The Mets revealed their promo schedule for the second half of the season, including giveaways and theme nights. Among the giveaways are Freddy Peralta and Bo Bichette bobbleheads and a Carlos Beltrán replica jersey. Click here to see which dates are on the Mets’ promo schedule.

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Latest Mets News

The Mets (15-23) defeated the Diamondbacks (17-20) 3-1 in their series opener Friday night. There wasn’t much offense, as the teams entered extra innings tied at one, but the Mets broke it open in the 10th with RBI doubles from Mark Vientos and Carson Benge.

The Mets will play the Diamondbacks again at 8:15 p.m. ET Saturday. Clay Holmes (4-2, 1.69 ERA) will take the mound against Merrill Kelly (1-3, 9.95 ERA).

670 The Score‘s Bruce Levine initially reported on Friday that the Cubs have talked to the Mets about a potential trade for Freddy Peralta. Levine later backed up from his original report, stating the Cubs have not actually talked to the Mets but are interested in acquiring starting pitching.

Mets Triple-A hitting coach Nate Irving brought up Elly De La Cruz, who he worked with in Cincinnati, when talking about prospects A.J. Ewing and Nick Morabito, and their ability to do damage in different ways.

The Mets signed lefty pitcher Max Green, who was named co-starter of the year in the Atlantic League (independent ball).

Latest MLB News

The Diamondbacks called up their top prospect, Ryan Waldschmidt, while designating Alek Thomas for assignment. Waldschmidt appeared in Friday’s game against the Mets as a pinch hitter and recorded a hit in his first big league plate appearance. Thomas, a good defensive center fielder, has just a .563 OPS this year.

The Dodgers placed starter Tyler Glasnow on the injured list and recalled former Mets pitching prospect Paul Gervase.

The Angels placed former Met Travis d’Arnaud on the injured list with foot plantar fasciitis.

The Tigers signed reliever Carl Edwards Jr. to a minor league deal. Edwards spent the beginning of the season in the Mets organization and was briefly with the big league team.

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Kai Chang breaks down the latest strong performance from Christian Scott.

On This Date in Mets History

Born on This Date: Aaron Harang (1978), Jerry Buchek (1942).

The post Morning Briefing: Mets Reveal Second Half Promo Schedule appeared first on Metsmerized.

Jonah Tong. Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

Tong’s baseball career started with playing in Canada, where he was born and raised in Markham, Ontario. After graduating high school, Tong traveled to Arizona with other Canadians for an amateur baseball Pro Tour in 2022, where he got to play against professional players while facing competition from top-level Arizona JUCO colleges. From there, Tong got the invite to play at the Georgia Premier Academy in April and May, and later the MLB Draft League.

With a commitment to North Dakota State University, Tong ultimately altered that plan, as he was selected by the New York Mets in the seventh round of the 2022 MLB Draft and signed for the full slot value at $226,000.

After being limited to 21 innings in 2023, Tong got off to a fast start in 2024. In his first five appearances, Tong struck out 43 batters while allowing just two unearned runs—none earned!—over 23.2 innings. Over three levels in ’24, Tong tossed 113 innings with a 3.03 ERA. Among 313 minor league pitchers with a minimum of 100 innings pitched, Tong posted the sixth-highest strikeout rate (34.2 percent) and second-lowest fielding independent pitching (2.33).

Following the ’24 season, Tong went home to Canada for a bit but arrived back in Port St. Lucie in mid-January for a preseason camp. Noting the limited places to throw in Canada, Tong has enjoyed the ability to get his work in without weather limitations.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Tong in February, where he discussed his arsenal, studying major league pitchers and the mental side of the game.

MMO: Who were some of your favorite players growing up?

Tong: My favorite player used to be Brett Cecil. An odd one for a lot of people. I remember I went with my rookie travel ball team to this meet-and-greet with the Blue Jays. We got to take pictures with some of the players and went to the game. He was the first person I saw and was like, Wow! That’s a big-league pitcher right there.

Jacob deGrom was up there, and Tim Lincecum became a huge influence, as most people know.

Credit: USA TODAY

MMO: Who introduced you to the game?

Tong: I always tell this funny story about how I woke up one day, and I was trying to find some sports place. I was going through the newspaper, and I saw this local T-Ball organization. I asked my parents if I could join, and their faces lit up. They said absolutely because they both have softball backgrounds. So, technically me, I guess, but my parents heavily influenced my career.

MMO: At what point during your development did you start to concentrate on pitching?

Tong: Since I knew I couldn’t hit! [Laughs.] My dad and I would get into some mini-arguments about me hitting because my dad always wanted me to be a two-way player in college and conquer the international scene. I said, ‘Dad, that’s just not happening.’

My middle sister played soccer and did gymnastics back home at the highest level you could for the longest time, and I was like, Okay, she’s not going to the Olympics for both of those.

He always wanted me to hit and have as many options as possible. When I was 16, I went on this fall tournament. I got caught stealing three times, and I tagged up on a ball that didn’t leave the infield. My coach looked at me and said, “Maybe we should do pitching.” My dad wasn’t fully sold, but that’s the story. [Laughs.]

MMO: That ended up being a good decision in the long run though.

Tong: I think so. Funny enough, my grandpa—out of nowhere this past season—came up to me and said, “Jonah, I think you should start hitting.” I said, ‘I don’t think that’s how it works.’ He said, “I think you could. Look at [Shohei] Ohtani!” And I went, ‘Yeah, okay, I think I’m good.’ [Laughs.]

If you need a bunt, I can do that. That’s pretty much it.

MMO: I found your path into professional baseball so interesting. For those who don’t know, can you talk about your journey from Canada to the States to eventually getting drafted by the Mets in 2022?

Tong: In the ’21 offseason, I started to work through everything. I just got into college, and then in January, I got invited to Arizona for this travel ball team from Canada. I went down and played a bunch of the spring training teams; it’s kind of like our [major league] spring training. At that point, I looked at my parents and said, ‘I don’t think it makes sense for me to ramp up for this and then all of a sudden just stop.’ I looked around, and I followed Georgia Premier, and I think Pro 5 because my buddy went there.

Georgia Premier hit me up after that and asked if I would consider coming down to play. I told them I would think about it. Then the Arizona thing happened, and I said, ‘I think this is a good opportunity for me to go and branch off on my own and start learning about who I am as a person, and see if I can do it.’ So I did that, and I had an awesome time.

The Draft League was kind of the same deal when the season ended in May and I wanted to find somewhere else to play before the draft. My agent made a few calls, and I ended up getting an opportunity to go to the Draft League. I met a lot of people, and it was a lot of fun.

I think that’s the place I learned that baseball is not going to be easy. You’re facing guys who are three or four years older, but you do learn a lot.

MMO: Were the Mets on your radar as a potential landing spot in the 2022 Draft?

