The Mets are among the clubs that have contacted the White Sox regarding Liam Hendriks, reports Michael Mayer of Metsmerized (Twitter link). Reports emerged a couple weeks ago that Chicago had been discussing their star closer with other teams, though the identity of those clubs wasn’t clear.
Certainly, the Mets aren’t the only team that’d be interested in prying Hendriks from Chicago. The 33-year-old is one of the sport’s top late-game weapons. Hendriks broke out with the A’s in 2019, tossing 85 frames with a 1.80 ERA to secure his first All-Star selection. He’d surely have earned another had there been a Midsummer Classic in 2020, as he finished ninth in AL Cy Young balloting during the abbreviated season thanks to a 1.78 mark through 25 1/3 frames.
After that season, the right-hander made the move to Chicago. Hendriks inked a $54MM guarantee with the White Sox, with Chicago gambling he’d maintain his late-career breakout form. He’s done just that, posting a 2.66 ERA over 127 frames with the Sox. After posting a 2.54 ERA in year one, he followed up with a 2.81 mark through 57 2/3 innings this past season. Hendriks earned All-Star selections in both seasons and struck out an excellent 36.2% of batters faced in 2022. He missed a few weeks in the middle of the year with a forearm strain — an alarming-sounding diagnosis for a pitcher — but he returned seemingly no worse for wear, striking out 35.4% of opponents while sitting north of 97 MPH on his heater in the second half.
Any contender looking for bullpen help could check in with Chicago general manager Rick Hahn. Hendriks would be an impact addition to the late innings for any club, and the Mets are no exception. New York has one of the handful of relievers who might be better than Hendriks to pitch the ninth inning after re-signing Edwin Díaz to a five-year free agent contract. They agreed to terms with Adam Ottavino on a two-year deal this afternoon, and they’ve also brought in David Robertson from outside the organization. The Mets don’t necessarily need more bullpen help, but they’ve shown no qualms about going after high-end talent no matter the cost.
That’s reflected in their astronomical spending, the likes of which MLB has never seen before. New York has a 2023 player payroll projected by Roster Resource around $351MM. Their luxury tax number sits around $363MM, a staggering $130MM higher than next year’s base tax threshold. That lines them up for a projected tax bill of $92.4MM, which would put their total player spending around $443.4MM.
Additional pickups would obviously add to that figure. Hendriks is guaranteed $14MM in 2023, and his contract contains a $15MM club option for the ’24 season. That comes with a matching $15MM buyout, which would be distributed in $1.5MM installments through 2033. That’d be a small benefit, but the only incentive for the White Sox not to exercise the option would be if Hendriks suffers an injury that takes him out of action for most or all of the 2024 campaign or has such a dramatic drop in performance his spot on the roster would be in jeopardy.
If Hendriks is traded, that option vests. Hendriks would then be guaranteed $29MM over the next two seasons. Matt Gelb of the Athletic has previously reported that under the new CBA, for luxury tax purposes, traded players on multi-year contracts see the average annual value of their deal recalculated at the time of the trade. In Hendriks’ case, he’d be pegged at $29MM over two years — a $14.5MM AAV for an acquiring team. If not traded, his deal counts for $18MM against the White Sox’s tax ledger in 2023, as it was technically a three-year, $54MM guarantee at signing.
For the Mets, taking on a $14.5MM AAV would come with an additional $13.05MM in taxes, as they’re taxed at a 90% clip on all future spending. Topping $27MM in actual money annually for a reliever is something virtually no other team would do, but New York seemingly can’t be counted out of any move at this point.
Of course, there’s no indication the Mets and White Sox have made much or any progress. To this point, the exercise is mostly theoretical. New York would face plenty of competition if the Sox commit to moving Hendriks, who’s better than any available free agent reliever. Chicago could certainly elect to hang onto him entirely, since they’re working to rebound from an 81-81 showing to compete in the AL Central. The White Sox agreed to terms with Andrew Benintendi on a five-year, $75MM deal last week. If his salaries are evenly distributed, that’d push their projected payroll to $193MM, which would be right in line with this past season’s franchise-record mark.
Decent set up man for Mets.
A 3/100 should get it done.
Hendriks is NOT a FA.
Ask White Sox fans how well that worked out when GM Rick Hahn traded for Cubs closer Craig Kimbrel at the 2021 summer trade deadline when Liam Hendriks was firmly entrenched in that role.
Hahn then doubled down on his mistake when he picked up Kimbrel’s 2022 $16MM team option following his disastrous work as a setup man down the stretch.
Good point Aaron. Closers seemingly need that “juice” that comes only in the 9th inning. When used as set-up men, they sometimes can’t get up for the game. And Liam looks like a crazy man on the mound in the 9th.
To Hendriks credit he offered the White Sox the option of making him their primary setup reliever in order to accomodate Kimbrel. Unfortunately, manager Tony La Russa wouldn’t oblige and the front office likey would would have backed the skipper with so many more dollars being allocated to Hendriks than Kimbrel.
