Centerfield

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.

It's tough to know how much Sammon/Rosenthal actually know. The Mets seem to run pretty leak-free. That being said, this is pretty disappointing if true. The biggest problem with the team last year was the starting pitching. It seems crazy to just run it back and hope for better. By blowing up the lineup, letting Diaz walk, and leaving the starting pitching as is, Stearns is almost doing the opposite of what I would have done this off-season.

Deadlines for Okamoto and Imai are approaching. The Mets are not rumored to be in on either. Of course, the Mets don’t leak and they move in silence, but the one saying they’re not involved is Jon Heyman. And he’s a mouthpiece for Scott Boras, who represents both of them. You’d think if the Mets were involved at all, Boras would be public with it to drum up bidding.

I wonder if this signing was done with an eye toward a free agent pursuit of his brother (half brother?) that never materialized.

Why are you benching Tyrone Taylor in the first game of the season?

Yeah, honestly, I don't see the plan. Cody Bellinger will likely require a long term commitment, as least as long as Alonso. And he's the same age, so I don't see that as a fit. He also has terrible Home-Away splits, hits LH, and has a lower ceiling and lower floor than Alonso. So I can't see Stearns going for him. Tucker is very good. But may require an 8-10 year commitment. Unless the market craters for him, I don't see him as a fit. None of the other free agent hitters are good enough to provide Soto protection. And I haven't heard a single trade candidate that fits either. Not to say there isn't one. I just don't see any options. I do see lots of ways to improve the rotation still. And maybe that's the route they'll go. Roll the dice on offense, hope the kids are good, and focus on improving the rotation and pen. And to be clear, when I say "I don't see him as a fit", I don't mean me. Of all the options left, I'd sign Tucker. I don't think David Stearns sees him as a fit.

So if you take Jeff McNeil, and make him right handed, then take away all of his versatility and upside, you get Austin Hays. He's -2 OAA since 2024, with a -10 DRS. So he doesn't fit the "run prevention" mold. Sounds perfect.

I had to start over again once I realized you weren't talking about Billy Eppler. My brain is slow these days.

I don't know anything about the clubhouse. But it must have been a mess for any of this to make sense. Jeff McNeil is an incredibly useful player. Before getting hurt last September, his OPS was hovering around .800. Even with his slump, his OPS would have been top 10 among second basemen in MLB. Left alone, we would have returned useful players at 2B, LF and 1B, along with the best closer in the game. We are now worse all four of those positions. For 2B and closer, we are already locked into lesser replacements.