Tong: Yeah, I was close with the area scout, Marlin McPhail, but I didn’t know that [he was with the Mets] at the time. I just saw a guy with an iconic bucket hat he wore everywhere he went.

I remember talking to him after my first start, and from there we just started talking more and more. He would ask how I was doing and adjusting and would ask me different situations. It was honestly refreshing to talk to somebody after being away from everybody I’ve ever known. To get to know somebody and pick his brain was the coolest thing.

I really didn’t know that I was going to go anywhere [in the draft] until late the night before when I started to hear a little bit more.

MMO: You mentioned being away from home and how big of an adjustment it was. Can you expand on some of those adjustments and challenges you faced?

Tong: Every stop I made, I had to learn something new. When I was in Arizona, I was with a few buddies from back home. In my first inning there, I walked five straight guys. I had no idea where it was going. I asked if I could go one more inning, and it was three-up-three-down with three punchouts against a junior college from Nebraska. And I was like, Alright, I’m just trying to get my feet wet. I was still having a lot of fun because I was with people I knew.

When I went to Georgia, I got picked up by the pastor of the academy and his wife. I thought it was a little different, but I was excited about a new challenge. I was dropped off at the academy in the middle of Statesboro, Georgia, which if you know where Statesboro, Georgia, is, is nothing crazy.

The first time I called my mom; I was just bawling my eyes out. I said, ‘Mom, I’m homesick, I can’t do this anymore.’ She was trying to walk me off the cliff and asked if I wanted to be picked up. I told her no, and that if I was going to go to college, I couldn’t be doing this. Shoot, if I’m going to play baseball, I can’t be doing this because you’re going to be put in situations like that. The next day I woke up and made some friends; the rest is history.

With the Draft League, the experience from the academy helped, and that just continued to where I’m at now. It all taught me to be flexible and open-minded because you don’t know where you’re going to be day-to-day.

MMO: One intriguing trait in your arsenal is the carry your four-seam fastball generates. When did you start to realize that your four-seamer has such rise, and how do you utilize that on the mound?

@TJStats

Tong: When I went to the Draft League, there was a tweet that went out with a highlight of what I did. Honestly, I thought I pitched horribly in my last game. It was not pretty. But they highlighted something called IVB, which stands for induced vertical break. The number was around 20, and I thought, Okay, that’s interesting, but I don’t know what that means. 

When we got to draft camp, they told me that my fastball had a pretty good amount of ride, and I told them I had no idea what that was. They took the time to explain it to me, and once I figured out what it was, I looked up some pitchers for inspiration. Tyler Glasnow was a big comp for fastball shape, I guess because I have more cut ride. I started to watch him and figured out where he pitched. I noticed that if it had ride, it would make sense to pitch up, which is exactly what they told me.

It’s been a big part of my game, especially going into this year, and trying to learn how to use that and pair it with my offspeed [pitches]. I think that’s why my curveball plays; even though it’s not the fastest pitch and not the nastiest thing in the world, there’s enough difference in movement.

MMO: Along with your four-seamer, you also feature a changeup, curveball and slider. Can you talk about the rest of your arsenal? Is it true that you learned your changeup and curveball grips from watching videos online?

Tong: Yeah! My dad and I used to throw across the street—we still do occasionally—and he said I should try and learn a curveball. Originally, I threw a knuckle curve, or so I thought. Basically, I had my two fingers on top, and I pushed it with my fingers. I thought it was a knuckleball, but it was really like a knuckle curve.

Fast forward, they told me that pitch was probably not going to play, and I should consider throwing a regular curveball. I scoured the internet, played around with some stuff, and looked at other pitchers. Clayton Kershaw was a big one; that’s a Hall of Fame curveball. I looked at that and made adjustments and didn’t really think about it for a while.

With my changeup, an influencer and former player with the Cardinals, Robby Rowland, had a video when I was nine or ten of him throwing a Vulcan changeup. I was like, Woah, Vulcan? That sounds sick! Why would I ever throw a circle changeup when I can throw a Vulcan? I tried to learn that, and my dad didn’t want me throwing a splitter at that age. So I thought, How can I mess with something that he can’t tell me I can’t do? The next best thing was this changeup. That developed over the years, and lately, we’ve been tweaking it and trying to improve it. We’ve seen some really interesting things with improving the shape.

The slider was something new. I remember in 2023, I felt like I couldn’t throw a strike. I remember walking into our pitching office, and I went, ‘We need something new because I’m frustrated.’ I was at the point in my career where I was just like, This sucks, and pitching is brutal right now. You go from a place of having so much success in high school, and then you’re challenged for the first time. Looking back at it now, it was probably the most influential year I’ve had up until this point, and we stumbled on a few things.

Going back to Tyler Glasnow, he had this short bullet slider that was gross. I was going to try to copy something like that; I kind of mirrored his arsenal. In developing that—it’s here and there—it’s been pretty consistent lately, which I’m happy about. I’m trying to use it as a bridge pitch because of my big curveball and rising fastball.

We tried working on a two-seamer, and it’s been interesting. It’s basically like, if Glasnow throws it, I’m trying it. [Laughs.] I’m trying to work on that. We’re focusing more on my consistency with the slider and changeup, and maybe we’ll bring in the two-seamer.

MMO: I interviewed Christian Scott recently, and he sang the praises of two developmental figures in the organization Kyle Rogers and Eric Jagers. What has been your relationship with the player development staff?

Tong: It wouldn’t be fair of me not to include everyone on our staff. There are honestly too many names, but guys like Dan McKinney, Garrett Baker, A. J. Sager, Luis Alvarado, Miguel Bonilla, Jagers and Rogers. Everybody has built this massive unit, and being able to pick their brains and learn from them put me in a good spot.

Rogers is awesome when it comes to dealing with your body and trying to figure out what you can do mechanically and pitch-wise. All of the other pitching coaches together have helped me out a lot.

The biggest mentor that I’ve had so far has been Garrett Baker; he’s our integration pitching coach. He loves this Bruce Lee saying: Be like water. You know, be adaptable. I’ve kind of taken that as my mantra. I’ve become close with him.

The biggest thing he’s taught me with everything in general is, yeah, things may suck right now, but how are you going to learn to adapt to it? You’re pitching in 115-degree heat in July, and it’s not ideal conditions. You go play in Brooklyn in April, and it’s 25 degrees, and Binghamton and the big leagues are the same. But the difference is there are more people on you, there’s added pressure, and things aren’t always going to go your way. Some things are just out of your control. How are you not going to let it affect you? You have to ride the wave. Just take it, react to it, be able to adjust, and remain the pitcher that you are.

That’s been the thing that I’ve been constantly learning the most, and it’s had the biggest impact on my career thus far. I think that has helped me transition from the ’23 season to the ’24 season, and now moving into ’25. It’s about looking at everything with a different perspective. How am I going to ride this wave? How am I going to continue to develop and not think the world is crashing when things aren’t going well?