If a Hendriks trade does occur with the Mets, at least fans in Queens will know that the affable Aussie is a team player and prioritizes winning. It’s also fairly evident that a blockbuster involving Hendriks could easily develop considering the spare pieces that are now available to the ChiSox in the wake of the Carlos Correa signing. That’s to say nothing about the possibility of the White Sox potential desire to reunite available C James McCann with ‘former’ ace Lucas Giolito as the SP enters his free agent walk year.
At this point, I wouldn’t put it past the Mets to just keep McCann and push for a Hendriks and Giolito blockbuster to New York. Then they can pawn off Carlos Carrasco to the ChiSox along with Eduardo Escobar, one of their 3B prospects along with a young catcher.
“…the affable Aussie is a team player and prioritizes winning…”
Au contraire mon frere! In my humble opinion he’s a cancerous P-o-S! He prioritizes Liam Hendriks. What do you think his Hispanic teammates who likely have religious leanings might have thought about his comments on Roe v. Wade. He also felt compelled to weigh in on gun control. Let us not forget he comes from a country where citizens must show a “genuine reason” for owning a firearm and self-defense isn’t a valid reason either. Oh, but shocker, he earns millions here in America! Go to New York, puhleeze! Better yet go back to Australia. I hate when athletes jump into the political fray because they are usually way off the mark of regular American’s opinions.
If you’re gonna jump on Liam for his views on choice and gun control, why stop there? How about attacking him for his position on animal rights, human rights and marriage equality? You might as well go full bore and show your true volumes Mister Desk Jockey, unlike Liam who’s not only not ashamed to share support in causes he believes in, but actively supports these causes through funds and activism. So where would we find your record of support? An actual social media avatar? Or some made up screename and the dark Web?
So his progressive views on choice, gun control, animal rights and human rights don’t mesh with “regular American’s opinions”? Which America is that, the one where if they don’t agree with your opinion, they have to go back to country x? What if they don’t want to go somewhere, you know they enjoy the company of friends, family, kids, teammates, fan? Do they still have to go back to Australia because tidy whidey screen warrior feels threatened/aggrieved? Asking for a friend and one of the most adored and fan-friendly athletes in Chicago- largely because of his candor and conviction. Liams the type of curious open-minded guy to actually meet you to see why you’re so grumpy, assuming you shave your back and put on some pants.
You know whats worse? Someone who posts on internet threads, ranting about political views and their opinion. A baseball thread is no place for someone to promote their personal opinions on religion and immigration (which they don’t know much about because if they did they’d be all for people getting taxed in this country and not able to vote whilst they probably do everything they can to avoid paying taxes and can vote, gold mine..) But here we are talking about it… On a rumor thread that a player may get traded. We all get it, he is a much worse person than infamous Mets legends like Darryl Strawberry and Lenny Dykstra
I was born and raised on the south-side of Chicago to liberal parenting and thinking. As recently as the 2008 election cycle I even voted for the disaster that was the Obama administration. Not long into that administration I finally woke up and started to play close attention to policy represented and it did not take much invoked common sense to realize which side looks at things from a more reasonable perspective. Since I raised gun control, I shall use that as just one of many similar topics of discourse. The conversation on gun control can never be debated in truth until the liberal perspective is willing to address all the inner-city crime at the hands of illegal weapons AND the statistics that both back up that fact and alternatively how few crimes are committed by law abiding gun owners. FULL STOP! It’s simply just a false argument to think new, different, re-imagined, etc. gun legislation will change that dichotomy until liberals are willing to address the elephant in the room. If ALL GUNS could be removed, we could have a conversation. But the lie of this topic is control by the left over the right. That is their only objective, to live in an authoritarian world where our stupid leaders make all decisions for you. You are just too dumb to see it. It’s typical of their overall ideology be it the border, vaccines, the economy, religious freedom, abortion, election malpractice, never ending wars, etc. Liberals can never really stand on a platform of common-sense thought and ideas. It’s always shouting, name calling, and such towards a goal of control. Simply put, if an idea was ever to help “regular American’s”, libs should support them. But their ideas, i.e., policies, are a historic disaster. Prove that otherwise. I dismiss people like you sir who automatically stoop to personal attack and regurgitated talking points because that is always the liberal playbook. It is so transparent it’s laughable.
So, what is “marriage equality” (everything is about “equality” isn’t it with you libs)? Is that the situation in which same-sex couples have the same legal right to marry as opposite-sex couples. I have no problem with that. I believe in live and let live so long as you are no treading on my rights. My wife and I are friends with several same-sex couples who know we lean conservative and some themselves lean conservative. But they are grown ups able to discuss and debate life’s complicated issues like policies and lower themselves to personal destruction. You sir have already confirmed to not have such capacity.
As an exercise let me guess you are a White Sox fan. And quite possibly a Frank Thomas fan. That is if you ever heard of him. If so, you may recall his position on players who played in his era that used performance enhancing drugs, also knows as PED’s. As a Sox fan and Frank Thomas fan your logic and common sense to what is right and wrong (well probably not you sir, but this is an exercise) should have led you to support his stance and reject the well know abusers he was referring. But you were probably out with your pompoms cheering on the cheating McGwire’s, Sosa’s and Bonds’ of the world because you are unable to invoke critical thinking. That sir would be the point to look at things with an open mind but first and foremost with common sense. Liberals are by nature unable to connect those dots.
