Here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on throughout the baseball world today:
1. How many more moves do the Mets have in them?
After their jaw-dropping signing of Carlos Correa to play third base, the Mets made another pair of moves last night, shipping James McCann out to the Orioles and adding Danny Mendick on a $1MM deal. With Mets officials reportedly expecting Mendick to be ready for Opening Day on March 30th, his signing will likely further fuel speculation that Eduardo Escobar, who has already been pushed to the bench by Correa, could be the next veteran piece the Mets ship out. Correa’s signing also leaves Brett Baty and Mark Vientos blocked at third base. While both prospects can play other positions (Baty can play the outfield, while Vientos can profiles better at first or DH than third), Billy Eppler’s front office may be more willing to dangle them in trade talks now that they have a long-term answer at third base. Such a deal could inspire even more moves. For example, the Mets are already reportedly entertaining offers for Carlos Carrasco, and they would be even more motivated to do so if they landed another starting pitcher by trade, likely pushing Carrasco out of the starting rotation. Whatever specific moves they make from here, the Mets have been among the offseason’s most active teams, and they’ve shown no signs of slowing down as of yet.
2. Will we ever hear the Giants side of the Correa situation?
After the deal between Correa and the Giants fell apart due to medical concerns, Correa’s agent Scott Boras took to the media to explain his– and his client’s– side of the story. Boras characterizes the situation as San Francisco being concerned by an injury that predates Correa’s time in the majors, and says the Giants ultimately did not return to the negotiating table before Boras felt he needed to restart negotiations with other clubs, leading to Correa’s new deal with the Mets. The Giants, for their part, have been relatively quiet on the topic, with president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi simply noting that the team is not allowed to disclose confidential medical information. Still, given the unprecedented nature of the whole debacle and the confusion and frustration it has caused among the Giants faithful, fans surely are hoping for a more clear explanation and resolution to the whole ordeal in the coming days.
3. Will the Orioles deal from their position player surplus?
The Orioles offseason so far has been decently active, even if it hasn’t been to the level some fans were hoping for. Kyle Gibson, Adam Frazier, and Mychal Givens have all agreed to one-year deals, while the organization picked up McCann to back up Adley Rutschman last night. Still, there’s much more to do in Baltimore in order to supplement a roster that surprised most by winning 83 games and avoiding a last place finish in the deeply competitive AL East last year. The most glaring hole in the team is the starting rotation, where only Dean Kremer posted an ERA below 4.00 last season, and Gibson may actually be a downgrade from innings-eater Jordan Lyles, who departed for Kansas City after the Orioles declined a 2023 team option for his services. Fortunately for the O’s and their fans, however, there’s plenty of interesting pieces in Baltimore who could draw trade interest from other clubs and make a deal possible. Slick-fielding shortstop Jorge Mateo is already known to have drawn trade interest from teams, but there’s other players who could be available as well. Ramon Urias won a Gold Glove for his work at third base in 2022, but it seems likely the pending arrival of infield prospects like Jordan Westburg and Joey Ortiz could push him out of an everyday role. The Marlins would make a particularly appealing trade partner for Baltimore, as they’re incredibly deep in rotation options but have a glaring need for bats, making the two clubs a seemingly perfect match to work out a deal. Otherwise, the Cubs and Red Sox could stand to add to their infield mixes, though Baltimore may be wary of trading with a division rival like Boston. While not necessarily on the lookout for bats, a team that lost their shortstop to free agency this offseason, such as the Dodgers or Braves, might have interest in Mateo’s glove at shortstop to supplement their internal options at the position.
Cookie would be a nice addition to the O’s what kind of prospect would he garner from them? Mets could use pitching or outfield in the return.
Shohei Ohtani
Mets need to add high quality AA/AAA pitching prospects to their system to replace aging starters. It would not surprise me if they swap Baty or Mauricio for a similarly-rated prospect if they can find a match with another team.
4th OF or Bullpen piece that will give you steady outings
I would not deal Baty. Vientos yes in right package. But NYM could well be working on a blockbuster with these as the centerpiece. Lost somewhat in the mayhem is NYM stockpiling mid draft picks. And this after a universally praised 2022 draft haul
Look for Cincy to add to their infield collection. They can’t seem to realize they need outfielders.
I, as a Reds fan, sadly have to agree with you there.
@burrow2chase Like the screen name!
