11/30/25

MACK - IN FOCUS - Dove's Prospects, Projected Offensive WAR, Bosox Rotation, Framber Valdez, Pete Alonso, Cease Slip, Jacob Webb, David Peterson, A.J. Ewing, Andrew Pintar

 

Ernest Dove      @ernestdove

Behold my not very well thought out Mets prospects around the diamond rankings/list/options!



Who wants to have a friendly debate!?

Would love all my fellow Mets prospect huggers to chime in and change the players around! Tell me why.

 

Thomas Nestico      @TJStats

2026 Projected Offensive WAR – Steamer

 


The Boston Red Sox are projected to have the best ERA+ (110) of any rotation in MLB



Where do you think their rotation ranks for 2026?

Mack – See a deal here for the Mets?


10 best starting pitchers after Dylan Cease contract

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2025/11/28/mlb-free-agent-rankings-best-starting-pitchers-cease-contract/87502150007/


1. Framber Valdez (32, LHP, Astros)

Valdez is consistently right around 200 innings, has a championship pedigree and suppresses the home run ball. Not an ideal conclusion to his Houston era, but it’s also easy enough to hand him the ball and set your alarm clock for September.

Mack – Me? It’s going to take a bunch of contracted years to secure someone already on the wrong side of 30. I want no part of him or the other nine as well.

A returning Senga and Holmes, possibly Peterson too, eventually Scott, and the addition of the Three Amigos are just fine with me… if… the Mets add one more legit bat before the season starts.

 

Codify                  @CodifyBaseball

Most Runs Batted In, 2025

(Not Counting Themselves):


Pete Alonso, 88

Vinnie Pasquantino, 81

Geraldo Perdomo, 80

Kyle Schwarber, 76

Bo Bichette, 76

 


No excuse for letting Dylan Cease slip away

CLICK HERE

New York Mets

Speaking of big-market teams that need to learn how to get comfortable being uncomfortable. David Stearns is clearly building something to last in Queens, much to the consteration of Mets fans everywhere. But Juan Soto is now squarely in his prime, and Francisco Lindor isn't getting any younger; the window is now, and the window requires far better starting pitching than what New York had for much of last season.

Cease would've helped change that in a big way, both by providing much more swing and miss than any Mets starter not Nolan McLean and also, crucially by just providing innings. Only three teams got fewer innings from their starting pitchers last season than New York did; only three cracked the 100-inning mark, and only two threw more than 114. Cease, by contrast, has cleared at least 165 in each of the last five seasons.

Adding him to this rotation would've not only lengthened the rotation, but also taken a load off of what was an exhausted bullpen by the end of the regular season. It remains to be seen under what circumstances Stearns will be willing to go above and beyond to get the guy he wants, but until he does, this starting staff will continue to be a liability.

 


Rangers roster cut

CLICK HERE

Jacob Webb

Webb ranked 39th in MLB among qualified pitchers in hard-hit percentage. It’s the one thing he had going for him better than anything else and led to a 3.00 ERA. He had an exceptionally good finish to the season, pitching to a 1.59 ERA in the second half. All of his runs allowed post-All-Star Break were on 4 solo home runs.

It is important to note he won’t get the ball on the ground much. Ground balls have never been his strength. Relying on a fastball, changeup, and sweeper, he’s a nerve-wracking fly ball pitcher who has been about average when it comes to strike outs.

The 32-year-old righty has a 3.22 ERA over the last three seasons. Over the last two years, he has a 3.00 ERA with the Rangers in 2025 after posting a 3.02 ERA in 2024 with the Baltimore Orioles. Signed for a one-year deal worth $1.25 million last offseason after a good year with Baltimore, he’s someone who shouldn’t cost much more than $3 million or so. That’s the kind of financial flexibility that can help the Mets more easily squeeze in Diaz and a top setup man. And if it goes awry, it’s not so incredibly high that they’ll continue to force him on the mound regularly.