Hendriks is afforded his every right to support whatever causes he chooses. That’s what is supposed to make America unique. What I take exception to is using his professional athlete platform to express his opinions on political matters. Many people who are sports fans like me wish to follow as a departure from such discourse. I suggest he run for public office if he is so passionate of his positions and get into and honest debate on topics and policies he wishes to represent. But I doubt he is any more capable than you because his rhetoric was like you to immediately demonize and not lift the conversation on an honest level. You sir are a worthless dolt and that I have given you this much attention to you is an admitted slight on my own judgement. G’day!
I was born and raised on the southside of Chicago to liberal parenting and thinking. As recently as the 2008 election cycle I even voted for the disaster that was the Obama administration. Not long into that administration I finally woke up and started to play close attention to policy represented and it did not take much invoked common sense to realize which side looks at things from a reasonable perspective. Since I raised gun control, I shall use that as just one of many similar topics of discourse. The conversation on gun control can never be debated in honesty until the liberal perspective is willing to address all the inner-city crime at the hands of illegal weapons AND the statistics that both back up that fact and alternatively how few crimes are committed by law abiding gun owners. FULL STOP! It’s simply just a false argument to think new, different, re-imagined, etc. gun legislation will change that dichotomy until liberals are willing to address the elephant in the room. If ALL GUNS could be removed, we could have a conversation. But the lie of this topic is only control by the left over the right. That is their only objective, to live in an authoritarian world where our stupid leaders make all decisions for you. You are just too dumb to see it. It’s typical of their overall ideology be it the border, health choices (vaccines), the economy, religious freedom, abortion, election malpractice, never ending wars, etc. Liberals can never really stand on a platform of common-sense thought and ideas. It’s always shouting, name calling, and such towards one goal and one goal only, control. Simply put, if an idea was ever to help “regular American’s”, libs should support them. But their ideas, i.e., policies, are a historic disaster. Please prove that otherwise. I dismiss people like you sir who automatically stoop to personal attack and regurgitated talking points because that is always the liberal playbook. It is so transparent it’s laughable.
So, what is “marriage equality” (everything is about “equality” isn’t it with you libs)? Is that the situation in which same-sex couples have the same legal right to marry as opposite-sex couples. I have no problem with that. I believe in live and let live so long as you are no treading on my rights. My wife and I are friends with several same-sex couples who know we lean conservative and some themselves lean conservative. But they are grown ups able to discuss and debate life’s complicated issues like policies and not lower themselves to personal destruction. You sir have already confirmed to not have such capacity.
As an exercise let me guess you are a White Sox fan. And quite possibly a Frank Thomas fan. That is if you ever heard of him. If so, you may recall his position on players who played in his era that used performance enhancing drugs, also knows as PED’s. As a Sox fan and Frank Thomas fan your logic and common sense to what is right and wrong (well probably not you sir, but this is an exercise) might have led you to support his stance and reject the well know abusers he was referring. But you were probably out with your pompoms cheering on the cheating McGwire’s, Sosa’s and Bonds’ of the baseball world because you are unable to invoke critical thinking. That sir would be the point to look at things with an open mind but first and foremost with common sense. Liberals are by nature unable to connect those dots because it’s all about control, not democracy.
Hendriks is afforded his every right to support whatever causes he chooses. That is what is supposed to make America unique. What I take exception to is using his professional athlete platform to express his opinions on political matters. Many people who are sports fans like me wish to follow as a departure from such discourse. It’s entertainment! I suggest he run for public office if he is so passionate of his positions and get into an honest debate on topics and policies he wishes to represent. But I doubt he is any more capable than you because his rhetoric was like you to immediately demonize and not lift the conversation on an honest level. You sir are a worthless dolt and that I have given you this much attention to you is an admitted slight on my own judgement. G’day!
I highly disagree. So long at the Liam Hendriks’ of the sports world start the conversation I shall participate. Don’t tell me to shut up, sit down, and follow your rules.
Hey, maybe take your life story to a politucs site? Here we like to talk BASEBALL. Thanks in advance.
Dude stop selling me on keeping him in Chicago, I get it. He’s awesome. He’s a great team guy but he’s also a stand up guy off the field with views that are in line with a majority of Americans. No need to keep pumping his tires like this.
Dude, I came here to read about baseball rumors on this, a baseball rumor website. Why would anyone read that long-winded political brain trash? I can promise you that no one, not a single soul, is coming to this site to read your drunk uncle political BS.
You could’ve saved a whole lot of your time just saying “the black guy got elected and it drove me in the waiting arms of right wing propaganda and the conspiracy dullard portion of the internet and now I have selfish, ignorant, unsupported garbage opinions about everything.” That’s all you needed. Also, you used the term “woke” as in you woke up while using the name wokestersbedamned without the slightest shred of irony. Good job.