MMO: You really seem to be in touch with the mental aspect of the game.

Tong: One hundred percent. It goes back to the Bruce Lee mantra; it’s on the inside of my glove, which is the coolest thing. When I look at it, it’s just where I need to be. We have to recognize that we are in the presence of some of the best players in the world. Being able to go to the field and get to throw with Christian Scott one day, or throw with Calvin Ziegler. Francisco Lindor is playing on the field next to us, or Jett Williams is right there hitting. Everybody together builds this unit, and you kind of take advantage of that.

Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

I think being able to mentally understand that you don’t need to be someone bigger is the biggest challenge for me. I always felt like I needed to do something extra because some things weren’t going my way. Our mental performance team through the years has changed, but the people always have the same message: don’t be someone bigger than yourself. Be a good teammate, and things will work out in the way that they’re supposed to. I’m a firm believer in that. I have bad days and good days; it’s still a constant battle. Confidence can be a constant battle throughout my career.

I think for high school guys specifically, that’s the thing that we don’t recognize until it’s happening. To get out of something, and then once you’re out of it, you have a different perspective. It’s almost like you’re enlightened about it. If I could go back and talk to anybody, specifically myself, I’d say, ‘The faster you recognize that things aren’t going to go your way all the time and tackle the mental side of baseball, you can enjoy it so much more.’

MMO: One of the many investments Steve Cohen has made with this team is the pitching lab in Port St. Lucie. Have you had a chance to use it?

Tong: I’ve gotten to throw there a few times; it’s pretty cool. For a guy who knows nothing about what goes on, there are a lot of smart people around who make sure we have access to everything. I’m still learning what’s going on in there, because again, I’ll look in and be like, Oh, that’s new! What does that do? 

It really helps us as pitchers understand stuff that we can’t normally see from a biomechanical standpoint. I do find it interesting. It’ll be interesting to see how it translates over the next few years.

MMO: Is the lab available for pitchers to drop in at any point? Or, are there certain times that it’s available?

Tong: I’m honestly not sure. I know that we’ll throw in there a few times in the year, but everybody’s case is a little bit different. I’m sure if you’re working on something mechanically, that’s going to be your best place to get what you need.

MMO: You mentioned having control issues in 2023. Of course, it was a small sample size (21 innings). However, you went from a 22 percent walk rate to 10 percent over 113 innings in 2024. What adjustments were made?

Tong: Going back to Rogers, he kind of built our prior movement routine, and stuff like that. Baker kind of helped me realize that I have to be adaptable. Over the course of that entire season, we were trying to nail down my mechanics and make sure everything was repeatable. That’s the biggest word I was fed.

Going into the offseason, I took that and used some water bags or Orca bags, which are huge for me. Doing different plyo variations and getting comfortable with being uncomfortable, which I think over time helped me be more resilient on the mound. As a result, the mechanics were cleaned up a bit.

I wouldn’t say there’s one specific fix; there were just a lot of things that slowly started to merge and click to kind of where we are right now. There’s still room to grow, but I like where we’re going from that.

Jonah Tong. Photo by @ITSDMPhotos via Binghamton Rumble Ponies

MMO: You talked about your repertoire in a video for MLB Pipeline last year. In it, you mentioned that the curveball is the first pitch you throw in your bullpens before a game. Is that still the case? And how do you adjust if you don’t have a feel for that pitch on a given day?

Tong: I like to either start with it or end with it. Lately, it’s been ending with it because it’s more of a feel thing. For instance, in live BP, it’s always the funniest thing when it’s the last pitch, and even though I just want to throw a fastball to challenge myself, I throw an offspeed. I thought everyone gave me weird looks when I did that because they were expecting a fastball. And I was like, You know what? Let’s just make this a thing. 

Going into the season, that was one of those things I wanted to make sure I had a feel for. That helped me by throwing it as the last pitch. It just made me feel like I had this confidence. The last fastball is generally my best fastball in my sides or bullpens; not always, but mostly. Being able to change that up with my curveball can give me a little more confidence with it.

It’s funny that you asked if it makes me feel like I can throw it in the game. Yes and no. I think when I go into the game trusting it, it’s pretty good, and it does what I need it to do. When I get away from that or feel like I need to do something a little bit extra, that’s when we have different issues.

The big thing for me moving forward is making sure that when I throw it, I trust it. I remember watching a thing about Clayton Kershaw in an on-field interview. He was talking about tucking his curveball, gripping it really hard, and not having many thoughts on it because when he does that, it takes away from everything. And I was like, That’s a great point! I’ve been trying to work on that.

MMO: Throughout our chat, you’ve mentioned several big leaguers you’ve studied and taken bits and pieces from for your own game. Have you always been a student of the game?

Tong: I love telling the story about my dad and I watching videos of Tim Lincecum and my mom yelling downstairs because it was late on a school night. My dad instilled that in me. He’d be like, “Hey, come here,” and I’d be like, ‘Dad, I’m in the middle of an assignment.’ He’d say, “Come here, check this out: Greg Maddux.” He does everything for me. We watch it, understand it, pick his brain, and pick my brain. I think it slowly became something where he started to learn something and I did, which is kind of cool and beautiful now thinking about it.

When I was a kid, I didn’t think of it like that; I thought it was a waste of my time. But I started growing up and realizing the importance of it. I’m not the biggest guy on the field; I never have been and never will be. So being able to educate myself has been one of the biggest things in my career. Coming from Canada, we don’t play enough baseball just because of our climate compared to the American travel scene, so you kind of have to [be educated in the game].

Playing MLB The Show is a great example. It kind of teaches you more about the game and how you would pitch to people. I’ve always been a pretty good academic student, and studying is something I know, and I’m still improving with it. It’s funny; as you go up levels and start seeing different coaches, people, and styles, everything seems like one step, and everybody has their specialties. Getting a chance to be with A.J. [Sager] at the end of the year [with Binghamton] was pretty cool and something I was looking forward to in just learning from him and being more of a student of the game from that aspect.

MMO: You mentioned a few things that you’ve been working on with your slider and adding a two-seamer. Is there anything else you’re focusing on heading into 2025?

Tong: Just being present. I think that’s the thing I’ve been trying to focus on the most. It’s like, I’m here, soak it all up, be thankful every day, and thank God for the opportunities. That’s what I’m trying to focus on the most: realizing what we’re doing and how cool it is, and that’s what makes baseball fun. When we start thinking about it too much and putting more pressure on ourselves, that’s when we run into issues, and I did that all the time in ’23.

I’m going to continue the trend and focus on situation-based things. If we have a live BP, for instance, and my focus is working on early count curveballs. Yeah, it’s February. Did I do it all the time? No. But I got one of the six I tried, and that’s success. That’s a win. Everything is brick-by-brick, day-by-day because we’re not trying to be perfect in February.

