Lefty Specialist

I'd drive Baty to Arizona myself.

Don't get me started on Baty again. He mashes in the minors but just can't put it together in the majors. When Vientos comes back, I'd imagine Mauricio will go down for more seasoning. But my ideal lineup has McNeil playing second every day with Acuna as the defensive replacement, and Vientos at third every day with only an occasional Baty defensive appearance, and Taylor playing CF every day (no defensive replacement needed). Playing McNeil in CF scares me, and it's going to blow up on them at some point. Siri seems worlds away, though. I do hope that Alvarez gets his head straight in Syracuse, because ML pitchers look at the vicious uppercut swing and know just how to throw to him.

You have to think that the Yankees would love to steal Alonso, after the Mets stole Soto from under their noses. Goldschmidt only has a one-year contract, so he'd fit perfectly. He'll cost a lot less than Soto and it would be a dagger to a lot of Met fans.

Somehow, I don't see him making the majors as a shortstop. Lindor is here through 2031.

I just want to say I predicted they'd trip. I thought it was dumb, but after seeing an actual race....no, it's still dumb.

Still think it's a dumb idea. It's also, as noted, been done many other times in many other places. How about something original?

Omigod this is unimaginably stupid. I'm guessing from the looks of the outfits that every one of them will trip at least once before reaching the finish line.

The last time I was overconfident was 2023, when they were coming off a 101-win season and signed a Hall of Famer in Justin Verlander. That all fell apart very quickly.

Well, the game's changed in 25 years, so comparisons are shaky at best. Yes, I picked them for a losing season last year, and for the first 2 1/2 months I was spot on. Then they brought up Iglesias and Vientos, activated Peterson, Lindor got hot and they went on a run none of us envisioned. I don't see that sort of thing happening two years in a row. Could everything perfectly fall into place like it did last year? Sure, it's possible, I just don't think it's likely.

My rating would have been higher if they'd actually signed some decent pitching. They signed Manaea back but the rest was retreads or trash. Frankie Montas? Griffin Canning? Ryne Stanek? There were pitchers out there for the taking but they didn't take them. If they hadn't signed Alonso, they would have moved Vientos to first and let Baty play 3rd, or snagged some other 3b, or maybe resigned Iglesias, who knows. If they hadn't signed Alonso or Soto, it'd be a 70- win team that would have been pounded in the NL east. As it is, Senga's coming off a year of inactivity, Manaea and Montas are hurt, your Opening Day starter hasn't started a game in 7 years, Canning is a guy even the Angels didn't want, and Tylor Megill is back for his 27th time trying to win a spot in the rotation by default. McNeil and Alvarez are already going to be out at least a month and Nimmo and Marte are hobbled. Maybe Stearns is a genius and I'm not seeing it. I wouldn't be surprised if the bullpen isn't burned out by the end of April. I'd love to be wrong, but this looks like an incomplete team. I'm sure Soto and Lindor will have great years, but they can't do it alone.

1) 79-83. Not enough pitching. Sorry, Juan. 2) Braves, Phils, Mets, Nats, Marlins 3) Playoffs? No. 4) See 3). 5) Dodgers go back to back. 6) 35 Polar Pops. 7) Soto will do something awesome that'll be Stockholm-worthy.

Marcus Stroman is probably the happiest guy in camp.

Not being a fan of facial hair, I kind of liked the Yankee policy. Too many players today have stupidly-large beards, and I liked that they'd have to shave them off when they came to the Yankees.

ESPN coverage was mostly crappy so they won't be missed. I'm sure this slot will get taken up by one of the streaming services, with wildly varying results.

August 4th

The only problem is that the odds are good the Mets and Pete will be in this exact same position next year. If they're not, it's only because he had a crap year and took the option instead of testing the market again. So the conundrum is merely postponed.

Well, it certainly seems like there wasn't any other team in on him, and the Mets didn't negotiate against themselves. That 7 year offer he turned down was in June 0f '23. You chose poorly, AlonsOMG. Glad this is done so we and they can get on with bidness. Still need to shore up that bullpen and rotation. So, Alonso, McNeil, Lindor and Vientos in the infield. Nimmo, Taylor/Siri, Soto in the outfield. Marte/Winker DH and part-time OF. Alvarez C Baty, Acuna, Mauricio all have options so they can be stashed in Syracuse and used as necessary. Candelita on the outside looking in but still available. Not the greatest lineup in baseball but certainly competitive.

I think Pete wants to be a Met. What I think happened is that the Mets offered the moon to Soto. Boras and Alonso were probably expecting something a little more generous than they're being offered right now. The hamster wheels at the Boras organization are spinning furiously right now trying to drum up anything that'll move the Mets upward. The Angels! The Blue Jays! The Giants! Thus far, it's failing. On the other side, little things are slipping out, hence the 'maybe they'll trade for Torkelson' or 'Vientos and Baty seen at Dick's buying first baseman's gloves' stories. Both sides are playing the game right now. I think a deal gets done, but there'll need to be some face-saving here. Maybe some deferred money or something to bring the value up. Or one of Steve Cohens NFT's or a new set of Hankook tires, I dunno.

Don't want to talk about him in the past tense yet, but there was a deal for Alonso to be had. If they didn't get it done, I'll bet it was more on Boras/Alonso than the Mets. Still need a hitter. Either at 1st/3rd or DH, because the current lineup even with Soto won't get it done. And work needs to be done on the bullpen pronto.

As has been said, teams may be reluctant to bid on Pete with the thought that Uncle Steve will come in and match or exceed whatever they offer. Kind of a Catch-22 from Pete's perspective.

I'm here too. I think this is the most likely result. I think it's possible that someone may enter the picture on a short term deal, but I think only the Mets would extend to that fourth year (and option years) and that will ultimately be the difference. Also, I think Pete would prefer to come back if everything else was equal. I'm not there. This is no other team that's been definitely in on Alonso, and I don't think Stearns will bid against himself. This is basically Stearns against Boras. Pete wants to be a Met and can sign anytime he wants. Boras is pushing for something he won't get, at least not from the Mets. If another mystery team enters the picture this could all change, but that hasn't happened yet. I'm sure Boras is trying to feed the Rosenthals and the Hey, man's of the world rumors that the Red Sox or Giants or Mariners are interested in Pete, but it doesn't seem to be happening. I'm guessing he signs, but it'll be more like 3/$100 with an opt-out somewhere. Spring training is a little more than 5 weeks away and I'm betting the Polar Bear is getting a little antsy (as are most of us).

Yeah, how'd that Prince Fielder 9-year deal work out, Scottyboy?

You do get the feeling that the Alonso/Bregman deadlock will break as soon as one of them is signed. I'd think that Bregman would be Plan B if Pete goes elsewhere. If Pete signs with the Mets, Bregman's market contracts. And if Bregman signs elsewhere, Plan B is out the window and they kind of have to sign Pete. I can't see them going into the season with Vientos at first and some combination of Baty/Mauricio/Acuna at third. Just wish it was over already. I'm sure Pete does too.

I think Boras' insistence on $200M, at least publicly, scared off a lot of potential suitors. No one was going to want to throw that kind of money at Pete, so they went seeking their first basemen elsewhere. He may have overestimated Uncle Steve's largesse. I still think a deal gets done, but at a far lower level, with opt-outs so everyone can save face. The Mets are going to need a first baseman one way or the other.

lol, I could get him to come down by $30,000.