TL/DR: No one cares what you think about Roe Vs Wade. Let’s move on.
Wow that sure went off the rails fast
@wokest. Sir, in all due sincerity, can I suggest that you find yourself a shrink ASAP. Also let someone remove all the guns from your possession.
You can have this guy. Just keep him as far away from the Yankees as possible!!!
Get lost Cohen.
Jealous?
Of an owner that’s willing to spend a bazillion dollars on his team? Yeah, of course I am. I’m far from afraid to admit that.
Why would any fan want their owner to spend everything and still not win? Then they would have to admit to themselves that spending doesn’t equal winning
@iverbure So why try anything at all in life then? If your only answer to anything is negative then as a person you already lost.
Spending *does* equal winning, though. Teams like the Rays and Guardians (and on the flip side, the Angels) are outliers. Teams that spend more, on the whole, win more games. Case in point: the Mets. If Cohen had decided to tighten his belt and spend nothing this offseason, they would unquestionably win far fewer than the 101 games they won last year.
The problem with people who say ‘spending doesn’t equal winning’ is that they don’t realize how much of a crapshoot the MLB playoffs are. The goal of every team is to make the playoffs and then hope everything falls in place.
Why would the Mets want another closer when they already have Diaz? It would be like the idiotic trade Hahn made for Kimbrell. The Sox already had Hendriks, why did they need two closers? The Sox don’t have too many good players. Hendriks is one of the. Is Hahn considering a trade for what I can only think will be a couple of Double AA players so they can dump salary? Hendriks would be gone but they won’t get rid of grandal who they inexplicably gave a whopping $73mm or whatever. It’s time for Reinsdorf to sell the team so he can put his money into the bulls while neglecting the Sox.
Bro just became the owner lol
Because two closers is better than one especially if your team can afford it. Hendriks has trade value whereas Grandal doesn’t and needs value attached – namely money and prospects – to dump him. I understand you’re venting but the Mets may overpay for him in prospects if Cohen snaps his fingers.
Worst part of the Kimbrel trade is over a year and a half later and the White Sox still haven’t addressed the hole left at 2B when they traded Nick Madrigal
Hey! Madrigal is available.
Madrigal is not good enuf to make the Cubs starting lineup. So he certainly wouldn’t make the Sox starting lineup.
Haha. If the Sox traded for Madrigal, he’d be starting at second. But the Mets will probably be sending Escobar to the Sox as part of a deal for Hendriks.
I’m not a Mets fan – but – we shall see at the end of the year if it worked it not. He just fielded one of the best teams, hands down.
Madrigal cannot run.
Madrigal cannot field.
Madrigal is injury prone.
Madrigal cannot hit HRs.
Even Madrigal K’s have been increasing.
Blah, blah, blah. Keep preaching to the advanced analytic nerd crowd with this crap.
I remain convinced that ‘Nicky Two Strikes’ will fulfill much of his scouting promise and success as a both a minor and major league player with some team as a traditional grunt with an extremely high floor. A future batting title and 2B Gold Glove or three are still possible even if it pains this long time Cubs and White Sox fan that it’s more likely to occur somewhere other than Chicago.
Aaron – who are you really, his mother?
Sounds like a Sox player to me. He’ll fit right in.
I disagree with you there, Aaron. Madrigal was supposed to be high-IQ, fast, a great baserunner, and a GG-caliber defender who was great at making contact. The only part of that that’s translated is great at making contact. He’s young enough to prove me wrong, but he sure looks like a bust.
And Manfred just sits on his hands and let’s this happen?!
We both know that Manfred is just a shill for the owners, much like most MLB Commissioners have been throughout its history.
That said, what Steve Cohen has done this offseason could be the tipping point with the other owners as they battle the MLBPA over salary cap AND floor issues ahead of the next CBA. The outcome of those negotiations and potential historic work stoppage could lead to MLB’s greatest success as an industry or become its final death knell as our one-time National Pastime.
Dodgers seem a reasonable trade partner, though I suspect the delay in learning the Trevor Bauer outcome and its potential effect on their proximity to the penalty tax threshold could hamper talks. It’s obvious they’re trying to stay under it, in anticipation of the Ohtani bidding war off season.
The Dodgers certainly need a closer much more than their NL rival Mets do. LA might also feel the urgency to make additions in order to keep up with their immediate division rivals to the south. Like the Mets, the Dodgers also have the MLB and prospect pieces to get a deal done with the White Sox.
What might a Dodger-Sox deal for Hendriks look like?
Quick poll … anyone surprised by this?
Nah, didn’t think so.
Get it done Eppler!
Vientos, Escobar & McCann is excellent swap.
Vientos might offset the deadweight of McCann, but what’s the appeal or payment for Hendricks? Eduardo Escobar????
Does that even save CHW any money?
No. Actually it would cost them money. McCann and Escobar would cost about $7.2 million more for the White Sox than Hendriks thus negating any value or reason for the White Sox to make a trade for a Catcher and a 3B they don’t actually need while trading a Closer they do need
No, Cohen would pick up all of the salaries to get this done.
