce Lewis DH
Carlos Correa SS
Jordan Luplow LF
Kyle Farmer 3B
Ryan Jeffers C
Matt Wallner RF
Willi Castro CF

The Mets bats will get to see Kenta Maeda this afternoon. In 17 starts throwing 83 2/3 innings, Maeda has a 4.73 ERA, 4.08 FIP, 1.267 WHIP and a 92 ERA+. Over his last four starts, he has pitched 18 innings, allowing 15 runs (7.50 ERA, 6.04 FIP) from 27 hits including five homers. The Mets have the following career numbers against Maeda:

• Omar Narváez 1-8, K, 2 BB
• Francisco Lindor 1-5, 2 K, 2 BB
• Tim Locastro 0-2
• Brandon Nimmo 1-1, HR
• Rafael Ortega 0-1, K
• DJ Stewart 0-1

Game Notes

Kodai Senga has recorded 181 strikeouts. That is the second-most strikeouts by a rookie in franchise history. He is 10-7 with a 3.07 ERA (51 ER/149.1 IP) with 70 walks and 181 strikeouts in 26 starts this season. His 3.07 ERA ranks sixth in the majors and third in the National League.

Ronny Mauricio went 0-3 last night, snapping his career-opening hitting streak at five games. He is batting .364 (8-22) with one run, one double, one RBI, and three steals in his first six career games. He is one of five players in franchise history to record a hit in each of his first five career major league games.

The Mets are on their penultimate road trip of the season. New York has nine road games remaining in the 2023 campaign. New York has posted a 29-43 record on the road this year.

Three Things To Watch For

1. Francisco Lindor milestones. Lindor is still four homers and four stolen bases away from a 30-30 season. He had both RBIs yesterday, putting him at 85 on the season. His best RBI season was last year where he had 107. While that’s probably not attainable in the final three weeks of the season, he’s only nine RBI from tying his second-best single-season mark (92, 2018). He’s also only 15 away from 100 on the season. It’s a reach, but not impossible.
2. David Peterson milestones. Peterson is only five strikeouts away from his second consecutive season with at least 100 strikeouts. He’s also only 11 2/3 innings away from throwing 100+ innings in the majors for the second time in his career. If Peterson throws two more quality starts, he’ll hit these milestones easily.
3. Carlos Correa. Carlos Correa was almost a Met. Honestly, the whole Correa saga feels like a lifetime ago. He had a big night yesterday against his quasi-former team going 2-for-3 at the plate with his 18th homer of the season. Do the Mets keep him in check tonight or does this become the Correa weekend?

Let’s go Mets!

The post MMO Game Chat: Mets vs Twins, 2:10 PM appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Kodai Senga. Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Senga immediately found trouble in the first inning, issuing a one-out walk to Jorge Polanco. Royce Lewis banged the first pitch he saw into left field for a double, bringing home Polanco with the first run of the game. Senga struck out Max Kepler on a forkball but missed badly on consecutive pitches to Carlos Correa for the second walk of the inning. Senga escaped damage though, getting Alex Kirilloff to pop out. All told, Senga needed 28 pitches to get through the inning.

Senga got the first two outs quickly in the second inning, getting Christian Vázquez to ground out to Ronny Mauricio and ringing up Matt Wallner on a fastball. Willi Castro worked a full count with two away before getting a free pass on a forkball in the dirt. Edouard Julien grounded out to Mauricio to end the frame. In the third inning, Senga got a couple of loud outs in the third inning, including a 401-foot fly ball from Royce Lewis that was hit 104.9 miles per hour, but managed his first clean inning of the night.

After the Mets handed Senga a lead in the fourth inning, Correa led off the bottom of the frame with a monstrous home run that was struck 114.2 MPH and 439 feet, tying the game. Kirilloff followed with a single, but Senga was helped out when Tim Locastro laid out to snag Vázquez’s line drive for the first out of the inning. Senga was able to get out of the inning without further damage, getting Castro to fish at a forkball out of the zone to end the inning.

