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Morning Briefing: Carlos Mendoza Praises Luis Robert Jr.

Tyler Antonelle — Sat, 24 Jan 2026 12:00:08 +0000

Good morning, Mets fans!

Manager Carlos Mendoza appeared on Foul Territory Friday. He spoke about Luis Robert Jr., calling the new Met “one of the best” when healthy. The Mets will hope their new center fielder can stay healthy and tap into his potential, which would give the team a massive boost in 2026.

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Latest Mets News

SNY Director John DeMarsico announced on Twitter that he is leaving after 17 years with SNY. DeMarsico was well-known across the industry for his creativity and inclusion of movie references in SNY broadcasts.

The Mets traded reliever Cooper Criswell to the Mariners. Criswell had been DFA’d by the Mets just a few days prior.

Latest MLB News

The White Sox signed reliever Seranthony Domínguez to a two-year, $20 million contract. Domínguez is likely to serve as the team’s closer, per ESPN’s Jeff Passan. The 31-year-old spent 2025 between the Orioles and Blue Jays and recorded a 3.16 ERA in 67 appearances.

The Nationals signed former Mets prospect Bryce Montes de Oca to a minor league deal with an invite to spring training. Montes de Oca showed a lot of potential with his velocity and movement on pitches before missing most of the last three seasons due to injury.

Latest on MMO

Robert Colonna takes a deeper look at the newest Met, Freddy Peralta.

David Melendi analyzes the Mets’ ZiPS projections for 2026.

Robert Colonna breaks down which Mets made MLB Pipeline’s lists for the top 10 prospects at each position.

On This Date in Mets History

1980: The Mets were sold to Fred Wilpon and Nelson Doubleday, who led a team of investors, for $21.1 million.

Born on This Date: Jose Quintana (1989), Mike Glavine (1973), Neil Allen (1958).

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Trade Profile: Luis Robert Jr., CF

maxsmithyee — Fri, 25 Jul 2025 16:00:49 +0000

Luis Robert Jr., OF

Position: OF B/T: R/R

Age: 27 (08/03/1997)

2025 Traditional Stats: 328 PA, .206/.293/.343/.636, 59 H, 10 HR, 41 RBI, 26 SB

2025 Advanced Stats: 77 wRC+, 29.0% K%, 10.7% BB%, .268 BABiP, .319 xwOBA, 0.6 fWAR, 0.6 bWAR, 2 OAA

Rundown

Luis Robert Jr. is one of the more intriguing “buy low” candidates ahead of this year’s trade deadline. Signed by the Chicago White Sox in 2017 as an international free agent, Robert Jr. debuted during the COVID-shortened 2020 season. Alongside the likes of Eloy Jiménez, Tim Anderson and Yoán Moncada, Robert was a key piece of a young core that was meant to deliver the South Side its first title since 2005. That vision never came to fruition, however, and it culminated in just two postseason appearances: a Wild Card round exit vs. the Oakland Athletics in 2020, and a 2021 ALDS loss to the Houston Astros. Now in 2025, all but Robert Jr. from that group is gone. With the Sox still waiting on some of their top prospects to debut, they’re looking to add more young talent that should graduate within the 2027/2028 window, which is when their next competitive core is expected to emerge.

Statistically, Robert Jr.’s 2025 season reflects a player caught between raw tools, inconsistent results and the weight of playing for a team headed for its third-straight 100-loss season. His slash line of .206/.293/.343 and 77 wRC+ shows clear offensive struggles, a stark contrast from his 2023 performance. A 29.0% strikeout rate, well above league average, points to continued swing-and-miss issues, even as his 94th percentile bat speed (75.7 mph) and 65th percentile barrel rate (10.8%) hint at untapped power. Encouragingly, a 10.7% walk rate and .319 xwOBA indicate a more disciplined approach at the plate and suggest that his underlying performance may be stronger than the surface numbers imply.