The post MMO Exclusive: Pitching Prospect Jonah Tong appeared first on Metsmerized.

The New York Mets completed the season sweep of the Subway Series for the first time since 2013 on Wednesday night.

After taking the first two games in Queens in June against their Bronx rivals, the Mets came into Yankee Stadium on Tuesday with all of the odds against them. Despite not getting to New York until 5 a.m., the Mets squeaked out an improbable win behind a huge ninth inning from Jake Diekman on Tuesday night. However, on Wednesday night, the Mets put the final nail in the Yankees’ coffin and left nothing for chance.

With Gerrit Cole on the mound at Yankee Stadium, the Mets’ bats were going to have to come to play in order to complete the season sweep of the Subway Series. But, the Mets hitters were more than up to the task. Tyrone Taylor started the home run party in the third inning with a solo shot, and the barrage carried on from there. Pete Alonso put the Mets ahead with a two-run bomb, Francisco Lindor followed with two long balls of his own, and Mark Vientos put the finishing touch on the Mets’ 12-run night with a solo shot in the eighth. The Mets held the Yankees to just three runs in a 12-3 slaughtering of the Bronx “Bombers.”

The Mets will look to carry their hot bats back over to Queens as they host the Braves in a pivotal four-game set, which will have great implications on the Wild Card picture. Luis Severino (7-3, 3.58 ERA) will battle Chris Sale (13-3, 2.70 ERA) in Game 1 of the series on Thursday night at 7:10 p.m.

Photo by Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Latest Mets News

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza told the media that Christian Scott will not require elbow surgery, per Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. He’s going to go the rest-and-rehab route and will be shut down for the next two weeks. For more information, click here.

José Iglesias jumped on the mic to talk to the ESPN booth about his hit song “OMG” during the Mets’ win against the Yankees on Wednesday night. 

José Iglesias gets on the mic and talks about the story behind his hit song "OMG" 🎙️ pic.twitter.com/Y7LltxqiV5

— ESPN (@espn) July 24, 2024

The Mets signed their picks from the 14th and 16th round on Wednesday. Fourteenth-rounder Tanner Witt signed for $225,000 ($72,500 goes toward the bonus pool) and 16th-rounder Josh Blum signed for $150,000, per Carlos Collazo of Baseball America.

Amazin’s first round pick Carson Benge also signed with the club. Click here for more details on the contract signing. 

Latest MLB News

After leaving just two innings into his first rehab appearance with a sore knee, Mike Trout was not in the Los Angeles Angels Triple-A affiliate Salt Lake Bees lineup on Wednesday night and will be returning to Southern California to be reevaluated. 

The Dodgers signed and activated INF Nick Ahmed, replacing Miguel Rojas who was rettroactively placed on the IL to July 22 with right forearm tightness, per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. The Dodgers also activated RHP Tyler Glasnow.

The Milwaukee Brewers placed former MVP OF Christian Yelich on the 10-day IL with low back inflammation. Yelich will see a spine specialist on Thursday to discuss next steps, including the possibility of season-ending back surgery, per Adam McCalvy of MLB.com.

MLB Network announced their direct-to-consumer offer for fans on Wednesday. Fans can purchase MLB Network through a standalone offer of $5.99 per month and through other avenues as well.

Prince Fielder‘s son, Jadyn Fielder, is joining the Brewers organization as an undrafted free agent, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. The 19-year-old plays second and third base.

Chris Sale, who was supposed to start for the Braves on Wednesday night, will now pitch the first game against the Mets on Thursday, per David O’Brien of The Athletic. Charlie Morton, Spencer Schwellenbach and Reynaldo López, in that order, will start rest of the games against the Mets.

Blue Jays outfielder Kevin Kiermaier told Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, that he will be retiring after the conclusion of the 2024 season. Kiermaier is still playing with the Blue Jays despite the team placing him on waivers and exploring trade options for the 34-year-old Gold Glove center fielder.

MLB will be redirecting money collected from teams that spend over the luxury tax to teams whose TV revenues are hurting, per Evan Drellich of The Athletic. The CBA provision will give teams losing TV money up to $15 million each, with an estimated limit of $75 million in payment league wide. 

Latest on MMO

Mathias Altman-Kurosaki looked into potential Mets trade target A.J. Puk.

Ricky Keeler highlighted Jeff McNeil‘s power surge in the second half.

David Melendi applauded the Mets bullpen brilliance on Tuesday night. 

On This Date in Mets History

2023: The Mets take the second game of a two-game set to split their Subway Series bout with the Yankees. Justin Verlander threw six scoreless innings and Pete Alonso hit two homers in the 9-3 victory.

2015: In his second MLB game, Michael Conforto goes 4-for-4 with a walk, and RBI, and four runs scored in a 15-2 romping of the Dodgers at Citi Field.

2014: Lucas Duda hits a two-run go-ahead home run in the top of the ninth inning off former Mets closer K-Rod, Francisco Rodríguez. Jenry Mejía went on to throw a scoreless bottom of the ninth to lock down the 3-2 win.

1990: Leading 10-3 going into the bottom of the ninth, the Mets give up six runs before John Franco forces a lineout with the tying run on third base to hold on to a 10-9 win.

Birthdays: Guillermo Mota (51), Billy Wagner (53)

The post Morning Briefing: Mets Sweep Subway Series For First Time Since 2013 appeared first on Metsmerized.

But on a day when everything was going right and the Mets were cruising over the struggling Dodgers, the team collapsed yet again in the ninth inning.

With a 2-1 lead and victory only three outs away, Adam Ottavino took the mound for the Mets—a move that has been somewhat normalized with Edwin Díaz‘s struggles early in 2024.

Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

With Ottavino on instead of Díaz, the momentum of the game immediately shifted. Teoscar Hernández singled to right field sharply, and then Gavin Lux followed with a line drive into center field.

Ottavino, who entered today’s game with a 5.79 ERA in May, was in trouble. Two runners on, no outs, and Chris Taylor up to bat. Facing the utility man, Ottavino threw a first-pitch sinker, which Taylor squared to bunt on.

The ball was hit toward Ottavino, who made an effort to reach out and grab the ball. He couldn’t catch it, and then failed to pick up the ball twice, which allowed Hernández to score from third and Taylor to reach safely. The game was tied 2-2.

The inning could have been much worse. But luckily for the Mets, the righty settled down. He struck out Jason Heyward for the first out of ninth, and then got Andy Pages to ground into a double play to retire the side.

The bullpen blowup sent the Mets to the bottom of the ninth and spoiled a spectacular start for Tylor Megill.

Megill had dominated the Dodgers lineup in Game 1. He struck out nine batters and allowed only four base runners in seven innings, handing a 2-0 lead, which the Mets got a Lindor two-run homer, to the Mets bullpen.