Senga got into trouble again in the fifth inning, walking Julien to start the inning and Polanco followed with a single through the right side of the infield. The righty found his way out of the jam though, getting Lewis to hit into a double play on a 3-2 pitch, and getting a groundout from Max Kepler. Senga followed that with his best inning of the night, striking out Correa and Kirilloff on fastballs in a 1-2-3 sixth inning.

Kodai Senga's 4th and 5th Ks.

Impressive outing from Senga, who really didn't have his best stuff tonight but battled. pic.twitter.com/cpNjwuHNPL

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) September 9, 2023

Senga’s fastball velocity was down on the night, averaging 94.6 MPH compared to his season average of 95.7. He registered just eight whiffs in the game, and his CSW% (called strike plus whiff rate) was 15%. Hitters only offered at five forkballs in the game, but they whiffed on three of them.

“Just because I don’t feel good or I’m not feeling my best doesn’t mean I just fold and give up the game,” Senga said through his interpreter after the game. “I’m given four or five days to prepare for this game. I think it’s my job to stay out there and make the game winnable. I take pride in that.”

After Friday’s outing, Senga’s ERA is down to 3.07 on the season. He ranks third in the league in that category, trailing Blake Snell (2.52) and Justin Steele (2.55). The 30-year-old has 181 strikeouts, which sits tied for seventh in the NL – he is ahead of Steele by a considerable margin, while Snell (207) and another Cy Young contender Zac Gallen (195) rank ahead of him. Opponents have a weak .209 batting average against Senga, which is the fifth-lowest mark in the NL, trailing Snell (.192), Corbin Burnes (.206), Freddy Peralta (.208), and Spencer Strider (.208). Senga’s xERA of 3.62 is actually better than Snell’s 3.95 and Gallen’s 4.14, though Steele owns a 3.39 mark.

Senga may not necessarily be a front-runner for the Cy Young, but he’s had a year that at least warrants some consideration for a top-five finish in the race. Even on a day when he didn’t have his best stuff, he gave the Mets a solid outing that kept the team in the game. Senga’s next start is slated for Wednesday night against the Diamondbacks.

The post Senga Registers Quality Start Despite Inconsistency appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Of course, this is the first time Carlos Correa will play against the Mets after almost joining the team during the offseason. Correa has struggled offensively this season, with only a 93 wRC+ in 126 games. Earlier today, we discussed how both teams have fared since the Correa madness.

Let’s take a look at some important notes for each of the three pitching matchups.

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Friday, September 8, 2023: RHP Kodai Senga (10-7, 3.08 ERA) vs. LHP Dallas Keuchel (1-5, 5.06 ERA)

Kodai Senga has performed like the ace of the Mets rotation for a large part of this season, exceeding the fanbase’s expectations. Most players experience bumps in the road over the course of their rookie season, but to his credit, the right-hander has avoided a lot of adversity. Senga was impressive at the Seattle Mariners on Sep. 1, giving up one run on five hits while striking out 12 in seven innings. He has surrendered two earned runs or less in 10 of his last 12 starts, dating all the way back to June 23. Senga will look to continue his strong campaign in his 12th road start, going 5-4 with a 3.82 ERA in his previous 11 outings.

Dallas Keuchel signed a three-year, $55.5 million with the Chicago White Sox before the 2020 season. Since then, the veteran left-hander has bounced around the league, pitching for four different teams during that stretch. Keuchel debuted for the Twins on Aug. 6, making five major league appearances over the last month. While he is not the same pitcher he was with the Houston Astros, he is a serviceable backend starter. Keuchel has impressed in his limited opportunities at Target Field, owning a 1-0 with a 0.55 ERA with 16 1/3 innings.