In their Free Agent splurge Mets did not lose a single draft pick. They avoided players who were tendered a contract. In fact, they will be awarded two picks for players signed by other teams (deGrom, Bassit) who they did tender. Their first round pick was pushed back 10 spots for exceeding the fake cap as a penalty. Given the Mets have the #1 rated prospect in baseball (Alvarez) and one of the top 3B prospects (soon to be left fielder) they are positioned pretty well.
Spot on. 6 of the first 135 picks in this draft as well. Baty, Alvarez and Parada are near off limits to me unless it’s Ohtani with an extension. But the depth also includes Jett Williams, Tidwell and, dare I say, Matt Allen who is finally healthy and still just 22. Ziegler, Hamel, Butto. They have really done quite well and figure to expand that depth even further this year with those 6 picks. Blocked guys should absolutely be on the table here because the roster cannot hold them all
Mets have a back haul of picks coming in while they have a few prospects at the top. I can see them moving some of those (Baty, Parada, etc.) along with a Carasco, Escobar and cash for a Bieber, who has two years left on his contract. Suits up nicely with Scherzer and Verlander in terms of length of contract.
Make that 7 picks in the first 135 picks. They receive an extra 3rd round pick for not signing Brandon Sproat in the 2022 draft. Mets finally have an owner and front office who know exactly what they’re doing.
Why consider / worry about moving blocked players until they truly get to and are mashing in AAA. Near MLB talent has depth benefits in case of injury. I’m not saying Mauricio could be the everyday 2b but he might be serviceable while a regular is on the IL.
I’m not so sure Vientos will garner much in trade as he is reportedly grades out as bat only 1B /DH. If he has hit while on the MLB team it might be a different story.
There’s a certain Polar Bear who was once given the same evaluation (bat only 1B), sooooo…
Vientos should be the RH platoon partner to Vogelbach at DH. He would be a huge upgrade over Ruf.
So 90-125 AB’s to a rookie? He is young and for 5+ professional years he has played near every day on both sides of the ball. And now he is expected to perform with occasional at bats?
There are a few good reasons the short end of a platoon goes to a Vet.
Honestly, outside of Toronoto (though on their level), the Orioles had the scariest lineup in the East. The team is scrappy and can rake and always a threat on the bases. They just need the pitching and they’re scary.
As I skim through this, it seems like Scott Boras is the biggest winner here. Mets add another big contract that will hurt them down the line and San Francisco loses out on adding big pirces, similarly to Bloom and the Sox.
Carrasco would be a nice addition to the Red Sox. I know he’s been shaky and getting up there in age, but he’s better than half the guys we have now and his strikeout rate is excellent. Bloom loves his strikeout guys.
“Toronoto”?
It’s next to “Demergatroit”.
Spell check always messing with my posts or I just pushed the wrong button. I think you get the point though.
I guess it depends on your definition of scary.
Well there’s the fact that Adley, Mountcastle, Urias and Mateo are still young enough to reach a higher ceiling.
Yes, subjective, but the fact that they have power and can beat you on the basepaths makes them a tough out.
It’s not bad, but I can’t say they scare me yet.
Urias and Mateo (and maybe Mountcastle) won’t be starting much longer with Henderson, Ortiz, Westburg and, a bit later, Jackson Holliday replacing them.
Scary also in the sense that their best players — outside of Rutschman and Henderson — are mostly still in the minors.
@ pwndroia –
“Honestly, outside of Toronoto (though on their level), the Orioles had the scariest lineup in the East”
The numbers would seem to say otherwise…
2022 AL East team stats:
(MLB Ranking)
offensive team war
(2) – TOR – 111.1
(5) – NYY – 98.8
(13) – TB – 13.2
(16) – BOS – 4.1
(18) – BAL – 3.0
Team WRC+
(2) – TOR – 118
(4) – NYY – 115
(12) – BOS – 102
(15) – TBR – 101
(17) – BAL – 99
Team OPS
(3) – TOR – .760
(4) – NYY – .751
(9) – BOS – .731
(20) – BAL – .695
(25) – TB – .686
I grant that all metrics are subject to some debate but those numbers suggest a clear picture. While you may root for or enjoy watching the O’s, and they do look to have a bright future ahead, nobody was really scared of that offense.
Keep in mind that Adley was not there on day 1, nor were several other players.
Maybe I’m overexaggerating but I’ve seen their offense crush the Sox and Yankees at times last year. Stats may not show it but they shouldn’t be overlooked.
