Infielder Alex Bregman remains unsigned, with his market taking some turns recently. While returning to the Astros once seemed impossible, it now seems that door is open a crack. Other teams are still lurking but it doesn’t seem like the Mets will be jumping in. Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 reports that the Mets are no longer in the running.
The Mets were connected to Bregman earlier this winter but it always seemed like a somewhat less-than-perfect fit since the club has a lot of other options for the infield corners. First baseman Pete Alonso and the club have been in a bit of a staring contest for months and it’s still possible that he comes back to Queens. Even without Alonso, the Mets could have Mark Vientos as their regular first baseman and then have third base open for a competition between Brett Baty, Ronny Mauricio and Luisangel Acuña. Bregman is reportedly willing to move to second base but the Mets have Jeff McNeil there. McNeil can also play the outfield but the Mets have a somewhat crowded mix there.
Bregman is a more established big leaguer than any of the Mets young options but he wouldn’t come cheap. He reportedly has been unwilling to accept a six-year, $156MM offer from the Astros this winter, hoping to get something in the $200MM range. While the Mets might have had some interest in going with a more certain player like Bregman for the 2025 season, signing Bregman would be a larger commitment in terms of dollars and years. He’s about to turn 31 years old and the Baty/Acuña/Mauricio trio are all in the 22-26 range, so perhaps the Mets would rather dedicate their money elsewhere.
It also seems like Alonso is more likely to sign a short-term pact, having pitched a three-year deal to the Mets, while Bregman is still holding out hope for a long-term deal. Considering all those factors, it seems that a reunion with Alonso is probably more likely than pivoting to giving a big deal to Bregman.
Turning to players already on the roster, the club held Amazin’ Day recently, which allowed members of the media to get updates on certain players. Per two reports from Bill Ladson of MLB.com, both outfielder Brandon Nimmo and left-hander A.J. Minter are hoping to be ready before or around Opening Day.
Nimmo, the longtime Met, was playing through plantar fasciitis in his left foot during the latter parts of last year’s schedule. It’s possible that affected his performance, as he slashed .248/.361/.454 in the first half but just .190/.277/.319 in the second, followed by a tepid .220/.328/.280 performance in the postseason. He tells Ladson that he had an injection in his foot after the season and has ramped up to jogging, but has not yet started sprinting. He says he will probably miss some early spring training games but expects to be ready to go by Opening Day.
Getting a healthy season out of Nimmo hasn’t always been easy. Due to various injuries from 2016 to 2021, he only once topped 92 games and maxed out at 140. In 2022 and 2023, he finally showed what he could do with proper health. He got into at least 151 games in both of those campaigns and slashed a combined .274/.365/.450 for a 131 wRC+. Last year, despite the foot injury, he got into 151 contests but his production dipped to .224/.327/.399 and a 109 wRC+.
Nimmo turns 32 in March but his contract runs through 2030, so the club will obviously want to keep him healthy and productive for as long as possible. The fact that he’s trending towards Opening Day readiness is a good sign but the club will probably opt for playing things slow for long-term health if any speed bumps arise.
Minter, 31, was just signed a few days ago. His 2024 season was ended by left hip surgery in August. Regardless, the Mets liked him enough to give him a two-year, $22MM deal with an opt-out after year one. His recovery timeline in the wake of that procedure has been a little murky but he’s hoping to be ready for the start of the season as well.
“The goal is to be ready for Opening Day, hopefully,” Minter said. “With that being said, my hip does feel really good. I’m happy where I am. I don’t want to put a date on it. … The Mets are going to have their protocols. They want me to take it day by day. But for me, personally, my goal is to be ready close to Opening Day.”
Over the past five years, Minter has posted an earned run average of 2.85 over 267 appearances. He has struck out 30.1% of opponents while limiting walks to a 7.8% clip. His contributions were more limited last year due to the hip injury but the Mets are clearly hoping he can be back to his old self once that’s fully in the rear-view mirror.
Bregman to SD for 1 year at 1 million and 34 million deferred until 2040.
Nah, they’re going into full tear down mode
It’s obvious at this point. Both Bregman and Alonso will resign unless Toronto panics and throws more money than them at em. Nobody else is willing to beat their original teams offers. I wouldn’t want them unless it was cheap if they start ST late. Nobody seems to do well when that happens.
