All purpose Free Agents thread

[whippoorwill]

I see the article but I don’t know how to comment. 
 

if Brandon Lowe leaves the Pirates I will cry

[Gwreck]

7 hours ago, whippoorwill said:

if Brandon Lowe leaves the Pirates I will cry

…tears of happiness because the Mets sign him?

[Centerfield]

Brandon Lowe would be an interesting option for the Mets but it would mean that they’ve decided to eat the contract with Semien, and they’re not relying on one of the kids for 2027. I certainly see the value in both of those but I wonder if the Mets will. 
 

Lowe comes with injury risk. He’s been healthy the last two years, but missed a lot of time from 22-24. Productive player when healthy. Last year’s .824 might be a stretch for him to replicate at his age, but he should be good for high 700s. 
 

Jim Bowden predicts a 3 year, $45M deal but I think others are estimating a bit higher. Maybe 4 years, and as high as $20M per. 

[Centerfield]

Nick Martinez declines his mutual option and is now a free agent. 

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

I think they keep Simmy and make Rojas take it from him. Then you can release him or trade him back to Texas for DeGrom

[Benjamin Grimm]

I saw a rumor that deGrom might be dealt to Detroit. Don't know if it was a credible source. I agree with the above, though. Semien will go to spring training and will have to fight for his job. Rojas is the bigger threat, but I'm staking an early bid on Pitre as the 2027 dark horse.

[whippoorwill]

I wish DeGrom would come back to the Mets

[ashie62]

I believe Pitre could be with the Mets before Rojas. I don't think Pitre was promoted aggressively for any reason but to be in position to compete for the opening day 2B job

[Gwreck]

deGrom didn’t want to go to Atlanta this past year.  Seems unlikely he’d accept a trade to Detroit (and even less likely he’d accept one to New York).

[Gwreck]

18 hours ago, Centerfield said:

Brandon Lowe would be an interesting option for the Mets but it would mean that they’ve decided to eat the contract with Semien, and they’re not relying on one of the kids for 2027. I certainly see the value in both of those but I wonder if the Mets will. 
 

Lowe comes with injury risk. He’s been healthy the last two years, but missed a lot of time from 22-24. Productive player when healthy. Last year’s .824 might be a stretch for him to replicate at his age, but he should be good for high 700s. 

Lowe also plays excellent defense (finished in top 3 for Gold Glove this year).

I don’t actually expect the Mets to sign Lowe and cut Semien but that’s what they should do.  Entering the season expecting Rojas or another prospect to be ready to contribute on opening day is folly.  And if a prospect does force the issue, there’s the DH slot, or Lowe could move to first.  

And looking longer term, a one-year infield crunch in 2027 might be fine anyway since for 2028, Bichette’s probably gone (or he was crappy enough in 2027 that he shouldn’t be a full-time player in 2028).

[Centerfield]

Michael Soroka is a free agent. 
 

Corbin Burnes and Luis Severino are not. Both opted back in, as expected. 

[Gwreck]

2 hours ago, Centerfield said:

Michael Soroka is a free agent. 

Soroka’s not really on my list but it will be interesting to see what the Mets want to acquire from the lower end free agent starters.  Even beyond Skubal they probably need another FA starter.

[Centerfield]

On 10/31/2026 at 5:37 AM, Gwreck said:

Lowe also plays excellent defense (finished in top 3 for Gold Glove this year).

I don’t actually expect the Mets to sign Lowe and cut Semien but that’s what they should do.  Entering the season expecting Rojas or another prospect to be ready to contribute on opening day is folly.  And if a prospect does force the issue, there’s the DH slot, or Lowe could move to first.  

And looking longer term, a one-year infield crunch in 2027 might be fine anyway since for 2028, Bichette’s probably gone (or he was crappy enough in 2027 that he shouldn’t be a full-time player in 2028).

I just heard that Lowe is a QO candidate. That would probably make him a non option to Stearns. 

[metirish]

 

 

 

[Gwreck]

On 11/2/2026 at 7:40 AM, Centerfield said:

I just heard that Lowe is a QO candidate. That would probably make him a non option to Stearns. 

Soto and Bichette were both signed by the Mets under Stearns after receiving QOs. 

[Centerfield]

Yes. I think there are free agents that Stearns deems worth giving up the QO compensation. Clearly Soto is one of them. I think if you are looking at a short term deal for a player like Lowe, I don’t think he will deem it worth the QO price. I could be wrong though. 
 

For instance, I didn’t think, and still don’t think, that the QO compensation was worth giving up for the deal given to Bichette. Both in terms of the player we signed, and the fact that he could walk after a year. But Stearns felt it was. So who knows. 

[Benjamin Grimm]

I find myself really wondering what's going on in front offices right now. The lockout is about three and half weeks away. Are there furious free agent negotiations going on? I would think that most of these players will be locked up before they're locked out, since it may be April or May or later before there's another chance to negotiate, and if so, the reopening may be followed by an abbreviated spring (or summer) training.

 

[MFS62]

Do they also lose a draft pick if they sign a player who got a QO from another team?

Later