As a quick refresher, minor league players become eligible at either the fourth Draft after their original signing (if they were 19 or older at the time) or the fifth Draft (if they were 18 or younger). Players on the 40-man roster are exempt, hence the importance of the protection deadline. If a player is selected in the Draft, that player must remain on his new team’s major league roster for the entire season. Otherwise, he returns to his original team. The most recent example of this is when the Mets didn’t protect LHP Nate Lavender in 2024 and the Rays selected him. However, the Rays designated him for assignment at the end of the season, thus returning him to the Mets.

The Mets didn’t protect any players in 2024, and only protected OF Alex Ramírez in 2023. A small group is usually selected, as space on the 40-man roster is coveted and limited.

With that, let’s examine the Rule 5-eligible players the Mets front office will have to consider adding to the 40-man roster before Tuesday’s deadline or risk losing them in the Draft come December.

Nick Morabito. Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

OF Nick Morabito

The likeliest to be added to the 40-man, Nick Morabito, has quickly ascended the ranks of the Mets’ farm system. In just 300 minor league games, he owns a .291/.381/.389 line with 327 hits, 54 doubles, 10 triples, 118 RBIs, 143 walks, 276 strikeouts, and most impressively, 130 stolen bases. A speed demon, he can play all three outfield spots and excels defensively.

The 22-year-old is fresh off a stellar AFL campaign where he hit an absurd .362/.450/.464 across 17 games, stealing 16 bases out of the lead-off spot. While he likely won’t make his MLB debut in 2026, Morabito could be stealing bases in Queens come 2027.

Prediction: Added to 40-man roster

RP Saul García

2025 was García’s best year in the minors, hands down. Between Brooklyn and Binghamton, he posted a 1.70 ERA across 38 games (47.2 IP), striking out 76 and walking 28. He was used primarily to close out games, saving six, but finished 19.Impressively, he allowed only three home runs. Per Baseball America, García joined fellow Mets prospect Jonah Tong and Ryan Lambert as having one of the ten-best performing fastballs in the minors in 2025. García had a 64.9% strikeout rate on the pitch, along with a 39.1% whiff percentage on the fastball. The fastball sits around 95-96 mph but has a spin rate of more than 2500 rpm. For reference, among qualified pitchers, Will Warren led the league in four-seamer average spin rate with 2573 rpm in 2025.

Prediction: 50-50 odds on being added to 40-man roster

C Kevin Parada

Kevin Parada‘s Mets career hasn’t really taken off like many expected. His first couple of seasons were sub-par, culminating in him producing a .214/.304/.359 line with 153 strikeouts in 115 games in 2024. However, he bounced back in 2025, hitting a respectable .254/.326/.429 in 92 games for Binghamton before struggling in his final few games with Syracuse. Once seen as the catcher of the future, it’s hard to find a role for Parada in the organization with Francisco Alvarez (when healthy).

Prediction: Not added.

RP Douglas Orellana 

Orellana had a stellar season for Binghamton, posting a 1.64 ERA in 25 games (33 IP), striking out 46 and walking just 13. While he struggled with command upon a promotion to Syracuse (17 walks and 17 strikeouts in 18.2 innings of work), he profiles as a back-of-the-end bullpen arm who pitches exclusively out of the stretch with a plus slider and a fastball that maxes out at 98 mph. It may be a risky take leaving him up for grabs, but he may fly under the radar.

Prediction: Not added

SP Joel Diaz

Diaz was second in team ERA (3.80) and strikeouts (98) for Brooklyn in 2025 while leading the team in the fewest walks allowed among starters (25). A starter by trade, Diaz appeared in seven games in relief, as well. He finished the season with an elite 2.1 BB/9 rate (leading the team) and an 8.3 K/9 rate. At 21 years old, the Dominican-born product looks to take his success to the next level in 2026.

Prediction: Not added.

2B/OF: D’Andre Smith

D’Andre Smith is coming off his strongest professional campaign (.282/.345/.417) between Binghamton and Brooklyn. Once known as a top power prospect, he’s turned into a pull-happy hitter who predominantly hits the ball on the ground (47.6% GB rate in 2025). His 127 wRC+ is promising of things to come, as is his .336 BABIP. However, he struggled in AFL play, hitting just .185/.353/.296 in eight games with eight strikeouts.

Prediction: Not added.

SP/RP Felipe De La Cruz

MMO’s No. 35 prospect, Felipe De La Cruz, continued to be used as a reliever rather than a starter in 2025. With an eclectic delivery, De La Cruz struggles with command but displays quality stuff, especially in his sinker and fastball. In 18 games with Syracuse, he posted an 11.7 K/9 rate but a 6.2 BB/9 rate, and struggled with command slightly less in Binghamton, compiling a 13.2 K/9 rate and 3.4 BB/9 rate. A strikeout threat when he’s on, the southpaw might find MLB success when he’s able to display better command.

Prediction: Not added.

SP Joander Suarez

At 25 years old, Joander Suarez struggled with command early in his career. Per a 2021 Baseball America scouting report, “his curve and change get swings and misses, but his fastball is the only pitch he can land for strikes.” Suarez has excelled in Binghamton the last two seasons, but struggled upon late-season call-ups. In five games for the Triple-A team, the right-hander has a 10.53 ERA in 19.2 innings pitched with seven home runs allowed.

Prediction: Not added.

C/1B Ronald Hernandez

A switch-hitting catcher acquired in the deal that sent RP David Robertson to the Marlins in 2023, Ronald Hernandez has had an up-and-down Mets career. He hasn’t hit past Single-A (.263/.360/.350 (106 games) line compared to .218/.315/.324 (111 games) in High-A Brooklyn). He doesn’t possess much power (20 home runs in 347 minor league games) but can work the strike zone (.359 lifetime OPS) and is a plus-defender behind the plate. He can play first base too, but at the end of the day, profiles as a backup catcher.

Prediction: Not added.

Other Rule 5 Eligible Players 

• RHP Calvin Ziegler
• RHP Joshua Cornielly
• RHP Jordan Geber
• RHP Trey McLoughlin
• RHP Luis Alvarez
• RHP Cristofer Gomez
• RHP Juan Arnaud
• LHP Gregori Louis
• RHP Dylan Tebrake
• LHP Eli Ankeney
• RHP TJ Shook
• RHP Brian Metoyer
• RHP Layonel Ovalles
• OF/1B Yohairo Cuevas
• OF Matt Rudick
• UT Jefrey De Los Santos
• INF William Lugo
• INF Wyatt Young
• INF JT Schwartz
• C/1B Vincent Perozo

It’ll be a tough choice for the Mets organization to decide who to protect. For the front office, the Rule 5 Draft acts as a check-in point in a player’s development. Are they pleased with their progress? And more importantly, do they believe this player has a future role on their big league roster?