I don’t really believe a re-signing is likely for either. Alonso has made his negotiations difficult and he’s burning that bridge. If Sterns was in Milwaukee, the decision would have already been made. I think Houston moved on from Bregman, and is just providing lip service as a favor, as they know they will have to deal with Boras in the future.
To be clear, if Stearns were in Milwaukee, and Alonso had been a homegrown Brewer (for this hypothetical to make sense as a point of comparison), Stearns would have been (and was) working with a fraction of the budget he’s working with now, and would have traded Alonso at least two offseasons ago.
The odds of Bregman resigning with Houston are extremely small, not even really worth mentioning.
Wait, what about the Boras Corp’s Spring Training? Remember, they told us it’s just as good!
Boot camp for the Unsigned I guess. Any martial arts training for increased flexibility and to minimize strains. Walk on hot coals maybe. Unorthodox?
Ohh, I hadn’t even considered the hot coals!
Strictly wordplaying here, walking on hot coals sounds much better for Brandon Nimmo’s plantar fasciitis than for a fascist’s Spring Training brand plan.
LOL When Nimmo wakes up in the morning and audibly exhorts himself to get going, apparently his feet hear a veeeeery different message.
The Mets have indicated they have moved on from Alonso.
I’m really starting to believe that Cohen and Stearns want to go after Vlad Jr next year to play 1st. Hence the reason they are not pushing the Alonzo contract.
They obviously showed they will outbid any other team for a top player in his prime with the Soto signing. Vlad will be in that same position next year. I could see Cohen giving him $600 M or the highest offer and Stearns maybe gets Vlad Jr to defer some of the money to save us from higher Luxury Tax penalties. The Dodgers aren’t the only team allowed to defer money.
If it takes $600MM they should run far away.
No chance on Vlad. None.
Nimmo is looking at DH in the future. Vientos is a defensively challenged slugger. Soto is a defensively challenged hitting savant. No chance of dropping another huge contract on another poor defender, base runner. None.
Vlad Jr isn’t an Elite defender but he’s a good defender and has won a Gold Glove at 1st. He has a good glove and footwork it’s just his range is limited. Because his experience at 3rd he makes very good plays on hard line drives that the average 1st baseman can’t make. He will play almost the rest of his career as a good, not great, 1st baseman.
Nimmo is also a good fielder. Health issues yes but when healthy he plays good D. Soto will decide when he moves to DH and I don’t see that anytime over the next 5-6 years. That leaves Vientos to DH for the next 5 years or until he hits FA.
Of course it’s possible about Vlad but they could hope they already have their 1B for the next 5 years on the 40 man roster.
Vientos or someone in AAA.
Too many things can happen where Vladdy Jr won’t be available the least of which he signs an extension to stay with TOR; He could sign somewhere else as a FA next year.
I hope NYM do no’t sign Alonso or Vladdy. Sluggers with not much other skills imo.
I haven’t read Tork article but at a certain price I think I like it.
Another idea – not a perfect fit but we pay most of all of Arenado give up some low level prospects and he shares equal time as our 1B, 3B and DH (for 3 years)
Complicated mix- Vientos plays 1B and 3B. Mauricio some OF, 2B and 3B. Baty some 3B and 2B also
I am not in a hurry to trade Baty, Acuna, Mauricio or other prospects unless deal is Great
I want them to get a good amount of ABs at the ML level.
Eventually someone would likely be traded during the year or in off-season including McNeil and Marte. I want to see if they have a good ST and are hungry.
It’s hard for me to imagine David Stearns’s being willing to potentially outbid a highly motivated and well-resourced incumbent for the services of a big-bodied first baseman whose production has been inconsistent. Maybe if Vladdy were entering his free agency even younger than Soto, I could sort of see it, but I’d still be very surprised. Plus, Stearns knows better than to assume that Vladdy will even get to free agency. Like with any free agent, I’m sure Stearns will be opportunistic, and stay engaged with Vladdy’s people, just in case his market is cooler than expected, but that’s about it.
Unless Cohen forces him Stearns will never be able to act like anything but a small market discount only GM
dude this is old. we already know what’s happening… and it’s not Stearns. Alonso is good and definitely great to have behind soto, and I am a met fan too… but the way he or possibly his agent is playing this game, it’s backfiring badly. Boras has had two very bad years in a row with his clients. why overpay against your own price… so your comment? why price against yourself. and more than likely, he will be back even if for one year and then try again next year.
