The Mets are “unlikely” to sign Zack Britton, a source tells MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo, though New York was one of six teams in attendance at Britton’s showcase earlier this week. Brooks Raley is the only left-hander slated for a role in the Mets’ bullpen, so Britton would’ve added some southpaw depth that seems necessary on paper. However, DiComo writes that the Mets like the flexibility offered by having relievers available with minor league options, since it allows the club to shuttle fresh arms back and forth from the minors when necessary.
Britton and the Mets were seen as a logical match for much of the offseason, both due to the Mets’ needs for left-handed relief help and the past history between Britton and manager Buck Showalter from their time with the Orioles. With multiple teams (even beyond the teams who had scouts at his showcase) still showing interest in Britton, the two-time All-Star seems bound to land somewhere in what will essentially be a comeback year after two injury-marred seasons.
More from the NL East…
- Nationals president of baseball operations Mike Rizzo is only under contract through the 2023 season, and there hasn’t been any indication that the two sides have discussed an extension. (Understandably so, given how the organization is mourning the recent passing of owner Ted Lerner.) Even if an extension doesn’t come, Rizzo isn’t worried, as he told Andrew Golden of the Washington Post that “it’s not the first time, won’t be the last time, I’m on a lame-duck contract. It doesn’t affect me….I was an area scout. I worked on 20 one-year contracts in a row, so I’m no stranger to limited security. My work will be my résumé, and we’ll see how it goes on from there.” Rizzo is one of the longer-serving executives in baseball, having led the Nationals’ front office since 2009. Between Lerner’s passing, the seemingly stalled efforts to sell the team, and the Nationals’ ongoing rebuild, Rizzo’s status is only one of many major issues facing the organization.
- “There’s no anger, animosity or anything” for Max Fried in the aftermath of losing his arbitration hearing with the Braves, the ace told reporters (including MLB.com’s Mark Bowman). Fried will now earn $13.5MM in 2023, and he’ll have one more year of arb eligibility remaining before he can become a free agent in the 2024-25 offseason. An extension would naturally change that timeline, and while Fried seemed to imply that a longer-term deal hadn’t yet been broached, “we’ve been able to have some good communication. I really love my time here and I love the team. So if [an extension] is something that comes to the table, it’s something we’ll talk about.” Atlanta’s flurry of recent extension has put a lot of longer-term commitments on the team’s books, though a lot of money might be coming off the books next winter depending on how many (or any) club options the Braves choose to exercise. As Bowman notes, however, Fried’s closer proximity and the high cost of free agent pitching would seemingly require the Braves to offer a contract with a club-record average annual value in order to keep Fried off the market.
Rizzo should get an extension.
Frank Rizzo?; ok, sizzlechest!
Seriously, tho – he jas done a good job in Washington. I believe he’s a Chicago guy originally. I wouldn’t mind him leading the Cubs instead of Hoyer.
Always like Rizzo. But, I’ve read where some of the Nats fans feel differently. I guess it comes with the territory.
Im not a Nat guy but I thought he screwed up by trading for Papelbon. Really hurt their clubhouse
I think most Nationals fans would be pretty surprised if the team doesn’t try to keep Rizzo in place as GM. But maybe less surprised if they let manager Dave Martinez walk. They’re both on the last year of their deals. Could be awkward to extend only one of them now.
Is he the super across the way?
Don’t make come over there for you either, toughguy!
Frank Rizzo, I said!
Open up yo effin eeeaaars jacka$$
Holy shyte
I like Britton, but Joely Rodriguez was the Mets’ primary lefty last year. Another lefty would be nice but it’s not required especially in the case of a pitcher making a comeback. The rotation and bullpen are pretty stacked as is. LFGM
You think the bullpen is stacked? I hope you are right.
It’s a pretty good pen. “Stacked?” That’s a bit of a stretch.
Pretty stacked. Pretty good. Whatever.
Like Fried is going to tell the media how he really feels……
Corbin Burnes did.
I was thinking the same thing about the different reactions Burnes and Fried had to losing their arbitration cases. Does anyone know if Fried attended his hearing? I wonder if Burnes would have had a similar “no anger, no animosity” response if he hadn’t been at his hearing to hear the negative stuff brought up in defense of the figure the Brewers offered.
Fried is getting a cool 3.5 mil more than Burnes even though Burnes has a longer track record. Seems like that first year as a reliever really did a number on his arbitration numbers. I’d be pissed if I was Burnes too.