Defensively, Robert Jr. remains a plus contributor, with two Outs Above Average reinforcing his continued value in center field. His base-stealing efficiency, demonstrated by 25 steals despite his limited opportunities, adds another layer of versatility to his game. Yet his overall WAR, just 0.6 by both FanGraphs (fWAR) and Baseball Reference (bWAR), tells a story of a player in need of a mechanical adjustment to reach his 2023 levels of production.

Since making his MLB debut in 2020, when he won a Gold Glove and finished second in AL Rookie of the Year voting, Robert Jr. has struggled to stay on the field, battling a series of injuries nearly every season. From 2021 to 2023, he missed 36% of games due to ailments ranging from a torn hip flexor to groin and wrist injuries. In 2024, he sat out 62 games with another hip strain. As a result, 2023 remains the only season in which Robert has played more than 100 games, raising concerns about his durability.

Package

Since his breakout campaign in 2023, Robert Jr. has struggled to recapture that form. Over the last two seasons, he’s posted a disappointing .216/.285/.364 slash line with 24 home runs and an 83 OPS+. Despite his power potential, his production has significantly dipped.

Below are three trades from the recent past involving power-hitting outfielders who were also enduring down years.

1. Tyler O’Neill to the Red Sox (December 2023)

After an injury-riddled 2023 campaign that saw him fall out of favor in St. Louis, O’Neill was moved to Boston for relievers Nick Robertson and Victor Santos. Though the return was light, O’Neill had posted a 150 OPS+ and 5.5 fWAR in 2021, proving he could impact games on both sides of the ball when healthy. Like Robert, O’Neill was a former top prospect with power, speed and defensive ability, but also a growing injury history. While O’Neill had less team control, this trade represents a low-cost blueprint if the White Sox are truly motivated to reset and offload risk.

2. Austin Meadows to the Tigers (April 2022)

After a down year in Tampa Bay and with arbitration looming, Meadows was traded to Detroit for Isaac Paredes and a Competitive Balance Round B pick. Meadows was coming off a 27-homer year and had put together a 33-homer All-Star campaign in 2019. Like Robert, Meadows was a former top prospect with loud tools but mounting durability concerns. While Meadows had fewer years of control, this trade highlights how teams can move off volatile talent for younger, cost-controlled pieces with upside.

3. Jorge Soler to the Braves (July 2021)

Soler was hitting just .192 with 13 home runs for the Kansas City Royals at the time of the deal, but Atlanta saw enough in his power and track record to acquire him for pitching prospect Kasey Kalich. Soler went on to win World Series MVP. While Soler didn’t offer the defensive value, speed or contract appeal that Robert does, the Mets parting with a minor league arm like Frank Elissalt, whose timeline aligns with Chicago’s projected contention window, represents a similarly structured deal.

Mets Receive

OF Luis Robert Jr.

White Sox Receive

OF Eli Serrano III (No. 12 prospect per Mike Mayer)
RHP Frank Elissalt (No. 39 prospect per Mike Mayer)

Recommendation

With Robert Jr. currently enduring the worst season of his major league career, acquiring him likely wouldn’t require the steep price that was speculated at last year’s trade deadline. For that reason, New York might consider taking a flyer on him. Despite his struggles, Robert is one of the more compelling “change of scenery” candidates we’ve seen in recent memory. His contract includes $20 million club options for both the 2026 and 2027 seasons, meaning the 27-year-old could either be a pure rental or stick around for a few more years if the Mets were to acquire him.

If he can be even 50% of what he was in 2023, it would still be an upgrade over Tyrone Taylor, who’s struggling to get his bat going despite playing at a high level defensively. Despite his injury history, Robert is just two years removed from a season in which he hit 38 home runs and posted an OPS of .857. If the Mets are serious about adding upside without mortgaging their future, few targets offer as much low-risk, high-reward potential as Robert Jr.