Boras is having a bad year? Really? Juan Soto? Blake Snell, Matt Chapman, Manaea, Kirkuchi, Profar etc. He even got Bellinger to the Bronx. Guess you just wanted to focus on two guys who are not signed yet vs the fact he’s made his clients well over 1 billion dollars this season alone.
Once Bregman and Alonzo sign, plus anyone else he has, his one total is going to be around 1.5 billion dollars. Yeah, tough year for Scotty boy
I agree with you regarding the Boras point. 2 years he has blown it for marquee players by over-negotiating with willing teams. Soto and Snell are exceptions, not the standard.
Oh? What about Burnes?
Did some math, Boras has already signed clients to over a billion and a half worth of contracts. After Bregman and Alonso sign, it will be over 1.7 billion. Boras haters are dumb.
So what you’re saying is that if we dislike an agent because his tactics have been getting worse for the majority of his clients, we’re dumb?
Great assessment, Dr. Phil.
Hey genius, neither Bregman nor Alonso have signed anything yet.
And the horrible negotiation tactics last season got 2 of the 3 BETTER deals this year. So yeah, you’re dumb. Really fing dumb.
Also, oh wise one, you have no idea what Boras’s negotiating tactics are or what advice he gives to his players.
Boras works for the players he represents, he could have said “hey that’s a fair deal, you should take it” and the player could have wanted to see what else was out there.
Lastly, Snell and Chapman are better off NOW than taking a contract any of the contracts that were reportedly offered to them last season. Bellinger will be better off as well. You have an inability to process the big picture.
Oh haha Boras negotiation tactic failed Snell 185 million this year, 32 million last. lol Matt Chapman, stupid Boras 151 million this season, 18 last year. Feel stupid yet or are you too stupid to feel stupid?
Read the news today about Boras’ stipulation for the Mets paying bonus money if Alonso chooses to opt out after year 1.
By the way, when you resort to insults to make a point, it makes YOU look like the fool.
The “big picture,” as you call it, is that your Pappy Boras isn’t able to throw his weight around as much as you think. Suck on that lollipop, genius.
Wouldn’t say Alonso is great to have behind Soto. They can walk Soto in order to whiff Alonso. Stearns in my opinion is a genius for walking away from Alonso.
I was going based on power. but I do agree with your point overall.
My comment had nothing to do with Alonso, the article mentions Bregman who they won’t make a play for and they went after no top tier starters and so far only Minter in relief when their are a lot of good relievers. I’m indifferent to Alonso coming back, dude.
Who should Stearns of got this year that you would have been satisfied with? The top 3 pitchers got overpaid and weren’t coming to Mets.
1 or 2 SPs of this list Buehler,Sasaki, maybe Snell (shorter length), Tanner
Non pitchers
C Walker
Trade for Tucker ONLY if he agrees to 7 year extension and NOT Soto.
Trade for SEA SP Ask about Aroz or JRod
I hate to break but anybody on the Dodgers was not picking Mets over them so that rules Scott, Roki and Snell out. Also J Rod? What are we in fantasy baseball!?? Tucker not signing anything shorter than a 10 year deal. So this is just unrealistic.
They haven’t been involved on any starters other than Sasaki who was never going to the Mets other than resigning Manaea. Not every Flaherty or Buehler. Other than Soto they’ve done very little.
Carlos: “The Mets have done very little”
………
They signed 4 starting pitchers, in case your wondering why people assume you’re not well informed. Has anyone else even signed 3? Also they signed the largest sports contract in the history of the universe.
Sasaki is young, in case you want to know why he was attractive to Mets franchise.
Buehler has an injury history, in case you were confused why the Mets might not meet his asking price.
The market doesn’t value Alonso. This isn’t Stearns acting like a ‘small market GM’
carlos is a sad boy who’s craving attention. Here ya go. Enjoy.
Proverbs 26:4, enjoy.
Proverbs 25:4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly or you yourself will be just like him
The reason Carlos doesn’t support his assertions on mlbtr is due to a quote from a 2000 year old book that has historically been used to exert control over dolts.
It’s only season 2 for Stearns
How about a 31st team of disgruntled Boras clients? Huh?