The post Analyzing Mets’ 2025 Rule 5 Decisions appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Let’s begin with a quick summary of the Rule 5 Draft and how it works. The Rule 5 Draft takes place during the Winter Meetings every offseason. It allows players who have accrued five years of service time but have not been added to their organization’s 40-man roster to be selected by other teams.

If a player is selected in the draft, he is immediately added to the selecting team’s 26-man active roster. That player must then spend the entire subsequent season on the major league active roster. If the team wants to remove that player from the active roster, he must be placed on waivers and ultimately offered back to his original team should he clear waivers. If the original team declines the opportunity to re-acquire the player, he remains with his new organization.

Ryan Noda (A’s) and Blake Sabol (Giants) were guys taken in the Rule 5 last year and had productive seasons in the majors with their new teams.

There is also a Triple-A portion of the Rule 5 draft with no roster restrictions. The Mets took infielder Jonathan Araúz in the Triple-A portion last year, and he ended up playing in the big leagues for New York.

The Mets’ current roster is relatively thin regarding pitching, and a few intriguing arms are available in this year’s Rule 5 Draft. The Mets are listed to have the 8th pick, but as of publishing, two teams ahead of them have full 40-man rosters and cannot make a selection. The Mets currently only have 33 players on their 40-man roster and, therefore, have some flexibility with their picks.

Here are the players the Mets could stand to gain (and lose) in this year’s Rule 5 Draft.

A pitcher who appears to be a great fit is Justin Slaten, a right-hander who was a third round pick by the Texas Rangers in 2019. He is 26 years old and has just five career Triple-A appearances, but he has exceptional strikeout numbers (2.87 ERA and 86 strikeouts in 59 2/3 innings in 2023). He is susceptible to the home run ball and has had command issues in the past. However, the current Mets bullpen is far from defined outside of closer Edwin Díaz and Slaten could have a real shot at carving out a role should he be selected.

Another player to keep an eye on is CJ Van Eyk, a right-handed pitcher and former second round pick by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2020. Van Eyk struggled in his first season of professional ball in 2021, missed all of the 2022 season while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, and pitched just 34 1/3 innings in 2023.

Still, he looked solid on the mound across three levels of the minors, and he was even better during the Arizona Fall League, posting a 2.51 ERA across five appearances. The Mets have many question marks both in their rotation and bullpen, and it might make sense to take a flier on a pitcher like Van Eyk, who has showcased elite strikeout stuff in the past.

The player with the Mets recent success that they selected in the Rule 5 Draft was Sean Gilmartin and the 2.67 ERA he posted the following season.

Our own Colby Morris took a deeper look at some of the names available in the draft.

Coleman Crow, Photo by Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Regarding players the Mets might lose during the Rule 5 Draft, right-handed pitcher Coleman Crow appears to be attracting a lot of attention. Crow was acquired from the Los Angeles Angels in the Eduardo Escobar deal, but he underwent Tommy John surgery in August and never actually took the mound following the trade. He was sensational in limited action in 2023, his age-22 season (1.88 ERA and 31 strikeouts in 24 innings), and an organization may select him despite the uncertainty around how much he can contribute during the 2024 season.

Jeremiah Jackson is also eligible to be selected, although he is not nearly as likely to be selected as Crow. Jackson was actually Rule 5-eligible last season while in the Angels organization but was not selected, and he went on to have a strong 2023 campaign. His numbers improved across the board after a midseason trade to the Mets in the Dominic Leone deal, posting a .802 OPS with seven homers and six stolen bases in 37 games with Binghamton.

Jackson also offers great positional flexibility, having played all around the diamond throughout his professional career. However, he will be 24 entering the 2024 season and has not played a game above the Double-A level, so it would be a big gamble for any organization to effectively guarantee him a major league roster spot.

We will have you covered with all the Rule 5 news live from the Winter Meetings by our Editor-in-Chief, Michael Mayer. Stay tuned to see if the Mets add and/or lose any players.

The post 2023 Rule 5 Draft Primer appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Credit: USA Today

The Mets have selected Zach Greene, a right-handed pitcher from the Yankees in the 2022 MLB Rule 5 Draft. Greene pitched in AAA in 2022, and had a 3.42 ERA in 68.1 IP. Greene also compiled 12.64 K/9 for the Scranton/Wilkes Barre RailRiders and allowed hitters to hit only .199 off of him last season. Greene, 26, was an eighth-round draft pick by the Yankees in 2019 out of South Alabama.

Mets have selected RHP Zach Greene in the MLB portion of the Rule 5 Draft.

Greene spent all of last season at AAA with the Yankees posting a 3.42 ERA, 12.64 K/9, 96 Ks and opponents hit just .199 off him.

pic.twitter.com/AD6d0B6OFB

— Mike Mayer (@mikemayer22) December 7, 2022

Was one of the buzzier names this past week to the very limited extent I pay attention to R5 buzz. Slightly oddball arm slot low-90s with a sweeping slider, great pitch characteristics except for the velocity. NYY perpetually develops these types and you can't keep them all obv https://t.co/yIqosv4LAn

— Jarrett Seidler (@jaseidler) December 7, 2022

The Mets did not lose any players in the MLB portion of the Rule 5 draft, including outfielder Jake Mangum, who could be a candidate for a bench role with the team in 2023.

In the minor league portion of the draft, the Mets selected several players, including RHP Wilkin Ramos, INF Jonathan Araúz, OF Agustin Ruiz, and INF Mateo Gil. They also lost one player, RHP Trey Cobb.

The post Mets Select Right-Handed Pitcher Zach Greene in Rule 5 Draft appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Dedniel Nunez, Photo by Ed Delany, MMO

Following a partial one-year hiatus brought on by the 2021 lockout, the Rule 5 Draft returns to the Major League Baseball Winter Meetings next week. There was no major league portion of the draft in 2021, but there was still a minor league draft that saw 51 players get chosen including the Mets taking right-hander pitchers Alex Valverde and Carlos Ocampo and the Mets losing right-hander pitchers Allan Winans and Tommy Wilson.

The draft used to be seen as the annual wrap-up of the Winter Meetings that took place on Thursday, but this year it will be on Wednesday, Dec. 7.

