Lefty Specialist

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.

That Stumpy Pete sign is horrifying on a number of levels.

That's an ugly jersey. Hard to read, for one thing. And I thought that dumb script had been banished forever.

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.

No. Just, no.

Edgy MD wrote: In part, he had a habit of not being healthy at the time the team had a need. That's big part of it. I often wondered, 'Why don't they call up Lucchesi?' only to find out he had an injury. Gary will miss being able to say 'churve', a word he clearly loved.

Ummmmm.....no.

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.

Gives them a good L/R DH combo in Winker and Marte. Precludes signing a full-time DH at this point, I guess.

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.

This bullpen is a wreck. Sign the live arm and give him what he wants.

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?

Just glad that option didn't vest.

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.

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Odd. So much for having Ohtani and Yamamoto help recruit him. Fixed that for you.

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

Did that when I bought my current house. It worked.

That's...................pretty awesome.

Word.

I'd be happy with 3/$90 or even 4/$120. Longer than that and I start to hesitate, especially the way the first base market seems to be crashing. But Alex Bregman is repped by Boras, too, so you can't play one off against the other.

Conforto turned down a QO from the Mets then hurt himself. Not left out in the cold but rather stepping into a walk-in fridge and then locking the door.

Good chance they'd go to a 6-man rotation, so there's room for Sasaki. Both he and Senga would do better on extra rest.