Lifelong O’s fan here. Yessir, you are overexaggerating. There’s a future where that may be a possibility, but it’s not here yet.
Dude, you need more coffee. Hear instead of here.
….mmmm….coffee….
Mets should drop out of future drafts to allow other teams to grab their picks since ownership rather c@ck block prospects.
Who have they blocked? Baty will be starting left fielder at some point next year. Alvarez could be starting catcher on opening day. Vientos can DH when his bat demands it. Mauricio could be starting 2b if McNeil leaves.why does everyone get caught up in position determinations because it’s listed on a prospects baseball card?
Because that’s where the player was drafted to be the future of that position. I understand things may change and the player could be exposed to another position but that doesn’t aways pan out either. The real question is, why do people get caught up in “thinking” every player is universal? If thats the case, then Ohtani’s value has dropped tremendously.
Mets will need these prospects. Their 2nd youngest regular is Correa at 28 y/o who has only played in 140+ games twice in his career. This is an old team. Their frontline starters are 38 and 39 y/o, with Senga never having pitched in MLB. Their back-of-rotation still has a lot of questions and they will need the depth that prospects provide. People acting like NYM winning the offseason is something new.
People like the commenter above get caught up because they have too much salt in their diet, Mets6986(23)!
Looks like someone’s “salty”
Umm, what
@10cent
Agreed, the stock piling of draft picks and previous drafts coupled with the influx of ML talent has given a significant boost to the farm system. Truly amazin what Cohen has done to this organization in a matter of 3 offseasons, and still NOT DONE!!
The difference on the evaluation of Correa’s medical issue could be that at that level of investment ($300+M) Cohen and his team felt they could risk the possibility of injury-related decline or off time, and the Giants felt they couldn’t.. If the Giants saw something they didn’t like and came back with an offer closer to the Mets, the deal would have been made. But they seem to have been looking at the whole and asking themselves how much potential lost time/performance could they risk. No one wants a David Wright situation, especially when the dollars create CBT issues.
Sure it would be dumb to not think of any negatives that can arise throughout this contract, but it would be just as dumb to ONLY focus on any negatives that can arise.
But I understand how it goes, I have been jealous of the Yankees, Dodgers, Braves, RedSox, Cardinals, Giants and even the Ray’s/A’s for so long now. I’m realistic enough to just hope what the Mets have done actually brings a championship. Nothing is promised, but damn this has been fun.
@Cohens_Wallet That seems to be the trend in terms of reacting to any big contract on these forums. People immediately focus on the worst possible scenarios ignoring the fact that these guys are definitely going to be huge assets to their team for years. I think Cohen is being ridiculous, but I think the Mets are going to win 90+ games the next two-seasons and likely beyond if he keeps it up. Correa is going to be fantastic. Combine Correa with Lindor and McNeil and that infield defense is going to be top tier.
Until Correa signs on the dotted line, the Mets can do the same as the Giants and just back out of the deal.
Please correct the second question… here to hear. Thanks!!!
It’s not all that amazing when you have a 500 million dollar payroll. Literally, i mean literally, every team can have a great farm and top team with a 500 million dollar payroll. Any mistake you can cut and replace at a whim. The Mets don’t even need prospects, they are just a bonus.
@CJML
Not sure how long you been a baseball fan but I’m old enough to remember the LOL Mets being the worst team money can buy. Saying “literally ” doesn’t take into account how awful the Mets have been ran throughout the Wilpon years.
I know it’s an absurd amount of money but I believe this will be the new norm in baseball. Whatever teams owner that says he can’t afford it should just sell to someone that CAN afford it. I know it’s harsh but reality tends to be harsh sometimes.
I hope that this isnt the new norm. With this amount of crazy spending you are just crushing almost all small market and mid market teams. I wouldn’t want to see a playoff race between two 70 wins teams because MLB has gotten too top heavy. MLB absolutely need a cap. Players would never agree that that however.
I find it hard to believe purposely running at a loss for a sustained period of time will fly with the other owners.
@CJML how do you know the Mets will run at a loss with their current payroll and tax along with all other expenses? Or are you just guessing that is the case?
Agreed, too many baseball owners only looking to turn a profit instead of actually trying to win. I’m a business owner myself so I understand the purpose of running a business is to turn a profit, but when it gets in the way of the ultimate goal of winning for the fans, then it starts to become pointless.