Fried has started almost a full slate of games for 4 years straight. Burns has done it for 2. It is a big difference.They are both excellent obviously
Burnes lives in the Phoenix area in the offseason. I wonder if the Diamondbacks will have the resources to sign him in FA after 2024?
Pretty sure he will be traded this season because the Brewers can’t pay him in 2024 and beyond when he will be making $20 million in his final arb year and then more in FA.
Sid, you’re right, but it begs the question (at least to me) of: [how] are the Braves handling their arb hearings? Burnes specifically cited the manner in which the Brewers handled the hearing, blaming him for their playoff defeat.
It seems the Braves have a good system down where they are not overly critical of the player while still presenting a strong case, thereby staying in good relations with the player.
I read the Brewers-Burnes type case is more common with the Brewers. It does present an interesting dynamic, juxtaposing the two clubs and their respective players though.
Here’s the article ref for Burnes’ statements:
brewcrewball.com/2023/2/17/23603091/fallout-of-cor…
There’s another one on ESPN too.
Love watching Fried pitch (as well as hit). Media looks too far into the future, enjoy this dude while you can. If anything, Braves need to figure how to dump Ozuna, what a knucklehead.
If Ozuna isn’t an above average hitter at the end of May and d’Arnaud is, I think you’ll see the Braves cut Marcell.
I don’t think d’arnaud has much to do with Ozuna. I know why you are saying so and it makes sense but d’arnaud has typically been at least an average hitter most years. He is not going to be a full time dh. They need him for backup insurance too at C. I think it’s more a matter of Rosario hitting. If he doesn’t than someone getting dh at bats is gonna need to play left and it’s not gonna be Ozuna. That would leave Ozuna to dh when d’arnaud catches, if they want to give Murphy days off.All this assuming someone has stepped up out of all those LF signings in spring training/early season. I think they honestly just want to get some value out of the contract and thought he was coming around at end of season. I think they are gonna give him at bats regardless unless he sucks in spring awfully.
My hope is that Ozuna returns to being a productive hitter without the shift. That way he becomes a little more tradable.
I’m hoping once the Ozuna deal gets down to one year left they’ll be able to ship him out with a prospect or two attached. The new team could just cut him, and the Braves could use that money for Max.
They will likely have prospects by then but they don’t have many right now. They may not want to deal them for cash if they develop some
They won’t need Ozuna’s money to sign Max. They can get an extension done after the season easily with Morton, Rosario, and Odorizzi money coming off the books.
That’s true but looking to the long term there are holes that are gonna open up over time and if they can’t fill them in house they will need to sign free agents and it may not leave enough money after a fried signing and all these other extensions. Granted we all know they can afford anything they want if they really wanted to. Like every team. I really don’t think they absolutely need to sign Fried unless Strider gets hurt or something. It would be great to have him tho. I think they have some pitchers that are good and some with upside and smart clubs can usually find a pitcher to help reinvent himself or at least help return to form. They won a world series without Strider or Wright in the rotation and if they are healthy they offer a good one two and they could sign someone to take Morton’s place financially.
I agree if fried was mad I don’t think he would tell the media. That being said I don’t think he is. He seems like a pretty laid back dude. I’m just going to try to enjoy the last two years of him because I’d be really surprised if the braves actually give him a long term deal he deserves sadly.
I agree with you. Enjoy Max while we can because I don’t think he’s staying in Atlanta. I hope I’m wrong.
Me too man
Yeah Billy Bob Eppler really loves guys who stink at pitching but have options rather than guys who can actually perform at a high level. He loves mixing and matching trash as needed vs guys with a track record of success. As a Mets fan I despise Eppler. He’s good at spending Cohens money but has zero skill in evaluating talent and making trades. Not to mention he’s likely to drag the team into controversy by getting dragged into the Skaggs family lawsuit vs the Angels since was GM at the time of his death.
86mets, im with you on Eppler!! They are counting on Robertson, Raley and Ottavino and none of them scare anybody!! They shouldve at least grabbed Chafin or Britton…the rotation is heavily dependent on a couple of 40 year olds and Max faded at the end of the year after only pitching 140 innings. Senga is an unknown and Quintana and Cookie are not good. The Mets are short a big bat, a #3 starter and at least one good reliever. It could be a disasterous year but we will see…..
