The New York Mets reacquired left-handed reliever Nate Lavender on Wednesday after he cleared waivers and returned from the Tampa Bay Rays, who had selected him in the 2024 Rule 5 Draft.
The
25-year-old missed the entire 2025 season due to elbow injuries, including a
bone spur surgery in August that led to his designation for assignment in
November. Mets officials view him as a promising addition to their Triple-A
Syracuse roster with potential for recovery and future contributions.
USA Today columnist Bob Nightengale reports that the San Diego Padres' financial pressures from backloaded contracts, including Fernando Tatis Jr.'s 14-year, $340 million extension signed in 2021, could eventually position the 26-year-old star as a trade candidate, despite no plans to move him this offseason. Tatis Jr. had a strong 2025 season with a .268 batting average, 25 home runs, and top defensive awards, helping the team draw a record 3.44 million fans and generate $32 million in operating income. However, a weak farm system ranked 25th and limited TV revenue of $20-30 million annually raise sustainability concerns compared to rivals like the Los Angeles Dodgers.
MACK – GO GET EM’ GUYS….
Mets predicted to make blockbuster trade for $340 million
three-time All-Star
“The New York Mets found their corner
outfield pillars in Juan Soto and Brandon Nimmo, but centerfield remains
something of a vacant lot right now. Predictably, the Cedric Mullins trade
didn't really pan out, and Tyrone Taylor isn't doing nearly enough offensively
to hold down the fort. Top prospect Carson Benge should factor in sooner than
later, but Fernando
Tatis Jr. fits an awfully
appealing profile for GM David Stearns — that of a plus-defending,
high-slugging outfielder who can run the bases, draw walks, and get on base a
ton. He can protect Soto in place of free agent Pete Alonso, who is expected to
depart, and pave the way for Soto's eventual move to DH,” Kline wrote.
This past season, Tatis Jr. slashed
.268/.368/.446/.814, with 27 doubles, 25 home runs, 71 RBI, and 32 stolen bases
in 155 games. He’s also a two-time Platinum Glove winner, so his defense would
be elite at Citi Field.
Combining Tatis Jr. with Juan Soto and Brandon Nimmo would give the Mets the best outfield in the National League hands down, and possibly the entire MLB. If they can do it, they need to go all out and get him.
MLB pitcher market
https://fansided.com/mlb/tarik-skubal-mlb-pitcher-market-best-values-bust-risks-hidden-gems
Zack Littell, Cincinnati Reds
It’s certainly worth arguing that the
30-year-old Littell has already broken out, posting a 3.73 ERA over 343 innings
the last two seasons. However, we’re including him here because there may very
well be a team that believes he can take that next step and grow into a No. 3
starter, especially if he’s open to taking a one-year deal.
Where will he pitch in 2026? New York Mets. The Mets need another starting pitcher, and their priorities in free agency should be re-signing first baseman Pete Alonso and closer Edwin Diaz. Littell definitely makes sense for the Mets, and we’ll see if they explore giving him an opportunity.
Thomas Nestico @TJStats
My Top 10 Relief Pitchers of 2025
The Call Up | An MLB Prospect Podcast
@The_CallUpPod
Chris Suero has continued his great 2025 season in the
Arizona Fall League!
.920 OPS
5 HR
14 RBI
The 21-year-old catcher is one of only three
players in the league to reach the five home run mark
Two former Mets prospects who were handed
away were among the best rookies last season
More recently was the loss of Mike Vasil. Left
unprotected at the 2024 Rule 5 Draft, he jumped from the Philadelphia Phillies
to the Rays and finally to the Chicago White Sox. He logged 101 innings mostly
in relief and finished with a 2.50 ERA. While some other numbers suggest he had
luck on his side (other than playing for the White Sox), his ability to eat
innings in relief would have been nice to have on the Mets for the full season.
His 6.04 ERA in 2024 with Syracuse was a
follow-up to a 5.30 ERA with the same Triple-A team from the year prior in a
half-season. Unmotivated to stash him on the 40-man roster in hopes of ever
getting that sort of success in the majors, the Mets should be a little more
careful with any roster decisions they make before this month’s deadline. Don't
let Nick Morabito become the next one gone for nothing.
NY Mets predicted to add 2 frontline
starters, here’s how they’ll do it
Then comes the trade piece: Freddy Peralta, the
kind of arm that makes rotations complete. He’s entering the final year of his
$8 million deal with Milwaukee, and if the Brewers are open for business, David
Stearns knows exactly which number to dial. Peralta’s résumé checks every box —
at least 27 starts in four of the last five seasons, 200-plus strikeouts three
straight years, and a crisp 2.70 ERA this past season. He’s efficient,
aggressive, and carries the type of edge that fits perfectly in Queens.
Jim Koenigsberger @Jimfrombaseball
“They fought together as brothers-in-arms.