Photo by Roberto Carlo

Saturday, September 9, 2023: LHP David Peterson (3-7, 5.40 ERA) vs. Kenta Maeda (3-7, 4.73 ERA)

David Peterson has adjusted very well in his return to the starting rotation, making a strong case to be a key part of the staff in 2024. August was a strong stretch for the left-hander, as he pitched to a 3.27 ERA across 22 innings of work. While Peterson has been much better in recent weeks, the one thing that has held him back is his inability to pitch deep into games. He has thrown under five innings in five of his last six starts. Peterson will look to improve on his road numbers in Minnesota, going 1-5 with a 7.74 ERA in 11 outings away from Citi Field.

Like Keuchel, Kenta Maeda has been entrusted as one of the veteran pieces in Minnesota’s starting rotation. The former Los Angeles Dodger has made 17 major league starts after missing all of the 2022 season through injury. Maeda was impressive in June and July, but the month of August was a difficult one for the right-hander. He was 1-1 with a 5.04 ERA in 25 innings of work. Maeda has fascinating home/road splits, as he is 2-2 with a 6.44 ERA at home and 1-5 with a 3.42 ERA on the road. The 35-year-old is making his fifth career appearance against the Mets, going 1-2 with a 5.25 ERA in the previous four.

Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

Sunday, September 10, 2023: RHP Tylor Megill (8-7, 5.28 ERA) vs. RHP Pablo López (10-7, 3.64 ERA)

The post Series Preview: Mets Head to Minnesota appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

The 2023 Major League Baseball season features some new looks. There are pitch clocks, larger bases, shift restrictions, and pitcher disengagement from the rubber limits. The idea behind all of these innovations is to decrease “dead air” during games, and encourage more in-game action, with more hits, greater numbers of stolen bases, and an increase in balls put in play. We know that games are faster, and that there have been more hits and stolen base attempts per game this season. But the most important question is whether or not fans are showing more interest. The answer to the question is, so far, yes.

While the rule changes are in their infancy, and it may take years to judge their direct impact on fan interest, MLB attendance is up so far this season. In an article in Forbes by Maury Brown, the author provides some details on where fans are and are not showing up at ballparks.

Twenty of thirty MLB teams are showing year-over-year attendance gains in 2023 versus the same number of home dates in 2022. Not surprisingly, the National League champion Philadelphia Phillies are atop the leaderboard in attendance increase, averaging more than 10,000 more fans per game this year. They are followed by the Yankees with just over 6,000 more paying customers at each game in 2023, then the Guardians, Mariners, and Astros with over 4,000 more per game this season. The Mets come in sixth, with an average of 3,899 more people at their homes in 2023.

All six of the teams noted above qualified for the postseason in 2022, certainly a contributing factor to increased fan interest. Looking more broadly, through a month, the league-wide average of 26,753, per Baseball-Reference, is up slightly over 2022’s number of 25,275 (5%) – an encouraging sign given the summer’s natural positive effect on attendance is still two months away.

Not every team is doing well at the gates so far this season. The Colorado Rockies are drawing 6,304 fewer fans per game than they did last year. The San Francisco Giants, who came close to signing Carlos Correa and Aaron Judge and ended up with Michael Conforto, are seeing an average of over three thousand fewer people walk through the turnstiles per game. The Boston Red Sox, who sold out every game from May 2003 through April of 2013, are experiencing an attendance drop of 204 per opening.

On the television ratings side, Brown looks at ESPN’s numbers.

ESPN enters its 34th season of Sunday Night Baseball and its second with season with David Cone, Eduardo Perez, and Karl Ravech in the booth. The Worldwide Leaderbrings back the “umpire cam” which was first used in 2002. There have only been four games on SNB thus far this year. Compared to last year at this time, viewership is down. But that’s largely driven by the fact that ESPN aired a Yankees-Red Sox game early in 2022 and the rivalry and large national brands that the two have skewed the numbers.

Opening Night drew 1.5 million viewers across ESPN and ESPN2, which was up +4% from 2022. The Astros-Rangers game saw average viewership of 994,000, down -10% from the Easter Sunday game in 2022 with the Padres and Braves. Most recently, the Mets-Giants game saw average viewership of 1.3 million, which is up +8% from the same game slot last year.

