A solid outing from Senga was spoiled by the bullpen in a bizarre seventh inning, and it was the second straight game in which the bullpen blew a late lead following a productive outing from the starter. The inning began in a 2-2 tie, but that of course quickly got away from the Mets.

Sean Reid-Foley was the first man out of the Mets’ bullpen and he immediately found himself in trouble with two runners on and nobody out. The Twins then called a double steal on a pitch that got away from Francisco Álvarez, setting in motion a very peculiar sequence.

Álvarez gathered the ball and attempted to back-pick the runner at third base but he threw it into left field, prompting the runner to take off for home again. This time, he made it safely to give the Twins the lead. Back-to-back hits with two outs in the inning extended the Twins’ lead to 5-2 before the inning could finally be put to rest.

Although Senga left the game with only two runs allowed, it was clear from the beginning of the game that he wasn’t as sharp as he has been recently. He threw 27 pitches in the first inning alone in addition to allowing two walks. Royce Lewis took advantage of Senga’s shakiness by hitting an RBI double that scored Jorge Polanco, who reached via a walk, from first base to put the Twins ahead 1-0 early.

Senga settled down to pitch less eventful innings in the second and third, but he found himself in trouble again in the fourth inning. Carlos Correa, in his first game against the team that almost signed him this past offseason, led off the inning by hitting a rocket into left field that sailed into the seats for a home run.

Further damage in the inning was thwarted by Tim Locastro, who, with a runner on first and nobody out, made a fantastic diving catch in left field to rob Christian Vázquez of extra bases and potentially an RBI. Senga again worked in and out of trouble in the fifth inning, ending a two-on, nobody out threat by getting a double play and another ground ball out to escape the inning.

Senga stayed on for one more solid inning, finishing his outing with just the two earned runs given up over six innings, a really impressive outcome considering he wasn’t at the top of his game. He allowed four hits and four walks while striking out five as he lowered his already third-best National League ERA to 3.07 on the year.

Offensively, the Mets struggled early on, with Keuchel easing his way through the lineup. It wasn’t until two outs in the third inning that the Mets recorded their first baserunner, and the offense finally made some noise the following inning. After a leadoff walk and a double put runners at second and third with nobody out, Francisco Lindor went the other way for a two-run double.

That was all the Mets could muster for the rest of the game, though, as Keuchel threw one more scoreless inning before giving way to the bullpen which threw four scoreless innings. The Mets drop what was a lackluster game all around, falling to 64-76 on the year with just 32 games left to play on the season.

Senga’s Streak Continues

There aren’t many positives that can be taken away from this game, but one of them is that Kodai Senga’s streak of starts allowing three or fewer runs was extended to 13. Even on a day where he clearly wasn’t at his best, he held the Twins to two runs over six innings. His stellar pitching down the stretch has put him firmly in the National League Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Award conversations.

On Deck

The series between the Mets and Twins will continue Saturday afternoon, with first pitch scheduled for 2:10 p.m. ET. David Peterson (3-7, 5.40 ERA) will take the mound for the Mets coming off a short outing against the Mariners, while Kenta Maeda, who has also been unable to go deep into games lately, (3-7, 4.73 ERA) will be the starter for Minnesota. The game will be broadcast on SNY.

The post Bullpen Blows Game Late as Mets Fall to Twins 5-2 appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

After the San Francisco Giants agreed to a deal with star shortstop Carlos Correa that fell apart due to physical concerns, the Mets stepped right in with an agreement of their own. The Mets were dreaming of a star-studded left side of the infield with Francisco Lindor at shortstop and Correa at third.

However, a couple of days after the agreement, the Mets found out they had the same issues with Correa’s ankle that the Giants did. Following three weeks of negotiations with Correa’s agent Scott Boras that didn’t bring a final deal to fruition, the Twins swooped in to bring Carlos back to Minnesota.

