Benjamin Grimm

Reports say Steve Cohen is going to California next week to meet with Boras and Soto.

I wasn't sure if I should include them, since they all picture him as a Giant instead of a Met, but since he's a Met retired-number guy, I opted to allow them into the competition.

My first successful grid in what seems like a long time. I got a 65. [th][/th][th]TWINS[/th][th].300 SEASON[/th][th]300 HR[/th][th]NATIONALS[/th]Jeff Reardon 10Tim Raines 15Gary Carter 7[th]YANKEES[/th]Graig Nettles 2Don Mattingly 7Darryl Strawberry 1[th]REDS[/th]Frank Viola 6Joe Morgan 8Frank Robinson 7

http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/TCD.png> Vote for the tabloid covers that you like the best. You may select up to three choices. Voting will run for seven days. THINGS ARE LOOKING UP Newsday, June 16, 2024. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2024/20240616_NSD_02.jpg> METS' NEW BATMAN New York Daily News, June 16, 2024. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2024/20240616_NYDN_02.jpg> WHO'S YOUR PADRE?! New York Post, June 16, 2024. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2024/20240616_NYP_02.jpg> POP IN THEIR STEP Newsday, June 17, 2024. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2024/20240617_NSD_02.jpg> WILLIE MAYS 1931-2024 Newsday, June 19, 2024. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2024/20240619_NSD_01.jpg> A baseball GIANT Newsday, June 19, 2024. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2024/20240619_NSD_02.jpg> FAREWELL TO A GIANT New York Daily News, June 19, 2024. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2024/20240619_NYDN_01.jpg> FOREVER THE 'SAY HEY KID' New York Daily News, June 19, 2024. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2024/20240619_NYDN_02.jpg> WILLIE MAYS - The Say Hey Kid New York Post, June 19, 2024. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2024/20240619_NYP_02.jpg>

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This Max, who's younger that Scherzer, will turn 31 in January. He's been pretty durable. His 2023 season was abbreviated by a forearm injury, so he only pitched 77.2 innings, but he had 165.2 in 2019, 56 in the 60-game 2020 season, and 165.2, 185.1, and 174.1, respectively, in 2021, 2022, and 2024. FanGraphs projects he would get a contract of five-years and between $125 and $140 million.

Might as well start now. He has Milwaukee history with David Stearns. He's said recently that he'd be willing to move from shortstop to third base. He turned 29 this past September. If the Mets were to sign him, they would obviously have to move Vientos to another position. Likely options are first base or DH.

I don't remember DJ Stewart as an infielder, so I slotted him in tenth, assuming he did more than Eddy Alvarez did. 1) Francisco Lindor 2) Mark Vientos 3) Pete Alonso 4) José Iglesias 5) Jeff McNeil 6) Brett Baty 7) Luisangel Acuña 8) Joey Wendle 9) Zack Short 10) DJ Stewart

http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/TCD.png> Vote for the tabloid covers that you like the best. You may select up to three choices. Voting will run for seven days. WILD PITCH Newsday, May 30, 2024. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2024/20240530_NSD_02.jpg> BEYOND UGLY New York Daily News, May 30, 2024. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2024/20240530_NYDN_02.jpg> 'Worst team in the whole f--king MLB' New York Post, May 30, 2024. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2024/20240530_NYP_02.jpg> STRAWBERRY'S FIELD FOREVER Newsday, June 2, 2024. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2024/20240602_NSD_02.jpg> SECOND WIND Newsday, June 4, 2024. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2024/20240604_NSD_02.jpg> BIG FLIES Newsday, June 6, 2024. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2024/20240606_NSD_02.jpg> LONDON BROILED Newsday, June 9, 2024. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2024/20240609_NSD_02.jpg> ROYAL PHLUSH New York Daily News, June 9, 2024. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2024/20240609_NYDN_02.jpg> PICCADILLY CIRCUS New York Daily News, June 10, 2024. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2024/20240610_NYDN_02.jpg> FIRST TIME, LONG TIME Newsday, June 14, 2024. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2024/20240614_NSD_02.jpg> MAKING A SPLASH New York Post, June 14, 2024. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2024/20240614_NYP_02.jpg>

No plate appearances as a Met. He caught one half inning, the final three outs of a Mets victory.