Cohen will not do this forever, he wants his championship badly. Once he gets it I fully believe you’ll see a more Phillies/Yankees type of payroll instead of this.
Cohen himself has said he will be running at a loss. I believe his exact words, “it will cost more than a bread box”. I’ve heard Heyaman and others also fairly confidently say the same thing.
It was mentioned in the late to the party on Correa Cohen article.
Something like “not everyone is prepared to run at a loss”
Yes he will be running at a loss, just not forever. All that Cohen has spent and he doesn’t even have the SNY money coming in yet, the only true profitable asset the Mets had. When he acquires SNY at some point he’ll start to recoup some of that money.
He absolutely did say that, but you left out the second part where he stated he makes a pretty good profit on the other aspects of his entire business empire. I would bet Mr Cohen turns a healthy profit in 2023 despite what will be a marginal loss in comparison on the baseball side. The Mets are not a vacuum because they make up a very small fraction of his empire. The interest in his account will offset the Mets operating loss
@Cohens_Wallet: When exactly is he acquiring SNY?
“Will we ever here the Giants side…”
That, my dear children, happens when you don’t read books during your formative years. You’ll confuse phonics and orthography, since correct spelling hasn’t been ingrained into your subconscious mind.
Reason for misspelling
1) Typo
2) autocorrect replaced correct word with incorrect word ( don’t tell me it’s never happened to you)
3) didn’t read books during formative years
tough call – I’ll go with #1
The correct answer is “lack of care”. Or thought.
It can safely, I think, be assumed the author knows the difference between here and hear which makes this careless, regardless of the excuse.
It’s social media, not a thesis paper.
Self-righteousness on the mlbtr discussion board. Lol, sure.
Smart decision by the Giants. Boras is not the one issuing the checks so he has no skin in that side of the aisle. More teams should be doing this in regards to raising concerns over a player & their medical issues.
It’s simple. Announce a deal when it becomes official rather than “in agreement”. Mandate no leaks to the media. I can wait a few days or a week. The likes of Heyman, Nightengale, etc. can get their crack fix drumming up other new rumors.
Right decision imo. Time is the only thing that can reveal smart. They can’t be letting Boras control their process. If something comes up on a physical that needs investigating, you investigate it. It’s why you do them.
@foppert Thanks for your always measured and thoughtful responses in this sea of knee jerk overreactions.
Time will tell, unfortunately social media is impatient and impetuous. Zaidi seems incredibly patient though and I feel lucky to have him.
Thank you. Back at you.
Same. Most disciplined man in the world. Worthy of much more respect and appreciation.
If Im Cubs id give Mets some solid pieces for Baty
Baty, Vientos to MIA in a deal for Lopez.
Maybe alcantara but that’s a massive overpay for Lopez
Thus the term “a” deal not “the” deal. It could be an overpayment in this form but not by much. Perfect opportunity to trade Lopez for 2 prospects with solidly high offensive ceilings. Escobar would be a fit also.
The Mets aren’t trading for Lopez. They enjoy absolutely destroying him when he faces them way too much. And to suggest Baty would be part of a deal for that guy is laughable.
Idk if the Mets trade Escobar. He seems to profile as a super utility piece now if he can handle 3B 2B 1B corner OF.
I’d dangle Baty and Vientos in a package for Ohtani, Woodruff/Barnes, Webb. Ohtani might be hard to get but Brewers might be willing to trade their aces for the right package to save money and Giants certainly could use some prospects.
The Mets currently have 42 men on their 40 man roster. I expect Escobar to be traded, and highly doubt he wants to be a super utility man. He’s a starting 3B on most teams.
Well if the option is play super utility for the Mets or start at 3B for the Rockies. Think the answer is obvious for a 33 year old who probably wants to win a WS before he retires.
Depends on the player. To some, winning on a team with a 500M+ payroll means a lot less than competing on a small market team. More importantly, these guys want to play, and Escobar is in a contract year. I would pretty much guarantee he wants to start for a chance to earn a contract in 2024.
If he were to showcase the ability to be super utility and offer good defense at multiple positions and offer a good bat 100-110 he’d have a bigger market at 34. Cause then a team can play him at 3B 2B 1B DH corner OF full time if they so wish or use him as the super utility themselves. Look how long Marwin Gonzalez has stuck around doing that.
@Jung Good points, but a starting 3B generally gets paid more than a utility guy.