The Mets final offer was reportedly a six-year, $157 million deal that could still reach the 12-year, $315 million mark that the two sides originally agreed on if Correa passed a yearly physical at the Mets discretion. Ultimately, Correa opted to sign a six-year, $200 million guaranteed deal to stay with the Twins. The deal includes four team option years as well.

Jon Heyman of the New York Post passed along a note about Correa he heard, “one doctor suggested Correa has the worst ankle he’s seen.”

Heyman went on to say that one baseball executive called it a “Houdini” job that Boras was able to get Correa a guaranteed $200 million after not passing the medical exam with two teams.

The Mets have been publicly quiet following the team not being able to get a deal done with Correa, releasing just a simple statement once his deal with the Twins was official. “We were unable to reach an agreement. We wish Carlos all the best,” the Mets said.

The Mets will head into the 2023 season with veteran Eduardo Escobar as an option to play third base every day and prospect Brett Baty battling him for that role.

The post Heyman: ‘Doctor Suggested Correa Has Worst Ankle He’s Seen’ appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Good morning, Mets fans!

Jon Heyman of the New York Post writes in his MLB notes piece that Mets pitcher Kodai Senga had a bit more wear and tear on his arm and that the physical was OK’d before numbers for a contract were being thrown around. Heyman also states that folks in the know say that Japanese pitchers show more mileage on their arm due to them throwing more innings at earlier stages in their careers.

Now onto the morning briefing!

Latest Mets News

The Mets’ pursuit of pitcher Shohei Ohtani may hit a snag due to the upcoming 110% luxury tax payment. According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, he suggests that if Steve Cohen were to spend $50 million on Ohtani, the tax would be $105 million annually and total close to about $1 billion by the time a 10-year contract is completed. Heyman also notes that the Padres, who currently have a smaller luxury tax penalty, might come out as the high bidder for Ohtani’s services.

Will Sammon of The Athletic highlights Mets infielder Brett Baty and his offseason program working with former major league shortstop Troy Tulowitzki. John Sheridan has more on this story of Baty being mentored by the former All-Star shortstop.

Latest MLB News

Reported by Erik Bacharach of the Sports Business Journal, the Arizona Diamondbacks have reached a deal with Avnet as their jersey patch partner, becoming the third MLB team to announce a sponsorship deal to be displayed on a team uniform.

Major League Baseball announced that the 2023 Draft Combine will be held at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona. from June 20-25.

According to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, Rays reliever Jason Adam has been placed on Team USA’s 50-man preliminary roster for the upcoming World Baseball Classic. Last season, Adam had a 1.56 ERA, 0.758 WHIP, with eight saves, and 75 strikeouts through 63 1/3 innings pitched.

MLB Network released their top-10 list for catchers in baseball at this current moment. Former Mets catcher Travis d’Arnaud comes in at No. 7.

Latest on MMO

On the latest episode of MMO Weekly, Sal and Mike chat with new Mets Triple-A hitting coach Collin Hetzler. They spoke about talked Ronny Mauricio, Francisco Álvarez, and how Steve Cohen’s money is giving the Mets minor leagues an advantage.

Fantastic show with Mets Triple-A hitting coach @C_Hetz. We talked about Mauricio, Álvarez, and how Steve Cohen's money is giving the Mets minor leagues an advantage.https://t.co/mkwHv9vTR7

— Mike Mayer (@mikemayer22) February 2, 2023

Mets Worst Free-Agent Signing No 2: Jason Bay

On This Date in Mets History

Birthdays: Lucas Duda (37)

The post Morning Briefing: Kodai Senga Had ‘Iffy’ Physical Before Correa Saga appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Carlos Correa. Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

Perspective is everything. And, when it comes to breaking down and assessing the offseason for the New York Mets, perspective is indeed important.

Memories can be very short in sports but that shouldn’t be the case with the Mets, despite the disappointing ending to the Carlos Correa saga. Owner Steve Cohen didn’t win that particular battle, but this off-season should still be viewed as a success for the front office.