I like it…. And Boras could be the owner/GM so then he could pay them what he says they’re worth! Problem solved!
Yankees should be doing their best to make an overpay on a short deal, offer him 3/110 with some cheap player options so it’s 6/175 but he gets a shot at 200/6 if he plays well enough to earn it.
But they won’t. They want to give it to Oswald Peraza.
They’re not going after Bregman cuz they have Jeff McNeil? lol
This Bregman stuff, smh, click bait milking and I keep taking the bait because it’s ridiculous and I can’t help myself
Right. I’m not advocating for the Mets to get Bregman, but McNeil is the last person on the team who should be blocking anyone
Lalo and gmoney
You know these guys have contracts, right?
Like Jeff is already going to be paid $12.something mil over the next 3 years, you don’t even want to SEE if he can be a good hitter again?
He hit .290 in the 2nd half of last season. He won a batting title 2 seasons ago.
Jeff will never see 3b again.
@GMoney Lols aside, McNeil finished the year with a .900 OPS+ in his last 172 PA. He’s easy to project for 2-plus wins at 2B in 2025, so even if Bregman holds serve on his 4.1 fWAR in 2024 and gives the Mets 4 wins in 2025, it’s not a 4-win upgrade; it’s s 2-win upgrade that costs $26-32m a year for however long his deal—which buys up some expensive chunk of his decline phase, maybe all of it—lasts.
Bregman at 2B also blocks all three of Acuna-Baty-Mauricio, when fangraphs and Zips projects them to put up 2.5 fWAR in a combined 520 PA, so not only is the upgrade with Bregman less, it also directly blocks the Mets at one of the two positions at which they’re most likely to have a young player excel: 2B or 3B.
McNeil also suffered plain bad luck in the first half of 2024, with a BABIP well below his career average (.232 until late June) until his .900 OPS run when he put up a .307 BABIP, just 5 points below his career BABIP of .312.
Everybody wants to play the kids until it’s time to play the kids.
Is there any possibility mcneil can still play 3b? I know he looked good there in a very small sample size a few years back. Not sure if its even remotely realistic, but it’s never mentioned.
You’d think so, though, right? He makes strong throws from the OF, and Statcast has him in the top 35% in MLB for arm strength.
I was out of the country when it was purported to have happened, but after a successful 31 game stint at 3B in 2019, with +4 OAA there, I heard that in 2020 he had a case of the yips and was shanking throws from 3B across the diamond.
[Just now looked it up on baseball-reference and he made 5 errors at 3B in just 75 innings. Yikes. And Statcast has him at -2 runs in those 75 innings, which pro rates to around minus 36 runs over a full season. It must have scarred him or the team, because he’s only played six innings there since 2021. —Still, if he could do it, it would give the team even more depth.]
I feel like I’m taking crazy pills because nobody is mentioning how Nimmo got hit in the head in May. He was dazed and wobbly and 100% looked like a concussion. It took weeks for him to come back around somewhat.
Head injuries are no joke. Taylor Ward took over a season to recover after getting a facial fracture.. Granted, he mostly had issues when being pitched inside.
Yeah, and the forever plantar fasciitis.
I don’t remember that. I hope has no long term issues
the stalemate betw pete + mets is absurd. full trust in stearns + cohen but 2 yrs ago mets valued pete at $158 mil, the prediction 3 months ago by “experts” was 125mil, now mets wont even accept his 3yr/90mil offer. they gave nimmo 162mil!!!!
meanwhile the team needs another bat like fish need water. the FA market has wrapped. nobody left except pete & bregman. mets signed soto to $800mil contract and they’re gonna surround him with Baty, Mauricio, Acuña and McNeil??? in the words of john mcenroe YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS!
That 7/$158M included the $20.5M he got in his last year of arbitration so it really was 6/$137.5M for an AAV of $22.9M. Also, that was offered by Eppler the season before last. Stearns and other GMs are hesitant to give him anything of that length. He probably could do better with endorsements in NY after taking 3/$70M (similar AAV) than going almost anywhere else. Additionally, the Mets would probably like to stay below $301M to drop off the highest penalty tier for a season. I love the Polar Bear and would want to see him back, but can’t fault the Mets’ rationale here.
mets gave manea 75mil
on what planet is he worth more than pete?
not on earth thats for sure
Lol John
Why are you comparing the price of a pitcher to a 1b? They’re in different markets so they are valued differently.