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3 Up, 3 Down: Mets Fail To Sweep White Sox

Andrew Steele-Davis — Thu, 29 May 2025 17:00:10 +0000

The New York Mets couldn’t go for the kill against the White Sox.

Having carved out a four-game winning streak, including taking the first two from Chicago, the Mets dropped the series finale at Citi Field.

It wasn’t a straightforward series win by any means, and clinching the sweep would have been ideal. But, still, the Mets did what they had to do and are now 12 games over .500.

To that end, let’s dive into another edition of 3 Up, 3 Down…

Jared Young (29) Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

3 UP

LEADING THE WAY

After a historic start to the year, Pete Alonso has cooled down somewhat as of late. He’s been part of the problem as it pertains to the top of the lineup not producing. However, the slugging first baseman enjoyed a productive series against the White Sox. He hit a home run in the middle game of the series, driving in two runs and scoring a run. Then, in the finale, Alonso recorded an RBI double in the ninth inning on an otherwise quiet day for the offense. Hopefully, this series acts as the spark to get Alonso really going again.

FEEL-GOOD STORY

Injuries meant that the Mets had to call up reinforcements over the weekend. Enter Jared Young. The veteran journeyman signed with the Mets in the offseason after spending some time in the KBO. He had been raking at Triple-A and earned the right to show what he could do in the bigs. He didn’t disappoint. Young enjoyed a 2-for-3 night on Tuesday, hitting a two-run home run and a double, finishing with two RBIs and a run scored in the win. With Jesse Winker still out injured, Young has a real opportunity to stick around and offer some production from the DH spot. He certainly showed what he is capable of on Tuesday.

CLUTCH PITCHING

The Mets didn’t exactly blow out the White Sox over this three-game series. They needed some clutch pitching to help get the job done. Clay Holmes allowed just one run in his outing in the opener, before the bullpen closed it out with 3.1 scoreless innings of relief. Then, on Tuesday, Reed Garrett came in and tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings to secure the win and his second save of the year. With the offense struggling, still, shutdown pitching was crucial, and that’s exactly what New York got in the two wins.

Griffin Canning (46) Credit: Lucas Boland-Imagn Images

3 DOWN

REGRESSION TO THE MEAN

There is no doubt that Griffin Canning was one of the early success stories of the 2025 season for the Mets. Arguably a below-average pitcher before getting to Queens, Canning was sprinkled with the David Stearns magic dust and emerged as one of the team’s best starters through the first two or so months of the year. However, Canning has shown recent signs of looking like the pitcher we all thought he was. He lasted just three innings in the finale, allowing five runs – three earned – on four hits and four walks. As a result, he’s now allowed a total of eight earned runs on 12 hits and nine walks across 10.3 innings in his last three starts. Let’s hope this is just a minor skid for Canning, instead of something more sinister.

(NOT) GOING FOR THE KILL

Yes, the Mets took two out of three to win the series. Yes, they are 12 games over .500, and yes, they were riding a four-game winning streak before Wednesday’s loss. However, with all that said, this team really should be looking to sweep against weaker teams like the White Sox. Given how great the Phillies look, not to mention the fact that the Braves are bound to improve, every win will be crucial in the divisional race. As such, the Mets need to take full advantage of softer parts of the schedule and go for the kill against teams like the White Sox and the Rockies. In this instance, they just couldn’t finish the job.

SOMETHING NEEDS TO GIVE

Here we go again. We are back talking about the Mets’ ever-growing struggles with runners in scoring position. The inability to cash in with runners on cost them in the series finale. New York went 2-for-12 with RISP, leaving 11 runners stranded on base. Despite having drawn five walks in the first 3.2 innings of the game – eight overall – the offense just couldn’t drive home enough runs required to win the game. Heck, they went a combined 2-for-13 in the first two games of the series, leaving 18 runners on base. And we’ve now reached the point of the year when it is okay to start to panic about this team’s woes with RISP. Especially when you consider that Juan Soto (.130), Francisco Lindor (.180), and Mark Vientos (.146) have all really struggled to produce with runners on. At some point, the pitching is going to regress, and the RISP issues will really start to take a toll. Something has to change, and fast.