After all, the team were able to accomplish a number of goals across a plethora of different fronts. They re-signed elite reliever Edwin Díaz to a record breaking five-year, $102 million deal. And they kept a key piece of their outfield and clubhouse by giving an eight-year, $162 million contract to Brandon Nimmo.

Furthermore, the front office absorbed the blow of losing a star pitcher in Jacob deGrom by going out and signing three-time Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander in free agency. Verlander was one of the best pitchers in all of baseball in 2022, posting a 1.75 ERA with a 18-4 record. He certainly gives the Mets a proven and lethal one-two punch at the top of the rotation with fellow veteran Max Scherzer.

Having also lost Chris Bassitt and Taijuan Walker t0 free agency, general manager Billy Eppler rebuilt his rotation by bringing in veteran José Quintana, The Mets also signed Japanese star Kodai Senga, who possesses a high ceiling as a number three starter.

David Robertson. Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

There were also improvements made to the bullpen through the additions of veteran reliever David Robertson and lefty Brooks Raley from the Tampa Bay Rays.

Of course, there’s still work to be done. A further  addition to the bullpen may be needed, as reports state that the Mets are interested in former Yankees reliever Zack Britton. The front office is still very engaged in adding outfield depth too, with Tommy Pham the latest name to be floated as a potential solution.

There’s also the hope that phenom prospect Francisco Álvarez can make the step up to the majors on a full-time basis. Plus, Omar Narváez should be an upgrade offensively over James McCann, who was traded to the Baltimore Orioles. Other prospects like Brett Baty and Mark Vientos could also step up to provide an offensive boost in 2023.

Carlos Correa. Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

Granted, there is no getting away from the fact that the Mets would have been a better team with Correa on the roster. He would have injected some pop into a lineup that tied for 15th in home runs in 2022. Further, his electric play at the plate and on the base paths would have added a different dynamic to this offense too.

There’s also Correa’s ability with the glove. The Gold Glove and Platinum Glove winner can execute highlight-reel plays in the field, he’s a true master of his craft and he would have given the Mets one of the best infields in all of baseball. Not to mention that he’s built to thrive under the bright lights of New York.

However, while Correa would have been a nice luxury to have, it has still been a strong offseason for the Mets. They rebuilt their rotation, bolstered their bullpen, re-signed a couple of key pieces and there will likely be more moves to come before Spring Training gets underway in a couple of months. Plus, it is easy to forget that this Mets offense still ranked as one of the best in baseball in a number of different categories in 2022.

Shohei Ohtani. Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

Lastly, the fact that Cohen ultimately missed out on Correa means he will likely be even more motivated to go out and capture baseball’s white whale in 2023 in Shohei Ohtani. The superstar unicorn would have still been obtainable even with Correa on the roster, as we explored here. However, the Mets will now have even more motivation to go all in for what will be the biggest free agent available in 2024.

Given how the Correa saga played out with all the twists and turns and the consistent stream of false hope, there was always going to be a sense of disappointment after the fact. With that being said, though, perspective is everything. One setback shouldn’t taint what has been a productive and successful offseason so far for a franchise that is firmly in win-now mode.

The post Correa Saga Should Not Define Mets Off-Season appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

Mets fans, an all-new episode is here!

This week Mike and I discuss the end to the Carlos Correa saga, how the Mets can pivot from after losing Correa to Minnesota, what it means for Eduardo Escobar/Brett Baty, and much more!

How can the Mets pivot after losing a deal for Correa to the Minnesota Twins? At this point in the offseason, Mike thinks it would be tough to trade for an impact bat, but for now the focus should be on how the Cohen and the Mets handled the Correa negotiations and the impact it could have:

“Firstly, when you look at the deal the Twins offered Correa, I think it’s a bad look for Cohen and the Mets to have not at least matched it. Unless there really was something so bad and immediately wrong with the ankle, to not at least match the six years/$200 million doesn’t seem right after the Mets were already in agreement on a deal with Correa. Another aspect is that Cohen has absolutely set the Mets up for a grievance if Correa chooses to go that route.”

