Tom Brennan: Breaking News - Mets Get AJ Minter

BIG PEN UPGRADE

Two years, $22 million, opt out clause after one year.

Welcome aboard - a big lefty bullpen move that would seem to preclude pursuit of lefty Tanner Scott(?) 

Ernest Dove: Talking Mets; Pete Alonso; Prospects And More

Mets Prospect Guru, Ernest Dove, gives his reaction about Pete Alonso, the IFA class and updates on 4 current minor leaguers is Spring Workouts.

For more of Ernest's wisdom and lots of great Mets Prospect Videos subscribe to Ernest's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ernestdove.

Tom Brennan: Hey!! Who Should Pete Be Mad At? And Why Can’t Tylor Megill Be Trevor May II?

 

Let’s start with second things first I will get to Pete Alonso further down:

People always are as thrilled with Tylor Megill as 2 day-old leftovers.  

Well, I like 2 day leftovers, and I like Tylor Megill, so why, not once and for all, make him a reliever?

Trevor May Pitched With Attitude as a Pen Force

Ex-Mets reliever Trevor May began his career as a starter, but pitched most of it in relief. How did he do as a starter versus a reliever?

I add a rating to help you assess both, in case you're bad with numbers: 

Starter: 7-15, 5.85 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, 127 IP, 8.1 K/9 (BAD)

Reliever: 29-13, 3.60 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 323 IP, 11.3 K/9 (GOOD)

Mountainous righty Bryce Montes de Oca.

I know Megill has been spotty in relief, but I believe that after a fierceness adjustment to make him look like Bryce Montes de Oca (pictured above), Megill can be "reliever Trevor May II" - whaddya think, Pilgrims?

WHO PETE SHOULD BE MAD AT

“WHAT JUST HAPPENED?”

Read this Thursday evening in Mets Trade Rumors....

The Mets and Pete Alonso have been in a staredown for a while but it seems the club is blinking. Andy Martino of SNY reports that they now expect him to sign elsewhere, with today’s agreement with Jesse Winker part of a plan to spread money around to various alternatives.

Then this:

“New York agreed to bring back Jesse Winker on a $7.5MM deal. He’ll slot in at designated hitter and/or as a left-handed bench bat.”

I personally am EXCITED to have Jesse coming back!  If I had a batting helmet handy, I’d slam that sucker to the ground, Jesse Winker style, and start screaming in celebration.  

But…

Who should departing Pete be mad at? Several folks….

1) Himself - for not signing the extension last year.

2) Boras - for possibly talking him out of signing last year's extension?

3) Mets, MLB and the Players Union - how so?

MLB and the Union agreed to rules with free agent status terms that greatly benefit those who make the majors at a very young age, like Juan Soto, who became a free agent for his age 26 season.  

JUAN…HIT….THE…JACKPOT!

But other guys may not hit free agency until after they turn 30 - like Pete - or 32, like Jeff McNeil would have if he had not signed an extension.  I am sure both would have loved it where if you turn 28 in the upcoming season, you become a free agent that year.  

Yes, Pete did not get to the big leagues sooner, but sometimes it is not your fault.  He had a broken hand via HBP in his minor league debut season in 2016 that cost him several weeks, then again in early 2017 where he lost several more weeks, or he most likely would have been ready by mid-2018 and got credited with another year and turned free agent a year earlier.  

Pete has "only" made $44 million in his 6 season career so far, which is less in total than the 2025 Soto $$ season.  

The club, in Alonso, has had a real bargain, given his output.  

Also, many clubs like the Braves extend their marquis players early on (e.g., the Atlanta Braves), given them more $ for extra years.  The Mets could have given Pete 8 years for $150 million after his outstanding rookie season, but they did not, probably due to Wilpon penny pinching, so he had to hope he would not suffer a disabling injury along the way that would have deep-sixed his free agency cash-in.  

Fortunately for him, he has stayed healthy.

Sometimes, a club could arbitrarily hold you back a season - you'd be good enough to be playing for 20 or more other clubs, but YOUR team is stocked at your position and you don't get called up.

My off-the-wall suggestion?  

Let every player with at least 1 year experience turn free agent for their age 28 season.   But you get a 10% haircut for every year of service you didn't accrue up to that point.  So, if you turn 28 and could get $150 million if you were now a full service free agent, but you've only gotten 4 years of service in, not 6, you get 80% of that $150 million, or $120 million.  If you only had one year of service, you could sign a $50 million deal, but being 5 years short of traditional free agency, you would get 50% of that, or $25 million.  You’d almost undoubtedly realize in that scenario that you’d be better off staying with your team, but you would at least have the option.

General idea here, that I have just laid out...I could get more wonky with hypotheticals, but I won't.  

Basically, under current rules, if another player with half Pete's talent made it to the majors 3 or 4 years earlier, and was able to hit free agency now at 26 or 27, because there is less age-related decline risk, that player may get more in total career earnings than Pete. Seems unfair.