1) Francisco Alvarez 2) Luis Torrens 3) Tomás Nido 4) Omar Narváez 5) Joe Hudson

http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/TCD.png> Vote for the tabloid covers that you like the best. You may select up to three choices. Voting will run for seven days. GOODEN'S GOT IT New York Daily News, April 14, 2024. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2024/20240414_NYDN_02.jpg> DOC'S HOUSE Newsday, April 15, 2024. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2024/20240415_NSD_02.jpg> THE DOC IS IN New York Daily News, April 15, 2024. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2024/20240415_NYDN_02.jpg> BAT & TWITCH Newsday, April 17, 2024. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2024/20240417_NSD_02.jpg> WIN CITI! New York Post, April 17, 2024. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2024/20240417_NYP_02.jpg> NO-NO TO OH-NO! Newsday, April 30, 2024. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2024/20240430_NSD_02.jpg> THAT'S SICK! Newsday, May 3, 2024. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2024/20240503_NSD_02.jpg> FLU SHOT! New York Daily News, May 3, 2024. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2024/20240503_NYDN_02.jpg> MELTDOWN CITI Newsday, May 26, 2024. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2024/20240526_NSD_02.jpg> WHAT A MESS New York Daily News, May 26, 2024. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2024/20240526_NYDN_02.jpg> TOTAL DIAZSTER New York Post, May 26, 2024. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2024/20240526_NYP_02.jpg>

Diaz Garrett Butto Maton Nunez Danny Young Reid-Foley Lopez Smith Ottavino

http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/TCD.png> Vote for the tabloid covers that you like the best. You may select up to three choices. Voting will run for seven days. PLAY BALL! New York Daily News, March 24, 2024. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2024/20240324_NYDN_02.jpg> MARK DOWN Newsday, March 25, 2024. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2024/20240325_NSD_02.jpg> LITTLE FIGHT Newsday, March 30, 2024. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2024/20240330_NSD_02.jpg> YOU WANNA START! New York Daily News, March 30, 2024. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2024/20240330_NYDN_02.jpg> QUIET DOWN NOW New York Daily News, March 31, 2024. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2024/20240331_NYDN_02.jpg> THE BEST... and the worst New York Daily News, April 1, 2024. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2024/20240401_NYDN_02.jpg> BAD NEWS POLAR BEARS New York Daily News, April 5, 2024. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2024/20240405_NYDN_02.jpg> KEEP 'EM DOWN New York Daily News, April 7, 2024. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2024/20240407_NYDN_02.jpg> NOT THIS TIME New York Daily News, April 10, 2024. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2024/20240410_NYDN_02.jpg> 16 New York Daily News, April 12, 2024. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2024/20240412_NYDN_02.jpg>

Sean Manaea Luis Severino David Peterson José Quintana Christian Scott Tylor Megill José Buttó Paul Blackburn Joey Lucchesi Adrian Houser

Hmmmm!

http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/TCD.png> Vote for the tabloid covers that you like the best. You may select up to three choices. Voting will run for seven days. WAITING GAME Newsday, February 24, 2024. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2024/20240224_NSD_02.jpg> THAT'S WHAT STEVE SAYS New York Daily News, February 24, 2024. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2024/20240224_NYDN_02.jpg> LET'S MAKE A DEAL! New York Post, February 28, 2024. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2024/20240228_NYP_02.jpg> STARTING STRONG Newsday, March 2, 2024. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2024/20240302_NSD_02.jpg> BRUISED APPLE New York Post, March 3, 2024. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2024/20240303_NYP_02.jpg> TECH SUPPORT New York Post, March 5, 2024. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2024/20240305_NYP_02.jpg> BIG BAT DAY Newsday, March 22, 2024. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2024/20240322_NSD_02.jpg> J.D. FOR DH New York Daily News, March 22, 2024. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2024/20240322_NYDN_02.jpg> MART' MADNESS New York Post, March 22, 2024. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2024/20240322_NYP_02.jpg> INSTANT MESSAGE Newsday, March 23, 2024. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2024/20240323_NSD_02.jpg>