Watch and subscribe to the MMO Youtube channel here.

The post MMO Weekly Episode 31: Twins Sign Correa, Mets Outfield Options appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Sep 17, 2022; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets third baseman Eduardo Escobar (10) celebrates with teammates after hitting a three run home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the second inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-USA TODAY Sports

Carlos Correa will ultimately not be coming to New York in 2023 or beyond, after he spurned the Mets for the Minnesota Twins Tuesday following a weeks-long standoff with New York over contract language relating to his physical condition. While it’s a bitter pill to swallow for Mets fans knowing they were teased with the idea of a dominant left side of the infield for the next decade, all is not lost for next season.

Without Correa, the Mets will be trotting out a lineup that looks awfully familiar to the 2022 edition if they don’t make any additional moves before Opening Day. While the Mets offense sputtered to a disappointing finish last season, ultimately failing to win the division or get out of the Wild Card Series, it’s important to remember that the Mets were still one of the best offenses in baseball a season ago.

The 2022 Mets were fifth in the majors in runs scored, sixth in team OPS, and second in on-base percentage. While there are serious questions about whether they have enough offensive juice to compete with baseball’s elite teams, the Mets still project to be an above-average run-producing unit in 2023.

As a refresher, here’s what the Mets lineup is likely to look like next season, at least to start the year.

1. CF Brandon Nimmo
2. RF Starling Marte
3. SS Francisco Lindor
4. 1B Pete Alonso
5. 2B Jeff McNeil
6. DH Daniel Vogelbach
7. 3B Eduardo Escobar
8. LF Mark Canha
9. C Omar Narváez

From 1-5, the Mets can compete with anyone in the majors. The top of the Mets lineup features one of the game’s best center fielders, a two-time All-Star who can hit for average and power, two top-10 NL MVP vote getters last season, and the reigning major league batting champion.

It’s the bottom half of the lineup that will have the most question marks. Vogelbach is a masher against righties, but will see limited if any starts against left-handed pitchers. Unless the Mets want to start the season with three catchers and carry top prospect Francisco Álvarez, as a platoon DH, their only other reasonable right-handed DH options are Darin Ruf, who had a miserable second half after being traded to Queens, or Mark Vientos who had a 58 OPS+ in 16 games in his first taste of big-league action in 2022.

Escobar was hot-and-cold last year, and the Mets will need more consistency out of him or he may lose his job at some point to top prospect Brett Baty. Canha is a reliable if unspectacular presence who will get on base and has some pop. Newly-acquired Narváez and Tomás Nido will try to give the Mets more production than they got last season out of their backstops. when they ranked 28th in the majors in catcher OPS.

If the Mets are to replicate or improve on their production this season, they will need their elite hitters to continue to produce at a high level and get more production out positions like catcher, third base, and DH. Whether that production comes from improvement from last season’s regulars, breakouts from top prospects like Álvarez and Baty, or from other players yet to be acquired, remains to be seen.

While it’s certainly possible the Mets will once again be one of MLB’s top offenses, the task has gotten a lot harder without an All-Star third baseman.

The post Reexamining the Mets Lineup Without Carlos Correa appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

Updated Post – Jan. 11, 11:38

The Minnesota Twins announced on Wednesday morning that they officially signed star shortstop Carlos Correa. The almost-Met released the following statement, “Wow what a journey it’s been. A lot of emotions involved throughout the whole process but always believed at the end of the day God will put me in the right place.”

Once the deal became official, the Mets released their own statement, “We were unable to reach an agreement. We wish Carlos all the best.”

Updated Post – Jan. 11, 09:52

According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, Carlos Correa has passed his physical with the Minnesota Twins and the team will make an announcement at some point today.

Original Post – Jan. 10, 14:02

The long-running Carlos Correa saga has finally reached a conclusion with the Minnesota Twins agreeing to a deal with Carlos Correa, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. It seems the New York Mets decided to walk away from the star free agent and end all contract talks.

