Druschel joined the Mets following the 2024 season, from the Yankees. He served under Jeremy Hefner, who was let go earlier in the offseason, in 2025. Passan confirmed that the Mets allowed Druschel to talk to other teams, and evidently agreed to return to the Yankees where he spent 2022 through 2024 with the big-league club.

Druschel previously has numerous stops throughout the collegiate ranks, most notably serving as the University of Iowa’s pitching coach. He joined the Yankees organization in 2019.

The Mets have yet to make any announcement in terms of additions to their pitching staff outside of the previously reported departures.

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Viewership for Mets games on SNY was up 23% in 2025 compared to 2024, while live game streaming minutes were up 78%. This is no surprise with the hype surrounding the Mets entering 2025 and the increase in attendance at Citi Field. Fans still tuned in despite poor performance down the stretch, and the Mets will need to convince fans to remain just as engaged in 2026.

Latest Mets News

The Mets announced several coaching moves including that both hitting coaches, Eric Chavez and Jeremy Barnes, as well as pitching coach Jeremy Hefner, would not return to the team. Additionally, third base coach Mike Sarbaugh and bench coach John Gibbons will not be returning. First base coach Antoan Richardson, strategy coach Danny Barnes and coaching assistant Rafael Fernandez were all invited back for next season.

MLB Pipeline updated their top-100 prospects list and named Nolan McLean as their top pitching prospect in all of baseball. McLean finished his first taste of MLB action with a 5-1 record and a 2.06 ERA.

Latest MLB News

The Texas Rangers announced Skip Schumacher as their new manager.

Former catcher Kurt Suzuki interviewed for the open manager position with the Giants. Suzuki has most recently been serving as a special assistant to the general manager with the Angels.

Astros starter Luis Garcia underwent a second Tommy John surgery. Garcia also had the flexor tendon in his forearm repaired. Garcia has pitched in just eight games since 2022, including two in 2025.

Latest on MMO

In the latest MMO roundtable, we give our 2025 postseason predictions.

On This Date in Mets History

1969: The Mets defeated the Braves 9-5 in the first-ever National League Championship Series playoff game.

2010: The Mets fired manager Jerry Manuel and general manager Omar Minaya a day after the end of the regular season.

Born on This Date: Dennis Cook (1962).

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A big day of changes on the Mets’ coaching staff continues.

According to MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo, pitching coach Jeremy Hefner and hitting coaches Eric Chavez and Jeremy Barnes will not be with the team in 2026.

Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images

Hefner, a right-handed pitcher who played for New York in both 2012 and 2013, joined the club’s staff as their pitching coach in December 2019 and had remained in that role through this past season.

Chavez, a six-time Gold Glover during his own playing days, was hired as the Mets’ hitting coach under Buck Showalter ahead of the 2022 campaign. He then transitioned to bench coach in 2023 before once again taking up his post as hitting coach next to Barnes ahead of the 2024 campaign.

The New York Post’s Mike Puma added that first base coach Antoan Richardson, who was behind the Mets’ unprecedented success in stealing bases this season, has not been let go. The club went on to announce that Richardson, strategy coach Danny Barnes and coaching assistant Rafael Fernandez have been asked back for the 2026 season while assistant pitching coach Desi Druschel and bullpen coach José Rosado have been given permission to speak with other clubs, pending New York’s search for a new pitching coach.

Original Post: Oct. 3 at 12:05 p.m. EST

Two days after it was announced that catching instructor Glenn Sherlock is retiring, SNY’s Andy Martino reported that bench coach John Gibbons as well as third base/infield coach Mike Sarbaugh will not return to the Mets in 2026.

Changes to manager Carlos Mendoza‘s staff were inevitable after New York failed to clinch a spot in the postseason, and the club now has three vacancies to fill with the potential for more openings in the near future.

The Mets hired Sarbaugh in November 2023 after he had spent nearly 30 years as a coach in the Cleveland Guardians’ organization, first serving as a hitting coach and skipper for several of the team’s minor league affiliates from 1995 to 2012 before joining the big-league staff as their third base and infielders coach for the 2013 campaign.

Sarbaugh, who coached Francisco Lindor throughout the latter’s entire tenure in Cleveland, was let go by the Guardians following the 2023 season after manager Terry Francona also left the club.

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

As for Gibbons, Martino noted that he let the Mets know he was leaving, but not retiring, and that he thinks it’s time for the team to have “some new blood” in his role.