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Brandon Nimmo Shines in Mets Loss

Jordan Baron — Thu, 29 May 2025 13:00:01 +0000

On a dreary Wednesday afternoon for the Mets, there was one clear silver lining: Brandon Nimmo.

While the Mets struggled in a loss to the Chicago White Sox, a game fans would rather erase from memory, Nimmo quietly delivered a very complete performance – two hits, two runs and two walks. He accounted for 40% of the Mets’ total hit output on the day.

Nimmo wasted no time getting involved, lining a single into left field in his first at-bat. He followed that with a walk and a run scored in the third, singled again in the seventh, and walked once more in the ninth, coming around to score a second time, though the Mets were already down six at that point.

Despite the defeat, there are encouraging signs that Nimmo could be turning the corner. Since being bumped up to the second spot in the batting order, Nimmo has looked noticeably more comfortable. In 15 plate appearances as the No. 2 hitter, he’s slashing an impressive .385/.467/.462. Sure, it’s a small sample size, but it’s a positive sign, especially for a player who has struggled to a .692 OPS on the season, ranking in the bottom 10% of the league in run value.

Plus, lineup chemistry can be a real factor. We saw it with Francisco Lindor, who surged once he settled into the leadoff spot. Sometimes, it’s about rhythm: knowing who’s hitting in front of you and who’s got your back.

May has been a kinder month to Nimmo. His on-base percentage has finally climbed into the .300s, and under the hood, the numbers are even more promising. His average exit velocity and hard-hit rate both rank in the top 15% of MLB hitters.

There’s still a long way to go before Nimmo resembles the player Mets fans have come to expect, but if Wednesday was any indication, the tide is hopefully turning.

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Mets Pull Out Gritty Walk-Off Win Over White Sox

Tyler Antonelle — Mon, 26 May 2025 23:27:42 +0000

The Mets (33-21) still aren’t right offensively, and they haven’t been for a while, but they’ve been recording some gritty wins lately, which is what good teams do. After being shut down for the first seven innings of Monday’s game against old friend Adrian Houser and the White Sox (17-37), the Mets rallied late and secured a tough 2-1 walk-off win.

The Mets’ offense was nonexistent for the majority of the game against Adrian Houser, who was, in nice terms, not great for the Mets last year with a 5.84 ERA and a midseason DFA. He was dominant in Monday’s game, though, as he retired 16 consecutive batters without allowing much, if any, hard contact after a first inning double to Brandon Nimmo. His next baserunner came with two outs in the sixth inning when Francisco Lindor singled through the right side of the infield. Lindor was erased after Nimmo proceeded to strike out to end the inning.

Clay Holmes, meanwhile, did his best to keep the Mets in the game. He allowed just one run in 5 2/3 innings, the run occurring on a sacrifice fly in the fourth. Holmes pitched into the sixth inning, though he exited the game with two outs and the bases loaded after a pair of infield singles and a walk, all occurring with two outs. José Buttó came into the game and got the crucial final out of the inning, a massive one considering Buttó’s struggles with inherited runners this year.

Clay Holmes, Nasty 94mph Sinker. 😨 pic.twitter.com/Go832QCkNL

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 26, 2025

The game remained 1-0 in favor of the White Sox into the seventh inning, when Houser experienced his first moment of vulnerability by walking Juan Soto and allowing a Pete Alonso single with no outs. That knocked Houser out of the game, bringing in the rookie lefty Brandon Eisert. A pair of fielder’s choices and a walk brought Jeff McNeil to the plate in the Mets’ best scoring chance yet with the bases loaded and two outs, but McNeil struck out looking at a borderline strike to end the inning and ensure Houser an outing of six innings and no runs allowed.