Per Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Mets offered Correa a fully guaranteed six-year, $157.5 million deal. They would have paid the shortstop $210 million over eight years, and $315 million over 12 years (non-guaranteed). Jon Heyman of The New York Post also reported that the Mets were willing to fully guarantee six years at $157.5 million, but the final six years of the deal would have been only conditionally guaranteed. As a result, Correa opted to return to the Twins where he will make $42.5 million more in the first six years of his deal with Minnesota. Heyman also suggested that Correa and the Mets couldn’t get past the language issue that ultimately proved to be the backbreaker in negotiations.

It was reported on Thursday by Andy Martino of SNY that the Mets had grown “very frustrated” in their negotiations with powerhouse owner Scott Boras. While a source did tell Martino that they “still believed the sides stood a strong chance of reaching an agreement,” that hasn’t proved to be the case. Monday night, then, Ken Rosenthal reported talks between the Twins and Correa were “accelerating.” it reached a fever pitch Tuesday with a new deal.

Passan says Correa and the Twins agreed to a six-year, $200 million deal with a vesting option that will bring total money to $270 million. The deal is pending a physical. The $200 million guaranteed is over $100 million less than what he agreed to with the Mets, and over $150 million what he agreed to with the Giants. This new deal with the Twins is for half the years and nearly half of the money. It should be noted the Twins approved of a three-year deal with Correa just last offseason, so doctors would only need to sign off on four additional years. If his contract vests, it’s assumed that means his ankle will remain healthy over the length of the deal.

The Mets’ (and Giants’) previous concerns with money and years were over Correa’s ankle, which we’ll dive into in a moment.

Today’s news brings to an end what has been a frustrating few weeks for all involved with the Mets. It started on December 21 when, after the Giants saw their 13-year, $350 million offer to Correa crumble over an issue with the player’s medical history, the Mets swooped in. After all, Cohen had previously spoken about his disappointment about missing out on Correa having launched an 11th hour bid to bring him to Citi Field, as well as revealing his admiration for the player.

It was reported by Jon Heyman of The New York Post that the Mets and Correa had reached an agreement on a 12-year contract worth $315 million deal. It was the latest blockbuster swing-for-the-fences type move by Cohen in a long line of them this offseason, and the team had added another All-Star to their roster overnight.

However, before Mets fans even had a chance to tone down their excitement for the 2023 season, a rather large hurdle was placed in front of the team in the form of Correa’s troublesome medical history. The same lower right leg injury that spooked the Giants also gave the Mets reasons to be concerned during a medical. That was revealed by Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic on Christmas Eve.

The party line by multiple reporters ever since Christmas has been that the two parties have been working through any issues over Correa’s health. Lawyers were involved in negotiations with the Mets and Correa, with Martino reporting earlier this week that a resolution could come sooner rather than later, while Heyman suggested a deal could finally be reached by the end of this week. Rosenthal had previously reported that the final contract would look “dramatically different” to the original terms that were agreed to.

While this has been an unprecedented situation, the Mets are hardly swimming in uncharted waters. After all, Boras has been here before having re-negotiated JD Martinez‘s deal with the Boston Red Sox back in 2018. Boston’s medical team raised concerns over a Lisfranc foot injury that forced Martinez to miss time during the 2017 season. Ultimately, all parties agreed to new language being added to the deal that gave the Red Sox options. Martinez was also granted an additional opt-out clause that wasn’t in the original deal.

Due to the complexities of the new contract being thrashed out, it was always understood that it would take time for the Mets to close out a deal with Correa. The general school of thought was always that Correa would eventually end up in a Mets uniform, but that positive thinking slowly ebbed away over the last few days.

It does seems that the Mets reached their limit in discussions. Given how badly Cohen wanted Correa, coupled with how long negotiations have dragged on, the fact that no agreement was reached is somewhat surprising. The underlying feeling was always a case of if and not when, but it appears that discussions have fallen off a cliff over the past couple of days.