Gibbons, who played in 18 games for the Mets as a catcher between the 1984 and 1986 seasons, is mostly known for his two stints as the manager of the Toronto Blue Jays from 2004 to 2008 and from 2013 to 2018. During that time, he compiled a 793-789 record and helped Toronto snap a 22-year playoff drought while also securing back-to-back ALCS appearances in 2015 and 2016.

Gibbons hadn’t coached in the major leagues since his departure from the Blue Jays before joining Mendoza and the Mets ahead of the 2024 campaign.

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Druschel has been part of the Yankees organization since 2019, officially joining the Major League staff in 2022 as assistant pitching coach. He worked with Matt Blake, their current pitching coach. The move reunites Druschel with current Mets manager Carlos Mendoza. The two spent time in the Yankees organization when Mendoza was a bench coach in the Bronx. Druschel formerly was the Iowa Hawkeyes’ pitching coach in 2017 and previously served as their director of operations for their baseball program.

As previously noted, president of baseball operations David Stearns commented the entire Mets coaching staff from 2024 will return in the same roles they occupied for 2025. The Mets didn’t have an assistant pitching coach on their coaching staff under Hefner in 2024, but add one with Druschel’s hiring for 2025.

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Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports

In 32 1/3 innings since his first appearance on May 2, Young (3-0) has 43 strikeouts, a 2.78 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP. It is a breakthrough season for the 30-year-old, who coming into 2024 had pitched only 14 2/3 major league innings over two years with the Seattle Mariners and Atlanta Braves.

He has been especially effective since the All-Star break, allowing only three earned runs in 17 2/3 innings. This has earned him the trust of manager Carlos Mendoza, who is comfortable sending Young into high-leverage situations.

In the seventh inning with a runner on first and New York leading 4-3 against Boston on Wednesday, Mendoza summoned Young, which prompted Red Sox manager Alex Cora to send up Romy Gonzalez to pinch hit. The southpaw got the right-handed hitter to bounce a 3-2 pitch to second for an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play.

With a pair of tough lefties due up to start the eighth, Mendoza stuck with Young and he delivered. He got Jarren Duran to ground out to short and struck out Rafael Devers on a slider. The four big outs earned him his third win of the year.

Young hasn’t allowed a hit or a run in his last six appearances dating to Aug. 22.

The Toronto Blue Jays selected Young in the eighth round of the 2015 draft out of the University of Florida. He made his way to Cleveland (Rule 5 Draft) and then Seattle (free agency), where he debuted in 2022 before moving on to Atlanta. He missed most of last year with a hip injury that required surgery.

The Mets signed him as a minor league free agent in January.

“We kind of knew about his capabilities based on his stuff; we just didn’t know how his hip was going to respond,” pitching coach Jeremy Hefner told the New York Post last month. “We knew if he was himself and healthy, we felt like the sinker/sweeper combo – he has a cutter, he just doesn’t throw it very often – with the slot we thought that would be a good depth piece, with the potential to really help us.”

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Starling Marte told reporters that he and Carlos Mendoza haven’t yet discussed what his playing time will look like during the season. Marte said he prefers to stick in right field as opposed to having to take regular reps as the team’s designated hitter.

“I want to be on the field all the time, that’s what I like,” Marte said. “Help the pitcher when I have a chance to catch the ball, and then do what I do every time I step on the field and help them when I can.”

Marte also said that he feels he could play 170 games if he needed to.

Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Latest Mets News

When asked about how he would measure his 2024 season, Francisco Álvarez said, “How many games I can win.”

Álvarez also said that he loves playing in New York.

“I like the fans, I like the city, I like everything,” he said.

Tim Britton of The Athletic reported that the Mets will take a similar approach with Kodai Senga as they did during his rookie season. Pitching coach Jeremy Hefner said the difference is that Senga will have a say in how much rest he gets in between his starts.

Latest MLB News

The Giants officially signed Jorge Soler to a three-year contract worth $42 million. Soler made his first All-Star Game in 2023, crushing 36 homers with an .853 OPS.

Speaking to Mark Bowman of MLB.com, Chris Sale expressed confidence he can still pitch like his old self. Sale’s primary focus will be on staying healthy for a full season, as he’s thrown just 151 innings over the last four seasons.

The Orioles have acquired lefty Matt Krook from the Yankees in exchange for cash considerations. Krook has appeared in just four big league games, all of which came in the 2023 season. In Triple-A Scranton, Krook pitched to a 1.32 ERA in 34 innings with 55 strikeouts and 26 walks.

To make room for Krook, the Orioles designated infielder Diego Castillo for assignment. This is now the fifth time Castillo has been DFA’d this offseason, as he began the offseason with the Pirates, then went to the Diamondbacks before the Mets claimed, and then bounced around from the Mets to the Yankees, to the Phillies, to the Orioles.