  
                                         (PC - DOVE)

Buster Olney                          @Buster_ESPN

Lowest HR rate for starting pitchers in 2025:

Paul Skenes 0.53 per 9 innings

Cristopher Sanchez 0.53

David Peterson 0.59

Logan Webb 0.61

Jose Soriano 0.64

 

Running From The OPS       @OPS_BASEBALL

Mets #7 prospect, A.J. Ewing, had himself an excellent 2025. The 21-year-old showed a balanced batted-ball profile, with a superb ability to go the other way. He had a SwStr% of under 9%, showed off his 70-grade speed with 70 SB, and still has some untapped raw power to find!

 


Unprotected From the Rule 5 Draft

https://www.justbaseball.com/prospects/most-surprising-prospects-left-unprotected-rule-5-draft/?s=03

Andrew Pintar (OF) – Miami Marlins

2025 Stats: 84 G, .269/.338/.384, 4 HR, 32 RBI, 23 SB, 99 wRC+

These might be the least eye-catching stats on this list, but Andrew Pintar is going to have a role on an MLB team for years as a fourth outfielder.

Being the final piece involved in the A.J. Puk return from Arizona to Miami was one of the best things that could have happened to Pintar’s career. He went from being in an organization with an absolute logjam in the outfield to one that gave him the playing time necessary to showcase his talent.

Despite being limited to 84 games last season while dealing with an injury, he hit .269/.338/.384. He was also not just the fastest player on his Jacksonville team, but in all of Triple-A; over one stretch, he went 15-for-15 in stolen base attempts.

While he does struggle against right-handed pitching, he is consistently putting up above-average fielding grades at a center field position that teams are always looking to get strong defense from.

We recently saw the Washington Nationals take a chance on a similar profile out of the Marlins system in Nasim Nuñez. It would not surprise me if a team is willing to use a 26-man roster spot on a player who can fill a particular role, like Pintar could.


9 comments:

Zozo said...

I wouldn’t mind Chris Bassit back for a 1 year $15 mill deal? He definitely can pitch here in NY and is very consistent.
Ranger Suarez is another I would consider, his numbers should get better moving from a hitters park to a pitchers park?
Michael King can be another I would very much consider he is lights out when healthy.

I would first try and pry Sandy Alacantra for the Marlins, Ryan from the Twins and a DeGrom return would be first in my list.

JoeP said...

Mack might have to find time in the outfield for Williams if he is ready at some point in 2026. Also, maybe Pena at 3B unless you trade Lindor.

Zozo, I wouldn't mind Bassett on a 1-year deal, maybe an option for 2027. I also wouldn't sign any of the pitchers who have a QO, not worth it.

King is the best available but very high risk/highest reward.

Mack Ade said...

I invite any one year deal for either a starter a first baseman, or a left fielder

Mack Ade said...

Joe

CF already has a shingle out for Benge

LF?

Ewing
Williams
Morabito

Pick one

JoeP said...

Maybe Williams first, transition to 2B in 2 years. May have to eat last year of Semien contract.
Followed by Ewing, then Morabito 4th OF.

TexasGusCC said...

It’s ironic that I was thinking yesterday about having another long term deal - Tatis - and locking down too many spots in the lineup. It has to be a certain type of player…
Peña can play 2B when Simien moves on.
I would like an inning eater too, who isn’t name Framber. His numbers the second half of two years in a row absolutely suck, and he’s an a-hole. Michael King would work.
Between Helsley and Peterson, can’t figure out who screwed the second half more. Why wasn’t he sent to the pen? Probably fought it and look at the wimps making decisions in the dugout.
Dove, I have Reimer higher. I like pure hitters with power more than I like lumberjacks. While Just Baseball claims Clifford has fixed that somewhat, I have to see it.

JoeP said...

I figure Williams to move to 2B. Here's some out of the box thinking. By the time Pena is ready, Lindor (if he keeps declining) might be pushed to 3B.

If Pena isn't good enough then he goes to 3B.

Tom Brennan said...

Can Ewing race his way to the majors by mid-2026?

Verdexo said...

I wanted Dylan Cease but not for that contract. Seven years for a pitcher who is more likely to be a #2 or #3 than a #1 is laughable especially given our defense is worse than the one he had on the Padres. AAV is fine but five years would be my limit.