The post Correa Deal With Twins Official; Mets Issue Statement appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

Good morning, Mets fans!

Well, maybe not. Carlos Correa is finalizing a deal to return to the Minnesota Twins on a six-year, $200 million contract that could max out at $270 million, according to ESPN‘s Jeff Passan. Of course, this is all pending a physical.

Reports are also coming out about the deal the Mets were prepared to finalize with Correa. Michael Marino of Fantrax is reporting the deal between him and the Mets would have looked completely different from what was originally reported, coming in at six years and about $157 million.

Correa in this soap opera of an offseason for him has gone from a 13-year, $350 million deal with the San Francisco Giants, to what once was a 12-year, $315 million deal with the Mets, to what now is significantly less in a return to the Twins. Whatever was up with Correa’s physical, or more specifically his ankle, caused plenty of concern for the Giants and Mets, but will it be one for the Twins?

Safe to say the three-week endeavor of the Mets “signing” Correa will not be missed, as fans of the orange and blue, as well as baseball fans, can all collectively exhale move on to something else. Maybe the Mets will make a splash and trade for a big bat that could replace the hole Correa left behind… or never made.

Latest Mets News

MLB Pipeline published an article where baseball executives were asked on who they think would win the Rookie of the Year Award from both leagues, and Mets catcher Francisco Álvarez was voted as the second most likely to win the award. Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll was voted most likely to win with an overwhelming 66% of MLB execs and Álvarez taking 9%. No one else received more than 3%.

The biggest reason for the separation in voting is due to play time. Carroll is a lock to start in the outfield for Arizona, but the Mets now have three catchers with him, Tomas Nido and the recently acquired Omar Narváez. For him to be a much clearer favorite, the Mets must make room and time for the catching prodigy to shine. Both rookies have also seen playing time during the 2022 season.

Latest MLB News

Boston Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story underwent UCL surgery with an internal brace on his right elbow, according to ESPN‘s Passan. Internal brace surgery in itself was a modified version of Tommy John and requires a much quicker recovery time. On average, according to Passan, players could return from this form of surgery in four to six months.

The Miami Marlins have signed free agent pitcher Johnny Cueto to a one-year, $8.5 million dollar deal, according to Craig Mish of the Miami Herald. With a club option for 2024, the deal guarantees Cueto $8.5 million, but gives him $6 million in the 2023 season and $10.5 in a club option next year. A $2.5 million buyout is also included in the deal.

Free agent and former Cincinnati Reds infielder Colin Moran has agreed to a minor league deal with the Seattle Mariners, according to ESPN‘s Kiley McDaniel. The deal includes an invite to Major League camp.

Latest on MMO

Patrick Glynn takes a look at the Mets interest in Zack Britton.

Mathias Altman-Kurosaki evaluates the Mets moves they can make post-Correa.

On This Date in Mets History

Birthdays: Stephen Nogosek (28), Jermaine Allensworth (51),Rey Ordóñez (52), Dan Norman (68), Jim McAndrew (79), Danny Napoleon (81)

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Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

Good morning, Mets fans!

Late Monday night, Ken Rosenthal and Dan Hayes of The Athletic reported that the Twins are accelerating their talks with Carlos Correa. The report comes on the 19th day since Correa and the Mets agreed to a 12-year, $315 million contract, though the article states that the Mets aren’t out of the running for the star infielder. According to sources, the Twins have been in contact with Scott Boras to keep their team in the running in the event that the deal with the Mets falls apart. Minnesota previously offered Correa a 10-year, $285 million contract before he agreed to a 13-year contract with the Giants in early December.

Latest Mets News

Mets TV play-by-play announcer Gary Cohen was named New York Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. Cohen was previously nominated for the Ford C. Frick Award.

Former MLB catcher J.P. Arencibia will serve as the bench for Triple-A Syracuse this season. Arencibia last played in the majors in 2015 and has served as a studio analyst for the Marlins.