Unfortunately for Megill and the Mets, the bullpen couldn’t handle the Dodgers’ potent lineup. They allowed all five runs to the Dodgers, with Jorge López allowing three in the 10th inning to ice the game for the Mets.

The bullpen also faltered in the eighth, largely due to the Mets infielders having hiccups in the fields.

The first hiccup came from Lindor, who couldn’t complete the double play on a ball hit from Andy Pages. The Mets would have had two outs and no base runners, but instead, the Dodgers had a runner on first with Mookie Betts at the plate.

The next miscue happened the very next at-bat. With Betts up as the tying run, Reed Garrett got the former MVP to chop a ground ball toward Brett Baty. The 24-year-old whiffed on a potential double-play ball, setting runners on the corner with one out instead of the Mets escaping the inning for a second straight batter.

That set up the other former MVP, Freeman, who singled two batters later and cut the Dodgers’ deficit to 2-1.

The 5-2 loss handed the Mets their 17th loss in May and ended the Dodgers five-game losing streak. It was a game the Mets could have won and probably should have.

The Mets had another chance to win the game in the bottom of the ninth. They loaded the bases with only one out against Daniel Hudson, and Tyrone Taylor had a 3-0 count and was one ball away from ending the game.

The Mets’ outfielder, however, popped out to Betts, and Jeff McNeil popped out to Lux.

Stat of the Game

Megill pitched into the seventh inning for only the third time in 55 career starts. The first time was on Sept. 10, 2021, against the Yankees, where he struck out 10 and allowed two earned runs. The second time was against the Phillies on Sept. 30, 2023, where he struck out seven and allowed one run in 7 1/3 innings. Megill has now won all three games where he’s pitched at least seven innings.

On Deck 

First pitch of Game 2 comes up soon. Jose Quintana (1-5, 5.13 ERA) takes the mound for the Mets and will be opposed by Gavin Stone (4-2, 3.60 ERA). The game will be televised on SNY and TBS (out of market), and will be broadcast on WCBS 880.

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As mentioned, Adrian Houser struggled again. He was only able to give the Mets four innings, allowing seven hits, eight runs, and three walks. Houser has yet to go past the 5 1/3 inning mark on the season and now has a 7.45 ERA. The largest concern is the 14 walks he has allowed through four starts and only 19 1/3 innings to begin the season.

Behind Houser, Grant Hartwig and Michael Tonkin were on cleanup duty. Hartwig allowed a home run to Will Smith during his two innings of work. Tonkin was able to work two scoreless innings.

Offensively, there was nothing really to write home about. New York scattered seven hits but struck out nine times. Francisco Lindor tallied a hit from the left side of the plate, and six other Mets tallied a knock.

Overall, the start to the road trip was a success. New York took two-of-three from the World Series favorite Los Angeles Dodgers and find themselves three games over .500, despite the loss, after beginning the season 0-5. New York 12-4 over their last 16 games.

Adrian Houser. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Hui-USA TODAY Sports

Statistic of the Game: 7.45 ERA

After another tough outing, Adrian Houser now owns a 7.45 ERA on the season. With the impending return of Kodai Senga and David Peterson, as well as the performances of Christian Scott and Joey Lucchesi in Triple-A, is there a chance Houser could find himself out of the rotation sooner rather than later?

Player of the Game: Michael Tonkin

It was a very tough game for the Mets, and if there was a player of the game, Michael Tonkin, for eating innings and preserving the bullpen, is an option among a lot of bad. Tonkin threw two scoreless frames for New York and ensured the team only needed to use three pitchers ahead of a new series in San Francisco.

On Deck

The Mets are right back in action on Monday as they continue their West Coast trip in San Francisco. Game 1 is set for a 9:40 pm ET first pitch. The probable pitching matchup is Jose Quintana versus Keaton Winn.

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The New York Mets look for their second-consecutive sweep and seventh-consecutive win this afternoon in Los Angeles.

The Mets won their sixth game in a row Saturday afternoon, clinching a series victory against the Los Angeles Dodgers. It was the second time in the last two weeks that the Mets had won a series against a World Series contending team (Atlanta Braves).

Saturday’s game featured the Mets doing one thing they haven’t done a lot of this year; stealing bases. The Mets stole three bases in the game (Brandon Nimmo, Joey Wendle, and Starling Marte). Further, there were four Mets who each collected two hits in the game (Marte, Francisco Lindor, Jeff McNeil, and Wendle).

Mets Lineup

1. Brandon Nimmo, LF
2. Starling Marte, RF
3. Franciso Lindor, SS
4. Pete Alonso, 1B
5. Brett Baty, 3B
6. DJ Stewart, DH
7. Jeff McNeil, 2B
8. Harrison Bader, CF
9. Tomás Nido, C

Adrian Houser is on the bump this afternoon for the Mets. Over three starts (15 1/3) innings this season, Houser has a 4.70 ERA, 4.40 FIP, 1.500 WHIP, and an 88 ERA+. Most of the damage to his season statistics was done in Atlanta in his second start where he allowed five runs from eight hits over five innings of work.

He bounced back nicely in his last start allowing only two runs from two hits (and five walks) over 5 1/3 innings of work. Houser faced the Dodgers once last season and allowed four runs (three earned) over 5 1/3 innings with no walks and six strikeouts.

The Dodgers have the following career numbers against Houser:

• Austin Barnes 0-2
• Mookie Betts 1-4, 2 BB, K
• Freddie Freeman 2-9, HR, 3 BB
• Teoscar Hernández 1-3, K
• Max Muncy 1-5, 3 K
• James Outman 0-2, 2 K
• Miguel Rojas 2-9, HR, 3 K
• Will Smith 0-3
• Chris Taylor 2-3, 2B

Dodgers Lineup

1. Mookie Betts, SS
2. Shohei Ohtnai, DH
3. Freddie Freeman, 1B
4. Will Smith, C
5. Max Muncy, 3B
6. Teoscar Hernández, LF
7. James Outman, CF
8. Andy Pages, RF
9. Gavin Lux, 2B

The Mets will not get out of town without facing the ace of the Dodgers staff; Tyler Glasnow. Glasnow has made five starts (29 innings) this season with a 3.72 ERA, 3.61 FIP, 0.966 WHIP, and a 114 ERA+. He is coming off of his worst start of the season against the Washington Nationals where he allowed six runs via eight hits and two walks over five innings of work. Before that start, Glasnow had 2.25 ERA (2.77 FIP) over his first four starts including a start against the Minnesota Twins where he struck out 14 batters over seven innings.

The Mets have the following career numbers against him:

• Pete Alonso 0-6, 6 K
• Harrison Bader 1-7, K
• Francisco Lindor 1-10, 4 K
• Starling Marte 1-5, HR, 3 K
• Jeff McNeil 2-7, 2B, BB, K
• Brandon Nimmo 0-2, 3 BB
• DJ Stewart 0-3, 2 K
• Joey Wendle 0-1, BB, K

Game Notes

J.D. Martinez returned to the lineup for the St. Lucie Mets as he continues working his way toward a debut with the New York Mets. Martinez had two hits in his first two at-bats of the game, including a double.