Before we take a look at the available players in the Rule 5 Draft and players the Mets didn’t protect, let’s go through the rules of the draft.

• Teams must have open space on their 40-man roster to make a selection in the Rule 5 Draft. They can make as many selections as they have open spots and the draft order is based on record (unless of course, a team has no open 40 spots). For example, the Mets pick 22nd (assuming all teams in front of them have open 40 spots) in the Rule 5 Draft and could theoretically make up to seven picks.
• The drafting team must pay the player’s original team $100K.
• Player must stay on the 26-man roster for the entirety of the season.
• If the drafting team wants to remove player from the active roster, they are placed on waivers. If not claimed, they are offered back to the original team for $50K. If they clear waivers and the original team doesn’t want them back for that price, they then can be sent to the minors by the team that drafted them.
• A Rule 5 pick can be placed on the major league injured list, but he must be on the active roster for 90 days to avoid the aforementioned roster restrictions during the next season.
• Teams can trade drafted players, and the roster restrictions stay the same.
• The drafting team can also work out a trade with the player’s original team to acquire his full rights, thus allowing them to option him to the minors without roster restrictions.
• Players that need to be added to the 40-man roster to protect from Rule 5 Draft: players signed at 18 or younger who have spent five seasons in the minors or players signed at 19 or older that have spent four seasons in the minors
• There’s also a minor league portion of the Rule 5 Draft that has no roster restrictions for the drafting team, the player assumes his contract when they draft him and that’s the case until they become a free agent. The drafting team pays the player’s old team $25,000. In addition to the 40-man roster, teams submit a list of 38 players they want to protect from the minor league portion of the draft.

Photo by Roberto Carlo

The most recent example of the Mets getting value from the Rule 5 Draft is when they selected right-hander Adam Oller in the minor league portion in 2019. The Mets would later use Oller as a trade chip when they acquired veteran starter Chris Bassitt from the A’s before the 2022 season.

In the last 2020 MLB portion of the Rule 5, we saw a number of players taken that ended up helping the team that drafted them including RHP Garrett Whitlock (Red Sox), Akil Baddoo (Tigers), RHP Tyler Wells (Orioles), and RHP Trevor Stephan (Guardians). That same year, two pitchers were taken in the minor league portion and found big league success since in lefty Zach Jackson (A’s) and righty Seth Martinez (Astros).

There are also examples of players that were available in the Rule 5 Draft that wasn’t taken and then went on to have solid big league careers including 2022 batting champ Jeff McNeil and Dodgers slugger Max Muncy.

Let’s take a look at a few of the names that will likely get drafted next Thursday.

Photo by GWINN DAVIS of GREENVILLE DRIVE

Thad Ward, RHP – Red Sox 

1/16/1997, 6’3”, 192 pounds

One of the higher rated prospects available in the draft according to MLB Pipeline that has him No. 15 in the Red Sox system. The former fifth-round pick pitched to a 2.28 ERA and struck out 66 batters in 51 innings across four levels this season in his return from Tommy John surgery. He finishes the regular season in Double-A Portland where he had a 2.43 ERA and struck out 41 batters in 31 1/3 innings. The right-hander finished his 2022 season off with a 2.84 ERA and 15 strikeouts in 12 1/3 innings in the hitter-friendly Arizona Fall League.

Ward has started all 51 of his appearances in the minor leagues and started three of four in the AFL. He features a deep mix of pitches with four and two-seam fastballs at 91-95 mph, upper-80s cutter, low-80s slider, and a changeup.

Corey Julks, OF – Astros

2/27/96, 6’1”, 185 pounds

The former eighth-round pick blasted 31 home runs in Triple-A for the Astros this season in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. The right-handed hitter slashed .270/.351/.503 with 21 steals, 22 doubles, 89 RBIs, and 128 strikeouts in 130 games. Julks was put on the development list in June of 2021 and during that time he made a swing change that turned him into a power hitter. Prior to that time, Julks had 17 career home runs in 1,084 at-bats and since he has 43 in 725 at-bats.

This home run by Julks reportedly went 486 feet!

The Incredible Julks in Fabulous Las Vegas 🎰 pic.twitter.com/xz3CehheH9

— Sugar Land Space Cowboys (@SLSpaceCowboys) August 24, 2022

Julks has played all three outfield spots as well as second and third base. Here’s the defensive breakdown for the 2022 season: 4 G at 2B, 4 in CF, 16 at DH, 25 in LF, 38 in RF, and 49 at 3B. Better than average speed and an average arm makes him a solid defender in the corner spots and a bit stretched in center. MLB Pipeline currently had Julks ranked as the Astros’ No. 30 prospect.

Erik Miller, LHP – Phillies

2/13/1998, 6’5”, 240 pounds

The former fourth-round pick struck out the only batter he faced in the Futures Game this year. MLB Pipeline has the big lefty currently ranked as the No. 7 prospect in the Phillies farm system. Miller pitched to a 3.54 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, and struck out 62 batters in 48 1/3 innings this season between Double-A and Triple-A. He gave up only 39 hits during that span, though he did issue 31 walks.

Miller has experience as both a starter and a reliever, but finished the 2022 season off with 20 straight appearances out of the bullpen. He would almost certainly be used as a reliever if taken in the Rule 5 Draft to maximize his fastball that sits 92-95 and has been up to 98 mph. His best secondary is a changeup that generates a ton of whiffs and he also uses a tight slider in the upper-80s.

Elvis Alvarado, RHP – Tigers

2/23/1999, 6’4”, 183 pounds

Power, power, and more power are what Elvis brings to the table. He uses two differently shaped fastballs — one a firm four-seamer and a sinker with late life — that are both high-90s and have hit 100 mph. Alvarado also has a power slider in the low-90s. Alvarado switched from outfield to pitching full-time in 2018 when he was a part of the Nationals system. Alvarado was a minor league Rule 5 pick back in 2021.

The 23-year-old had a 2.72 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and struck out 63 batters over 59 1/3 innings between three Tigers affiliates including topping out at Double-A. One of the most impressive things for this young hard thrower that has only been pitching full time for a few years is that he walked only 18 walks (2.7 BB/9) this season and gave up just three home runs.

Alvarado is currently ranked by MLB Pipeline as the No. 26 prospect in the Tigers farm system. He has also thrown seven scoreless innings in the Dominican Winter League this offseason.