Latest on MMO

Jude Kamilhor opines that MLB roster limits should be increased.

Jorge Eckardt breaks down the Mets’ depth chart at shortstop.

Elliot Teichman previews what to expect from non-roster invitee Cole Sulser.

On This Date in Mets History

1962: Mets pitchers and catchers report to spring training for the first time in St. Petersburg, Fla. Former Dodgers hurler Roger Craig is expected to lead the pitching staff for Casey Stengel.

1991: The Mets sign 17-year-old Edgardo Alfonzo as an amateur free agent. Alfonzo’s older brother, Edgar, signed with the Angels back in 1985 as an 18-year-old.

2021: The Mets sign Taijuan Walker to a two-year contract worth $20 million. A former top prospect, Walker was effective in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, posting a 2.70 ERA in 53 1/3 innings.

Birthdays: Tim Burke (65), Álvaro Espinoza (62), Miguel Batista (53)

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According to Jon Heyman of the NY Post the second meeting between the Yankees and Yamamoto, which occurred today, was requested by Yamamoto.

Andy Martino of SNY further confirmed that Yamamoto was also the one that requested a second meeting with New York.

Original Post –

According to Joel Sherman of the NY Post, highly-coveted free agent Yoshinobu Yamamoto and a Mets’ contingent had dinner at New York Mets’ owner Steve Cohen’s house on Saturday night. The report confirms that the group included Cohen, his wife Alex, president of baseball operations David Stearns, manager Carlos Mendoza, and pitching coach Jeremy Hefner.

Andy Martino of SNY confirmed that the Mets have yet to make an offer but certainly will at the right time. Just as recent as yesterday, it was reported the offers Yamamoto has already received are in excess of $300 million. The 25-year-old, whenever he does sign, will be receiving a massive contract, one that likely rivals the 10-year mark in length and will likely smash the record for length received by a starting pitcher.

As for how exactly the meeting went, Will Sammon of the Athletic described the dinner by saying, “the participants enjoy[ed] the hospitality and the free-flowing conversation leading to a generally good connection.” Sammon summarized the meeting by saying, “The Cohens hosted Yamamoto seemingly in hopes of offering a nice, personal touch, one that may help distinguish the Mets from other clubs.” Overall, the meeting, “went well,” according to Sammon’s sources.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Yukihito Taguchi-USA TODAY Sports

The above reported meeting is the second meeting the Mets have had with Yamamoto. Owner Steve Cohen and president of baseball operations David Stearns also already met with the right-handed starter in Japan a few months back.

As for what is next, Sammon continued by explaining the actual biding process is supposed to intensify this week. Specifically, the window to sign the Japanese ace closes at 5:00 pm ET on January 4. So a deal is certainly expected before then.

The Mets are not the only team who reportedly got to meet with Yamamoto twice. The New York Yankees are reportedly set to meet with him as early as today according to SNY‘s Andy Martino. However, Martino did confirm that this meeting, “was rather hastily scheduled once he was in the area.”

Yamamoto would be a huge get for the Mets, who desperately need an ace starter in a rotation that is severely lacks five quality starters. Along with the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees, the Mets have always been one of the plethora teams tied with Yamamoto this offseason.

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As the Carlos Mendoza era is ushered into New York, a former New York Mets manager will continue to have a role with the organization. Carlos Beltrán will serve as a special assistant in the new regime, new president of baseball operations David Stearns said in an interview with Andy Martino. 

Beltrán enjoyed a stint that lasted more than six years in Queens between 2005-2011. In November 2019, he was hired to replace Mickey Callaway as Mets manager, but was relieved of his duties before ever managing a game due to his name being involved in the Houston Astros cheating scandal. 

Stearns said he talked to Beltrán at the midpoint of the managerial search process and that he thinks Beltran is happy “where he is,” specifically citing Beltrán having young children he wants to be around consistently. 

In other front office news, the Mets added Eduardo Brizuela as a vice president and special assistant to David Stearns, according to Will Sammon of the Athletic. Brizuela spent more than 15 years with the Milwaukee Brewers prior. Brizuela was also the GM for Team Venezuela in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. 

Latest Mets News 

Mets owner Steve Cohen unveiled a plan to turn 50 acres of asphalt around Citi Field into a sports and entertainment park, including a playground, sportsbook, community sports fields and other attractions. Learn more about the project here. 

Stearns said he won’t hire a general manager this season. Read about this and more of what Stearns said from the GM meetings here. 