Back to average attendance, the Pirates, off to a fast start with a record of 20-8 through April 29, are up 2,600 per game. The Rays, who are playing incredible baseball at 23-5, are drawing almost 3,600 more per date, and the Blue Jays, who have also gotten out of the gate quickly at 18-9, have welcomed 3,300 more per game this season.

At this very early juncture, the signs are positive for MLB. While attendance is up, it’s not possible to measure the impact of the rule changes, though the overall attendance increase may reflect a general rising interest. One thing we can see from the numbers is something we have known all along, and that is that winning matters. When teams make the playoffs, they draw. When teams rise from the ashes and pleasantly surprise their fans (the Pirates), people come out to the ballpark.

Baseball may have changed this year, but the effect of putting a good product on the field remains the same.

The post New Rule Changes Leading to Fuller Ballparks appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports

Good morning, Mets fans!

The Los Angeles Dodgers have lost shortstop Gavin Lux due to a torn ACL, according to Juan Toribio of MLB.com. Lux is also reported to have sprained his LCL in the same knee.

The injury occurred during a spring training game between the Dodgers and San Diego Padres on Monday afternoon. Lux was running from second base to third and landed awkwardly on his right leg while avoiding the throw from Padres third baseman Jantzen Witte. Lux needed to be carted off the field following the injury.

The young shortstop is scheduled to have surgery on his right knee on March 7 and the Dodgers will get a better sense of how bad the injury really is, according to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.

According to Roberts, the two main possibilities playing shortstop this season are Chris Taylor and Miguel Rojas. Rojas is expected to get most of the reps at short followed by Taylor. There is also a chance that Yonny Hernandez gets a chance to play the position at points this season.

Latest Mets News

Tim Kurkjian of ESPN says the New York Mets showed Carlos Correa‘s medicals to eight different doctors. Many reports have come out during and since the aptly-named “Correa-watch” that gave different stories on the condition of Correa’s knee and how doctors have given varying opinions.

Mets outfielder and ballpark foodie Mark Canha told ESPN during the Mets’ spring training game against the Houston Astros that he intends to write a book entitled “Ultimate Guide to Food in Major League Cities.” Canha is known on Instagram as bigleaguefoodie and posts photos of the meals he eats while playing around the league.

Jayson Stark of The Athletic sat down with Mets broadcaster Gary Cohen and discussed MLB’s new rules, the Mets, Keith Hernandez and Ron Darling, the National League East and “one of the great moments in the history of baseball,” Bartolo Colon‘s home run. The interview was done for The Athletic Baseball Show podcast, where Stark also speaks with Doug Glanville about the pitch clock.

Tim Healey of Newsday wrote a story about the mutual respect between Mets first baseman Pete Alonso and St. Louis Cardinal Paul Goldschmidt and how they will be teammates on Team USA for the World Baseball Classic.

Latest MLB News

Padres starting pitcher Joe Musgrove fractured his left big toe in the weight room on Monday according to Dennis Lin of The Athletic. Musgrove, a 2022 MLB All-Star, accidentally dropped a kettlebell on his toe and will miss a “minimum of a couple weeks before he starts throwing again,” Padres manager Bob Melvin said.

Latest on MMO

Elliot Teichman profiles non-roster invitee Jonathan Araúz.

Patrick Glynn has some notes on Kodai Senga and his first spring training start on Saturday.

On This Date in Mets History

1976: Mets pitcher Tom Seaver informs team he will not report to spring training without a new contract.

2012: Johan Santana faces batters for the first time since undergoing anterior capsule surgery.

Birthdays: Michael Conforto (30),Ramón Castro (47), Tony Castillo (60), Rich Rodriguez (60)

The post Morning Briefing: Dodgers’ Gavin Lux Out For The Season appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

There’s no such thing as an offseason in sports anymore. Especially in baseball. And, for New York Mets general manager Billy Eppler, he was busier this winter than he will be at any other point during the year.

When the cold weather hits and the dark settles in early, the vast majority of us bunker down and count down the days until spring arrives. For Eppler, and other baseball executives, the winter is when their most important work is conducted. It’s when the foundations are set for the grueling 162-game regular season ahead.