Nolan Hoffman, RHP – Orioles

8/9/1997, 6’4”, 190 pounds

Hoffman is the least likely player to get drafted of the group I’m writing about, but he’s a sidearmer and I’m a sucker for pitchers throwing from a different angle. That said, Hoffman struck out a whopping 17 batters in 12 1/3 innings in the hitter-friendly Arizona Fall League this fall and led the league with his 1.5 BB/9.

Nolan Hoffman slow-mo. #Orioles pic.twitter.com/HIezbaNhrk

— Josh Norris 🐻 (@jnorris427) October 11, 2022

Hoffman was the first overall pick in the minor league portion of the 2021 Rule 5 Draft from the Mariners. The former fifth-round pick had a 3.64 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, and allowed only one home run in 27 1/3 regular season inning this year mostly in Double-A.

Other players that could get selected include LHP Jose Lopez (Rays), OF/C Blake Sabol (Pirates), RHP Nic Enright (Guardians), LHP T.J. Sikkema (Royals), INF Logan Davidson (A’s), LHP Antoine Kelly (Rangers), OF Kameron Misner (Rays), OF Ross Adolph (Astros via Mets in J.D. Davis trade), RHP Moises Lugo (Padres), 3B Andres Chaparro (Yankees), 1B Ryan Noda (Dodgers), RHP Jayden Murray (Astros), and OF Dominic Canzone (D-Backs).

Jake Mangum, Photo by Richard Nelson

Could the Mets Lose Someone? 

The Mets decided not to add any of their prospects to the 40-man roster before the Rule 5 protection deadline with some Mets fans being surprised that they left outfield prospect Jake Mangum exposed. Mangum hit well when on the field in 2022 with a .306/.363/.441 slash line between Double-A and Triple-A for the Mets. He missed time with a back injury and will be 27 on Opening Day, and Mangum simply isn’t the typical type of player taken in the Rule 5 because glove-first outfielders with a questionable bat are available via minor league free agency and don’t have to stay on the 40-man roster all season — see Travis Jankowski.

According to MLB Pipeline, the Mets left four of their top 30 prospects unprotected heading into the draft in RHP Junior Santos, RHP Jordany Ventura, OF Stanley Consuegra, and LHP Javier Atencio. The 21-year-old Atencio was my highest-ranked (No. 16) Mets prospect left exposed, but he hasn’t pitched an inning above Low-A. Consuegra is No. 17 on my list, though he has yet to take an at-bat above A-Ball. Another player left the Mets didn’t protect from my top 30 is infielder William Lugo (No. 22), but he’s another player who hasn’t reached Double-A yet.

Typically, players who have reached Double-A are the majority of the draftees in the major league Rule 5 and a majority of those are pitchers. With that in mind, the only Mets prospect I believe has a chance of getting drafted is right-hander Dedniel Nunez. The 26-year-old was actually taken in the Rule 5 back in 2020 by the Giants before needing Tommy John surgery in 2021 and then getting sent back to the Mets before the 2022 season. Núñez moved to the bullpen when he returned to the Mets that saw a velo bump putting him in the high-90s at times.

Could the Mets Draft Someone?

The straightforward answer is yes, the Mets have multiple empty spots on their 40-man roster and that is the only requirement to choose a player in the Rule 5 Draft. Will they? I would guess that they don’t because while the 40-man roster is currently at only 33 (which could certainly change before the draft), the Mets are likely going to sign in the neighborhood of six to nine players this offseason to a major league deal, putting them on the 40. Plus, the Mets are looking to build depth with optionable arms like Stephen Ridings, Elieser Hernandez, William Woods, etc., and you can’t option Rule 5 draftees to the minors without exposing them to waivers.

All in all, I would expect the major league portion of the Rule 5 Draft to be quiet on the Mets front; however, it should be active in general given this will be the first year of the event with 26-man major league rosters.

The post The 2022 Rule 5 Draft Preview appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Jake Mangum, Photo by Richard Nelson

Good morning, Mets fans!

According to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com, the New York Mets did not make any moves to add to the 40-man roster before last night’s deadline, leaving players like Jake Mangum and others, exposed for the upcoming Rule 5 draft. Mangum, who was drafted in the fourth round in the 2019 MLB Draft, only played in72 games this season due to a spinal injury. At age 26, Mangum is considered old for a prospect but his defensive play could interest a few teams looking to shore up outfield depth.

Now onto the morning briefing!

Latest Mets News

New York Mets manager Buck Showalter was named National League Manager of the Year for 2022 and many players took to social media to congratulate him, including shortstop Francisco Lindor and his daughter Kalina, who arguably is Buck’s biggest fan!

Congratulations Buck!

From your biggest fan. 🧡💙 pic.twitter.com/wNf8pMYQOZ

— New York Mets (@Mets) November 16, 2022

Mets pitcher Max Scherzer joined New York Post contributors Jon Heyman and Joel Sherman on their podcast to discuss Jacob deGrom, Brandon Nimmo, the new CBA and why he initially didn’t want to come to New York in the first place.

The Philadelphia Phillies have signed former Mets prospect Shervyen Newton. Newton was once seen as high as fourth on Mets prospect lists.

New York City officials have reached an agreement to build the city’s first pro soccer stadium, a $780 million project for the MLS franchise NYCFC. The location of the stadium will be across the street from the right field foul pole from Citi Field and is slated to be completed by 2027, according to the New York Times. The current plan has the Mets slated to receive parking revenue during soccer games and the development gives Mets owner Steve Cohen a greater chance of obtaining one of three available casino licenses, which will be placed nearby the ballpark.

According to the New York Post, the New York Yankees have shown interest in free-agent centerfielder Brandon Nimmo.

Latest MLB News

Jeff Passan of ESPN reports on the turmoil and staff changes surrounding the World Series champion Houston Astros and their owner, Jim Crane.

Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association have met over minor league bargaining, according to Evan Drelich of The Athletic.

Rawlings Baseball presented Hall Of Famer and member of The Big Red Machine, Tony Perez, with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Jon Morosi of MLB Network mentions that a trade including pitcher Chris Flexen and outfielder Teoscar Hernandez is a possiblilty. Both players are eligible for free agency after this upcoming season. As Flexen signed with Seattle after pitching in Korea, his contract allowed him to become an Article XX(B) free agent prior to 6 years of major league service.

Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports that the Detroit Tigers have added hitting coaches Michael Brdar, Keith Beauregard, James Rowson and assistant pitching coach Robin Lund to their Major League coaching staff.