Pitching coach Jeremy Hefner is expected to stay in his role under Mendoza, according to Martino. Read more here.

Eric Chavez, the Mets’ bench coach in 2023 and hitting coach previously, interviewed for the Yankees vacant hitting coach position before it was offered to James Rowson, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post. 

Former Mets outfielder Juan Lagares expressed excitement about returning to Citi Field for this weekend’s Dominican Winter League series in an interview with Jay Horwitz. 

Ronny Mauricio will join the Tigres del Licey on November 18. The infielder was named the Dominican Winter League MVP last season for the Tigres del Licey.

Our own Michael Mayer reports that Mets minor league infield coordinator Miguel Cairo is leaving the organization after just one season to become the Nationals bench coach.

Latest MLB News

Among the names the Milwaukee Brewers are considering to replace former manager Craig Counsell are bench coaches Pat Murphy (Milwaukee Brewers), Don Mattingly (Toronto Blue Jays), Joe Espada (Houston Astros), according to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal. Other names are Dodgers first base coach Clayton McCullough, Astros hitting coach Troy Snitker and former Brewers second baseman Rickie Weeks.

The Los Angeles Angels are interviewing former Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington for their open managerial spot, according to Sam Blum of the Athletic. 

Baltimore Orioles general manager Mike Elias was named MLB Executive of the Year after the Orioles won 101 games and the American League East last season. 

The White Sox are hiring Marcus Thames as their hitting coach, according to Robert Murray of FanSided. 

Multiple teams have inquired about Cincinnati Reds infielder Jonathan India’s trade availability, according to Jon Morosi of MLB Network. 

Free agent utility player Kiké Hernández underwent double-hernia surgery on Oct. 24 and is expected to resume baseball activities in three to four weeks, according to Rosenthal. 

Former Washington Nationals starting pitcher Erick Fedde is drawing MLB interest after going 20-6 with a 2.00 ERA with the NC Dinos of the KBO, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post and MLB Network. 

The Toronto Blue Jays announced Carlos Febles as their new third base coach. 

After carrying a team-record $155 million payroll in 2023, the Minnesota Twins will be lowering salary next season, according to Bobby Nightengale of the Minnesota Star Tribune. 

Latest on MMO 

Andrew Tripaldi writes about Aaron Boone’s praise of his now-former bench coach Carlos Mendoza. 

Johnluke Chaparro introduces Metsmerized readers to new manager Carlos Mendoza. 

Johnluke Chaparro gives his 2023 report card to pitcher José Quintana. 

The Metsmerized team reacts to Carlos Mendoza’s hiring in a roundtable.

John Sheridan explains why Jett Williams tools stand out among Mets prospects. 

On this Date in Mets History

1990: Darryl Strawberry officially leaves the Mets, signing a five-year contract with the Dodgers. 

Birthdays: Edgardo Alfonzo (50), Shane Halter (54), Jose Offerman (55), Ed Kranepool (79)

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Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY

The 37-year-old Hefner has had ups and downs with his pitching staffs during his tenure in Queens, but remains a highly-regarded executive around the league. In 2023, the Mets’ staff struggled, pitching to only the 19th-ranked ERA in the majors. Hefner has seen mixed from younger pitchers the team has tried to develop such as David Peterson and Tylor Megill, but has has also had his fair share of success stories, such as helping Kodai Senga become a finalist for the National League Rookie of the Year in his first MLB season and helping transform Edwin Díaz into the most dominant closer in the game in 2022.

As for the rest of the Mets’ staff, Martino reports that third base coach Joey Cora has received interest from multiple clubs, but could be in the mix to join rejoin the staff next season. Bench coach Eric Chavez, who reportedly interviewed for the Yankees’ hitting coach position before it went to James Rowson, has a “murkier” future due to his ties to ex-Mets GM Billy Eppler, Martino reports. According to Martino, Mendoza is likely to seek a bench coach with MLB experience.

Despite Stearns and Mendoza coming in from outside the organization, it does not appear they are intent to completely clean house. In addition to Hefner, Martino reported earlier on Tuesday that the team was expected to keep Carlos Beltran in the organization as a special assistant.

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Major League Baseball announced the 2024 draft lottery odds Wednesday night, and the Mets came in at 4.3%, the seventh-highest odds in all of MLB. This is the second rendition of the MLB draft lottery following the latest edition of the collective bargaining agreement, where the two sides agreed that the top six picks of the draft will be based on the lottery system. Outside of the top six picks, the seventh through 18th picks will be in reverse standings orders for the remaining teams.