His pockets deeper than JR’s!
@ #1WhiteSoxFan, it must be so sunny in your world. I bet if the Sox were willing to part with Colas, they could get Ohtani and have him agree to a 10yr/$200M deal, too, right?
Good idea!
Duro
Alvarez and Baty for Hendricks and Grindahl. Sound silly? Of course, it does, just like your proposal.
The White Sox want to reduce payroll and fill needs. That means a real trade would net them cheap prospects and players. Like Nido. And either Alvarez or Baty.
But the White Sox would pair more easily with other teams like the Dodgers, Yankees and Guardians who have plenty of prospects.
Sox will NOT trade Hendriks to division rival like Cleveland… stupid idea.
Blue Jays also make a bit of sense if one of their C’s is involved.
This is beyond ludicrous, even for Steve Cohen. As the article states, “New York has one of the handful of relievers who might be better than Hendriks to pitch the ninth inning after re-signing Edwin Díaz to a five-year free agent contract. They agreed to terms with Adam Ottavino on a two-year deal this afternoon, and they’ve also brought in David Robertson from outside the organization.”
All of these relievers are right-handed. If the Mets wanted an additional upgrade, you’d think if might be for a southpaw to pair with recently acquired Rays reliever Brooks Raley.
While I agree that another lefty is optimal, the Mets won over 100 games last year with Joely Rodriguez as their only lefty in the pen for a huge chunk of the season. There were little stretches where they had no lefties at all on the entire pitching staff. So, it would be great if they had more, but it’s not necessary.
Rct….your right need a lefty yes they were great last year ….how would Andrew Chaffin (not sure on spelling) look in that pen? Its clear Mets are going ALL IN at All COST!!!! The Mets see a big opportunity to upstage the Yankees at there game ….well there game when George ran the team . I see a subway series coming in 2023
Makes sense – except Robertson and Hendricks are both very effective versus LH batters so another LH RP is not critical at all.
Steve Cohen presents:
Major League Baseball
The only thing the Sox need from the Mets is McNeil.
Yes! Francisco Lindor can replace Jeff McNeil at 2B…in 2029, 2030 0r 2031 when the White Sox are in yet another rebuild. lol
I know BTV isn’t the most respected site, but according to it, Hendriks and Ramos for McNeil would be more or less even. If I were the Sox, I’d do that in a heartbeat. Less than a 1 in 1,000 chance of it happening, though. Sox FO is probably dumb enough to accept Escobar and try to pass it off as a great trade.
Sox keeping Ramos.
Is Dave Dombrowski on vacation? Hendriks could easily be the piece that puts Philly over the top.
Dunsel
They might be Abel to make a deal. Before the Sands flow through the hourglass.
(Mick Abel and Donny Sands?)
Ha-ha! I do believe if the White Sox actually trade Liam Hendriks they will prioritize MLB ready pieces at positions of immediate need.
Sands is close enough to potentially play in Chicago in 2023. He’s made great strides offensively and defensively since his transition from 3B but still profiles as an MLB backup catcher at this point in time.
The most obvious need for the White Sox is at 2B. The best FA option is former Phillie Jean Segura who’s contract demands might too rich for the ChiSox budget which seems to be a primary reason for them ‘shopping’ Liam Hendriks in the first place. That said, the front office did get the OK to ‘splurge’ unexpectedly on LF Andrew Benintendi last week so perhaps Jerry Reinsdorf had a budgetary change of heart and will allow Rick Hahn to spend additional Hanukkah gelt on Segura.
Of course, perhaps the Phillies might consider sending their currently projected 2B Bryson Stott to the White Sox as part of a Hendriks package. Stotts would also give the ChiSox a desired left-handed bat. Then the Phillies would perhaps consider reuniting with Segura themselves.
As for Mick Abel, he’s one of the Phillies two crown jewel prospects along with fellow SP Andrew Painter. I’d guess the White Sox would jump at a chance to snag Abel in a trade for Hendriks but very much doubt the Phillies would consider it.
Anything less than a $550,000,000 Met payroll will be a let down.
Cohen paying more taxes to MLB than the IRS.
Why do the White Sox want to trade Hendriks?
Not a White Sox fan, but that’s what I’m saying. The guys a beast and impressive from what I’ve seen.
The WS have maxed their payroll number, so to have the capital to acquire what they still need, a contract has to be traded. They feel the bullpen will be strong enough without him. They need a 2B, and a C.
Sure Grandal was bad last year, but the year prior he put up a 939 OPS with an insane 420 OBP. He could be good again in 2023.
Grandal will excel in 2023!
He is working out like a beast 7 days per week!
I hope for the White Sox and their fans that they’re not interested in trading Hendriks for McCann. I know he did well for the Sox, but that was an aberration.
Nobody’s trading anything of value for McCann, let alone one of the best relievers in baseball
I could envision the White Sox trading southpaw reliever Jake Diekman and his $4.5 M contract guarantee ($3.5M 2023 salary + $1M 2024 team option) as part of a package to acquire James McCann. The Mets would likely need to offset a good chunk of the $12.125M owed McCann over each of the next two seasons or make it worthwhile for the White Sox in other ways.
