Reese Kaplan -- Mets Offseason Roster Bullet List Number Seven

Mack's Mets will summarize players mentioned as possible new members of the team available via trade or free agency that have popped up in the media associated with them as a part of the 40 man roster.  These bullet points are not necessarily factual as if they were leaked from the Mets front office.  They comprise opinions, rumors and hypotheticals that various Mets beat writers and bloggers have felt necessary to put out into public notice.  Like EPA gas mileage ratings, take the news with a grain of salt.  We share but don’t necessarily endorse any of these transactions.

Current Rumors

Anthony Santander has once again hit the rumor mill with the change that arrived this past week is his desire for the equivalent kind of deal that’s floating around for Pete Alonso.  He’s allegedly seeking a shorter term contract with opt-outs at a higher average annual value.  That might make him say a $25 million player which is quite a bit for a .235 hitter but the power is undeniable.  

A correlated rumor arose that the Mets would look to get him even if they come to an agreement with Pete Alonso as either a left fielder with Brandon Nimmo moving to center or as a switch hitting DH.  We could live with that. 

Jurickson Profar is still out there and not exactly beating off a long line of suitors.  Too many teams probably feel his over-30 transformation into an offensive weapon was a one and done kind of performance.  Considering he was playing for just $1 million last year he’s not going to be an expensive grab for the team that decides to take a chance.

The Luis Arraez market as a trade chip seems to have grown legs with the league leading hitter for the past three years getting an arbitration salary of $14 million.  The Padres are looking to shed salary and between his win and the one for pitcher Dylan Cease both seem to fall into the high end talent shopping for the San Diego front office.  One article paralleled Arraez to Bill Madlock or Wade Boggs.  That’s pretty heady company for someone who is not a power hitter. 

Jose Quintana is still seeking a job and has not exactly had to sort through a mountain of offers from new employers.  Given his track record it’s a bit surprising.  Right now there is noise about Kansas City making him an offer, but one article profiled the Padres, Tigers, Pirates and Blue Jays as other landing spots for the 36 year old southpaw.

Everyone is aware of the Mets meeting with stud lefty reliever Tanner Scott.  Although Jeff Hoffman is now off the board, Kirby Yates, Kenley Jansen, David Robertson, Jose Leclerc, A.J. Minter and even ex-Mets Phil Maton, Ryne Stanek and Adam Ottavino are still looking for a new gig.

The Arizona Diamondbacks are quite vocal about their open disappointment with what starter Jordan Montgomery did for them in 2024.  After notching a 6.23 ERA it was very out of character since he’d been well under 4.00 for the past several years.  The Snakes are on the hook for $22.5 million for this season as Montgomery exercised his option to get the big payday.  

You might be able to move a similarly expensive player to Arizona to clear them of this misplay on their roster and hope that Montgomery can return to what he once was.  Starling Marte, for example, is in that price range at $20.750 million for the upcoming year.  Swap poor fitting players?

Another surprisingly unemployed player is the OMG Met, Jose Iglesias.  Now remember that he was forced into taking a minor league deal last year before getting promoted early in the season to deliver a .337 average.  His defense is adequate but at his age teams may think of using him much like the Mets did in 2024 as a supersub while he may be thinking he deserves a starting role.  For all of the words about Pete Alonso, why are the Mets not making any noise about a reunion with Iglesias?

One name that came up regarding the Mets and other teams is outfielder Alex Verdugo.  Looking over his stats and he would be an adequate 4th outfielder, but beyond the career .272 average is modest power and no speed.  His salary will likely approach the $10 million mark which seems not necessarily the wisest use of payroll resources.

The Los Angeles Dodgers may actually be shopping from their deep well of formerly injured starting pitchers if and when Roki Sasaki joins their staff.  The one name that came up with a Mets reference is Tony Gonsolin who showed he could dominate when healthy.  For his career he’s got a record of 34-11 with a 3.19 ERA.  He will pitch 2025 at a $5.4 million salary and is not a free agent until 2027.  Yeah, I’d look long and hard at this hurler if the price isn’t too steep given he missed all of 2024. 

A Luis Robert, Jr. trade proposal was offered up this week in a one-for-one with the Mets sending Ronny Mauricio to the White Sox to relieve them of salary and a disappointing 2024 season after dominating in 2023.  That one would require some further discussion. 

The majority of St. Louis Cardinals rumors seem to center around finding a new home for Nolan Arenado, but this week another name surfaced that was an interesting two-year investment for a trade partner.  In 2024 starting pitcher Sonny Gray signed a $75 million three-year contract.  

With two years left at a salary level similar to Sean Manaea, the Cy Young Award winning pitcher might be worth considering.  As a salary dump the thinking is that the Redbirds wouldn’t be seeking a major prospect haul.

A name surfaced as a left handed reliever option from the Oakland A’s by the name of Scott Alexander.  Although he’s 35 years old, he’s been a very solid middle reliever for his entire career and owns a career ERA of just 3.20.  He pitched 2024 for just $2.25 million.  He wouldn’t break the bank whether or not they land a higher profile 8th inning guy.

A blockbuster five player trade surfaced this week should the Mets lose out on Pete Alonso though it could make sense regardless.  It was suggested the Mets could send a four man package of Jonah Tong, Ronny Mauricio, Drew Gilbert and Dom Hamel to net them current Oakland first baseman/DH Brent Rooker.  

If you’re not familiar with the name, it’s understandable.  He moved around from team to team never making a solid contribution until 2023 with the A’s when he came from out of nowhere to hit 30 home runs.  That effort landed him a $60 million four-year contract for 2024 and he upped the ante, raising his batting average to .293, the home run total to 39 and the RBIs to 112 with 11 SBs to boot.  Yes, it’s a steep price but considering the payroll bargain for this kind of output, it would be a solid get.

It’s not new to hear rumors about the Mets making a deal for Seattle number one starter Luis Castillo, but this week names arose as to what it would take if the Mets absorbed Castillo’s entire salary.  It was suggested that Jonah Tong and Brett Baty would get it done. 

And, just for laughs, it was suggested that the Mets bring back ill-fitting pitcher Marcus Stroman that the Yankees are anxious to dump.  Considering how he bad mouthed his former Queens employer on his way out, it’s a big “No!”