MLB Player Agent and representative for former major leaguer Yasiel Puig, Lisette Carnet, releases a statement refuting the claims that Puig bet on baseball or was charged with a crime.

The Atlanta Braves selected the contracts of Roddery Muñoz,  Braden Shewmake, and Darius Vines to the major league roster, while designating  Silvino Bracho, Guillermo Heredia and William Woods for assignment.

Robert Murray of FanSided reports that pitcher Nathan Eovaldi has rejected the Boston Red Sox’s qualifying offer of $19.65 million, making him a free agent. Jeff Passan of ESPN notes that pitcher Tyler Anderson and the Los Angeles Angels have agreed to a multi-year deal after also rejecting a qualifying offer of the same amount from the Los Angeles Dodgers. Anderson signs for 3-years and about $39 million.

Mark Feinsand of MLB.com also reports that Giants outfielder Joc Pederson and Texas pitcher Martin Perez accepted their qualifying offers and will remain with their respective clubs for 2023. Pederson and Perez are the only two players who accepted the QO. Feinsand also reports that the Toronto Blue Jays have designated Bradley Zimmer and Raimel Tapia for assignment.

After rejecting a qualifying offer from the New York Yankees, Anthony Rizzo signs a multi-year deal to stay in the Bronx, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. Rizzo’s salary is $17 million a year and an option provided to him also $17 million with a $6million buyout, combining for $4o million guaranteed.

Jon Morosi of MLB Network notes that after Tyler Anderson’s departure to the Angels, Justin Verlander to the Los Angeles Dodgers is a possibility. Verlander does not have a draft pick tied to him unlike other pitchers in the market.

Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports that the Tampa Bay Rays have traded Xavier Edwards and JT Chargois to the Miami Marlins for Santiago Suarez and Marcus Johnson. The Rays have also traded Brett Wisely to the San Francisco Giants, according to Jon Morosi of MLB Network.

Chris Cotillo for MassLive.com tweets that the Boston Red Sox have designated reliever Jake Reed for assignment.

Emily Waldon of Baseball America announces on Twitter that she has beaten cancer.

Latest On MMO

Chris Bello grades Jacob deGrom’s 2022 season in the latest edition of Mets Report Card for 2022.

On the latest episode of MMO Weekly, Mike and Sal welcome back friend of the show Jacob Resnick to talk the Mets disinterest in pitcher Seth Lugo, look at what a potential trade with the Tampa Bay Rays could look like, discuss all the latest reports from free agency, and more!

On This Date in Mets History

1961: Cartoonist Ray Gatto’s design was unveiled to the public as the New York Mets release their logo, which is the New York skyline inside a baseball, with a bridge and the Mets script in front of the design.

Birthdays: Juan Centeno (33), Mark Corey (48), Dwight Gooden (58), Don Hahn (74), Leon Brown (74)

The post Morning Briefing: Mets Leave Mangum Exposed For Rule 5 Draft appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Jake Mangum, Photo by Richard Nelson

Though the primary focus of the Mets’ offseason will be squarely on the big-ticket acquisitions, the moves made on the margins can sometimes prove to be just as important.

The winter baseball calendar lends itself to these transactions, from the non-tender deadline to the Rule 5 Draft. It’s the latter that comes into focus as the date to add eligible players to the 40-man roster to shield them from the Draft is next Tuesday, Nov. 15. The Draft itself will be held at the Winter Meetings on Dec. 7.

First, a quick refresher on the rules. Minor Leaguers become eligible at either the fourth Draft after their original signing (if they were 19 or older at the time) or the fifth Draft (if they were 18 or younger). Players on the 40-man roster are exempt, hence the importance of the protection deadline. If selected, a player must remain on his new team’s Major League roster for the entire upcoming season, or else he’s offered back to his original team.

There is also a Minor League phase of the Draft in which the same group of eligibles are up for selection, minus the 40-man roster and a 38-man Triple-A roster which typically includes any prospect of at least slight relevance. Players picked in this phase aren’t forced to remain on a specific roster and can’t be offered back to their original organization.

An example of how these otherwise small moves can have a significant impact: The Mets selected right-handed pitcher Adam Oller from the Giants in the *Minor League* phase of the 2019 Rule 5 Draft, which was strictly seen as an organizational depth move considering he had been in the independent leagues a few months earlier.

After the 2020 Minor League season was canceled, though, Oller ascended to relevance within the system with a breakout 2021 season, after which the Mets added him to the 40-man roster to protect him from the *Major League* phase of the Rule 5 Draft. Just a few days after that offseason’s lockout was lifted, Oller was one of two players traded to Oakland for Chris Bassitt, whose impact on the 2022 Mets was obviously significant.

With that, let’s examine the eligible players that the Mets will have to consider before Tuesday’s deadline.

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

ALREADY ADDED TO THE 40-MAN ROSTER

Francisco Álvarez, C
Brett Baty, 3B
Bryce Montes de Oca, RP

After protecting Mark Vientos and Ronny Mauricio last offseason, this cycle was shaping up to be another notable one for the Mets with Álvarez and Baty becoming eligible. The decision (not that there was ever going to be one) was made ahead of time, as both players made their MLB debuts in the second half this year.

Montes de Oca, who missed the first three years of his professional career with injuries and then struggled with walks, proved to be too dominant at Triple-A to be anything other than a lock to be added. That suspicion was confirmed when he was called up to the Majors in September.

STRONG CHANCE TO BE ADDED

Jake Mangum, CF

Since the Mets already added their blue chip prospects to the 40-man roster during the season, there aren’t any other firm locks, though Mangum is as close as they get. This wasn’t trending positively at the beginning of the season — when, at 26 years old, he was sent to repeat Double-A — and still isn’t clear now — he isn’t listed among the organization’s top 30 prospects at any major outlet and will be 27 on Opening Day next year.

But Mangum is certainly forcing the issue. After returning from a back injury, he finished the year with a 22-game stretch at Triple-A in which he hit .333 with an .856 OPS and continued playing the stellar defense that has become routine throughout his time in the organization.

Mangum is very much the type of player that becomes valuable when left exposed in the Rule 5 Draft. It’s easy to picture his strong glove, speed and contact-first hitting approach being attractive to a rebuilding team like Oakland or Miami. And at his age, it’s essentially now or never.

If Mangum does get added to the 40-man roster, don’t confuse it with an appointment to be Brandon Nimmo’s replacement. The best-case scenario is having useful Triple-A depth, something that has escaped Mets front offices in recent years.