http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/TCD.png> Vote for the tabloid covers that you like the best. You may select up to three choices. Voting will run for seven days. A YEAR OF HURT New York Daily News, February 16, 2024. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2024/20240216_NYDN_02.jpg> LIN' IT TO WIN IT New York Post, February 16, 2024. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2024/20240216_NYP_02.jpg> SOARING JETT Newsday, February 17, 2024. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2024/20240217_NSD_02.jpg> TEED OFF! New York Daily News, February 17, 2024. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2024/20240217_NYDN_02.jpg> JETT FUEL New York Post, February 17, 2024. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2024/20240217_NYP_02.jpg> WAITING FOR A PITCH Newsday, February 18, 2024. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2024/20240218_NSD_02.jpg> TEMP SERVICE New York Post, February 18, 2024. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2024/20240218_NYP_02.jpg> NO, WE'RE TIRED...OF THIS! New York Daily News, February 22, 2024. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2024/20240222_NYDN_02.jpg> TOP DOWN Newsday, February 23, 2024. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2024/20240223_NSD_02.jpg> DON'T PANIC New York Daily News, February 23, 2024. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2024/20240223_NYDN_02.jpg>

http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/TCD.png> Vote for the tabloid covers that you like the best. You may select up to three choices. Voting will run for seven days. THE HOUSE THAT STEVE BUILT New York Daily News, January 5, 2024. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2024/20240105_NYDN_02.jpg> CITI KID New York Post, January 5, 2024. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2024/20240105_NYP_02.jpg> TALL AT SHORT Newsday, January 12, 2024. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2024/20240112_NSD_02.jpg> LOOK WHO'S BACK New York Daily News, January 12, 2024. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2024/20240112_NYDN_02.jpg> 'WE NEEDED HELP' New York Daily News, January 18, 2024. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2024/20240118_NYDN_02.jpg> CLOSER CALL Newsday, January 23, 2024. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2024/20240123_NSD_02.jpg> SPRING IT ON! New York Daily News, February 13, 2024. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2024/20240213_NYDN_02.jpg> REGULAR GUY Newsday, February 14, 2024. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2024/20240214_NSD_02.jpg> PITCHERS, CATCHERS... AND SKIPPERS New York Daily News, February 14, 2024. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2024/20240214_NYDN_02.jpg> UP in ARMS Newsday, February 15, 2024. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2024/20240215_NSD_02.jpg>

And you have to be willing to accept that your guy is likely to be overpaid at the back end of that deal.

Well, Ron, no move ensures a World Championship. But he may be right that two $300-milion players are better than one $600-million player. Does he have any suggestions about who those two $300-million guys would be? I'm pretty certain the Mets will be in on Soto, and least until and unless he asks for a tent in the parking lot. And I'm very much hoping they sign him.

I noticed that too. Bettors in Vegas are giving very high odds against the winning cover coming from this batch.

Why do you think the News changed the cover from "Do it" to "Play it?" Probably for the same reason that George Lucas keeps tinkering with Star Wars, an endless quest for perfection. Or not.

http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/TCD.png> Vote for the tabloid covers that you like the best. You may select up to three choices. Voting will run for seven days. 'MOTOCROSS New York Post, November 28, 2023. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2023/20231128_NYP_02.jpg> ARM DEAL Newsday, November 30, 2023. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2023/20231130_NSD_02.jpg> SEVY LINE ARMY New York Daily News, November 30, 2023. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2023/20231130_NYDN_02.jpg> DO IT, STEVE! New York Daily News, December 15, 2023. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2023/20231215_NYDN_02.jpg> PLAY IT, STEVE! New York Daily News, December 15, 2023. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2023/20231215_NYDN_02a.jpg> 'MOTO MADNE$$ New York Post, December 15, 2023. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2023/20231215_NYP_02.jpg> HOLLYWOOD CO-STAR Newsday, December 22, 2023. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2023/20231222_NSD_02.jpg> IT'S A MISERABLE LIFE New York Daily News, December 22, 2023. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2023/20231222_NYDN_02.jpg> YAMAOHNO! New York Post, December 22, 2023. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2023/20231222_NYP_02.jpg> NOW WHAT? Newsday, December 23, 2023. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2023/20231223_NSD_02.jpg> STEVIE NIXED New York Post, December 23, 2023. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2023/20231223_NYP_02.jpg>

PREVIOUSLY, ON THE TABLOID COVER DERBY... http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/previously_2015.png> http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/previously_2016.png> http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/previously_2017.png> http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/previously_2018.png> http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/previously_2019.png> http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/previously_2020.png> http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/previously_2021.png> http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/previously_2022.png> http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/previously_2023.png>