Hey wright, what did you think of Britton’s workout?
I mean, I have to assume you were there as you appear to be favoring him over Robertson, Raley, and Ottavino, three pitchers who actually pitched last year, and did *somewhat okay*.
raisinss, can you not read?? did i say that i favor Britton over those guys? No, but more depth is needed in the bullpen!! Eppler did the same thing last year by not adding enough at the deadline but i guess he didnt learn from last year lol…..
Sorry. I don’t find curmudgeonly commenters worth the effort. Go call into ny sports radio.
Still. Let’s sign Britton, eh? Based on what?
How was his workout? What did he hit on the gun?
raisinsss, im not worth the effort but yet you replied twice lol!! You must be a relative of Eppler or a blind supporter of everything the team does. One of the oldest teams in baseball but what can go wrong eh??
Much like your children, you’ll never hear from me again.
Good luck with whatever it is that’s wrong with you.
Funny how you say Quintana and Cookie aren’t good, when they actually are… And have the stats to back it up.
get off my mound, you must be looking at a piece of last year with the Cards and thats all. Look at his stats, he has been a very mediocre pitcher in his career. I like Cookie but hes another 5 inning 36 year old pitcher that will tax the bullpen….Bassit or Walker wouldve been a better choice than Quintana…Mets will need someone to pitch after the 2 year aces are gone….
Well at least now I know you’re just trolling. I definitely don’t look at just his stats from last year. Minus a few years with the Cubs and his abysmal stint in Anahiem and SF, he’s been a very consistent picther.
Mediocre means average. That means half of the pitchers in baseball are worse. That means he is a #3 starter.
Quintana has a 3.75 career ERA. 20 points better than league average since 2012. Maybe you should look at his stats.
How many teams allow their #4 starters to go past 5 innings?
He’s a typical Met fan. Whatever team is set on opening day- it’s not good enough.
I agree wright1970, Quintana had a decent year but the last few years before that were horrible. Im not sold on this rotation and the bullpen is mediocre outside of Diaz…you are allowed to have an opinion just like everyone else! LFGM
Let’s be fair here, though. The Mets did spend a lot of money, but they had a boatload of free agents. They spent much of it on them and lost deGrom, Nimmo, Lugo, Walker, Bassitt, and maybe a few others I’m forgetting. Sure, it’s exciting to get Verlander, Senga, Quintana, Robertson, etc., but no Correa makes this a borderline wash of an offseason. Expectations are to improve each year, so maybe it’s a disappointment in that regard. Perhaps, he wishes they would spend 400 million differently and more efficiently?
Who tf cares if Raley, Ottavino, or Robertson are intimidating anyone? Are they effective? Ottavino and Raley were lights out last year for the Rays and the Mets. Each had a WHIP below 1.00 and K:BB ratio over 4.00 (Ottavino was at nearly 5.0). Robertson had an ERA below 2.50 and held batters to a .102 average and .464 OPS with RISP.
I like Raley a lot. I’m a Robertson fan, but he was very lucky last year and always flirted with disaster. I’m curious to see how he does this season.
Obviously, you do not understand modern bullpen usage. Every team looks for relievers with options because every team has to.
Is MLB limiting the number of times a player can be optioned this season? There was a limit last season but it got delayed until the second half.
Britton such a massive question mark – NYM probably better off with the current flexibility at back of pen. Diaz, Ottavino, Robertson, Raley. Smith is good. Difference maker in NL east likely to be who can minimize key injuries – and will Harper return on schedule and 100%
Mets aren’t interested in somebody? Huh, Who’d a thunk it.
I don’t see Atlanta re signing Max Fried as Fried will command ace type dollars and that would put him the highest paid on the team. I think he will just finish out his time in Atlanta and sign for 30-35 million a season with another team. Fried pitched himself out of the Braves comfort level just like Swanson played himself out of the Braves comfort level
This close to free agency no reason for fried not to see the market
Atl could easily work 30 mil a yr into their payroll. They’ve got more than that coming off the books after this yr and most of their contracts are set for a while.
By not bringing back Morton they’d basically be able to go 35m on Fried. As with all their negotiations, it’ll be the length that’ll be the issue.
Many have used Rodon’s 6/162M as a comp for Fried’s deal. No reason to think something like that isn’t workable. You’re right on Swanson, Braves weren’t comfortable paying $$$ to a guy that took 5 full seasons to hit above average (OPS+).