Photo by Ed Delany

WILL WARRANT CONSIDERATION

William Lugo, 3B
Stanley Consuegra, OF
Javier Atencio, LHP
Dedniel Núñez, RHP

The 20-year-old Lugo quietly had one of the most impressive seasons among Mets Minor League hitters in 2022, setting up an interesting decision regarding his Rule 5 status. Originally signed for $475,000 in 2018 using international bonus money from the Jeurys Familia trade earlier that summer, Lugo hit 14 home runs and posted a 121 wRC+ between St. Lucie and Brooklyn.

Would the Mets protect a player that hasn’t even reached Double-A? That’s a question they’ll also have to answer with Consuegra — a toolsy outfielder currently playing in the Arizona Fall League after an up-and-down regular season that finished in Brooklyn — and Atencio, a southpaw who put up strong numbers as a 20-year-old in St. Lucie.

At 26, Núñez is closer to Mangum on the age spectrum of Mets eligibles. The right-hander was actually selected in the 2020 Rule 5 Draft by the Giants but spent the entire 2021 season on the IL after needing Tommy John surgery and was ultimately returned last November. Núñez spent most of the year at Double-A Binghamton and struck out 32 percent of batters with a fastball that had returned to the upper 90s. It’s not difficult to envision him contributing to a Major League bullpen in 2023.

Carlos Cortes, Photo by Ed Delany

NOTABLES WHO WON’T BE ADDED (FIRST-TIMERS*)

Jeffrey Colón, RHP*
Carlos Cortes, LF
Brendan Hardy, RHP*
Nick Meyer, C
Luis Moreno, RHP*
Jaylen Palmer, CF*
Jose Peroza, 3B
Luke Ritter, 2B*
Junior Santos, RHP*
Hayden Senger, C
Jordany Ventura, RHP*
Josh Walker, LHP

More than anything, a player reaching Rule 5 eligibility is a sort of checkpoint for assessing where he is along the development track. Since Minor Leaguers can become free agents after their seventh pro season, reaching Rule 5 essentially starts a countdown to determining whether that player has a Major League future or not.

It’s going to be difficult for players like Cortes, Palmer, Santos and Senger — once among the top 15-20 prospects in the organization — to regain that status without incredible performances between now and their free agency date after the 2024 season.

The Mets aren’t short on open 40-man roster spots and they aren’t overflowing with potential adds, so there likely won’t be any bombshells this cycle. Mangum is looking more and more likely to be in line for a nod and there’s a possibility we’ll see another from the second group as well.

The post Examining Mets Rule 5 Decisions Ahead of Protection Deadline appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Good morning, Mets fans!

Billy Eppler was introduced as the 16th general manager in Mets history Friday, in a press conference with owner Steve Cohen and president Sandy Alderson. The three made it clear that the Mets intend to spend big this Winter. Cohen said that Alderson and Eppler will be given “whatever they need,” with regards to resources this winter.

Patrick Glynn of MMO wrote on how the Mets intend to “swing big” this offseason, further displaying Cohen’s desire to win now. Glynn also noted how Eppler mentioned that he was receiving messages from agents almost immediately after being officially announced as the next GM.

Nate Mendelson of MMO also wrote an article on the introduction, noting the five biggest takeaways from the press conference. At the top of the list was how detailed the Mets vetting process was, and how Eppler was the only person to receive an offer for the job.

Latest Mets News

Buster Olney of ESPN wrote on the advice other executives offered Billy Eppler upon his new position with the Mets.

The Mets added Mark Vientos, Ronny Mauricio, Adam Oller, and Jose Butto to the 40-man roster to protect them from the Rule 5 Draft.

Ariel Cohen of FanGraphs released another episode of the Beat the Shift podcast with Mets reliever Trevor May.

Sam Blum of The Athletic reported that Noah Syndergaard received a few multi-year offers that had less AAV than the qualifying offer. He chose instead to go for one year and more money, taking a gamble on himself to earn that big contract next winter.

The Giants announced that they were returning Rule 5 selection Dedniel Núñez back to the Mets.

Latest MLB News

Cleveland officially becomes the Guardians, as the team released a video on Twitter announcing the change taking place on Friday.

Bill Shea of The Athletic wrote on all the hurdles it took for Cleveland to rename their franchise to the Guardians.

MLB announced that the Royals received the 2021 Allan H. Selig Award for Philanthropic Excellence.

The Royals also released images of new uniforms for the 2022 season, that feature all-new road uniforms.

Hannah Keyser of Yahoo Sports clarified some of the confusion regarding dates and the potential MLB lockout.

Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported that the Rangers have extended manager Chris Woodward through 2023, with a club option for 2024.

Dan Hayes of The Athletic reported that the Twins DFA’d Charlie Barnes and Willians Astudillo to clear 40-man roster space.

Jeff Passan of ESPN reported the Rays traded pitcher Brent Honeywell to the Athletics.

The Yankees announced a trade with the Phillies, in which they acquired minor leaguers T.J. Rumfield and Joel Valdez from the in exchange for Nick Nelson and Donny Sands.

The Yankees also announced that they designated Clint Frazier, Rougned Odor and Tyler Wade for assignment to clear 40-man roster space.

The Phillies announced a trade with the Astros where they acquired catcher Garrett Stubbs from the in exchange for outfielder Logan Cerny.

Blake Harris of True Blue LA announced that the Dodgers have designated Billy McKinney and Zach Reks for assignment.

Latest on MMO

Nate Mendelson wrote on five things to know about new Mets general manager Billy Eppler.

Michael Mayer provided the latest on Mets players in offseason leagues, highlighted by Ronny Mauricio two-double game.

Matt Musico wrote a free agent profile on 2020 NL MVP Freddie Freeman.

On This Date in Mets History

Birthdays: Amed Rosario (26)

1967: Tom Seaver wins the Rookie of the Year award. In 251 innings, Seaver pitched to a 2.76 ERA. He tossed 18 complete games, two of which were shutouts, and struckout 170 batters. Little did Mets fans know, but this season was just the beginning of a career that would make Seaver the best player in Mets history.

1984: Dwight Gooden wins the Rookie of the Year award. Most believed that Doc was going to be the next Tom Seaver for the Mets. Gooden’s rookie season saw him make 31 starts, pitching to a 2.60 ERA and a MLB-best 1.073 WHIP. His season was so good, that he finished second in the Cy Young voting.

Let’s go Mets!

