The 2019 Major League Baseball Winter Meetings were very different from the 2018 relative snoozefest that saw the largest contract handed being $50 million to Phillies outfielder Andrew McCutchen.
I had the opportunity to travel out to sunny San Diego (though it did rain Sunday) on behalf of MMO. There was action throughout my time in San Diego, with three deals over $200 million and the Mets making a few minor deals.
Yanks Get Their Man
The Yankees have been trying to bring Gerrit Cole to the Bronx since they drafted him in the first round back in 2008. Instead, Cole decided to go to UCLA and was taken in the first round again, this time by the Pirates in 2011.
Fast forward to January 2018, the Yankees tried to acquire Cole from the Pirates, but he was traded to the Astros.
Late on Tuesday night, the Yankees finally got Cole with a nine-year, $324 million deal. It’s the largest contract ever given to a pitcher, by a lot.
Phillies Stay Active
Didi Gregorius is reuniting with Joe Girardi in Philadelphia after signing a one-year, $14 million deal. The former Yankees shortstop is counting on a bounce back from his disappointing .238/.276/.441 line in 2019.
The move comes a week after the Phillies designated both Maikel Franco and Cesar Hernandez for assignment in order to start the revamp of their infield.
Phillies already scooped up former Mets starter Zack Wheeler before the week started, giving them two key adds for the 2020 season.
One Nat Stays, One Heads West
The Nationals gave right-handed starter Stephen Strasburg a seven-year, $245 million deal to stay with the World Champs. The deal includes $80 million in deferrals. Washington heads into the 2020 season with the three-headed monster of Max Scherzer, Patrick Corbin, and Strasburg together again.
Another seven-year, $245 million deal, this time to third baseman Anthony Rendon from the Angels. Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani, and Rendon is a good trio to build an offense around.
Mets All Set In Outfield?
The Mets already added to their outfield depth this offseason when they acquired defensive-minded center fielder Jake Marisnick from the Astros last week.
Despite that, rumors swirled all week about the Mets still being in the Starling Marte sweepstakes. A deal for Marte looks unlikely unless the Pirates are willing to take on one of the Mets bad contracts in the deal or if the Mets shed salary in another trade.
While Brandon Nimmo has been named in numerous reports as a potential piece, his inclusion in the deal would likely mean the Mets are getting more than just Marte. The Pirates catching depth chart is bleak, and we know that GM Ben Cherington is looking for a young, controllable, good defensive backstop.
That being said, sources say that it’s unlikely that the Mets trade Nimmo and/or acquire Marte at this time.
Mets Add Pitching Depth
The Mets signed right-handed pitcher Rick Porcello and Michael Wacha at the meetings, both pending physicals. Porcello signed a one-year deal with $10 million and Wacha got a one-year deal worth $3 million with an additional $7 million possible with incentives. Porcello will be the Mets fifth starter and Wacha is depth.
Unfortunately, neither Porcello (5.52 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, -0.5 WARP) nor Wacha (4.76 ERA, 1.56 WHIP, -0.7 WARP) were any good in 2019. Furthermore, replacing Zack Wheeler with Porcello and Wacha, certainly isn’t eliminating “ifs.”
Could Mets Bullpen Bounce Back?
New Mets manager Carlos Beltran told the media that Jeurys Familia has already lost 20 pounds this offseason as he looks to forget a disastrous 2019 season. Familia is working out at the Impact Zone in New Jersey, alongside free agent reliever Dellin Betances. The Mets are one of teams reportedly showing interest in Betances.
Beltran also told us that the Mets sent a team consisting of nutritionists, physical therapists, strength and conditioning to Puerto Rico in hopes of helping Edwin Diaz return to 2018 form. Mets’ GM Brodie Van Wagenen, “We put a very specific action plan in place early in the offseason so that we’d have a long runway to be able to see the results.”
Teams Willing to Deal For Lowrie
Both the Oakland A’s and the Texas Rangers have shown interest in acquiring Mets infielder Jed Lowrie. The Mets are looking to deal the veteran and his one-year, $9 million left on his contract to keep them away from the luxury tax.
Lowrie, 35, had a myriad of injuries that limited him to eight plate appearances in 2019, and he still didn’t look particularly healthy in those.
Lowrie has already had two separate stints in Oakland during his 12-year Major League career. The Mets and Rangers have talked about deals around Dominic Smith, right-handed reliever Jose Leclerc, and Lowrie.
Mets Quick Hits
- Mets COO Jeff Wilpon wasn’t at the Winter Meetings this year, he was absent because of a prior commitment according to Tim Healey of Newsday.
- Jessica Mendoza, David Wright, and Al Leiter were all part if the Mets front office contingent in San Diego.
- New bench coach Hensley Meulens noted he has previous relationships with Robinson Cano (Meulens played with Cano’s dad), Amed Rosario, Wilson Ramos, and of course, Carlos Beltran.
- Mets special assistant Terry Collins was in the house, and he was seen quite frequently with the Mets rookie manager.
- New pitching coach Jeremy Hefner was not at the meetings, but did hold a phone conference with us.
- Van Wagenen chose not to comment at all on the Mets possible ownership change, and MLB commissioner Rob Manfred doesn’t expect any “governance issues” in the deal getting done.
- Beltran followed suit with a no comment, his was on the Astros sign-stealing investigation. Don’t expect to see the investigation to end any time soon.
- Look for the Mets to shed salary, and could be soon, they are right up against the luxury tax threshold right now.
- Mets added depth with two minor league deals both reported by Anthony DiComo of MLB.com, catcher David Rodriguez and right-handed pitcher Pedro Payano. They also added right-handed pitcher Adam Oller in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft and lost no on in the major league phase.
- Random former Mets sightings included Ty Kelly, Shane Spencer, James Loney, Ramon Martinez, Moises Alou, and Aaron Harang.
Thanks to Joe D. for allowing me to cover the Winter Meetings yet again, I was able to meet lots of good people and look forward to Dallas, Texas next year. Keep a look out for a feature on Dove Tail Bats, the company that makes the knobless bat for Jeff McNeil and has Mets’ slugger Pete Alonso as a top client as well.