After failing to score in the seventh, the Mets got another chance to threaten in the eighth after Francisco Alvarez led off the inning with a base hit. Luisangel Acuña pinch ran and advanced to third base on a one-out single from Brandon Nimmo. That brought up Juan Soto in a massive spot, and Soto delivered with a sacrifice fly to get the Mets on the board and tie the game. The Mets subsequently loaded the bases with Brett Baty up at the plate, but he flew out to keep the game tied.

Edwin Díaz worked around a two-out walk in the ninth inning to send the game to the bottom of the inning, giving the Mets a chance to walk off a game that seemed for the longest time like it would be a devastating loss. Tyrone Taylor led off the inning with a booming double in the left-center field gap before Jeff McNeil was intentionally walked. Luis Torrens tried to bunt at first but swung away at the second pitch and singled into left field to load the bases with no outs.

That brought Francisco Lindor to the plate, and he skied one into right field deep enough to bring home Tyrone Taylor and secure the victory. Lindor’s walk-off RBI was already his third of the season, giving the Mets an unlikely win for their third in a row.

Stat of the Game: A New Career High for Holmes

With his outing in Monday’s game, Clay Holmes threw 102 pitches, a new high mark for his career. Holmes has obviously been a reliever for most of it, but he began his career as a starter with the Pirates. He has now pitched at least 5 2/3 innings in each of his last five outings and at least five innings in each of his last nine.

Player of the Game: Francisco Lindor

Lindor didn’t have his best game, going 1-for-4, but his sacrifice fly was the at-bat to seal the deal. Lindor has proven more than once this year that he’s the man you want at the plate in a walk-off situation, and he proved that right again when he won Monday’s game for the Mets.

On Deck

The Mets’ series with the White Sox continues Tuesday, with the first pitch scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET. Tylor Megill (3-4, 3.56 ERA) will try to build off his previous solid start against the Red Sox, while Shane Smith (1-3, 2.36 ERA), who has been great this year, will go for Chicago. The game will air on SNY.

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Mets Sign Nick Madrigal

Jack Markowski — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 22:18:26 +0000

The Mets are set to add some infield depth, as the New York Post’s Joel Sherman has reported that the team is signing Nick Madrigal, who passed his physical, to a one-year deal worth $1.35 million that includes up to $500,000 in performance bonuses.

Madrigal will play on a split contract, meaning that the Mets don’t have to add him to the 40-man roster and that he’ll earn a different salary depending on if he’s in the major or minor leagues.

The No. 4 overall pick out of Oregon State by the Chicago White Sox in 2018, Madrigal was a premier prospect leading up to his MLB debut in 2020. He was later traded to the Chicago Cubs alongside right-handed pitcher Codi Heuer at the 2021 deadline for closer Craig Kimbrel.

Madrigal hit .221/.280/.256 over 51 games and 94 plate appearances for the Cubs last season and has posted a .667 OPS across 285 career contests. He has a penchant for putting the ball in play, evidenced by a strikeout rate of 9.0% as a big leaguer, though a majority of his value comes from his defense.

In 1,353 2/3 innings at second base, the 27-year-old has recorded two Outs Above Average (OAA) while logging eight Defensive Runs Saved and seven OAA over 698 1/3 frames as a third baseman.

Madrigal will provide veteran depth, whether it be with Triple-A Syracuse or in the majors, and should compete for a spot on the Opening Day roster during spring training.

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BREAKING: Garrett Crochet Traded to Red Sox

Chris Bello — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 19:11:52 +0000

The Red Sox are finalizing a trade to acquire Garrett Crochet from the White Sox, according to Julian McWilliams of the Boston Globe.

In return, the White Sox will receive Kyle Teel (MLB.com’s No. 25), Braden Montgomery (MLB.com’s No. 54), Chase Meidroth (Boston’s No. 11), and RHP Wikelman Gonzalez (Boston’s No. 14), according to Ken Rosenthal of the Atheltic. Julian McWilliams of the Boston Globe first reported Teel’s involvement in the trade. The deal is in the medical phase and is not official.