Diekman was acquired from the Red Sox last summer to bolster the White Sox bullpen down the stretch. He is an expensive and unneeded piece in 2023 with lefty Garrett Cochet’s expected return to the pen following his TJ surgery last spring. The White Sox already have Aaron Bummer in place as their primary lefty setup man. Bummer has $11.75M guaranteed through 2024 along with $7.25M (2025) and $7.5M) team options.
McCann might be a welcome addition to the White Sox as a compliment to Yasmani Grandal in 2023 like he was back in the abbreviated 2020 pandemic season when both shared catching duties during the latter’s first year on the Southside of Chicago. They were an extremely effective backstop duo coming off respective 2019 All-Star seasons. McCann was also able to continue his exemplary work as Lucas Giolito’s personal catcher that began in 2019 when the RHP became a certified ace. Giolito hasn’t been as effective since McCann departed and was especially bad last season. The upcoming season will be Giolito’s walk season so a reunification with McCann could work out well for each as well as the team.
I would do the Diekman-McCann deal as long as the Mets pick up the salary difference.
non-elite teams don’t need elite closers
and they can theoretically get an overpay since he’s the best reliever potentially available, but the mets don’t make sense here
If the Mets get this guy we can make games 7 innings like the Yankee dynasty in the late 90’s. I’ll stop short of Vientos, Baty and Álvarez, but anything else is on the table.
Legit question, and the only conceivable reasoning for it is that they want to try and cut costs. It’s what Reinsdorf does. You can’t even look at Benintendi as a big move. The Sox have been linked to Benintendi since he was drafted. It was a forgone conclusion he would join this team. But it cost more than they wanted and now something will have to give. Fans of the White Sox are absolutely tired of this half-a$$ off-season BS. This team’s window on contention should be open, but instead of bolstering any talent they have, they re-sign guys like Leury Garcia to be your starting RF or 2B. Absolutely terribly run organization.
Agreed. I’m not a White Sox fan, but they have a very good core in place and this is the time to spend big. Their division is very winnable. JR has always operated like a mid-market team, if not worse. Chicago is as major a market as can be short of NY or LA.
All this spending the Mets have done makes me wonder if Billy Eppler spilled the beans about Arte Moreno and the restraints he had on the payroll at a certain point just under the luxury tax despite having Trout and Ohtani to build around. Steve Cohen was probably like, “Oh yeah? Well let’s show the baseball world what we would do if we had Trout and Ohtani. And maybe it’ll draw Ohtani to sign with us if the Angels don’t lock him up.” That’s just a hypothetical scenario. I’m only connecting the Angels to this because of Billy Eppler and the struggles he went through trying to rebuild the Angels farm system while trying to field a competitive club with his owner putting the brakes on whenever they had the opportunity to capitalize on the open market. Angels fans grumbled a lot about Eppler, and even saw a few in Angeks forums trying to say that Eppler didn’t know how to build an MLB ball club. Umm… He has Scherzer and Verlander back together again. And today’s reports also talk of Steve Cohen being directly involved in signing Verlander. And Angels fans cry over Arte Moreno meddling. That wasn’t the problem. The problem was that once the farm system was depleted, he listened to the fans and gave them their star big bats, but then he also stopped where Steve Cohen has kept going. I’d bet the Angels would be in the same boat as the Mets of Arte would just throw away his personal BS and let it ride. But now he’s selling the club, so hopefully the new owner of the Angels will be smart enough to give owners like Steve Cohen a tun for their money.
The problem with Moreno is that he has always assembled a stars and scrubs lineup while neglecting starting pitching. It’s a formula that works as the Angels are perennially in the top ten in attendance. Most owners aren’t willing to lose money for the sake of winning. It’s not BS; it’s running a profitable business. Cohen has been the rare exception and accepted losing money in the short-term once he bought the team.
Why do i get the feeling that this was was some BS thrown out to Mayer to spur interest from other teams to either get their attention or drive up bids. Would not be the first time an “insider” was used in a disinformation campaign to manipulate the market.
Tenn – I already said this.
Could it be that the contact was made BEFORE the Mets signed Diaz to his extension? That would make sense.
Doubtful. They signed Díaz immediately after the World Series, before he hit free agency.
I think this is just another incarnation of the New York centric media. The Mets are certainly on record as saying they’re loath to give up prospects and have used Cohen’s wealth to upgrade the team instead; thus other teams (Dodgers, Toronto, Giants, Texas, Cubs etc) willing to give up young inexpensive talent seem far more likely as a trade partner for the Sox.
Is anyone else hoping for another Mets disappointment come playoff time?
It’s natural to root for the underdog and dislike the bully. Because of the Mets long history of shooting themselves in the foot, I think many fans are willing to overlook the ‘bull in the china shop’ approach currently in play and be happy for them but over the long term, it’s tiresome and, frankly, unfair. Why should one team be allowed to outspend others by a multiple of 2, 3, 4 etc. and still call it a “level playing field”? it only strengthens the argument in favor of a spending cap, or an even more onerous penalty tax.