According to manager Carlos Mendoza, J.D. Martinez will play for Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday and Wednesday. He may join the team as early as Friday.

Francisco Alvarez confirmed to media he will have surgery for his torn ligament on Thursday. He confirmed a six-to-eight week timeline setting up for an early-to-mid June return.

Brett Baty is set to return to the lineup after a hamstring issue had him miss some time without landing on the injured list. He did return on Saturday as a pinch hitter. He finished the game at third base.

The Mets announce that they’re placed reliever Brooks Raley on the 15-day injured list. Grant Hartwig was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse.

Three Things To Watch For

1. Can the Mets limit walks today? The Mets pitchers allowed an absurd 10 walks in Saturday’s game with Jose Buttó contributing five as the starter. You cannot give a team like the Dodgers a chance with free passes to first base. Further, it taxes the entire pitching staff. Houser is coming off of a start where he allowed five walks and already has nine total on the season.
2. Keep the strikeouts coming. The ten walks yesterday did not crush the Mets because the Mets batters got the Dodgers to strike out 14 times. The big three at the top of the lineup went 4-for-7, with two doubles, three RBIs, and one strikeout. That means the rest of the lineup had 13 strikeouts including Outman, Pages, and Hernández who struck out three times each.
3. Starling Marte! Marte has been a savior for the Mets lineup this season. Since April 6, Marte has made 13 starts and has hit .322/.365/.509. Prior to April 5, before his most recent streak, he was slashing .192/.250/.346. Over his last five games, he has gone 7-for-24 with two doubles and two home runs, which are four of his overall six extra-base hits this season. He has now stolen bases in back-to-back games for the first time this season as well.

The post Game Chat: Mets vs. Dodgers, 4:10 P.M. appeared first on Metsmerized.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Yukihito Taguchi-USA TODAY Sports

While Yamamoto is the big fish, the Mets have made virtually no other moves outside some low-level bullpen additions and Luis Severino on a one-year deal. Joey Wendle hardly qualifies as a move.

Meanwhile, the Mets still have multiple needs. Even if they consider third base set with their current depth (which is less certain due to Ronny Mauricio‘s ACL tear), they still have needs in the corner outfield, at designated hitter, and potentially at second base. They also need a reliable eighth-inning man and a minimum of one more starter besides Yamamoto, even if they were to acquire him.

Essentially, the Mets seem to be holding up their entire offseason to see what happens with the Japanese pitcher. The problem is that it may make him less likely to come.

As much money as Steve Cohen can put on the table for Yamamoto, winning means something to most players. If the money is pretty close, why would Yamamoto choose the Mets over the Dodgers or even the Yankees? Can the Mets honestly say that they plan on competing this season if they have not added any other players by the time he is ready to make his decision?

Of course, some posit that Yamamoto will simply follow the money, which gives Cohen an immediate edge. He can (and seemingly will) blow any offer out of the water. The Mets can also guarantee that Yamamoto will be the featured superstar, something he will not have with the Yankees or Dodgers.

Still, even with Yamamoto, this Mets club presents as a wild card team at best. Some of the Mets’ possible free-agent and trade targets, including Seth Lugo, Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Jung-Hoo Lee, Eduardo Rodriguez, and Tyler Glasnow, have already gone elsewhere. The Mets’ needs are going nowhere. If they wait to see where Yamamoto winds up, they’ll be behind the eight-ball.

Much of the market has yet to heat up, likely waiting for Yamamoto as it did for Ohtani. Still, even if some players sign, those are players the Mets cannot acquire. Gurriel might have been a good fit in New York. The Mets reportedly had some interest in Lugo, Rodriguez, Glasnow, and Lee. Even if the pitching market is tied up by Yamamoto, the team should not wait to acquire at least one more power bat.

Perhaps there is a trade market that will develop only after Yamamoto signs. Or maybe the Mets plan to stick with the pitching market and go to the bargain basement in the hitting department. Or maybe some of the hitters are sticking around to see what Yamamoto gets, too.

The post Opinion: Mets Should Not Wait for Yamamoto to Bolster Team appeared first on Metsmerized.

The Texas Rangers announced the signing of pitcher Tyler Mahle to a two-year contract. He is set to receive a $22 million guarantee, with the potential to earn an additional $5 million in bonuses based on his innings total in 2025. Mahle is expected to sit out the beginning of the 2024 season as he concludes his rehabilitation from last year’s Tommy John surgery.

In other news, Jeff Passan of ESPN announces that the Detroit Tigers have reached an agreement with right-handed starter Jack Flaherty on a one-year contract worth $14 million. Flaherty’s agreement with the Tigers has the potential to reach a maximum of $15 million, featuring performance-based bonuses of $250,000 for the 26th start, another $250,000 for the 28th, and an additional $500,000 for the 30th. Flaherty is now part of a Tigers rotation that welcomed Kenta Maeda earlier in the offseason and boasts a promising mix of young talent.

Now onto the morning briefing!

Latest Mets News

On Thursday, the New York Mets officially announced the signing of relief pitcher Jorge López to a one-year contract worth $2 million. As the Mets focus on bolstering their bullpen without breaking the bank, López provides them with another seasoned pitcher. Last season, the right-hander contributed to three playoff teams, boasting a record of 6-2 with a 5.95 ERA and securing three saves in 61 relief outings for Minnesota, Miami, and Baltimore.

Major League Baseball introduced Spring Breakout, a new Spring Training event from March 14-17. Teams, including the Mets, will field rosters of 20-25 top prospects to compete against emerging talents from other organizations in seven-inning exhibition games. The Mets’ Spring Breakout game is on March 15th at 3:10 PM in Port St. Lucie against the Nationals, as tweeted by our own Mike Mayer. This event is part of a doubleheader alongside a Mets major league spring game.

MLB Network Radio spoke to John Gibbons, former Mets catcher and minor league manager, comes full circle as he joins Carlos Mendoza‘s coaching staff for ’24. “I was trying to get a big league coaching job [with the Mets] forever, and now I finally got it.” Gibbons said during his interview.

In a post, the New York Mets announced that shortstop Francisco Lindor has teamed up with Players For The Planet and Rescate Playas Borinquén for a cleanup initiative. They engaged in trash pickup and planted over 200 trees in the maritime zone to combat coastal erosion and promote environmental conservation.

Latest MLB News

Shohei Ohtani received his introductory press conference at Dodger Stadium on Thursday, complete with heavy media attention and his first non-Photoshopped picture in a Dodgers jersey. Among other things, Ohtani talked about how how LA’s recent winning history persuaded him to pick them, in addition to how they still considered the last 10 years a failure despite all their regular season success.