The Mets have signed speedy outfielder Tim Locastro to a minor league contract with an invite to spring training. Locastro spent 2022 in the Yankees’ organization, splitting time between Triple-A and the majors.

Latest MLB News

Jayson Stark of The Athletic reports that MLB has reinstated former Braves general manager John Coppolella after he was banned from the sport for life in 2017. Coppolella served as the team’s GM from 2015-17 but was suspended for illegally negotiating with multiple international free agents.

Miami Mayor Francis Suarez announced that Marlins righty Sandy Alcantara will receive a key to the city today. Alcantara became the first Marlins pitcher to win a Cy Young award this season, and Suarez said he wants to recognize that accomplishment.

The Giants have signed righty Luke Jackson to a two-year contract. The 31-year-old played a key role for the Braves when they won the World Series in 2021, but missed all of 2022 after undergoing Tommy John Surgery.

The Phillies acquired right-hander Yunior Marté from the Giants in exchange for southpaw Erik Miller. Marté appeared in 39 games for San Francisco in 2022, turning in a 5.44 ERA and a 1.438 WHIP in 48 innings.

The Nashville Stars, who are seen as the favorites to be MLB’s next expansion team, have added Don Mattingly to their fold. Mattingly is expected to serve as a baseball advisor to the group led by Dave Stewart.

The Angels have signed outfielder Brett Phillips to a one-year contract. Phillips split time between the Rays and Orioles in 2022, playing in 83 games and posting a solid 6 DRS.

The Tigers have agreed to a minor-league contract with southpaw Chasen Shreve. The 32-year-old struggled to a 6.49 ERA in 25 appearances for the Mets in 2022, though he was effective as recently as 2021. He can make up to two million dollars if he makes the majors.

The Blue Jays are signing first baseman Brandon Belt, according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle. Belt was drafted by the Giants back in 2009 and he played in 12 seasons for San Francisco, but injuries limited him to just 76 games in 2022, in which he posted a disappointing .676 OPS.

Latest on MMO

Nate Mendelson explains why the Mets made the right move by bringing back Edwin Díaz and Adam Ottavino.

On This Date in Mets History

2006: The Mets agree to a four-year contract worth $5.25 million with first-round pick Mike Pelfrey. The towering righty was selected 11th overall in the 2005 draft out of Wichita State.

2018: Just a few months after trading him away, the Mets sign Jay Bruce to a three-year, $39 million contract. Bruce hit a career-high 36 homers in 2017, 29 of which were with the Mets.

2019: The Mets sign infielder Jed Lowrie to a two-year contract worth $20 million. Lowrie is coming off a year in which he made his first All-Star Game and received MVP votes.

Birthdays: Mario Díaz (61), Kevin Baez (56)

The post Morning Briefing: Twins Reportedly Accelerating Talks With Correa appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

Conversations between the Minnesota Twins and Carlos Correa are “accelerating” amidst ongoing uncertainty with the Mets’ deal with the shortstop, according to The Athletic‘s Ken Rosenthal and Dan Hayes.

Though Correa has been in talks with the Mets for nearly three weeks now, the team and Correa’s camp, which includes Scott Boras, have been at odds over his medical situation. The Mets–and the San Francisco Giants before them–are concerned with Correa’s ankle, which a physical exam revealed something that gave both teams pause.

The Mets agreed to a 12-year, $315 million deal with Correa in late December. It came just hours after the Giants postponed their introductory press conference with Correa over the medical issue.

The Twins, on the other hand, have kept in contact with Correa, who played for Minnesota last season, as he’s worked on a deal with the Mets. Rosenthal said the Mets aren’t out of the bidding for Correa, either.

Correa opted out of his deal last year with his Twins after one year, as expected the minute he signed it. He had a .834 OPS and 140 OPS+ over 136 games with the Twins.

Stay tuned for updates on Correa’s future with the Mets–or Twins.

The post Rosenthal: Twins, Correa Talks “Accelerating” appeared first on Metsmerized Online.