Photo Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

Crochet was one of the game’s best pitchers last season when moved to the rotation. He pitched to a 3.58 ERA, 1.068 WHIP, 12.9 K/9, and recorded 209 strikeouts in 146 innings as a starter.

As a result, Crochet was one of the hottest names at the trade deadline. The White Sox, however, ultimately decided to hold Crochet due to multiple factors, which included Crochet stating he wouldn’t pitch in October unless extended.

The move is a massive get for the Red Sox. John Henry and Co. missed out on Juan Soto and Max Fried to both New York franchises, but punches back by acquiring a 25-year-old ace with two full seasons of control.

Meanwhile, the deal spells a pivot for the Mets. The organization was linked to Crochet over the coming days, but now have to look elsewhere for starting pitching.

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Free Agent Profile: Mike Soroka, RHP

John Molnar — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 15:40:35 +0000

Position: SP/RP B/T: R/R
Age: 27 (08/04/1997)

2024 Traditional Stats: 0-10, 4.74 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 25 G, 79.2 IP, 84 SO, 44 BB
2024 Advanced Stats: 87 ERA+, 24.2 K%, 12.7 BB%, 4.55 xERA, 4.95 FIP, 4.54 xFIP, 0.6 WAR

Rundown

Michael Soroka, also known as Mike, is quite an intriguing free agent. Just looking at his statistics listed above, you probably get immediately turned off. During the 2023 season, Soroka posted a 6.40 ERA in only seven appearances. Before that, the last pitch thrown by Mike Soroka was in 2020, where he had made only three starts with 13.2 IP. Things over the last few years have not looked promising.

And right off the rip, 2024 gives you the same standpoint. In games Soroka had started, he posted a 6.39 ERA with a 1.51 WHIP. Nine starts, only about 43 innings. This was not the same pitcher as 2019.

With all of this being said, the Chicago White Sox knew there needed to be a change. On May 14, manager Pedro Grifol decided that moving Soroka to the bullpen would help the team. Although the win column didn’t show that move, it proved to be just that. Soroka brought his competitiveness and willingness to be ready to go whenever needed right into the White Sox pen, posting a 2.75 ERA in 16 games. During this stint in the pen, he dramatically dropped his WHIP and AVG against and had 36 more strikeouts in seven fewer innings.

Mike Soroka could be an interesting arm if used as a reliever, possibly in a long relief type/spot starter type role. Throwing 36 innings in only 16 relief opportunities, he showed that he could easily go multiple innings when needed. His increased strikeout percentage was at an insane 39%, showing teams he can be a true long-relief, mid-leverage type arm.

Contract

MLB Trade Rumors has Soroka projected to receive a two-year, 14 million dollar contract. This feels like somebody David Stearns would love to take a shot on. Soroka has had to battle injuries for the majority of his career, and even in the 2024 campaign, he dealt with a shoulder strain that sidelined him for two months.

This is a player that could be similar to a Jose Butto role for the Mets. Having the option to be a spot starter, and a long relief option, this could be a good fit for the Mets. Especially if the Mets leadership decided to give Butto a chance to win a starting spot, that would leave the Mets needing somebody who can eat innings out of the pen.

We know the Mets have already shown interest in signing Soroka.

Recommendation

Soroka is a low-risk, high-reward type of player. This new Mets regime, headed by Steve Cohen and David Stearns, loves to take risks, especially with pitching. Last year, the two brought in Sean Manaea, ‘the worst pitcher in baseball’ Luis Severino, and leaned on Jose Quintana to get quality innings. They have trust in their pitching lab and believe with tweaks, they could get the most out of players.

Soroka has the potential to be a great bullpen arm, as proven to be this year. While he may never return to being his old self from 2019, he can still be a key contributor to a bullpen with big goals. I would say that acquiring Mike Soroka would be a plus move for the Mets.