Your first look at Shohei Ohtani in a Dodgers jersey! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/5O0xSSH1OK

— MLB (@MLB) December 14, 2023

The Rays agreed to complete the Tyler Glasnow trade, sending him and Manuel Margot to the Dodgers for Ryan Pepiot and Johnny Deluca. Check out more on the timeline of this deal here.

According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, Klutch Sports Group, led by Rich Paul and known for representing LeBron James and Jalen Hurts, is making strides into Major League Baseball. The agency has broadened its reach by acquiring Rep 1, which brings on board notable players such as Red Sox star Rafael Devers, All-Star closer Devin Williams, and Platinum Glove winner Andrés Giménez.

The Cincinnati Reds inked a one-year major league contract with catcher Austin Wynns and designated outfielder TJ Hopkins for assignment.

The Kansas City Royals have formally announced the signing of right-handed pitcher Seth Lugo to a two-year deal, which includes a player option for 2026. Additionally, they acquired minor league right-hander Ryan Brady and infielder Cam DeVanney from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for right-handed pitcher Taylor Clarke.

Latest on MMO

Metsmerized Online has partnered with digital artist and Mets fan Athlete Logos for merch that is now available on the MMO store. Click here for more!

On the latest MMO Weekly episode, Mike and Sal cover Ohtani’s record-setting Dodgers contract, discuss the ongoing Yoshinobu Yamamoto sweepstakes, address the Mets’ potential pivot if they miss out on Yamamoto, and touch on the adjustments to the offseason plan due to Ronny Mauricio‘s injury.

Michael Famulari profiles free agent outfielder Adam Duvall.

On This Date in Mets History

2004: Pedro Martinez was officially introduced by the Mets, along with his lucrative four-year, $53 million contract, in a press conference at Shea Stadium on this date in 2004. Martinez lived up to the expectations, topping MLB in WHIP in 2005 and sustaining a 3.88 ERA throughout his four-season tenure with the Mets. While facing a slew of injuries with the Mets, Pedro still performed and became a fan favorite to many in Queens.

Birthdays: Johneshwy Fargas (29), Trevor Hildenberger (33), Scott Copeland (36), Mo Vaughn (56)

The post Morning Briefing: Tyler Mahle, Jack Flaherty Sign Contracts appeared first on Metsmerized.

Major League Baseball is introducing a brand new showcase for top prospects around the league to show off their talent, titled “Spring Breakout.” The event will put each organization’s best prospects against each other in a game that will be part of a doubleheader with a regularly scheduled spring training game. MLB is looking to use this as an opportunity to better market their minor leaguers; the games will be in the main major league spring training stadiums and fans will have the opportunity to meet the prospects after the game. The article by Jeff Passan of ESPN also detailed how MLB could televise the game on MLB Network. 

When asked about the event, commissioner Rob Manfred talked glowingly about it, saying, “We are thrilled that Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball and all of our Clubs are working closer than ever to grow the game and to shine a brighter light on our future All-Stars.”

The event will take place March 14-17.

Jett Williams, Photo by Bronson Harris of the Binghamton Rumble Ponies

Latest Mets News

The Mets came to an agreement on a minor league deal with veteran outfielder Trayce Thompson, the deal comes with an invite to spring training, per Andy Martino of SNY. For a more in-depth look at the Mets’ signing, click here!

Former Mets relief pitcher, and 16-year MLB vet, Tommy Hunter, has officially retired from baseball, per Britt Ghiroli of The Athletic. 

Andy Martino of SNY reported that the Mets are now in the race for Yoshinobu Yamamoto after there being no buzz between the star pitcher and the Mets for an extended period of time. 

The Mets held their annual holiday party on Wednesday, José Quintana appeared as Santa Claus and Mark Vientos came as his elf along with an appearance from manager Carlos Mendoza. Of note, Mendoza mentioned how the Mets feel good about what they have internally at third base despite the loss of Ronny Mauricio; Vientos mentioned how he has learned a lot while working out with Francisco Lindor during the offseason and will work with him again in January, via Danny Abriano of SNY.

Latest MLB News

A report from Beth Harris and Ronald Blum of AP, detailed how Shohei Ohtani‘s $700 million contract with the Dodgers has potential opt-outs if current owner Mark Walter or president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman lose their roles with the club.

Shohei Ohtani’s introductory press conference as a Los Angeles Dodgers will take place on Thursday at 6 P.M. eastern, per the club. 

On a Bleacher Report live stream, Jon Heyman reported that it is likely that Yoshinobu Yamamoto will receive the longest pitching contract of all-time. Along with that, Heyman also reported that Yamamoto has meetings planned with the Red Sox, Blue Jays, and Phillies. For more information on the star pitcher’s free agency, click here!

Among a flurry of reports on Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s free agency on Wednesday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reported that Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Shohei Ohtani were present at the Japanese superstar’s meeting with the Dodgers. 

The Dodgers are reportedly in trade talks with the Tampa Bay Rays where they would acquire starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow and outfielder Manuel Margot, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. Starting pitcher Ryan Pepiot and outfielder Jonny DeLuca are part of a possible package that could be going back to Tampa. 

Shohei Ohtani set Fanatics’ all-time record for highest sales within 48 hours of a jersey release, via Fanatics. 

Former White Sox, and now free-agent, closer Liam Hendriks is looking to return to the field around the trade deadline after undergoing Tommy John Surgery on August 2, per Scott Merkin of MLB.com.

The Chicago Cubs signed free agent catcher Jorge Alfaro to a minor league deal with an invite to spring training, per Robert Murray of FanSided. 

Right-handed relief pitcher Daniel Hudson and the Los Angeles Dodgers came to an agreement on a minor league deal, per Jeff Passan of ESPN. If Hudson makes the team he will earn $2 million and has the ability to make $2 million more in performance bonuses. 

On what would have been his 100th birthday, former Cleveland Guardian Larry Doby was awarded with the Congressional Gold Medal. Members of the Doby family gathered at the United States Capitol to honor his achievements both on and off the field. 

Former Washington Nationals and Minnesota Twins outfielder Andrew Stevenson signed with the Nippon Ham Fighters of the NPB, per Jon Heyman of the New York Post. 

Veteran catcher Roberto Pérez agreed to a minor league deal with the Red Sox which includes an invite to spring training, per Jon Heyman of the New York Post. 

Latest on MMO

Andrew Tripaldi looks back at the possibility of Ken Griffey becoming a New York Met. 

Check out the Mets Madness series recap between the 1973 and 2007 Mets. 

What options do the Mets have at third base following Ronny Mauricio’s injury?

On This Date in Mets History

2013: The New York Mets and veteran free-agent starting pitcher Bartolo Colón agree to a two-year, $20 million deal. Colón would go on to be a vital part of the Mets World Series run in 2015 and was named an all-star with the club in 2016.

