After months of speculation and weeks of negotiating, the New York Yankees finally completed the trade to acquire star outfielder Juan Soto from the San Diego Padres. Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported last night that the trade was finally official as the Yankees will be adding their second and third outfielders of the off-season. Along with acquiring Juan Soto, they will also be getting Trent Grisham and in return will be sending San Diego relief pitcher Michael King, catcher Kyle Higashioka, and a slew of prospects. The Yankees have now added Alex Verdugo, Trent Grisham, and Juan Soto to their outfield to pair with former AL MVP Aaron Judge. 

For the rest of the trade details check out our article on the trade here!

Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports

Latest Mets News

Mets owner Steve Cohen met with Mets free-agent target Yoshinobu Yamamoto, per Will Sammon of The Athletic. Andy Martino of SNY gave an update to that report, noting that Stearns was also apart of this meeting as they met Yamamoto and his family. Click here for more information on their meeting!

Pete Alonso‘ agent Scott Boras spoke with the media yesterday and said “I spoke to David, we told him we’re all ears.” in regards to contract extension negotiations between the Mets and their star slugger. You can read more about Boras’ words on Alonso here!

Mark Vientos posted a video of him and Francisco Lindor working on their defense on his instagram page. 

The Mets acquired left-handed pitcher Ryan Ammons from the Texas Rangers following the Rule 5 draft on Wednesday. For all the Mets moves during the Rule 5 draft click here!

Latest MLB News

Former Tigers left-handed pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez and the Arizona Diamondbacks agreed to a four-year, $80 million deal, per Jeff Passan of ESPN. For more details on the deal, click here!

Jon Morosi of MLB Network came out with a new report on Wednesday that Shohei Ohtani is expected to decide on his free-agent destination before the end of the weekend.

The New York Yankees are going to be meeting with star Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto in the United States on Monday, per Jon Morosi of MLB Network.

The Cincinnati Reds and third-baseman Jeimer Candelario agreed to a deal pending a physical, per Mark Feinsand of MLB Network.

Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register gave an update to the Dodgers meeting with Shohei Ohtani, saying that the meeting was Friday afternoon at Dodgers Stadium. All stadium tours were postposed or cancelled and the team store was closed so there would be no accidental sightings. 

The St. Louis Cardinals announced that they are bringing back Yadier Molina as the Special Assistant to the President of Baseball Operations. 

The National Baseball Hall of Fame announced that broadcaster Joe Castiglione has won the 2024 Ford C. Crick. Mets TV play-by-play announcer Gary Cohen was also up for the award but fell short for the second year in a row. 

The New York Yankees signed right-handed pitcher Dennis Santana to a minor-league deal with an invite to spring training and is expected to compete for a spot in their bullpen, per Jessica Kleinschmidt of The Comeback. 

Former Phillies closer and member of the 400-save club Craig Kimbrel agreed to a one-year, $13 million deal with the Baltimore Orioles, per Joel Sherman of the New York Post. The deal also contains an option for the 2025 season. 

Isaac Azout of Fish on First reported that the Marlins plan on experimenting with relief pitcher A.J. Puk as a starter in Spring Training. 

The Atlanta Braves and outfielder Leury García agreed to a minor-league contract with an invite to spring training, per Robert Murray of FanSided.

Right-handed relief pitcher Adam Cimber agreed to a one-year, $1.65 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels, per Jeff Passan of ESPN. Cimber was formerly non-tendered by the Blue Jays and is one of three bullpen signings the Angels have made in the past couple of days. 

Bryce Harper is hoping to discuss an extension with the Philadelphia Phillies on a deal that would make him a Phillie for the rest of his career, per Scott Lauber of the Philly Inquirer. 

Latest on MMO

Read about Mets rookie Ronny Mauricio‘s hot start in the winter league!

Check in on all the Mets happenings in Wednesday’s rule 5 draft. 

On This Date in Mets History

2011: Tim McCarver wins the Ford Frick Award for broadcasting excellence, he is one of four Mets broadcasters to win the award.

Birthdays: Pete Alonso (29), Mike Baxter (39)

The post Morning Briefing: Juan Soto Joins Judge, Verdugo In The Bronx appeared first on Metsmerized.