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The New York Mets chose not to add any of their minor leaguers to the 40-man roster ahead of Friday’s 5 PM EST deadline, leaving a handful of notable names unprotected heading into next month’s Rule 5 Draft.

Per MLB’s Rule 5 Draft glossary entry:

“[…] The Rule 5 Draft allows clubs without a full 40-man roster to select certain non-40-man roster players from other clubs. Clubs draft in reverse order of the standings from the previous season. Players signed at age 18 or younger need to be added to their club’s 40-Man roster within five seasons or they become eligible for the Rule 5 Draft. Players who signed at age 19 or older need to be protected within four seasons.

As Jacob Resnick outlined on Friday for Mets Minors, without any of their upper-echelon talent meeting the threshold to require Rule 5 protection, the Mets were expected to remain quiet at the deadline — and they did.

There are a few notable names available for the taking if other teams are so inclined, including former top prospect Shervyen Newton (also left unprotected in 2019), third baseman Will Toffey (acquired in the trade that sent Jeurys Familia to Oakland in 2018), right-hander Tony Dibrell, and shortstop Wilmer Reyes, who shone at Mets instructional camp earlier this year.

Another player who was left unprotected and will be Rule 5-eligible for the first time is outfielder Tim Tebow.

Per Resnick, the Mets also submitted a 38-man Triple-A reserve list on Friday, leaving Wilfred Astudillo, Cody Bohanek (acquired with J.D. Davis via Houston in 2018), and 36 other players unprotected, “meaning they can be taken in the minor league phase [of the Rule 5 draft]” for a $24,000 fee (as opposed to the $100,000 MLB fee) and without the “right to re-claim if selected”.

We’ll keep you posted with new developments as the Dec. 10 Rule 5 Draft approaches.

The post Mets Remain Quiet at Rule 5 Draft Deadline appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Ryder Ryan/Photo

The New York Mets did the obvious and added Andres Gimenez and Thomas Szapucki to the 40 man roster to protect them from the Rule 5 Draft. With the team potentially losing Tomas Nido as they investigate backup catching options, they secured their catching depth by adding Ali Sanchez. Finally, they arguably protected their best-exposed starter in Jordan Humphreys.

Even with the Mets protecting these players, the organization is at real risk of losing some players in the Rule 5 Draft. Baseball America believes the Mets risk losing Patrick Mazeika and Shervyen Newton. Sam Dykstra of MLB Pipeline added that he sees Newton as a name that sticks out. Digging deeper, the Mets appear to be in danger of losing at least one player and possibly more. Here is a look at players the Mets may well lose in the order of likelihood of it happening:

1. Ryder Ryan, RP

Level: Binghamton
Stats: 3-1, 3.05 ERA, 25 G, 2 GS, 44.1 IP, 1.263 WHIP, 4.7 BB/9, 8.1 K/9

Ryan was the Mets’ return from the Jay Bruce trade with the Indians in 2017. He has a mid 90s fastball which can hit as high as 97 MPH, and he has a good slider. The two pitches can produce swings and misses, and when batters make contact, they hit the ball into the ground.

Ryan’s big issue has been control. That is partially due to his being a converted pitcher and also partially to his movement being difficult for him to harness. He made significant progress on that front in 2018 only to completely regress last year. If a team believes they can harness that, they will assuredly draft him.

2. Matt Blackham, RP

Level: Binghamton & Syracuse
Stats: 8-2, 2.60 ERA, 40 G, 55.1 IP, 1.066 WHIP, 4.6 BB/9, 11.4 K/9

In some ways, Blackham is very much like Ryan in that he is a reliever who can post high strikeout numbers, but he really struggles with control. However, whereas Ryan profiles as a future Major League reliever with his being 6’2″ and his ability to throw it in the high 90s, Blackham is only 5’11” and throws it in the low 90s.

Even with his throwing it in the low 90s, he generates a lot of strikeouts. In fact, he struck out 13.4 batters per nine in Binghamton. However, it should be noted, that number dropped to 6.3 in 12 appearances for Syracuse. Still, with the movement he has on his fastball coupled with good breaking pitches, it’s very possible he is a pitcher who makes it to the Majors in 2020. Right now, the question is what uniform he will be wearing.

Shervyen Newton, Ed Delany/MMO.

3. Shervyen Newton, INF

Level: Columbia
Stats: .209/.283/.330, 15 2B, 2 3B, 9 HR, 32 RBI, SB, 4 CS

With a good 2019 season, Newton might’ve forced the Mets’ hands. However, Newton had an injury-plagued season and struggled mightily with his somewhat troubling strikeout rate getting even worse. Still, looking through it, Newton is a very promising prospect with power, athleticism, good instincts, and he is a born leader.

In a normal year, Newton would almost be guaranteed to go undrafted. However, with Major League Baseball adding an additional roster spot, teams may opt to use that spot to stow a promising prospect like Newton. That goes double for American League teams who may not need to go so deep into the bench for a game. More than one person has surmised the Tigers could very well take this gamble.

On that front, Baseball America says Newton “has a major league body and plus-plus raw power” making him an “intriguing” candidate for a team with no chances of winning in 2020.

4. Patrick Mazeika, C

Level: Binghamton
Stats: .245/.312/.426, 25 2B, 3B, 16 HR, 69 RBI, SB

On the subject of the 26th man, it will be interesting to see how teams use it in 2020. Some may use it to stash a Rule 5 prospect, and some may use it to carry an extra reliever or a catcher. If they are so inclined to carry an extra catcher, Mazeika is an interesting candidate.

Baseball America notes Mazeika is an adequate defensive catcher with a good bat. While his stats in Binghamton don’t necessarily prove that, especially with him repeating the level, he did have a 118 wRC+with an above-average .182 ISO.

While there have been knocks on his catching ability, he has made significant strides. His framing has been overlooked, and he does his part controlling the running game. With Baseball America noting there aren’t many catchers available in the draft, it is possible a team needing a backup will select him.

5. Harol Gonzalez, RHP

Level: Binghamton & St. Lucie
Stats: 12-4, 3.01 ERA, 25 G, 23 GS, 137.2 IP, 1.082 WHIP, 2.2 BB/9, 7.3 K/9

The best way to describe Gonzalez is he is a pitcher who knows how to pitch. He is a strike thrower and a four-pitch pitcher without one outstanding pitch who thrives by mixing and matching each.

As the competition has improved through the minors, Gonzalez’s strikeout numbers have dipped, and yet he continues to be an effective pitcher. You could argue he has a future in the Majors as a long reliever or spot starter.