He has a team option for 2024. It’s going to be picked up.
Hey Von! Good morning… don’t you think Escobar would fit as a part-time DH? He’d essentially play everyday still play as the RH platoon DH and filling in at 2B and 3B on days when Correa, Lindor or McNeil need rest. Correa may well be the SS on days when Lindor rests, opening up 3B for Escobar. Just thinking out loud so feel free to smash my logic! Cheers.
I do think that. I think Escobar would be an amazing bench piece, but I also don’t think he’d want that in a contract year.
Yoan Lopez was quietly released to open up the spot for Ottavino. The McCann trade opened up the spot for Narvaez, but you are correct that it appears two more spots are needed for Correa and Mendick. Medicals could hold up those signings from being completed quickly, but Mendick is known to have a torn ACL so that’s not a surprise.
The Orioles prospects are unproven or they are going to be the Future of the Orioles
I don’t think they are prepared to trade anyone yet.
I read elsewhere that now former Mets radio broadcaster Wayne Randazzo will be doing TV for the Angels. Any Mets fans have thoughts on Randazzo?
I’m not a Mets fan, but live in NY and listen to Mets games often. The SNY TV broadcast team is often praised, and they deserve it, but I think the Mets have the best radio broadcast in all of baseball. Randazzo and Howie Rose are fantastic. I think Randazzo will do a great job for the Angels.
Von -I too live in NY ( although I hate all NY teams) – prefer sports on the radio to tv ( will watch NFL on tv with sound off) and you are correct – Mets have best radio broadcast going.. not even close
SWEET!
Used to watch the Eagles game with the sound off and listen to Merrill Reese on 94.1……
RE: trading with the Marlins being a perfect match. On what planet are Mateo and Urias seen as quality bats?
Agreed on Mateo who is a “glove & speed” guy but Urias is a quality bat. needs to improve his launch angle to maximize his value but he was at about a 110+ OPS in 2022 and won the gold glove. Not saying he’s an MVP candidate or anything but he’s got plenty of value and team control left.
I was thinking the same thing. Doesn’t seem like the Orioles could/would offer the available MLB-ready bats that the Marlins would want.
The Oriole’s Urias, Ng and Elias agree on. Impasse is on the 2nd half of deal to get a Lopez. Ng wants Santander, Elias will give up Hays.
OR
Mountcastle for Lopez straight up. To get the 6’3″ Gunnar Henderson in the everyday lineup, get him a 1b mitt.
Huh, I had the impression that the Orioles value Hays over Santander.
@O’sSayCYS: afternoon. You could be right. Pure speculation on my part. Basing it on local media saying O’s need/looking for LH hitting. Hays is a righty, Santander does the switcheroo thing.
Henderson can really field. It’d be a shame to move him to 1B. He’s too good for that.
Urias has had an OPS+ over 100 for the last 3 years.
At this point, keep both Carrasco & Escobar. Escobar could be a switch hitting DH.
Baty only would get moved to Miami in a trade for Alcantra.
That is doable, but as long as it’s Alcantra and not Alcantara.
With the luxury tax Carlos Carrasco, Mark Canha and Eduardo Escobar will cost the Mets about $60 million in 2023.
Could the trio be packaged in a trade for a bullpen arm?
On one hand the Mets seem unconcerned about money while on the other hand Baseball Trade Values gives the three Mets a combined negative trade value of $2 million.
Canha is going nowhere. Mets like him and have a dearth of OFs outside of Canha, Nimmo and Marte. AAA included. McNeil can play there but he is the starting 2B. This is also Canha’s last year of his contract. In fact, I have to imagine Mets are looking for a 4th OF type.
Carrasco and Escobar might be available. However, both are in the last years of their contracts. Both have value to the Mets as depth. I mean who has enough SP? What if Marte gets hurt and McNeil goes to the OF? Escobar then becomes a starting infielder.
I don’t think Cohen is concerned about money and all three are on expiring contracts at the end of the year.
Baty will be starting in left at some point this season.
Tigers would take that and hand you Rodriguez and Soto.
I heard SF was concerned about Correa’s leg injury from AAA he suffered in 2014. Sounds like they were having cold feet and wanted out of the deal. The doctors supposedly disagreed with the Giants assessment.
Could be they were worried about wear and tear over the next 13 years. Nutty contract length anyway.
Being someone with knee/foot issues from baseball days, I can tell you that is entirely justified on their part.