“The Mets spend $90 million on a scoreboard??! in what world is a scoreboard better at 1B than Pete Alonso???”
This. They don’t need Alonso. Either Baty or Mauricio or Luisangel Acuna we develop to give the same WAR as Alonso. Mets don’t need Alonso but he needs them with a contract that has a one year opt out so he can have a platform year in the same lineup as Soto. If Pete his third and Soto his fourth, Pete will do 45 hr 110 rbi batting .285/.345
Effective LHSP can be valueable.
NYM hoping they got a poor man’s Blake Snell on a short 3 year contract.
If he can duplicate say 80% of his 2024 results He is worth it IMO. He wasn’t going to sign for $18-22 a year. Maybe he would have accepted a lower AAV if someone offered him a 5 or 6 year contract.
Snell has a better track record
@phenom
But Coltrane’s point about lineup protection stands. The idea that NY is going to have a Mauricio/Baty/Acuna bake-off for 3B that will solve the problem is silly. Baty crashed out of the majors after 150 ABs last year, while Mauricio and Acuna have looked good but in very small samples. And if you’re counting on McNeil at this point, that’s your fault.
And all of this assumes that Vientos will repeat his 2024–his one good year thus far–to such an extent that he can provide adequate protection/length in the 3-hole.
I’m not saying to overpay Alonso, but 3/$75M seems perfectly acceptable. He plays 1B this year, and then–should the Mets get Vlad (which I’ll assume is the dream scenario), Alonso can move to the DH spot while spelling Vlad when needed for the next two years. (At which point, Soto’s time in the field will be just about up….)
Comments Section
“And if you’re counting on McNeil at this point, that’s your fault”
No, he hit .290 in the 2nd half with like a .590 slug.
“Baty crashed out of the majors after 150 ABs last year” actually he was up and his glove was hot and his bat was heating up then got injured but whatever keep making assumptions
You have no consideration for the luxury taxes either. Pete @ $25M/year will cost $50M/year. Is $50M a year a realistic price for a DH in decline? That’s the “dream scenario”?
Also you think Soto is gonna be a FULL-TIME DH @ 28 years old for $51M/yr for 12 years, that’s your fault.
NYm will get another significant bat early in the season or in ST.
MIl Hoskins would work for a year
Give NYM some time to see who they think would be best at 3B and 2B. I expect Vientos will still be with them but maybe 1B is best
Hoskins as a Met would have a nice comical element. I like it.
Johnny should get a job.
ST hasn’t even started yet some trades will shake out.
It does seem Stearns is a very disciplined and patient GM.
If NYM gets off to a good start fans Stearns won’t force things
There are an awful lot of commenters on this website that expend tons of time and energy on here – far more than makes sense – and yet kvetch and moan about the site constantly. “They made a grammatical mistake; they didn’t cover this; they are clickbaiting us; they are secret Cubs conspiracy nerds; they didn’t answer my question” and a bunch of other complaints.
If you like the site (and it is the best rumors site by far), then stop whining so darned much. If you don’t like what they are doing, then leave.
Nah, complainers are happy complaining. It’s beautiful watching people embarrass themselves. BITA is a top 1% fool. And his 12 other accounts. He won’t even pay the $3 per month but he LIVES ON MLBTR.
Extreme has many very good songs including If You Don’t like what you see here get the Funk Out.
3 Sides to Every Story an unappreciated Masterpiece Hyperbole You Say I Think Not
Peacemaker Die is meant to be Ironic – the Singer is pleading for the Opposite Of Course You Knew That Like U2’s MLK song.
The team with the best fit is Toronto. The front office is willing to push all-in in the last year of the Vladdy/Bo era. Alex Bregman fits the run prevention mantra of the Atkins/Shapiro model, could bat 4th in T.O. and could be the anchor in the infield once Bo for sure leaves via free agency and if extension talks fail with Vladdy. There has to be some semblance of a team in 2026 for Rogers to ensure at least some fans will watch Sportsnet going forward.
I think it’s insulting to the fans of clubs interested in Bregman to suggest Houston is back in the mix. I find Boras’s style repugnant. I’m a Tiger fan. I don’t want him. Please do not sign Alex Bregman.
Insulting. Boy thems is some really BIG feelings.