As much fun as it may be to be a fan of a large market/big spending team. you’re punching down and don’t receive – or deserve – the same credit in my eyes for winning as a team that clearly does it on merit, like the Rays, Brewers, Guardians, Cardinals, etc.. That said, I’m often surprised the small market teams don’t raise more of a stink.
They don’t raise more of a stink because most of their owners are capable of spending just as much as Cohen is. They just aren’t passionate about the game and could care less about the fans or winning. The profits are the only reason they own the team and they’re gonna maximize them and penny pinch as much as they can. The playing field is much more level than people are led to believe. The main thing keeping it imbalanced is their fattening pockets zipped tightly shut. The few that are actually incapable of spending, such as Sherman in Miami, should never have been allowed to purchase a team. A salary floor would be 100% more important to implement then a cap.
I keep trying to point out to people =there ALREADY IS a salary floor.
It is the minimum salary x the 26 man roster.
@Devlsh: Unfair? Boo frickin’ hoo, cry me a river. Unfair by what rule? Oh, that’s right, the Mets aren’t breaking any rules. And by what authority are teams allowed or not allowed to decide how much to spend on payroll?
Speaking of unfair, how is it fair for player compensation to be capped when revenues are growing every year and there is no cap on teams’ profits?
And small market owners have raised a stink before. Led by Bud Selig, they tried in 1994-95 to railroad the MLBPA into a salary cap system, even canceling the World Series and trying to illegally use replacement players before they were slapped down by the NLRB and the courts. There are no longer enough owners with the stomach for a colossal fight like that, because they’re making too much money to be willing to cancel a whole season over it.
The bottom line is that even most owners don’t want a salary cap that much, and the MLBPA would never agree to one in collective bargaining.
Common sense says it’s unfair; I never said it was in violation of the rules.
I’m sure you grew up playing Monopoly where one player was given five times as much as the next..
Again, it’s easy to dismiss Pittsburgh, Tampa, Kansas City, Cleveland, Oakland, Cincinnati, Milwaukee, etc and act like it doesn’t matter but again, common sense says it does,
@Devlsh: But as you clearly demonstrate, sense is not common. Monopoly has nothing to do with anything, and nobody’s dismissing any teams, even now that they are signing Correa!
with the amount MLB brings in yearly… and the amount, it you broke it down of course… each team is capable of a 250-350m payroll. it’s how they want to spend it, that’s the question. many teams could easily increase their opportunity. I get many play it safe, or might be smaller markets, but if they spent like this… many of those locals would be ecstatic to see their teams daily. teams like KC, Oakland, Colorado, Tampa even for that matter… low paying payrolls… all have had history in winning and winning playoff caliber games. there’s no reason they should penny-pincher. the market is there… it’s the EXCITEMENT that needs to come to the club from locals that easily could excite the base, hence being more money. if soto, Verlander, Machado, Ohtani and trout magically appeared on the roster of the pirates… that whole area would go berserk. and the worldwide baseball lovers would be grabbing out pirate jerseys. and the media would be all over it. and cable networks would air the games all the time. treat it like a business. take a chance and run with it. you put in, you reap the rewards. you complain and b1t$h about it, well then it’s your fault. every market has the capability to do it…
I’m guessing the contact was made BEFORE the Mets signed Diaz.
Mets are like the bills….boy I like losing series
McCann had good season for White Sox. Escobar contract has only one year left. Vientos has good upside. Mets ain’t trading Alvarez. Baty might be on the block. Anyway I really wanted Mets to sign your guy Abreu. But Houston got him. Talk about the rich getting richer! Maybe Hendricks gets moved away from the Southside come summertime. Let’s see. Also, is you name a tribute to Manny Ramirez? Loved that guy since he was a rookie on Cleveland!
The trade could involve the Sox paying out the contract if lucrative enough. Plus it keeps another top tier closer out of the hands of the competition. One can never have too many bullpen arms
Would be great for Giants….but may fail physical for not being Judge
White Sox sign Elvis Andrus.
More of a letter to Santa than an MLBTR
Elvis is leaving the building as he probably won’t want to be a backup to Tim Anderson when there are still teams (Red Sox, Twins, Braves, Dodgers, Rockies, Nationals) that could still dip into the remaining SS market
Tim Anderson could be traded as well despite what Hahn is saying.
If not, the Sox better give Tim a bonus and extend his contract now. Otherwise, he is gone without compensation to Sox 2 years from now.
You’ll probably find there are fewer takers in in an Anderson sweepstakes than you realize
Anderson is a steal.
Team leader, makes $12.5 mil for 2023, $14 mil for 2024, and controlled for 2 more years. Only $1 mil buyout
Anderson has plenty of baggage tho. There have been reports he was a problem in the locker room this past year too, but not sure how sound those are.