1995: The New York Mets sign reigning AL hit king and outfielder Lance Johnson to a two-year deal. In 1996, Johnson would hit .333 and become the first and only hitter to lead each league in hits. 

Birthday: Shaun Marcum (42)

The post Morning Briefing: MLB Announces ‘Spring Breakout’ Prospect Showcase appeared first on Metsmerized.

This unique situation makes constructing the 2024 roster a bit complicated. On the one hand, you want to provide your young players with every opportunity, and on the other hand, developmental trajectories are never linear, and ensuring you have ample support already on the roster is tantamount. Not only is it crucial for staying competitive through bouts of struggles or swathes of injury, but it is also important from a team-building perspective, to have a competitive roster and that “next man up” mentality.

For the first time during Steve Cohen’s tenure, the Mets may not be a playoff contender next season. With a few large decisions looming, the long-term direction of the franchise seems very clear, yet the 2024 season is likely to be one of transition. The Mets have a handful of young position players already on the roster and a few more who will be ready at some point during the season. They are probably hoping that while they might look worse on paper to start the season, by midseason or later, they will look more like the Orioles or Reds rather than the Pirates or Nationals.

Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

The other elephant in the room is Shohei Ohtani. And the Mets’ whole offseason strategy may hinge on his decision. Whether Ohtani decides to play for the Mets may play into their decision to push harder in free agency. Yet, as things stand now, it doesn’t look like the Mets will make any large splashes in free agency this offseason. They may instead decide to go bargain shopping, looking for potential turnarounds and proven players who can provide above-replacement-level production until more of their young players are major league-ready.

I, therefore, wanted to break down what their 26-man roster looks like going into the offseason to see where they could potentially look to add in free agency, as well as into which prospects can impact their 2024 season at different points:

C: Francisco Álvarez, Omar Narváez

IF: Pete Alonso, Ronny Mauricio, Brett Baty, Francisco Lindor, Mark Vientos, Zack Short

OF: Jeff McNeil, Brandon Nimmo, Starling Marte, DJ Stewart

SP: Kodai Senga, José Quintana, Tylor Megill, José Butto, Joey Lucchesi, David Peterson (IL)

RP: Edwin Díaz, Brooks Raley, Phil Bickford, Drew Smith, Josh Walker, Grant Hartwig, Reed Garrett, Sean Reid-Foley

As things stand immediately following the non-tender deadline, the Mets have 28 players on their 40-man roster. With the low possibility of Luisangel Acuña or Alex Ramirez breaking camp with the team, they are currently looking at a long and difficult offseason. To say the least, trimming a whole third of a roster within a single month or so is more akin to fantasy sports than professional sports. Yet, as we have seen, Steve Cohen is willing to do things a little differently.

This team is not very good, regardless of the amount of young talent. Overall, this roster should probably win somewhere between 70 and 75 games. The outfield, bullpen, and starters are all close to the bottom of the MLB, and the team could use some added versatility. With David Stearns in tow, he has been 100% empowered to strip down and build back up as only he sees fit. Luckily, David Stearns is one of the best in the business, especially when it comes to quick turnarounds and acquiring undervalued assets.

Luisangel Acuña, Photo by Bronson Harris of Binghamton Rumble Ponies

The Minors

Prospect-wise, the expectation is that Drew Gilbert and Luisangel Acuña will be playing up the middle and leading off games in Syracuse to begin the season. It is hard to know exactly when they will be Queens-bound as they are both still developing and fine-tuning their skills. It is reasonably safe to say that at some point this season, they will be in Queens, whether that happens in May or September is hard to predict.

The Syracuse rotation will feature Mike Vasil and Dominic Hamel, with Vasil having an outside chance of cracking the Mets rotation in Spring Training, albeit unlikely. The question is whether Christian Scott, the Mets’ newly ranked number-one pitching prospect by BA, will be a part of the Syracuse rotation as well. Following a downright dominant season, which saw Scott cement himself as a borderline top-100 prospect, Scott may start the season in Binghamton as he’s barely amassed 100 innings above low-A ball. That being said, the 62 innings in which he did pitch in Binghamton were elite. He pitched to a 2.47/2.47/2.96 (ERA/FIP/xFIP) trip-slash line.

Christian Scott. Photo by Bronson Harris of the Binghamton Rumble Ponies

The Syracuse bullpen will also be one to watch with the likes of Bryce Montes de Oca, Eric Orze and left-hander Nate Lavender repeating the level. A slew of newcomers will join them as they start the season in Triple-A. Headlined by Paul Gervase, who took the Mets system by storm and dominated both A+ and AA to the tune of a 2.05 ERA. Gervase has nasty stuff, and my bet is we will see him in Citi Field sooner than expected. The other future bullpen arms in AAA are Trey McLoughlin, who was outstanding in AA and posted a swinging strike rate of 17%, Dylan Tebrake and Brendan Hardy.

In Binghamton, the Mets will have another handful of future bullpen pieces that can all potentially move fast and make the majors by April 2025 at the latest. Those names include Raimon Gómez, Eli Ankeney, Jeffrey Colón and Saul García. This is the largest crop of upper-level bullpen arms the Mets have compiled possibly ever, and it is an exciting and underrated part of a burgeoning farm system.

The Mets will have a few more known names on their AAA roster worth mentioning, barring losing them in the Rule 5 Draft. These include the recently acquired Jeremiah Jackson and Justin Jarvis, as well as Matt Rudick, Brandon McIlwain and Luke Ritter. These players are most likely depth major league pieces at best, and some may never even make it that far.

Their AA team will also have some noteworthy names like top prospect Jett Williams, who will continue refining his game while playing second, shortstop and center field. If he can continue his top-flight performance in all aspects of the game, he could be in the big leagues before too long. Kevin Parada, Ryan Clifford, Blade Tidwell, Tyler Stuart and Coleman Crow all litter the Mets’ top 20 prospect list and will all be integral parts of the Rumble Ponies team to start the season.

Final Thoughts

With an immense crop of young talent knocking on the doors, it is hard to imagine the Mets acquiring any of the headline players available this offseason. Guys like Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow and Juan Soto will all be available to differing extents. Premium players command a premium, and the Mets are still in the midst of a farm restock. When the Mets are on the precipice of perennial contention and can be flexible with their roster is the time to make these moves. 

What the Mets do need to do is to fill out their roster with a blend of high-upside players who will require coaching and development yet will only need a short-term commitment. The kind of commitment that, if it doesn’t work out, will not prevent players like Acuña, Gilbert and Jett Williams from receiving at-bats at the Major League level.

Additionally, the Mets need a few reliable players. The kind of players who can play every day, who are assets in the clubhouse and make the manager’s job easier. The kind of guy who if pressed into full-time duty can be an average big leaguer yet willingly to secede their starting spot if a younger, more talented player does arrive.

In the following parts of this series, I will break down the kind of players the Mets, under Stearns, will look to add to their roster.

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