@warnbeen “insulting” may be a bot much lol, certainly “bizarre” and “ridiculous” are fitting
I don’t like Boras.
@warnbeeb, really? Tell me…
the entire baseball world wanted Pete to sign with the Mets. Pete made a catastrophic mistake turning down their offer last year. this will not end well for him. now its about face saving but we all know…
He’s already gotten his ass handed to him. Greedy one tool player. Gbye. Don’t let the door hit yer you know what on the way out, Pete.
The Mets signing Alonso would have been a significant mistake.
That Stearns stood up to Cohen, who foolishly okayed Eppler’s 7/158m extension offer to Alonso in 2023, is great news for the Mets. It means the above-average PBOPs won out on a big, expensive, emotion-laden decision against the incompetent team owner (in the matter of building an annual juggernaut) who had been playing GM—badly—from the time he bought the team near the end of 2020 through Stearns hiring in late 2023.
The worst thing that could have happened for the Mets, long term, is Cohen continuing to interfere in on-the-field baseball decisions. He just doesn’t have the wit for it.
I think there is something to your theory. A very highly successful businessman buys a baseball team and wants to tinker with its roster. “It’s his money,” after all. But I am beginning to think it’s “Peter Angelos II.” (As I am sure you know, Angelos, a highly successful torts lawyer, reduced the Orioles to rubble.)
Eppler was walking malpractice as a GM. (Even BVW did some clever stuff and would be so noted if Matt Allen had panned out.)
All that being said, I am not averse to Alonso at some multiple of $25M p/annum not to accede 3 yrs. Those thinking that a savior is coming from Toronto are simply waiting for Godot.
BREGMAN – GREED
BREGMAN part of Astros cheating scandal
BREGMAN declined Astros 6 years $156M offer
BREGMAN not interested in short-term contract
Team signing Bregman gives up 2 draft picks
Altuve offered to move to LF so Bregman could play 2B
Altuve team player & obviously Bregman isn’t
Astros need to give Bregman deadline to accept offer (6 years $156M) (by beginning of Spring Training) or they’re moving on
Let Bregman sit out the 2025 season if he doesn’t sign by start of Spring Training
If you have never played with plantar fascites, ( sp))the comment about it might a impact your performance is nuts. Pain effects your performance. Trust me!
@spudchukar I don’t doubt it. Nimmo’s plantar fascitis probably explains the Mets interest in corner OFers this offseason, though it doesn’t explain their specifically and demonstrably __tepid__ interest.
It seems as if a few weeks ago they decided to bet on Nimmo being a decent bet to handle LF competently in 2025, but I doubt it’s a sure thing at this point, particularly given how badly he played last season after it hit him hard. If he can’t play LF much but can hit, he’ll be the Mets primary DH, with Winker as his backup but only against RHP and only when Nimmo’s out—leaving Winker without much of a role. I guess 1B is easier on his feet than playing the OF, but it can’t be all that much easier, and it pushes Vientos back to 3B and Acuna-Mauricio-Baty to backup roles at best. unless 2B opens up and one of them gets a shot.
Or, Vientos DH’s with Nimmo at 1B and A-M-B at 3B—though that doesn’t make as much sense as Vientos at 1B, Nimmo DH’ing, and A-M-B at 3B and perhaps at 2B as well, along with handling backup chores in the infield in certain scenarios. It should be an interesting year.
Or, McNeil in LF, Nimmo DH’ing when he can, Vientos at 1B, A-M-B at 3B and 2B.. I can see Jett coming up early in the year to play the outfield if Squirrel’s not getting it done at the plate..
The military can reject you for flat feet.
But seriously any pain in your feet (even sporadic) can’t be good.
Then NYM will have an unofficial Grimace.
You definitely don’t want to have to rely on a habit of pain killers to deal with the issue. That has ruined too many lives
Trade Nimmo
Pete pulled a Desmond. Turned down an overly generous extension, turned down a QO, turned down a 3 year deal. He, will settle for a pillow contract, and then will get a longer term contract in 26 or 7 – but will never recover the 158 million he turned down. “How many times must a player pull a Desmond before we can call him a fool?