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Mets Showing Interest in Garrett Crochet

Chris Bello — Sat, 09 Nov 2024 23:14:07 +0000

The White Sox struggled immensely last season

They had the lowest win percentage (41-121) in major league history, and were one loss away from tying the 1962 Mets for the lowest win total ever.

But, despite the historically bad season, the White Sox had one bright spot. Converted starter Garrett Crochet. The left-hander was fast-tracked to the majors in 2020 as a 21-year-old and put up dominant seasons out of the bullpen. In three seasons, he pitched to a 2.71 ERA in 73 innings with 85 strikeouts.

Jun 24, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago White Sox pitcher Garrett Crochet (45) delivers against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning at Guaranteed Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

The success continued in the rotation, where Crochet proved he could withstand a higher workload. The lefty made 32 starts, pitching to a 3.58 ERA while registering a 2.69 FIP, 1.068 WHIP, and 12.9 K/9.

It was electric. And while he was retained during the trade deadline due to his demands for an extension before throwing a pitch in the postseason, Crochet is back on the trade block. And the Mets are listed as a top team to make a push for him.

It’ll take a haul to acquire the 25-year-old from the White Sox. But White Sox General Manager Chris Getz is not opposed to moving his ace, and laid out what it’ll take for other teams.

“We are focusing on position player return,” Getz said, as reported by 670 The Score. “That is our primary focus in any trade talks. The right players have to be there. We can’t force anything. We certainly need to improve our offense. That is very clear. That is what we need to do in any trade or free-agent acquisition.”

The Mets are among the Red Sox and Padres as serious inquirers for the ace, and have an abundance of major league ready position player prospects to move.

Ronny Mauricio, Luisangel Acuna, and Brett Baty are all former top-100 prospects as of last season who didn’t have a home in the Mets infield. And with Francisco Lindor at shortstop for the longterm and the emergence of Mark Vientos, all three are moveable.

Whether or not the Crochet talks advance will be seen. David Stearns stated earlier this offseason that the club would be involved in the trade market, and all the Mets infield prospects on the top-15 list on MLB.com were drafted by previous front offices.

Stearns has also been aggressive on the trade market in the past. The GM traded multiple names for Christian Yelich prior to the 2018 season, which resulted in an NLCS appearance against the Dodgers and an MVP award for the left-fielder in a Brewers uniform.

The deciding factor, however, will be the White Sox, as well as the other teams involved in trade talks. The White Sox still hold two years of control over the lefty, and moving him has to come at the right price.

“You want to get the highest return for your club,” Getz said. “Some organizations’ top talent is much different than others. We have spent a lot of time and resources studying other teams’ farm systems. Garrett had an outstanding year, so as much as other teams are interested, I can also see him making an Opening Day start for us as well.”

The Red Sox have a bevy of top-position prospects coming up. Marcelo Mayer, Kyle Teel, Kristian Campbell, and Roman Anthony are the top four guys in the Red Sox system and are all in Triple-A. The only guy known to be unavailable in a trade, however, is Anthony.

If the Mets were to pull the trigger on Crochet, it would instantly boost a rotation with many question marks heading into 2025. It would provide the Mets an ace that eluded them in 2024 and for years to come.

“Teams that are trying to acquire Crochet know that he will sign an extension,” Jeff Passan reported on Baseball Tonight with Buster Olney.

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3 Up, 3 Down: Mets Handle Business In Chicago

Andrew Steele-Davis — Mon, 02 Sep 2024 17:30:44 +0000

The New York Mets did what they had to do in Chicago over the weekend.

Taking on one of the worst teams in baseball history, the Mets needed to sweep the White Sox. No ands, ifs, or buts. And they did, taking all three games with relative ease.

As a result, coupled with the Braves dropping three of four to the Phillies, the Mets are now just one game back of Atlanta for the final Wild Card spot in the National League.

