Centerfield

A few reports on Twitter that talks are heating up. Jett Williams would be going to the Brewers. Per Pat ragazzo.

How much more does he think he will get as a 33 year old? Let's say he puts up two more seasons with an .817 OPS. Who is going to give him more than he has left on his deal?

With the Robert trade and Bellinger returning to the Yankees, it's likely that the Mets are done adding significant position players. Will Sammon has an article suggesting as much even before the Bellinger signing. I do think they need to fill out the bench a bit, unless I'm forgetting someone. 1. Lindor - SS 2. Soto - RF 3. Bichette - 3B 4. Polanco - 1B 5. Baty - LF 6. Alvarez - C 7. Vientos - DH 8. Robert - CF 9. Semien - 2B Bench: Mauricio, Taylor, Torrens Potential Rookies: Jett Williams, Carson Benge, Ryan Clifford What do we think? It's certainly different from last year. I feel like 1-4 isn't as strong as last year. 5-9 are all question marks. All of them could post an OPS of anywhere from .650 to .850.

I would guess they’re out. Baty needs ABs and they want to leave some opening for Benge.

He was good enough to hit behind Vladdy Jr., so…yes? Of course, I suppose there is an open question about the best way to structure the top of the lineup. One wonders about Soto leadoff with Lindor and Bichette following. Or Bichette leading off with Soto and then Lindor. So I’ve been trying to get familiar with Bo. I was surprised to see he doesn’t walk a lot. His OBP isn’t that high for someone who hovers around .300 for BA. And although he has power, he’s not really a power hitter. And he doesn’t really seem like much of a stolen base threat either. But what he does though, is hit. He makes contact, hits for average, and shoots the gaps. And though we talk about RISP being inconsistent from year to year, it seems like Bo does it all the time. RISP, close and late, for him it’s repeatable. And the reports are that he hits good pitching (closers). I don’t think pitchers will fear him the way they feared Pete. But it seems like Bo might be more likely to drive him in, or at least keep the rally going.

Heyman said Bellinger is down to the Mets, Yankees and two other teams. Which means it’s basically the Mets and Yankees. If the Dodgers were even remotely interested Heyman is not going to miss the opportunity to exaggerate the leverage. Because it’s public like this, I’m assuming that this is Boras just trying to get every last drop from Hal. I’d be shocked if he didn’t return to the Yankees.

The owners were always going to ask for a cap. Even if they back off of that, they were never going to give up their biggest chip before the game even starts. Whether they stick to that will determine how long the stoppage is. If they insist on one, get ready to lose a year of baseball. I disagree about the Yankees. I think Hal is different than his father. He’d love nothing more than an artificial limit on his spending. He probably would have wanted one years ago. It’s tough to figure out the Dodgers. All the deferred money will eventually catch up to them. I figure at some point, this group will have so much payroll debt that they’ll sell, then the new ownership group will need to wipe the slate clean. The easiest fix for the Dodgers is to undo their sweetheart TV deal. Something about the McCourt bankruptcy left them having to share a fraction of their actual TV money. Which puts them on better footing than the other 29 clubs. I don’t know if that deal can be undone legally. But that would be a much easier goal than a hard salary cap.

Can confirm.

I’m still trying to convince myself that Bo Bichette is good enough to hit behind Soto. Is he?

I find myself here. I think the worst thing that can happen now is to trade the kids for rentals in a desperate attempt to salvage the offseason. As critical as I am of Stearns, I don’t see him doing this. The problem with the “opportunistic” approach is that if things don’t fall your way, you’re left with nothing.

Cody Bellinger is inconsistent. And his ceiling is not nearly high enough. He’s already got a 5 year $30m per deal in his pocket. I don’t think he’s even worth that. So I guess we just suck now.

He’s not it.

Awful. What a disaster for the Mets.

I don’t love that. Not that it matter much.