His absolute ceiling could be a fifth starter, but it is very questionable if he reaches that. Still, there is always room for a pitcher who knows how to pitch and can get outs. It will be interesting to see if some team finds that worthy of a Rule 5 pick.

The post Five Mets Prospects At Risk in Rule 5 Draft appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

The 2018 Rule 5 Draft wraps up the Major League Baseball Winter Meetings on December 13 and there’s a number of interesting players available this year including numerous former first rounders.

Before we look at which players the Mets should target in the draft let’s go over the rules of the entire process.

The current rules require teams to “protect” players from the draft by placing them on the major league reserve list (more commonly known as the 40-man roster) after either four (if the player was 18 or younger on the June 5 immediately preceding the date he signed his first contract) or three (if the player was 19 or older) Rule 5 drafts have passed since the player signed his first minor league contract.

The deadline this year to add players to the 40-man roster was November 20, and the Mets decided not to add any additional players to protect them from next Thursday’s draft. Jacob Resnick of MMO/MMN took a look at the Mets prospect eligible to be taken including Luis Carpio, Matt Blackham, Ali Sanchez and Patrick Mazeika. The believe is that none of the Mets players will be taken in the major league portion.

To draft a player on Thursday, said team must have an open 40-man roster spot. The Mets currently have 36 players on the 40-man roster meaning they could take four players in the Rule 5 if they so choose to.

If a player is selected in the major league phase, the drafting team must pay the player’s original team a $100,000 fee. The player must then remain on his new team’s active (25-man) roster for the entirety of the upcoming season, or else he gets offered back to his original team for a $50,000 fee. A team can also use their high draft position to take a player then sell him to another team, like the Mets did last year with Burch Smith.

Teams may choose a player or pass on their selection, and teams that do make a pick will be offered another choice in the second round. This continues until all teams have passed on a selection.

Notable recent Rule 5 picks include Delino DeShields Jr., Odubel Herrera, Tommy Kahnle and Hector Rondon. There were 18 players drafted in the major league phase last year, with four of them finishing the season with the team that drafted them.

Following the major league phase is the minor league phase which has different rules for holding onto the drafted player. Players eligible for selection in this round are those who were left off of the major league reserve list and the organization’s Triple-A reserve list (which has a limit of 38). Note that players placed on the Triple-A reserve list are not necessarily Triple-A players. These players incur a $24,000 fee and are not returned for any reason.

The Mets lost left-handed pitcher Jose Carlos Medina and selected infielder Andrew Ely last year in the minor league phase. Resnick, again has you covered with Mets minor leaguers eligible to be taken in the minor league phase.

Draft order is determined the same as First Year Player draft, the reverse order of the prevous year’s standing. This means that the Mets will have the 12th pick. however,  could pick earlier if one of the 11 teams ahead of them have a full 40-man roster.

The Mets last draft pick that stayed was Sean Gilmartin in 2014, and he proved valuable to the 2015 playoff team with a 2.67 ERA over 57.1 innings.

Now let’s take a look at players the Mets should a look at with the 11th pick. The Mets could also be active in the minor league portion with a few spots left open.

Raynel Espinal (RHP) Of the 93 pitchers in the Triple-A International League last year, the 27-year-old’s 12.76 K/9 ranked second. He also limited hitters to a .217 average, tied for the 9th lowest in the league. His 2.80 FIP ranked third in the league. The Yankees farmhand had a ridiculous 95 strikeout to 26 walk ratio in 67 innings last year. Espinal has a fastball in the low-to-mid 90s with a swing-and-miss slider.

Richie Martin (SS/2B) – It’s highly unlikely that the former first round pick of the Athletics is around when the Mets pick, but if not he would provide them needed infield depth. Both Baseball America and MLB Pipeline have Martin as a player likely taken given his defensively ability to stay at short and success at the plate in 2018 at Double-A (.300/.368/.439). The right-handed hitting Martin has a little bit of speed too, stealing 25 bases last season and double digits the last three seasons. MLB Pipeline has the 23-year-old ranked as the A’s No. 12 prospect.

Riley Ferrell (RHP) – The first thing you notice looking at Ferrell’s numbers is likely the 11.7 K.9, then you see it also comes with 5.9 BB/9 last year in Triple-A.  The former third round pick of the Astros has a big arm thought the control issues are obvious. The 25-year-old compliments the mid-to-high 90’s fastball with a swing-and-miss slider. BA again has Ferrell as one of the top prospect in the draft.

Marcus Wilson (OF) – The 69th overall pick from the 2014 draft has 50 grades almost completely across the board (60 run is only outlier) from MLB Pipeline. The numbers weren’t there for the 22-year-old last season when he slashed .235/.309/.369 with 26 doubles, 10 homers and 16 stolen bases last year in High-A. The right-handed hitter had a much better 2017 when he posted a .829 OPS in 2017. He can play all three outfield positions though he likely has the skills to stay in center long-term. He’s currently ranked at the Diamondbacks No. 7 prospect according to Pipeline.

Forrest Wall (2B/OF) – The former top 100 prospect and first round pick of the Rockies was traded last season to the Blue Jays for Seunghwan Oh. The recently turned 23-year-old hit .263/.343/.402 with 24 doubles, eight triples, 10 home runs and 38 stolen bases between Advanced-A and Double-A in 2018. He has versaility (has played second, right and center field) and speed (29 triples/108 stolen bases in 414 games), two things the Mets bench could use. The left-handed hitter is ranked No. 25 in a stacked Blue Jays farm system.

Trevor Megill (RHP) – The 25-year-old is coming off a solid season, he posted a 3.35 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 7.4 H/9, 10 K/9 amd only 1.9 BB/9 in 37.2 innings last season between rookie ball, advanced-A and Double-A. He has 129 strikeouts compared to only 26 walks in 96.1 career innings. The 6’8” former 7th round pick of the Padres is also the brother of Mets’ 2018 8th rounder Tylor Megill. Trevor has a low 90’s fastball that he combines with 11-5 curve that flashes as an above average pitch.

The Mets certainly need depth on the bench and in the bullpen, two areas they are likely to address before spring training. Also, two of the easier spots to get a look at a Rule 5 player.

Other names to watch include RHP Art Warren, LHP Tyler Jay, LHP Tyler Alexander, UT Ray-Patrick Didder, 1B Josh Ockimey, UT Max Schrock, RHP Junior Fernandez, LHP Luis Gonzalez and 2B Kean Wong.

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