Centerfield

Seaver. Strawberry. deGrom. Wheeler. Reyes. Diaz. Alonso. Stearns and Cohen have badly underestimated what losing a franchise icon means. I will never forgive David Stearns.

I wonder if David Stearns understands the damage he's done to the fanbase over the last two days. I assume he's got some moves to improve the team up his sleeve. What do you need to see for him to regain your trust? Personally, he can sign Robert Suarez, and Michael King, and Cody Bellinger. And then he can proceed to kindly **** himself.

It certainly seems like a rebuild. Which is hard to fathom after going all in for Soto next year. I'm emotional the last few days. But trying to put that aside. Even if the Mets win, and make the playoffs, Stearns and Cohen have no idea the damage they've done by discarding three beloved franchise icons in one winter. Fandom is not rational.

One thing that's we're starting to see is that the Mets free agents are seemingly expecting Steve Cohen to pony up more when it comes to retaining them. Perhaps even more than the market suggests. I can only guess that this is because he's the richest owner in sports, and there is no salary cap. I'm sure they read the same things in the paper that we do. Adding billions to his net worth. Getting a casino. It's obviously not fair. But I can't help but think there is some of that "Well he can certainly afford it" mentality in play here. Plus the history of past regimes adds to this. Going 8 years on Nimmo. The prior 7 year offer to Alonso. Five years to Diaz with an opt-out. Now, all of a sudden refusing to go beyond 3 year terms. I think they take it as an insult. Especially when they see the Mets extend for players from outside the organization. I can see Pete saying "wow, you can go 15 years on Soto, but you can't go 5 for me?" Again, it's not fair, but human emotion isn't always fair. With Diaz. I think he was pissed that the Mets didn't go 4 years. And then got even more pissed when they signed Williams. "Wait, you're going to give this guy, who sucked for the guys across town, three years. And you won't give me four?" And then he decided **** this. I'm gone. If the Mets were as shocked as reported, then clearly they didn't recognize this. They better recognize it now.

I've had some time to process this now. And even after a few hours, the only thing I can think is how badly they ****ed this up. And I don't even care if they sign Suarez, or Pete Fairbanks, or whatever. When elite talent is available, that's when you spend the money. Edwin Diaz has proven to be elite, and proven he can do it in NY. It's a no brainer. And if you're willing to go to $66M, you damn well better not let him walk for $69M. And sure, Diaz ultimately has to make that decision. But if you didn't know you'd lose him for $3M, then you misread your leverage. It is one thing to be a bad GM when you have no money. It's another thing altogether to **** up this badly with nearly unlimited resources. A fourth year in November gets this done without the Dodgers ever getting involved. Completely misplayed. And more than anything, I hate losing players. I was crushed when Strawberry left. I'm still not over losing deGrom. And I don't know how I'll feel about Diaz, since he's not homegrown like the others, but I'm sure I'm going to hate this for years. Of course, in the end, I want to win. But rational or not, as a fan, you develop an attachment to these players. You want to win, but more than that, you want to win with your guys. And not understanding that a big part of the fanbase feels that way is a big miss. So **** David Stearns. And **** Trevor Megill, or lets be honest, whatever scrub reliever he signs to pitch the 8th inning. **** Bobby Bonilla, and Justin Verlander, and Neil Walker and all those guys they bring in to fill the void but fall woefully short of ever doing it.

Poor Devin Williams is not only going to have to be compared with Edwin Diaz (present in LA) but also the performance of Edwin Diaz during his peak with the NY Mets.

If we lose Pete tell Stearns to stay in Orlando.

Per Anthony diComo. Mets last offer was 3 years, $66M. Mets said there was wiggle room to go to more. Diaz took the Dodgers offer instead and did not circle back to the Mets. It didn't sound like Diaz wanted out from the Mets at any time during his stay here. He was in the owners' box during the DOM-PR game. Pure speculation, but maybe he felt disrespected that Stearns wouldn't give the fourth year. As soon as he beat the Mets offer, he bolted.

I guess it’s early but this is another signal of the Mets positioning themselves as an 85-wins-if-most-things-go-right team. If Stearns winds up signing Kyle Tucker and Pete Alonso and Framber Valdez and Robert Suarez, I’m happy to re-evaluate my position on this offseason. Right now I am extremely disappointed. If somehow Stearns ends up signing Kyle Tucker and Pete Alonso and Framber Valdez and Robert Suarez, I'll still be pissed that he signed Suarez and let Diaz walk. Independent of any other moves, letting Diaz go is just a colossally stupid move.

I wonder how many will pivot to Alonso now.

I'm still in shock. A three year deal. Why on earth do you let the best closer in the game walk to team you're trying to beat. Absolutely ridiculous. I can't believe those idiot Stearns haters were right.

Brutal mistake by the Mets. The first time in the Stearns era that I question whether he's the right guy to run this team. Letting Diaz go to the Dodgers on a three year deal is inexcusable.

Day 1 almost in the books. Next to nothing done. Alonso arrives tomorrow.

I’m guessing he has no market. That doesn’t sound like the type of thing someone does when he’s heavily pursued.

When I tried logging in earlier I got a blank screen. But i reset my password and all is good now.

It's funny to me that this trade isn't cited in any list of worst Mets trades of all time. Trading a future Hall of Famer for a washed up Carlos Baerga has to be up there. I think part of it is because it was so well received at the time, and it took us a while for us to realize how bad the trade was. Though in fairness, we should have known right away. Kent hit 29 HRS the year after the trade and never looked back. Stayed productive until almost 40 Baerga was washed up at 27. Craziness.

I'm still skeptical that the Mets interest is anything but just trying to drive up his asking price for the Phillies etc., and leverage in the Alonso sweepstakes. but I guess I could envision a scenario where the Mets are like "hey Pete, we love you, but if you don't take our four year deal, we gotta move on Schwarber now". And if Pete doesn't blink, maybe that's how you end up with Schwarber.

We could call them Juan Soto and Two Soto.

Just about a year ago, I was watching the Chiefs on Sunday Night Football, on the first night of the Winter Meetings. When all of a sudden news broke that the Mets signed Juan Soto. I know it’s silly. But I’m sitting in the same spot. Checking my phone. If it happens again, we’d have two Juan Sotos.

They kick things off tonight in Orlando. It was a year ago today that the Mets signed Juan Soto just as the executives were arriving. Hopefully the Mets can do something this time around as well. Some thoughts. I don't feel like the market for Kyle Tucker has developed as fast as Juan Soto's. I'd be surprised if he signed during these meetings. I don't think Pete signs during the meetings either. And the Japanese sluggers will probably sign later this month. Of the big names, my guess is Bregman and Schwarber come off the board first. Maybe one or both sign during these meetings. My Mets prediction based on nothing but my pure speculation: Edwin Diaz doesn't sign during these meetings, but the Mets add one starting pitcher before the meetings conclude (either FA or trade).

He had an issue with his thoracic nerve that affected the strength in his shoulder. I dont pretend to know the difference between this issue and Harvey/Wheeler/Strasburg, but it sounds scary.

That's ok. Let's get Freddy Peralta and Imai.

Could unbranding have sped up load times? It’s seriously much faster.

I feel like he was pretty good in 2024. Though I can't remember any specific moment. I remember there were two Youngs. And I don't remember the first name of the other one. So yay Danny!

Edgy. You and I would make terrible GMs. We'd never make a single trade, and our starting rotation would lead the league in IP every year. We'd also be at least six times as good as Jeff Wilpon/Brodie Van Wagenen. As for Joe Ryan. I don't think I've ever seem him pitch. His numbers look just meh. Good WHIP I guess.