However, if the Mets do not get a top six pick, their 2024 first-round draft selection will move back ten spots, a result of exceeding the surcharge tax threshold with their player payroll for 2023. The Yankees and Padres, who also did not make the playoffs, are in the same boat as the Mets as they also went over the threshold. If these teams do get rewarded a top six lottery pick, their second highest pick will be moved back ten places. 

The 2024 MLB Draft lottery will take place at the Winter Meetings in Nashville, Tennessee on December 5. 

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Latest Mets News

Andy Martino of SNY reported the club received permission to interview Craig Counsell for the managerial opening yesterday. He noted that the Brewers would initially deny said permission and have clubs wait until October 31, when Counsell’s contract officially expires, but they have changed course. However, Martino also reported that both Counsell and the Mets are expected to explore all other available options. This is in line with the report from Will Sammon of The Athletic that the Guardians have requested permission to interview Counsell. 

Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported that Billy Eppler’s former “special assistant,” Steve Martone, has been let go by the club—Martone, who was with Eppler in Los Angeles. 

Jeremy Hefner, the Mets’ current pitching coach, has been receiving interest from other clubs, according to Mike Puma of the New York Post. However, Hefner told team officials that he would wait to see if he fits into the Mets’ plans before considering other jobs. Hefner is under contract with the Mets for the 2024 season. 

Gary Cohen was named a finalist for the Hall of Fame‘s 2024 Ford C. Crick Award for the second consecutive year. Cohen is one of ten finalists among names like Joe Buck and Duane Kuiper; the winner will be inducted into the broadcaster’s wing of the Hall of Fame. 

Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported that the Mets would have fired former general manager Billy Eppler if he didn’t resign. For a more in-depth look into Sherman’s report, click here.

Latest MLB News

Following the Houston Astros’ loss to the Texas Rangers in Game 7 of the ALCS on Monday night, there were many reports that Astros manager Dusty Baker planned to retire. However, on Wednesday, Baker made it official as he told Bob Nightengale of USA Today that he informed Astros owner Tim Crane that he is retiring as manager of the club. The Astros have set up a press conference for Baker to formally announce his decision at noon ET on Thursday at Minute Maid Park. 

The San Francisco Giants are the first team to hire their new manager this off-season, as they officially named and introduced Bob Melvin as their manager yesterday. Melvin will manage his third different team in four years, leaving San Diego just two seasons following his departure from Oakland after a decade stint with the club. In addition, Giants chairman Greg Johnson announced that Melvin’s agreement is through 2026, and the team would extend general manager Farhan Zaidi through 2026 as well. 

The Padres managerial search will now pick up with the departure of Bob Melvin, as Dennis Lin and Brittany Ghiroli of The Athletic reported that Mike Shildt will interview for the job on Thursday. The former Cardinals manager is not the only interview San Diego has lined up, as Padres bench coach Ryan Flaherty has an interview scheduled for Friday. 

The Boston Red Sox announced they hired former Chicago Cubs executive Craig Breslow as their chief baseball operator. Breslow, who pitched for the Red Sox in parts of five seasons, is taking over for Chaim Bloom, who only led Boston to one playoff appearance in his four years at the helm. 

Sean Casey, who was brought in as the Yankees hitting coach midway through the 2023 season, announced on his podcast that he will not return for the 2024 season. When talking about it on “The Mayor’s Office” podcast, Casey mentioned how he probably could have if he wanted to but would not due to family reasons. 

Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News announced that the Rangers will start Nathan Eovaldi in game one of the World Series on Friday night. Eovaldi will be matching up against the Diamondbacks’ Zac Gallen. 

The Atlanta Braves announced that relief pitcher Pierce Johnson signed a two-year agreement, with a club option for 2026. After acquiring him from Colorado in late July, Johnson pitched to a 0.76 ERA in 24 regular season games and made three scoreless appearances in the NLDS. 

Latest on MMO

Following a series of moves this past week, Michael Mayer gave an update on the current state of the Mets 40-man roster.

Andrew Tripaldi documented how the Mets will have some competition in the Craig Counsell sweepstakes. 

Reports have been circulating that the Yankees and Padres have had talks about a Juan Soto trade; Andrew Tripaldi looked into it.

On This Date in Mets History

1998: The Mets sign Mike Piazza to a seven-year deal with a total value of $91 million, which then was the richest contract in the history of baseball. Piazza was an all-star for all but one of the seven following years and led the Mets to their first World Series appearance since winning it all in 1986. 

Birthdays: Dominic Leone (32), Jaime Cerda (45)

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