It’s when the pieces are put in place for what all baseball executives hope will result in a successful season.

For Eppler, the start of spring training earlier this month probably acted as somewhat of a brief respite after the busiest winter in franchise history. The Mets accomplished a hell of a lot in a condensed period of time and Eppler was at the forefront of it all.

While owner Steve Cohen was the man bankrolling what resulted in a $445 million offseason – factoring in penalties for blowing through luxury tax thresholds – Eppler was the man driving the bus and putting in hours after hours after hours of work to ensure the groceries bought were the right ones. Just because you’re shopping at Whole Foods doesn’t guarantee that the goods bought will turn out great.

You need someone with an intricate knowledge of the game to make crucial decisions on baseball personnel, and Eppler ticks that box given that he’s a baseball lifer. He oversaw a final haul of 10 players signed to a major league contract, tying a franchise record for a single winter. Eppler probably also set a record for most hours on the phone to one person given he was in constant dialogue with Cohen throughout what was one of the most important winters this organization has had to navigate.

Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

“I’m making bets on this side and he’s making bets on this side,” Eppler told The Athletic’s Will Sammon for a feature story. “So when we talk probabilistically, he gets it. Like, he’s got it. Then his questions become really advanced. That’s what makes the phone call exciting. This is not going to be a one-way conversation with me saying, ‘Hey, I’d like to do this.’ It’s more like, ‘Let’s talk about the probabilities and band of outcomes here.’ ‘Let’s talk about the opportunity cost here.’ ‘Let’s talk about what the alternatives are.’ Then, it’s ‘Let’s talk about the farm system.’ And then, ‘Let’s think probabilistically about all these things and model this out.”

Those conversations between owner and GM laid the foundations for what was to follow. Coming off a 101-win season was never going to be enough for an ambitious owner and a driven front office. Especially given how their season flamed out in the NL Wild Card loss to the Padres. As a result, Eppler led the charge as the Mets re-signed two key players, rebuilt their entire rotation and added depth pieces to the offense, all while not depleting their farm system.

You could argue that Eppler didn’t sleep at all this winter. One longtime agent told The Athletic that “I’m not certain he slept over the winter. The man grinds.” Eppler, who shares three young children with his wife Catherine, has certainly grafted during his short tenure as GM of the Mets. That can’t be disputed. While he’s had some misses – notably at last year’s trade deadline – he built a roster that won 101 games in 2022 and more success should follow in 2023.

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Eppler’s mammoth offseason truly began while the Houston Astros were still celebrating their World Series win in early November. In a move that set the tone for the entire offseason, Eppler and the Mets wasted no time in signing superstar reliever Edwin Diaz to a record-breaking five-year, $102 million contract. Diaz was coming off a historic 2022 season in which he dominated the sport and became a true master of his craft, and Eppler and Cohen wanted to send a message early that the Mets meant business heading into the winter.

It worked.

And things only cranked up from that point onwards. Thanksgiving proved to be another important turning point in the offseason, the official start date if you like of when things really became chaotic. According to The Athletic, Eppler even warned his wife that things were going to “really, really speed up.”

With the writing on the wall that franchise cornerstone Jacob deGrom was going to walk in free agency, Eppler had been staying in touch with his star pitcher as well as talking to the agent of Justin Verlander, another star-studded starting pitcher who was about to hit the open market. With things beginning to gather pace, Eppler’s leg work began to pay off. By the time deGrom signed with the Texas Rangers on Dec. 2, Eppler and Cohen had already met with Verlander.

The day after deGrom’s departure, a Saturday, Eppler hopped on a long video call with Verlander. On the Monday, Eppler had Verlander’s agent, Mark Pieper, meet him in his hotel room in San Diego where the Winter Meetings were taking place. Pieper told The Athletic that “the communication was very open” throughout the process, and the conversations had up until that point ensured that Pieper and Verlander never met with other teams. The parties were in agreement before 9 a.m. on that Monday morning.