Trying to be objective here. Let's say the Mets are offering $200 over 4 years. Opt out after year 2, year 3. If he opts out after year 2, he makes $100M for the next two years, then hits the FA market going into his year 31 season. No QO attached. Alex Bregman just got 5 years at $35 per year, and he's going into his age 32 season. So let's say Tucker, who is better, gets 6 years, $35M per year. That's $210M, plus the $100M he made with the Mets. Total is $310M. And he has the potential to get more, especially considering the dearth of talent in the upcoming FA classes. Of course, his market could be barren, and he could end up making less. If he stays in the Met for 3 years, and then opts out, he banks $150M, then comes out in his age 32 season. Same as Bregman. Assuming the same contract as Bregman, he then signs for 5 years, $175M. Total is $325M. Again, with the potential to make more (or less). If he stays a Met all four years, he banks $200M, then hits the market going into his age 33 season. Kyle Schwarber just got 5 years, $150M at the same age. You'd think he'd be able to get a similar contract, again, assuming he stays healthy and produces. That total is $350M. Let's say the Jays are offering $35M per year now. If the term is 9 years, he's guaranteed $315M. If it's 10 years, he's guaranteed $350M. If the Jays then offer opt outs, then all those Bregman/Schwarber deals are still available to him, with the security of 10 years in his pocket. So to summarize, if the Jays are offering a contract somewhere in this range, with an opt out within the first 3-4 years of the deal, I don't see how he doesn't take the Blue Jays offer.

Per Will Sammon, the Mets are floating a three year deal in the range of $120M-$140M.

There was an interview that he did in Spanish this winter, where he was asked about first base. If my memory is right, he says something along the lines of yes, he knows First Base is in his future, but for now he's focused on being the best outfielder he can be. I agree that he will likely be a good first baseman. He moves well, has a good arm, obviously very coordinated. We won't know how good he is at split-second decisions, making throws on the run, making throws to guys on the run, until he has to try. But I think there's reason to be hopeful. Like I said, I really think his struggles in the field come down to him not being able to read non-routine balls off the bat well. And that's not a factor at 1B.

I feel like his struggles in the field come from him just not being great at reading fly balls. The routine ones are fine. But the tougher ones (harder hit, with spin) just befuddle him. I don’t know how he gets better at it. In my experience, either guys have that spatial ability or they don’t.

Yup. Alex Ochoa was the guy to get. I can't get access to the Times article, but the headline is "Mets Get Their Man for Bonilla" https://www.nytimes.com/1995/07/29/sports/baseball-the-mets-get-their-man-for-bonilla.html Here's one you can read. https://www.upi.com/Archives/1995/07/29/Orioles-acquire-Bonilla-from-Mets/2286806990400/

Bonilla had a .779 OPS his first year. Solid, but didn’t live up to expectations. He took off from there. .874, then .878, then .984. With two months left in his contract he was traded for one of the best prospects in baseball.

Bob Nightengale and Mark Feinsand have both recently suggested that the Kyle Tucker market isn't as strong as once hoped, and that he might need to take a short term-high AAV deal and test the market again. That could be what we need for Stearns to take interest. Of all the options available, or speculated to be available, only Tucker stands a chance to make up for Alonso's production.

I really wonder what's going to happen. It's so easy to be a dickhead on the internet. And as more and more interactions become virtual, I wonder if we'll have to make a conscious move to civility, or if everyone is just going to end up being *******s to each other.

It's too bad Megill is hurt. I feel like Sproat, Megill and a lower level prospect might have been enough.

To be clear, I'm not saying I'd be good with Luis Robert as the big bat. Kyle Tucker would be that guy. Robert would be asked to bat 8th, and would be an upgrade over Taylor. And yes, he would be an upgrade over Taylor. Robert has had two down seasons in a row, but his down season is still a .661 OPS, 14 HR, 33 SB, and a 1.4 WAR. Taylor had a .598 OPS, 2 HR, 12 SB, and 1.0 WAR. And if you're talking upside, he's 2 years removed from being a 5.3 WAR, 38 HR star. So to me, this is a worthwhile gamble to take. Assuming, of course, the cost to get him is not significant. And if it is, then I agree that we have to take a pass.

I mean, I know there's still time. But they have just have so much to do. The rotation that ranked 18th in ERA hasn't been addressed at all. The bullpen that was 15th in ERA lost the best closer in the game. They replaced him, and a small army of relievers, with two guys who had ERAs near 5 last year. I mean, with bullpens you never know, but you certainly can't go into 2026 thinking this is going to be a strength. And the lineup that tied for 9th in runs scored is now even worse. Alonso is gone. Nimmo is gone. We downgraded offensively at 2B. Polanco offsets Nimmo, but we still have glaring holes at LF, CF and 1B or DH. And one of those guys has to bat behind Soto. Is there a solution? Sure. Kyle Tucker. Trade for Luis Robert. Trade for Peralta and find a high leverage reliever. Do I think it's possible? Probably not. Especially given the rumored asking prices for the trade candidates. I'm sure there are other ways to get there too, but I don't think Cody Bellinger, or Eugenio Suarez, or Austin Hayes will be enough.