Clu, TA gone by all star break
Very much doubt it. The team would have to repeat collectively having their worse offensive seasons of their careers. The White Sox were so far below average for their offense last year, which is why they didn’t run away with that dumpster fire of a division. If they play to even 70% of their talent, they win 90+ games and walk into the post season. Without argument, they are the most talented team in that division, but they need to put it together and actually use it during games. And they need to stay healthy. This team’s core players have about 10 games played with one another in 2 full seasons and the Covid shortened one.
And Elvis’ nifty 2022 wasn’t even contingent on a fluky BABIP. Interesting to see him rebound, but the underlying stuff looks pretty dismal. Bet he’s not worth a starting gig in 2023.
not ideal trade partners
Mets, Mets, Mets, Mets, Mets. There are other MLB teams. But the Mets get a 600 word story on your site because they are interested in a relief pitcher. Talk about bias.
Someone is leaking Mets interest in Hendriks to get other teams to step up and trade more value to the Sox!
if other teams were as active as them, they’d be worthy of 600 words. instead, the padres and Mets have been making headlines because… they… ARE.
The Mets’ incoherence continues. You add the uncertainty of Senga, a sunday pitcher, to the oldest staff in baseball—a pitcher fangraphs’ figure is a 3/4 in an MLB rotation—and think you have the money for Hendriks because, hey, why not, but you didn’t have the money to add Rodon instead of Senga? Or the sense to add Rodon and Senga and deal Carrasco, giving Senga his spot, beefing up your projections in the #5 slot by bumping up your payroll by all of the one million dollar difference b/t Senga at $15m and Carrasco at $14m?
Cohen’s like the starving fat man blundering into a buffet, who grabs whatever looks good depending on which direction he’s facing. —Or he’s Jeff Wilpon, if Wilpon was playing in an MLB The Show league and the other guys gave him an extra $150m in payroll to make it fair.
Hendricks is still very good, but he’s been in significant decline since he left Oakland. Enjoy his age 34 and 35 seasons, because those always go well for high-velocity relievers.
Significant decline? He finished 9th in Cy Young his 1st season with the Sox, led the AL in saves in the same season. His ERA in the last two years has been below 2.50…I mean sure, it isn’t 1.81 like in Oakland, but that’s like criticizing someone throwing a 2 hit shut out because it wasn’t a no hitter.
Trade for Hendriks and get one more reliever and this bullpen easily becomes a top 10 bullpen. I really liked the resigning of Ottavino. If they can make this trade happen and sign Brad Hand and Alex Reyes (not sure if hes signed yet) then this should solidify the team. The team would only really need one more bat to be in playoff contention. Perhaps a trade of Vientos, McCann, and Drew Smith for Hendriks could work
“The team would only really need one more bat to be in playoff contention.”
Wow. Really?
Just a second closer, set-up man, and a real DH away… Ya hear that, Steve?
Breaking News…San Diego just signed Jimi Hendrix according to Jon Heyman. Making their 76 man roster complete!
Well Mets now getting Carlos Correa! THANK YOU UNCLE STEVE & EPPLER!
That “medical issue” will ultimately saddle the Mets with a bad contact.
Thanks for the insight, doc.
NP
The Braves have young SP prospects and they need a closer. Ideal trading partner for the ChiSox.
As an aside, don’t know what concerned the Giants about Correa. Probably we will never know the specifics. Correa just made the NL East the toughest division in baseball. Gonna be a dog fight among the Mets, Phillies and Braves for top prize. Marlins are improving. Have great pitching but need to add a few bats.
The 2yrs of McNeil is only prize that would make it work for WSox. Might be too many exchanges of offset veteran salaries neither team wants to build a fair deal around it. Even the hyped prospect Alvarez isn’t expected to be a good “defensive” catcher at a position where offense is secondary.
The Mets are set up to be a dynasty, there should be no reason that they wouldn’t go after a Hendriks and be concerned about prospects. There’s ways to be creative by sending McCann to offset some salary, Maurico because he’s blocked at the MLB level forever and the prize for the CWS would be Alvarez. In return Hendriks, left handed reliever Banks and maybe the younger Cespedes to project in the Mets OF in 2024. .There are two really good defensive catchers available to fill a backup role on the Mets in Perez and Barnhart that would make sense if they felt they needed it. .
They only have Scherzer, Verlander, Alonso, and McNeil under contract for two more years and have yet to win a WS.
White Sox bullpen is set with Hendriks as the closer, Hendriks has been great in the closer role for the White Sox.
I’m guilty of entertaining some trades for some of the White Sox core players – Hendriks, TA, and Grandal – but I think the White Sox are going to compete for the Central this year, they will need TA, Hendriks and Grandal to win. So let’s stick with what we got, start Leury at second and tell Vaughn to oil up his RF’ers glove and let’s FN go!
Vaughn is playing 1B.
Pay attention!
I still say Sheets should get most of the starts at 1B, and that Vaughn should work at becoming a good RF.
Make the Mets take Grandal along with Hendricks. Sox get McCann and McNeil.. This would give the Sox enough money to make several upgrades.
Sox need to get a deal done with Blue Jays or Mariners. Blue Jays Merrifield and Kirk fit needs and are affordable. Mariners have players under control that work as well.
Mets have big contracts so what.