Talk about a successful weekend.

New York took care of business while things broke the right way elsewhere to set up a thrilling finish to the regular season.

And, on that note, let’s dive into another edition of 3 Up, 3 Down…

3 UP

Sep 1, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Sean Manaea (59) delivers a pitch against the Chicago White Sox during the first inning at Guaranteed Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

PITCHING PROWESS

Sean Manaea has been money for the Mets when it has mattered most. With every game now crucial, Manaea has elevated his play. He delivered another stellar start on Sunday. In a game the Mets needed to win to clinch a crucialsweep, the lefty tossed seven scoreless frames while allowing just two hits and two walks with five strikeouts. It was Manaea’s third start of at least seven innings and no earned runs this season. Furthermore, he owns a 3.35 ERA this year, and opponents are hitting just .207 against him. If the Mets make the postseason, Manaea’s ability to come up clutch late in the season will be a big part of why. Oh, and New York is 10-2 in Manaea’s last 12 starts, too.

CRUCIAL ADDITION

President of baseball operations David Stearns looks like a very smart guy for adding Jesse Winker at the trade deadline. The former Mets nemesis has morphed into a key ally down the stretch run. Winker enjoyed a monster series in Chicago at the plate. He went 3-for-4 with one RBI, a double and two runs on Friday. He followed that up with a home run as part of a three-run first inning on Saturday, along with two RBIs and one run scored. The Mets needed outfield help and lineup depth at the trade deadline, and Winker is certainly providing both in abundance.

PLENTY OF RELIEF

You can’t fault the Mets bullpen this weekend. They didn’t put a foot wrong. Yes, they were going up against an awful White Sox team that will finish as one of the worst in baseball history. However, you can only beat what is in front of you, and the bullpen did its job all weekend long. Adam Ottavino, Reed Garrett and Phil Maton combined for 2.2 scoreless and hitless innings Friday. Maton, Huascar Brazoban, Ryne Stanek and José Buttó combined to allow just one run in four innings of relief on Saturday. If that wasn’t enough, Edwin Díaz was lights out in the ninth inning on Friday and Saturday to finish the deal with ease. The Mets needed these three games in Chicago, and a spotless bullpen certainly played its part in the sweep.

3 DOWN

Jul 1, 2024; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez (4) looks out from the on deck circle against the Washington Nationals during the fifth inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Rafael Suanes-USA TODAY Sports

SLUMP CITY

Francisco Alvarez can’t seem to escape from the all-time slump he’s engulfed in. The catcher went a combined 1-for-8 against the White Sox, striking out twice. He is now without a home run since August, and his last multi-hit game came on August 7. As a result, Alvarez is now hitting a lowly .150/.195/.224 with an ugly .419 OPS since the All-Star break. The Mets require all the help they can get down the stretch. They need Alvarez to find a way to break out of this slump. And quick.

STRIKING OUT

One disturbing negative to emerge from the weekend – and there weren’t many – was the amount of times the Mets struckout on Sunday. Mets hitters struck out 16 times against the White Sox, surpassing the previous season-high of 14. Now, eight of those strikeouts came from a legit ace in Garrett Crochet. Still, striking out 16 times against the worst team in baseball is a little concerning. Plus, when you consider that the Mets have also been struck out 136 times over the last 13 games, that is a trend worth keeping an eye on.

HIGH USAGE

Edwin Díaz was brilliant against Chicago, earning the save on Sunday and coasting through the ninth inning in Friday’s series opener. As a result, the closer has pitched in four of the last five games for New York. Expect that usage to continue to trend upwards. Díaz will be used frequently by the Mets down the stretch as the team will treat every game like it’s their last. However, in a year full of dazzling highs and crushing lows, you just hope that Díaz will be able to handle the increased workload. After a couple of costly mistakes recently, the Mets need the 2022 version of Edwin Díaz here on out.

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