“We didn’t want to let him leave the room,” Eppler told The Athletic. “So we didn’t let him leave the room.”

Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

That quote offers a good insight into Eppler’s mentality. He won’t quit until the job is done. He replaced one future Hall of Famer with another. Verlander, who won the Cy Young and a World Series with the Astros in 2022, signed a two-year, $86.7 million contract with the Mets and softened the blow of losing deGrom. A tandem of Verlander and Max Scherzer also gives the Mets arguably one of the best one-two punches at the top of the rotation in all of baseball.

For some teams, signing a nine-time All-Star and a three-time Cy Young Award winner would have been enough. Time to sit back and relax. Not for Eppler. Not for the Mets who are on a relentless mission to win a World Series or three under Cohen. Instead, Eppler locked himself in his hotel room at the Winter Meetings and accomplished more in a week than some general managers do in an entire offseason.

During that hectic seven-day span, Eppler sealed the deal with Verlander, pulled the trigger on a trade for reliever Brooks Raley, selected another reliever in Zach Greene in the Rule 5 draft and bolstered the rotation with veteran José Quintana. It didn’t stop there. While in the air on the way back to New York, Eppler continued to grind and he was able to get done one of the Mets’ biggest deals of the offseason while still on the plane. Signing outfielder Brandon Nimmo to an eight-year, $162 million contract to keep the longtime Met in New York. The Athletic noted that Eppler said “90 percent of that deal” took place before he even touched down.

Eppler noted that the entire franchise “were flying” during that period. They had already ticked so many boxes, addressed some big needs and answered some serious questions about the roster. However, it wasn’t time for Eppler to ease off just yet. Instead, after asking his scouting department, his analytics department, his player development staff and his major league coaching staff what the biggest offseason priority was, Eppler went after more pitching.

Photo by Ed Delaney, MMO

Enter Kodai Senga.

Senga, who had dominated in Japan, was being chased by a lot of other MLB teams but New York always seemed to be the preferred destination given that Eppler had earned a reputation for his relentless work in scouting players in Japan. A career of going the extra mile and putting in the hours again paid off as, on Dec. 10, Senga FaceTimed Eppler and said, “Let’s Go Mets,” according to The Athletic.

“That was one hell of a 10-week run or however long it was,” a Mets official told The Athletic. “Whatever it was, I know it was nuts.”

Nuts is probably a good way to describe this offseason for the Mets and for Eppler. We haven’t even mentioned the whole Carlos Correa saga yet which is another intriguing wrinkle in what was already a fascinating winter. Correa would have been the crowning glory had that deal gone through, but it doesn’t take away from what was a successful mission for Eppler and the rest of the front office.

The Mets added another elite arm to the top of their rotation, they filled out the rest of the rotation with solid starters, they retained one of the best relievers in the game, they were able to keep hold of a key veteran in Nimmo, they filled out some other holes and they were in play on a true superstar in Correa. And a lot of that can be traced back to the amount of leg work being done in the background by Eppler.

It was a joint effort, too. Eppler made sure to dish out credit to the plethora of people involved in the overall decision-making, including manager Buck Showalter and pitching coach Jeremy Hefner who would both get messages from Eppler late into the night asking for opinions on a multitude of different names.

“A lot gets asked of them,” Eppler told The Athletic. “They should be recognized for what we were able to do.”

And the Mets did a lot. A hell of a lot. After signing veteran outfielder Tommy Pham to put the finishing touches to the major league roster, Eppler was finally able to spend some time with family and they will be with him for the early part of spring training.

What probably got lost during the offseason frenzy, and what this Athletic story made clear, was just how big a role Eppler played in ensuring everything the Mets needed to accomplish got done. And then some. While his time in New York won’t be truly judged until after he’s gone, Eppler proved this offseason that he can handle the pressures of leading an offseason for a legitimate World Series contender.

You can read The Athletic’s full story on Eppler here.