Fried will likely get more than that, check what Nola gets this off-season as that’ll comp better. I honestly think the Strasburg contract is valid for Fried in FA
IF and I don’t think its a big “IF’ Fried continues to get better as he has every year. By the end of the 24 season he will be 31 and will be signing a 250-300 million dollar deal. He has developed 3 new pitches since getting to the mlb. He doesn’t try to dominate he just gets outs. He will pitch into his early 40’s and will be worth every penny he gets in his next two FA deals. I wish the Braves would sign him now –but everyone seems resigned to let him walk at the end of next year. Maybe with two WS rings in the next two years? Maybe that would be enough to bring him back. Sadly it would have to be something that extreme to keep him. I feel the team has been blessed to have him.
Fried will not come close to 250-300 mil unless he signs and deal that’s for 9-10 yrs.
And that is very likely to happen.
I can’t see him getting more than 7/210
Rodon was great for one season and good for a couple more. Rodon is not a comp for Fried. Fried is top 5 to 10 in baseball. Rodon might be top 50.
Two seasons.
Britton to the Cubs or Giants on a pillow contract is starting to look more likely. A return to the Yankees on the cheap probably shouldn’t be ruled out either
I think the Braves will give him 25 mil per year, after money comes off the books next year. If not, Max will be taking top dollar in F.A
Why would Fried take 5to 10 million under market value? He has been asking for top dollar every year and now you think he will take a very team friendly deal? Fried is gone after next year.
I get where you’re coming from but Braves have signed a quite a few to team friendly contracts Albies for example that contact is absurd . I think the Braves will resign him for 7 years 175 contract new off season
Take it or leave it with Rizzo. He’s made some good moves with the Nats, and he’s made some questionable ones, but it culminated in a championship in 2019. This year will likely determine if he stays or goes, but his services will always be appreciated.
The Mets may want to use one or both of their two lefty starters – Peterson and Lucchesi – out of the bullpen since they have a full rotation.
That will probably happen on & off this season. But I think the priority for those 2 is to stretch out as starters in AAA, ready to jump into the rotation when someone goes on the IL. I believe they both have minor league options so that gives the team more flexibility
My big problem with the Mets off-season is them letting Trevor Williams walk. He was immensely valuable to them last year as a long reliever and spot-start option. I don’t know that we’ll get that same production out of Peterson or Megill in that role
You can get it from Peterson, probably. Megill is a big question mark. We don’t know which Megill we’re gonna be getting, post injury.
Agreed about Williams. Him and Lugo provided them some bullpen depth that they might try and get out of Peterson/Megill, which is going to be necessary in a rotation with older arms, and fragiles, including Carrasco. Not “if”, when — needs to be the MO.
Lucchesi and Elieser Hernandez have potential to eat some of those innings.
I’d add Senga to the “fragile” list, simply because he’s used to pitching on more rest.. The Mets rotation has phenomenal upside, and I’d agree with everyone who claims it to be one of the best in the league, but there’s also a lot of risk factors there too..
The Mets should’ve added Chafin or Hand, if anything happens to Raley they’ll be shuffling in 4a players up and down all season.
Moore, Chafin, Taylor Rogers woulda been nice adds. I guess Cohen wanted to allocate the big bucks elsewhere. They did a great job though, in signing Diaz, Ottovino, and Robertson
I was fearing them getting Chafin and Michael Fulmer and was surprised they didn’t, though Raley/bringing back Ottavino/David Robertson are also nice reinforcements for Díaz.
Hand or at least another arm.
Or bring back Rollie Fingers
I seriously question Rizzo’s insistence on keeping Garcia, Robles, and Abrams on the pro team. They’ve combined for a 211/29 K/W. It’s almost impossible to be that bad. He should give them all a full year in AAA, although it might be too late for Robles.
Save service time, get a better pick, and get better players in return.
Eppler continues to make the same mistakes over and over again. But I guess cohen wants a lapdog as a GM so he keeps him around. This will come back to bite him. To many ifs with this roster. Eppler is one of worst GMs who is currently employed.
Britton wants 9 million a year, according to a post on this site. Danny Duffy and Dominic Leone both signed minor league deals with far better numbers the last 2 seasons. I wonder if he has come back down to planet earth now. Even Chafin and Moore got less in AAV.