They died together and now they sleep side by
side.
To them, we have a solemn obligation.”
Admiral Chester Nimitz, after accepting the Japanese surrender.
"Lest We Forget"
Japanese reconnaissance photo`s showing
'Battleship Row' during the attack on Pearl Harbor.
The USS Arizona, second from left, moored
inboard, was just struck with a bomb near the stern, but The Arizona has not
yet received the bomb that detonated her forward magazines.
SNY Mets @SNY_Mets
David Stearns on Dylan Ross:
"Dylan's a guy who's going to come to
camp with a chance to make our team. We would expect him to contribute
throughout the season next year"
MACK – See? I told ya.
Wow, lots of good stuff.
ReplyDeleteWhy would Lavender have to go through the waiver wire first, if he wasn’t on a roster this year and Rule 5 stipulates he must be offered back to the Mets first? Is it so he isn’t on a 40 man? I realize that they don’t need to protect him now and that lefty arm in March will be awfully attractive.
Tatis on the Mets sounds good, but how is the outfield of Nimmo, Soto Tatis going to work? Why is it that whenever an expensive player is named, so are the Mets? I love Tatis and also wanted him last year, but unless Nimmo is yiur full time DH with his slipping defense and Vientos lines up at first, you can’t for Tatis.
And, Tong, Sprout, McLean, Manaea, Senga, Peterson, Holmes, Scott… where does Peralta or whoever else they get fit in? I’d like to see the kids in the rotation, Peterson moved and Senga and Manaea healthy. If all that happens, another starter would become a Frankie Montas situation again.
Lavendar
DeleteI don't understand that either but I'm happy he's back home. You can't protect everyone and this lookedlike a loss. Not sure if he is MBL material but he sure as hell will make a great AAA reliever
Tatis
DeleteNimmo would go full tilt DH
Benge would center up
Peralta
DeleteStearns has a tough decision to make this offmseason
An addition like Peralta would definitely sure up the rotation. Peralta, McLean, Senga, Holmes...
I think the Mets are a little disappointed in what Tong and Sproat did last season during the pennant race and they might take a step back prospect wise
Tatis will be $21M this year, $26MM for the next two years, and $37MM for the next six years, meaning nine years left until his age 35 season. Not too bad. He had a 5.9 bWAR this past year. Wonder what Preller wants… do you do both Skubal and Tatis?
ReplyDeleteBet you Philadelphia salivates at Tatis…
DeleteI would take Skubal hands down.
DeleteWould offer Tong or Sproat... Morabito or Ewing... (they got plenty of prospect starters)... Lambert... and either R, Hernandez or Suero
Mack, they aren’t trading him unless you give them no choice. They want to win. They won’t accept a “reasonable” package. If you offer Williams, Reimer, Peña, Clifford and Tong, they may still say no.
DeleteGus, get everybody, and beat the Dodgers….or get nobody and go for a risky rebuild? If they try the latter, with not enough success, how do they resume buying the big boys and get on he win Now path?
ReplyDeleteExactly Tom. Look at Pittsburgh’s rebuild. If you gave me a wish list, I’d say Imai, Tatis and Devin Williams for this off season would be a nice package. Add Skubal next year.
DeleteIf next year is successful (final four - WS crown) & Skubal is a FA thy will go full throttle to get him too - spend by damned. My prediction
ReplyDeleteVery happy to have Lavender back in the system. If he healed well, there is some positive upside there.
ReplyDeleteit;s interesting that so many fans express the desire to just spend to win only one day after RVH nicely laid out the overall strategy of sustainable, efficient building to maintain high probablity of contending year in and year out. Just do two things when you compare Skubal now with Peralta, first calculate what you honestly would have to give up (which of course will depend on what others are willing to give up, this not being a two party negotiation). Figure out next the likely difference in net wins between the two over say five years. Then see what the cost is in terms of losing control of the players you trading and the the likelihood of their success, and the period of time over which they would remain valuable trading chips, and while some of these calculations would involve best guesses (unavoidable in the circumstances of this sort) you will likely come up with a figure the impacts the relative likelihood of achieving the stated goal of going one route (Skubal), rather than the other.
ReplyDeleteIf you respond that you are going to wait for Skubal to reach free agency and thus not give up any players (just a draft choice) you must add in the probabilities of you securing him in that competition and at what price, and what you do in the interim and the costs of doing that, etc. I think you will see that the opportunity costs-- the reduction in the ability to use resources elsewhere (which is especially important when you are trying to invest over a large portfolio of activities-- in this case invest and develop and trade other players to fill positions in the near, mid and long term, that Skubal doesn't make sense in terms of his net value (which I believe would be negative when all this is taken into account) over the second best alternative (which is, I believe, positive). The main point is that this is how you have to think when making the kinds of decisions that Stearns must.
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ReplyDelete