The post Billy Eppler’s Journey Through A Big-Time Offseason appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

The Athletic recently posted the results of their 2023 spring training survey and it makes interesting reading for Mets fans.

The survey is completed by a panel of 29 executives, former executives, coaches and scouts, who all remain anonymous. The survey covers a wide-ranging number of topics and the New York Mets come up a lot.

For instance, when asked for the most improved teams in the National League, the 29-man panel place the Mets with 19 votes behind the Phillies (23) and the Padres (20). It appears as though do-it-all shortstop Trea Turner landing in Philadelphia impressed the entire baseball community. The Phillies also added plenty of depth and that was enough to earn the title of the most improved team in the NL.

The Padres, who spent $300 million on Xander Bogaerts, and Seth Lugo  to name just a couple, will also get Fernando Tatis Jr. back at some point this season and they too placed above the Mets. New York gained just one more vote than the Chicago Cubs, who drastically overhauled their roster this offseason. While New York did good business this winter, it obviously wasn’t as eye-catching as other teams in the eyes of certain baseball people.

The Mets signed three-time Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander as their marquee addition. However, Verlander didn’t appear in the best free agent signings category in The Athletic’s survey. Instead, Turner topped that list and he and the Phillies appear to be getting a lot of love this offseason. Carlos Correa, who was so nearly a Met, was voted second and, interestingly, Jacob deGrom, the man who Verlander replaced, received five votes. Verlander, meanwhile, missed the featured list with four votes.

However, the jury also appears to be out on deGrom. Per The Athletic’s panel, the former Met finished second in the worst free agent signing of the offseason with nine votes. One baseball person in the story was quoted as saying “I’d rather have two years of Verlander than five years of deGrom.” The general consensus is that the five-year, $185 million contract deGrom received from the Texas Rangers will not age well at all. Another former Met pitcher in Taijuan Walker, who signed with the Phillies this winter, was ranked just behind deGrom as the third worst free agent signing.

The Mets actually featured prominently in the worst free agent signing list. Outfielder Brandon Nimmo, who signed an eight-year, $162 million deal earlier in the offseason, came in at No. 5 with five votes, while Verlander and Kodai Senga also received votes.

Elsewhere, the future of superstar two-way player Shohei Ohtani ranked as the most intriguing story to follow in the American League throughout spring training. Given that the Mets are widely seen as the frontrunners to sign the uber-talented unicorn if he does indeed hit free agency, they figure to feature heavily in that conversation.

And you won’t be shocked to learn that the Mets feature as one of the most intriguing spring storylines in the NL. Owner Steve Cohen and his willingness to spend the big bucks and blow everyone else out of the water ranked second with six votes, six fewer than the Padres and their payroll and array of talent.

The Mets also featured again with the panel giving four votes to the age and overall health of the starting pitching staff as another big storyline to follow. With Max Scherzer and Verlander 38 and 39-years-old respectively, coupled with the fact that Carlos Carrasco, José Quintana and Kodai Senga are all 30 or older, the overall health and durability of the Mets’ rotation will be an intriguing sub-plot to watch play out.

Given that this team is in win-now mode, it is not surprising that they got five votes when it comes to the teams feeling the most heat heading into 2023. The Red Sox, Padres and the Angels (in that order) all finished above the Mets in that category. The general consensus from the panel seems to be that, if the Mets fall short in 2023, someone will be used as a scapegoat for that failure.

Finally, the Mets had a representative among the seven phenoms to watch this spring. Rounding off the list with six votes – tied with Yankees prospect Anthony Volpe – was catcher Francisco Álvarez. Although he’s not expected to make the Opening Day roster, Álvarez will get an opportunity to impress at both catcher and at DH throughout spring training. If he is lights out this spring, then maybe the phenom prospect begins the year in the bigs after all. It was also interesting that the panel collectively agreed that Mets manager Buck Showalter may look to be clever when it comes to working with the new pitch clock rules in terms of trying to find an advantage.

You can view the full results of The Athletic’s 2023 spring training survey (subscription required) right here.