Maybe it’s just me, but if you are worried about wear and tear over 13 years you shouldn’t be offering 13 year contracts in the first place.
The Giants remind me a realtor I once worked with. Her strategy was to agree to the seller’s selling price, and then try to negotiate down after the appraisal. It might work in a buyers’ market, but it’s not the winter of 2021/2022 anymore. The Giants got their bluff called and were left empty handed.
No one expects the players who signed mega contracts this year to be productive at the end of their contract. It’s just a way to defer money and spread out the luxury tax implications. Bogaerts signed an 8 year/$280m contract spread over 11 years and Correa’s original contract was a 10 year deal spread over 13 years.
I think they were not worried about it until they saw something on the medical.
I agree that they shouldn’t offer 13 year contracts in the first place. I don’t think anyone should.
Contracts have deferred money for a while now. Booby Bonilla is the most famous of those. The Reds payed Ken Griffey Jr. deferred money to keep the payroll down. They still may be for all we know.
I know they don’t live up to the contract at the end. That’s why I would pay higher annual salaries up front and lesser at the end to it hamstring me then. But that’s just me.
If a team is worried bout the luxury tax, they shouldn’t go above it to begin with.
In the NFL, they tend to avoid “dead money” because it counts against the cap. But they don’t have the disparity that baseball does and is the most popular sport right now because every team’s fans know they have an equal playing field and there’s a chance, assuming the team is run well.
Imagine that.
@bhoops
It’s a buyers market right now when it comes to negotiating prices down. It was a sellers market last winter. If you tried to negotiate a deal down the seller could tell you to kick rocks because they had 3 backup buyers waiting. Not that way today.
why then did the Giants negotiate the original contract? the 2014 injury was likely knowable industry wide for quite some time (i.e. 2014) and yet they offered the contract anyway
I agree that cold feet related to a contract longer than 3 years scared Zaidi to no ends, but if you want to sign a high end free agent these days clearly 10+-year contracts are the going rate
Zaidi is a dumpster diver, this was way outside of his comfort zone is my interpretation
I get a chuckle every time I read a comment that the Giants will be in on Otani with all the budget space they will have next year – they can offer a contract but why would he listen unless it’s 50% higher than any other offer? As a long time Giants fan it’s hard for me to see why an impact free agent would sign with this version of the Giants – I can’t get over that Zaidi had 37 position players on the 2022 roster – churn of that rate reeks of desperation/incompetence, not leadership or long range planning – just keep trying until you get lucky and then credit the process – along the lines of a broken clock is correct twice a day
Voth had a 3.04 ERA in 21 games (17 starts) for the Orioles last season as well. I wouldn’t sleep on Kyle Bradish either.
I think Bradish is set for great season. Think he’ll be the Orioles best pitcher by seasons end.
(Grayson gonna do great too, but he will be a rookie, and there are likely to be “bumps”)
Is this the “Orange” up-date?! (Mets, Giants, Orioles)
(I guess DET runs Orange as a third color, so maybe they’ll update to include some DET info)
as a giants fan, glad correa deal fell through. would have been a terrible signing.
If Ohtani doesn’t become a Met, it’ll be shocking. Scherzer opts out next year, an Ohtani slides in. Ohtani should pick up a cool half a billion. What a team they’ll have then. WOW !
I wouldn’t say shocking. The Dodgers intentional reset also relates a little bit to Ohtani, who may prefer to stay on the West Coast. I wouldn’t count out the Angels either. Cohen has all the money in the world, but he’s going to miss out on some targets for a variety of reasons. Mets will definitely be one of the favorites for Ohtani, but you can’t bank on it.
Perhaps, but I would not bet against Cohen if he wants that guy, and he has an amount of money he’d accept to do it. The poster’s would be like when Mighty Joe Young came to N.Y., and climbed the Empire State building. Ohtani can write his own ticket.
Ironically, Cohen’s money and building a team through FA mercenaries may be a turnoff to some. I don’t think Ohtani is one of those guys, but this type of spending has some negative consequences. Far more positive though. I mean look at this roster. It’s ridiculously deep. I can’t even believe this is real.
It is going to be some exciting times with Cohen as a owner. It’s about time. Someone to finally shake up the system, no more sandbagging by the owner’s. Correa is not a star, but he fits in well with those that are. Ohtani comes to N.Y, and finally gets the recognition he deserves.