Tim McCarver, a major-league catcher for 21 seasons and a Hall of Fame broadcaster who called Mets games for 16 years, has passed away at the age of 81.

McCarver was known nationally as the analyst for a record 24 World Series and 22 All-Star Games and received the Ford C. Frick Award in 2012.

He joined the Mets broadcast team in 1983 after a playing career that lasted over two decades with four different clubs. McCarver provided television play-by-play and analysis, paired with many including fellow Hall of Famer Ralph Kiner, and was there for the rise and success of the organization over the rest of the 1980s.

The Mets released the following statement on McCarver’s passing. “We are saddened to learn of the passing today of Tim McCarver, who for 16 years in the television booth gave Mets fans an insightful, humorous and knowledgeable behind the scenes look into the game of baseball.

Tim drew on his 21-year career as a catcher to give viewers a unique opinion on what went on between the lines. We send our condolences to his daughters, Kathy and Kelley, and the rest of the McCarver family.”

In 1985, McCarver called the first of many World Series for ABC. He would later do the same for CBS and FOX where he established himself as one of the most influential voices in the sport.

His network presence allowed McCarver to be on-hand and on the mic for several Mets postseason moments: the 1986 National League Championship Series against Houston, the 1988 NLCS loss to Los Angeles, Benny Agbayani‘s game-winning homer in the 2000 National League Division Series, later that year’s NLCS triumph against the Cardinals and the World Series defeat to the Yankees, and the 2006 NLCS loss against St. Louis.

The last of McCarver’s 21 All-Star Games was held at Citi Field in 2013. He stepped away from the FOX booth at the conclusion of that season.

Before McCarver spoke on his many World Series, he played in two — as a member of the 1964 and 1967 St. Louis Cardinals. The durable catcher was twice an All-Star selection, remarkably had a league-leading 13 triples in 1966, and was NL MVP runner-up in ’67. He also played for the Phillies, Expos, and Red Sox before retiring in 1980 as one of a handful to be major leaguer in four different decades.

Thoughts from Joe D

This one really hurts… Before Gary Cohen came along, Tim McCarver was my favorite Mets announcer. He not only entertained us with his myriad of colorful tales from his time as a player, but he taught me everything about the rules and strategies of the game. His pleasant southern charm came through in his voice and his knowledge of the game was unbound. I grew up with Tim and in many ways, he steered me into a lifelong appreciation of the game and of course the Mets. I’m going to miss him. Rest in peace, Tim.

The post Former Mets Broadcaster Tim McCarver Passes Away appeared first on Metsmerized.

The Mets and manager Davey Johnson eased the 19-year-old Gooden into the spotlight by having his initial entrance come in a rather subdued environment like the Astrodome. The WOR-TV broadcast acknowledged the importance of this occasion, even interviewing his parents (who were in attendance) as part of the pre-game. Still, nobody could anticipate what was to come that year (or next).

Here are some highlights to look for:

• Enjoy the instrumental version of the ’80s “Meet the Mets” beginning at 1:13.
• The Astros’ “Tequila Sunrise” uniforms…need I say more?
• Also, the Mets’ 1983-84 blue alternates.
• Doc’s initial inning goes very smoothly, getting a pair of groundouts to second base followed by a strikeout of Dickie Thon.
• The Mets offense offers up some run support in the top of the second, courtesy of the franchise’s other phenom — Darryl Strawberry. Still less than a year into his major league career, Straw takes a Bob Knepper pitch to the deepest part of the ballpark at the 19:21 mark.
• Gooden encounters his biggest trouble in the fifth. A one-out single is later followed with a two-out walk and base hit, which plates the first (and only) Houston run. Doc prevents further damage, ending his debut at 1:19:19 on a deep fly ball by Terry Puhl into the glove of Mookie Wilson in center field.
• Gooden’s final line on the evening: five innings, one run, three hits, two walks, and five K’s.
• After relievers Dick Tidrow and Doug Sisk work one inning apiece, Jesse Orosco goes two innings to preserve Gooden’s victory (at 2:36:18) some two-and-a-half years before the biggest (and most exhausting) appearance of his career on the very same mound.

For added context, read about how Gooden almost never made it inside the Astrodome.

The post Mets Video Vault: Doc’s Debut vs. Astros appeared first on Metsmerized.