December 28th, 2023
MLB.com is keeping track of all the latest Mets-related free agent and trade rumors right here.
Dec. 28: What will the Mets do about their pitching?
Although the Mets continue to search for rotation help after missing out on their No. 1 target, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, they are not expected to pursue Blake Snell or Jordan Montgomery.
Rather, the club is likely to shop in the second tier to improve a rotation that currently features Kodai Senga, José Quintana, Luis Severino, Adrian Houser and Tylor Megill, with Joey Lucchesi providing depth.
One of their leading targets appears to be Lucas Giolito, with Mike Puma of the New York Post reporting that the Mets are showing “strong interest” in the right-hander.
All that being said, there’s still some buzz that the team could end up making a bigger move at some point, with MLB Network Insider Jon Heyman writing in The New York Post that it’s worth wondering if owner Steve Cohen would put out a marginally competitive team in what’s Pete Alonso’s walk year.
Giolito has posted a 4.89 ERA over the past two seasons and led the AL with 41 homers allowed in 2023, but he’s an appealing target nonetheless, especially for clubs that aren’t interested in paying nine figures for Snell or Montgomery. The righty ranks sixth in games started (135) and fourth in strikeouts (907) since the beginning of 2019. He also earned Cy Young votes in every season from 2019-21, posting a 3.47 ERA and an 11.1 K/9 over 72 starts in that span.
Giolito’s durability makes him a strong fit for the Mets, considering the recent injury history of some of their starters. A left rib fracture limited Quintana to just 13 starts in 2023, and he’ll be 35 years old on Opening Day. Severino, meanwhile, has made only 45 appearances (40 starts) over the past five years.
Additionally, Heyman writes that the Mets have some interest in designated hitters J.D. Martinez and Justin Turner.
Dec. 21: How will Mets respond after missing out on Yamamoto
As reported by MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand, Yoshinobu Yamamoto is heading to the Dodgers on a 12-year, $325 million contract. It’s a tough development for the Mets, who were all-in on the Japanese ace. They reportedly held two meetings with Yamamoto in recent weeks and were seen by many to be one of the top contenders for the best pitcher on the free agent market.
Now what? The Mets could choose to go after one of the other top arms on the free-agent market, such as Blake Snell or Jordan Montgomery. With a starting rotation that currently includes Kodai Senga, José Quintana, Luis Severino and Adrian Houser, the Mets still have a clear need for a top-end starter.
However, The Athletic’s Will Sammon (subscription required) reported Saturday that Yamamoto “exists in a special category of one” and “stands alone as a player worth splurging on.” Per Sammon’s report, the Mets are not expected to go after Snell or Montgomery if they don’t land Yamamoto, and SNY’s Andy Martino reported something similar in the wake of the Dodgers’ big move for the 25-year-old right-hander on Thursday.
Granted, that doesn’t mean the Mets won’t do anything else this offseason. They have other holes to address — including one at third base after Ronny Mauricio tore his right ACL earlier this month — and could look at free agents on short-term deals to fill them. Veteran corner infielder Justin Turner and center fielder Michael A. Taylor are two options who have been recently linked to the Mets.
But it seems like the club’s next marquee free-agent signing may not occur until after the 2024 season.
Dec.15: Mets pursuing reunion with Turner?
Could the Mets and veteran infielder Justin Turner be a match this offseason? According to a report in the New York Post, the club is actively engaged with Turner on a potential reunion.
Turner, who played for the Mets from 2010-13, could be a good fit in Queens because of his defensive versatility on the infield. And with the club’s fourth-ranked prospect, Ronny Mauricio, injured with a torn ACL, there’s a particular need at third base.
Turner was a below-average hitter during his first stint with the Mets, and New York did not tender him a contract following the 2013 season. He signed with the Dodgers and reworked his swing, leading to a career revival — from 2014-22, he posted an .866 OPS with 156 home runs for Los Angeles, etching his name in franchise history with 13 postseason homers over that span.
In his age-38 campaign last season, Turner remained productive, joining the Red Sox and posting an .800 OPS with 23 home runs and 96 RBIs.
Dec. 13: Will Mauricio’s injury lead Mets to add third baseman?
With Brett Baty and Ronny Mauricio vying for playing time at third base, the Mets thought they had the hot corner set heading into 2024. However, Mauricio’s torn right ACL may cause the team to re-evaluate its plans.
While jumping into the mix for Matt Chapman seems unlikely for the Mets, there are other free-agent third basemen who could be of interest.
In an appearance on MLB Network, MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo mentioned the possibility of bringing in a veteran such as Justin Turner on a short-term deal. Turner, who spent four seasons with the Mets as a utility player early on in his career before developing into an All-Star with the Dodgers, is a free agent after declining his 2024 player option with the Red Sox.
Gio Urshela, Evan Longoria and Isiah Kiner-Falefa are some of the other notable third basemen on the market. Urshela and Kiner-Falefa have experience playing in New York from their time with the Yankees.
If they don’t end up adding another third baseman, the Mets will likely go with a mix of Baty, Mark Vientos and free-agent acquisition Joey Wendle at the hot corner.
Dec. 10: Some GMs think Mets are willing to listen on Alonso (report)
Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said at his introductory press conference in early October that he expected Pete Alonso to be the team’s first baseman on Opening Day in 2024. He reiterated that stance during the GM Meetings.
However, there are still some rumblings around the industry that the Mets haven’t entirely closed the door on a trade involving Alonso, who is eligible for free agency next offseason.
According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, several general managers believe the Mets will listen to offers for the slugging first baseman, though no team, publicly or privately, said they were engaged in trade talks for Alonso during the Winter Meetings.
MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi previously reported something similar on Nov. 22, noting that the Mets were “open-minded to listening on Pete Alonso.”
“It doesn’t appear right now that a trade is close, but with one year left on his deal and no contract extension in place — he just hired [agent] Scott Boras — it does not appear they are moving in that direction,” Morosi said. “So watch carefully about the possibility of Alonso being moved.”
Of course, none of this is all that surprising. It’s in the Mets’ best interest to keep their options open with Alonso in case there’s a team out there willing to offer a significant package for a player with one year of club control remaining, like the Yankees just did with Juan Soto. But that doesn’t mean he’s likely to be traded.
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