The post Mets Feature Prominently In The Athletic’s Spring Training Survey appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Eduardo Escobar. Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Eduardo Escobar was largely a disappointment for the New York Mets in 2022. Aside from a red-hot September, he failed to produce on a consistent basis.

With that in mind, what are realistic expectations for the veteran in 2023?

It proved to be a strange winter for Escobar. Heading into the offseason on a high after a strong finish to 2022, the 34-year-old was brought back down to earth after being mentioned in trade talks. Those discussions followed the Mets’ pursuit of star Carlos Correa and their intention to play him at third base.

“I saw the reports, and I felt a little sad,” Escobar told The New York Post. “But I trust the decision making from the front office. And I understand the business of baseball. I love this team. I love everyone here.”

With Correa ultimately heading back to the Minnesota Twins following a prolonged and insane saga, normal service is resumed and Escobar will be the starting third baseman for the Mets heading into the 2023 season. Brett Baty could also get some reps at the hot corner, but how he does throughout spring training will determine just how big a role he will play right out of the gate.

Back to Escobar, though. The switch-hitter was one of the beneficiaries of owner Steve Cohen’s lavish spending spree last winter, and big things were expected out of Escobar given that he made the All-Star game in 2021. However, he largely struggled from the off and he got progressively worse as the summer months arrived.

He entered the All-Star break hitting just .224/.279/.397/.676 with 11 homers, 40 RBI and 89 strikeouts. Even coming out of the break, Escobar continued to struggle as he slashed .177/.222/.235/.458 with no home runs and just two RBI in the month of August. It is important to note that the veteran did miss time that month after going on the IL with a left oblique strain.

Also, according to The Post, Escobar went through a personal situation throughout 2022 which certainly could have played a role in his overall struggles and impacted his performances on the field.

“Last year was really, really hard,” Escobar told The Post. “A lot of people here supported me. Buck (Showalter) and Joey (Cora, third-base coach). The front office. Everybody.”

Bounce-back On The Way?

With those issues now behind him, there’s reasons to be optimistic that Escobar will be a consistent performer for the Mets in 2023 and that he won’t disappear for large chunks of the year. After all, his electric September proved exactly what he’s capable of when he’s on.

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

He went on an absolute tear in September and put the team on his back at times during critical moments down the stretch. He hit a combined .321/385/.596/.982 with eight home runs, four doubles, 25 RBI and 12 walks in 122 plate appearances in September / October.

Despite a rough start to 2022, Escobar still finished with a 106 OPS+ – a tick above his career norm – and he ended 2022 with 20 home runs and a .726 OPS. Now with all his troubles seemingly behind him, the immediate future looks bright for Escobar.

According to Baseball Reference’s 2023 projections, Escobar is slated to post similar numbers in 2023 to the ones he put up in 2022. He’s projected to hit .239/.296/.421 with a .717 OPS to go along with 19 homers, 66 RBI, 23 doubles, four triples, 39 walks and 117 strikeouts.

They are just projections though. Unless Baty absolutely dominates in spring training, Escobar will be the main guy at the hot corner for the Mets in 2023. Now settled and happy and not trying to do too much at the plate, it figures that there will be no early season struggles.

If Escobar can translate even half of his dominant September over a full season, then he’s going to put up much better and bigger numbers for the Mets this year. He wasn’t trying to force the issue as much during his red-hot tear and, if he can begin 2023 with that same relaxed approach, then good things should come early.

Plus, given that he will play for Team Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic, Escobar will have an opportunity to hit his stride before the 2023 regular season begins. In other words, with his personal issues settled and his confidence restored, expect a big bounce-back from the 34-year-old.

It may not be realistic to expect him to put up monster numbers all year round, but Escobar is certainly capable of mashing and being a consistent hitter. If he can just provide steady offense, good defense at the hot corner and avoid cold spells for more than half the season, then that will be good enough for the Mets who will certainly need a lot more from their third baseman in 2023.

The post Expectations For Escobar In 2023 appeared first on Metsmerized Online.