I, too, think the Angels and the Dodgers have to be the favorites.
And don’t forget, the Padres have Darvish, Snell, Hader, and Machado coming off the books next year, I could see them dumping $60m/yr into Ohtani.
Yes. I shouldn’t have counted out the Padres. And also, not to pile on, but the Giants have a ton of money to spend.
Ohtani has already signed with the Dodgers. It just won’t be announced until November 25, 2023.
That contract bidding will be waku waku.
Mets better win the whole damn thing this year. We have close to a $300M payroll. Still need BP help. Owe $20M to Cano. $19M to McCann. $13.5M to Bonilla. $1.5M to Saberhagen. This is not a good business model. It’s the reason I can’t afford to take my family to watch a game in person.
It’s definitely fun / intriguing to watch Cohen’s spending spree, but when was the last time such a team won the WS? (Serious question. I’m not a voracious consumer of all of baseball).
LA has a long history of buying superstars, but their fiercest team, and the only one to win a ring, consisted mostly of homegrown talent with team chemistry.
I like that Cohen thinks he can buy a ring, but I seriously hope that it isn’t true.
2020 Dodgers and 2009 Yankees. But to be fair, both those teams still had more homegrown players than the Mets currently have. Cohen is unabashedly trying to buy a World Series ring, which rarely works, but he certainly bought a competitor.
The Giants would be wise to just move on from the Correa non signing, lest other free agents look at this unfavorably in the future. Say nothing and move on.
‘Giants ultimately did not return to the negotiating table before Boras felt he needed to restart negotiations with other clubs’. Meaning, Boras did not wait for other clubs to put down offers, and just call Cohen. It takes more then 4 hours for clubs to offer contracts to players, and it was in the middle of the night.
1 pm deadline, set at 8am, isn’t the middle of the night and it’s more than just 4 hours
I guess I define “decently active” Orioles offseason differently so far.
McCann has been the most major move, solidifying the backup catcher role and providing stability. Givens provides additional depth to an already strong bullpen (though other pieces likely to move)
Otherwise, they’ve swapped out Lyles for Gibson at the back end of the rotation and picked up some AAAA/minor league depth who have little impact on the ability of the team to win in 2023. They have not picked up an above average starter for the top half of the rotation, they have not added any high OBP and/or power guys to a below average lineup.
Still too many ifs and buts, still too much dependency on all prospects coming up and succeeding immediately, still a thin margin for error.
S.F. area fan here. Correa deal was a horrible one for Giants. (Mediocre bat, only above average glove generally, cheater.) Glad they got out of it; don’t really care why.
Lifelong SF Giants fan here. The Farhan deal has been horrible for the Giants
The timeline intrigues me. Cohen states publicly that “ooh…I was just a little late” and suddenly maybe the wheels start turning for Boras?
Who would Boras rather sell to? The bigger customer, I’d think.
Did they self sabotage the Giant deal?
Maybe Zaidi woke up one morning and found the head of a horse in his bed?
Whatever it was – next thing we know, Correa’s a Met.
Fascinating.
Giants probably asked Boras to wait for this medical issue to be looked at a bit. Boras immediately called Cohen. Correa likely preferred NY anyway.
No, Boras gave them time, set a deadline. Farhan ghosted him, let the deadline pass, without making contact
At one point just like the Dodgers the Mets will be stepping back their payroll to reset everything. Let’s see how the contracts of Lindor, Nimmo & Correa age especially after they get past the 5th year of each.
@fljay73 All signs pointed to that before the Correa signing. Mostly short-term high AAV deals outside of Nimmo and Lindor. Now? I think Cohen lost his patience. He wants to win at all costs. In this thread we see multiple people (correctly) talking about the Mets prospects and high draft picks. Well, I think Cohen will be trading those away for the Ohtanis, Sotos Machados….etc. I don’t think he’s going to reset until the Mets win the Series. He’s a mad man.
All the other deals feel calculated and with care I.E. short term high AAV for Max and JV. Even the poor ones in hindsight like McCann over Realmuto. This is the first really bonkers moment IMO. I do see the of truth that this signing has a bit of madness in it. Dood wants to win.
The majority of us Giants fans know what needs to happen. If I show up to Oracle Park at all next year, it’ll be to hold a #FireFarhan sign OUTSIDE the stadium. This team isn’t getting another penny from me in any form, until it happens.
Hear*