Ask Carlos Correa about overestimating the market. He turned down 5yrs/$160M from HOU before he finally signed with MIN for $500K/yr less. Then he opted out, failed two physicals, and eventually went back to mediocre MIN. I’m pretty sure that’s not what he had in mind when all he could see were dollar signs. The grass ain’t always greener. Moral of the story is that unless you’re Juan Soto or an Ace SP, take the good offer and sign with the home team.
Desmond was the original $100 million fool. He set an example and a high bar to shoot for. Pete gonna clear that high bar.
Answer Blowing in the Wind
I just hope as a Mets fan cooler heads prevail on all sides and something is worked out. Still the most obvious logical landing spot for Pete.
Let’s get it done Boras and Cohen.
They’re about $30M apart on a 3 yr deal. NYM offering $65-70M. Pete wants $100M. AND opt outs each year. As an owner why would I give a player opt outs? If they’re good, they walk and we rinse and repeat the Kabuki dance. If they’re bad, they stay. Either way the club overpays.
I feel like they could meet at 3/75 w opt outs. I’m thinking the mets would actually like him to do well this year and then opt out anyway.
@ Ma4170 What makes you think they could? Alonso/Boras’ demands are simply higher than that. Its not about the principle that the dollars represent, not the actual money. Pete wants to be recognized as a premium player and 1B. He wants more money than Freeman and Olson. Boras chose the number he did because it would set a record AAV for 1st basemen. 3/$75 won’t accomplish that. Thats’ what Cohen is exhausted with, and thats why he’s willing to move on. Its not as if the extra $5 – $7 million matters to him.
Only because I dont think another team will be willing to top it and he won’t sit out the whole year.
@Irbias Not to mention you never give a modestly talented player in steep decline like Pete an opt-out. Never.
He rates to decline even further in 2025, and even if he holds serve and repeats his 2024 in 2025, no one’s likely to offer him a deal comparable to 2/60m to 67m, so he gives the Mets two wins in 2025, hangs around with decline likely at a 30m-33m AAV, and continues to block a major avenue for your young players.
Even the rumored 3/68-70m for Alonso is ridiculous.
Yup. Something worked out with Toronto. There. Fixed.
lol keyboard warrior
Empty – He’s so original and witty isn’t he? I bet he’s gonna be the next big star on SNL, maybe his own talk show or Podcast
I have an honest question. Why is it so wrong to slightly overpay a player when they are aging when they were underpaid when they were younger with big numbers?
Didn’t Pete make less than a million when he hit 50 home runs?
They don’t want to create a precedent – an expectation for that.
They are underwhelmed by Pete’s game and they have made a judgement where they think his value is headed.
It is not so wrong. And teams do it all of the time. But…… 1) What Boras is asking isn’t just overpaying. He wants, in his own words, a record-setting AAV for 1st basemen. Why should the Mets accommodate that?
2) Fans and the press like to look at each contract in a vacuum. But the contract has to be taken into context with the team’s overall payroll, not just for this year, but for each year of the contract in question. The Mets simply HAVE TO get under the threshold at some point, and sooner rather than later. They can’t do that if they continue giving out overpaying deals for too many years.
@MetsFan74 There’s nothing wrong with it, but the context here is that Stearns does not want Pete back, so he’s not going to do anything that tips the scales.
Besides, from their pov, when you have a hard limit on payroll as Stearns will each year, if you gave Alonso an extra 2m a year for 3 years, that’s 6 million you could put towards a pretty good reliever in 2025, or it would make the difference in bringing back Iglesias.
Another reason is, when a free agent is terrible and costs the team $100m–200m, does he ever give it back? Any of it? When Verlander goes 0-7 with an ERA of 6.40, is he going to give San Francisco any part of that $15m?
This is the major disconnect in the current market, isn’t it? Teams are now smart enough to recognize that with the odd exception they can get the same kind of production from younger players who haven’t yet hit FA and are therefore objectively underpaid. So teams aren’t going to pay huge dollar for declining years. The exceptions are the truly stellar players like Soto and Ohtani or (and here is the point) really good players who for whatever reason hit FA at a younger age than the norm.
It should be a CBA issue but it’s a tricky one.
The A’s were always good at this, and would get rid of anyone who made the all stars. Cheap, cheap.
Signing the both of them will push payroll up to about $350M – for a roster that “still won’t be enough”. Then you have to factor in the payroll taxes, the draft picks you lose, having your first rounder lowered by 10 places, AND losing some of your international signing bonus pool. Not worth it.