Pitchers?  I think of how Zack Wheeler got credit for his injured year and two partial seasons (he missed that one season altogether, and in 2 others, he had under 100 innings) and hit free agency with only 749 Mets innings under his belt before his big payday at age 29.  

It seems he should perhaps have had some sort of haircut off his free agent contract for time missed.  Another pitcher at the same time could have logged 1000 innings in his first 5.5 seasons, never missing starts, then got a major career-altering injury and missed out on free agency altogether. And make far less in his career than Wheeler.

Just some thoughts on how free agency rules end up greatly enriching some while perhaps stiffing others.  Matt Harvey? He got stiffed.

I wish Pete Alonso well in his future endeavors, assuming he no longer being in the Mets’ pursuit.

He has been a great Met. 

And if I was Pete, and saw Soto get $765 million, and I got offered just $76.5 million, or thereabouts, I'd be more than a tad insulted.

But that is in part due to the existing rules.

Now…will Joey Meneses show up to platoon vs. lefties, as Winker tackles righties? Or Winker at DH?  We will see.

Lastly, Jon Heyman of the Post wrote that The Mets are heavily focused on adding to the bullpen, perhaps with Tanner Scott. As you may recall, a week or two back, I pointed out that the Cleveland guardians bullpen was so much better than the Mets bullpen in 2024 that if the Mets had Cleveland’s bullpen in 2024 instead, they would’ve won 10 more games. 

So I recommended at the time the Mets consider not keeping Pete and using the cash in building a killer bullpen instead, and then going after Vlad Guerrero. We will see if that turns out to be the strategy. I think it’s one that makes a lot of sense. 

Reese Kaplan -- Bud Abbott Would Say, "Who's On Second"

Once again we will bypass the elephant in the room and leave the will he or won’t he soap opera starring David Stearns and Pete Alonso for a resolution.

Today instead let’s look at another position on the diamond where some attention needs to be paid to a possible competition for playing time.  This time around we’re focusing on second base. 

Now if you’re name is not Joe Morgan, most clubs employ a middle infielder more known for his glove or base running speed than in run production.  There are occasional home run barrages like the one time 40 HR season by former manager Davey Johnson, but the more standard second base output is a batting average in the .260s or higher, modest power, great speed and solid defense to pair with the shortstop to turn double plays and tag out would be base runners advancing on hits or stolen base attempts. 

By his history, Jeff McNeil was a second baseman who was more or less in this pattern but with a higher batting average, mid-teens home run power and limited base running speed.  His defense was always competent if not stellar.  People readily tolerated that mix given what he could do when he came to the plate.  We all know he was the National League batting champion in 2022 which was the culmination of his ability to work the counts and use the whole field for his hit ‘em where they ain’t approach to swinging the bat.

Unfortunately, the combination of injuries and downward results on the stat sheet plagued the man in 2023 and 2024.  He still owns a career .289 batting average but during 2023 and 2024 combined that average is a much more pedestrian .257 with 22 HRs and 99 RBIs which would be terrific if that output occurred over one season.  Unfortunately, he was up over 1000 times in those two years to average 11 HRs and 45 RBIs.  With the mediocre batting average, just single digit stolen bases and his movement to a more often outfielder than infielder, much of the luster has come off his championship mantle.

Even more of a concern is the attitude he exhibits in the dugout and in the locker room.  It’s fine to be explosive and have insurmountable will to win if you pair it with results.  Unfortunately the past two seasons that has not happened.  So you have the me-first attitude without the good side.  As he turns 33 for the 2025 season there may still be some gas in the tank but when he comes to the plate no longer do fans and media types pat one another on the back because they know something good is going to happen.

There are three younger players who could theoretically slot in at second base if the Mets feel that the $15 million man’s better days are indeed behind him.  Two of them are quite obvious in Luisangel Acuna and Ronny Mauricio.  The third one is a bit of a wildcard in the what-do-we-do-with Brett Baty.  Let’s have a look.

In his brief trial in September when Francisco Lindor went down with injury, Acuna showed solid defense, amazing base running speed and a more productive bat than played in Syracuse.  He followed that up with nearly MVP caliber offense in the Winter League, so people are beginning to wonder what level of productivity could Acuna produce if he played every day.  For one good measure, McNeil has 37 stolen bases for his entire career.  Acuna had 40 last year alone.  He’d also be a good substitute for Lindor if he needed a day off or unfortunately fought off illness or injury.

Somewhat forgotten due to missing the entire 2024 season is Ronny Mauricio.  He came up as a shortstop as well.  All the way back in 2023 he finished the season with a .292 average, 23 home runs and 23 stolen bases.  He has a rocket for an arm which many profile as better suited for third base than second base, but with Mark Vientos currently entrenched there, Mauricio would be glad to play wherever needed.  The concern about Mauricio is how much the injury affected his speed and how much rust needs to get shaken off to see if he had a 2023 breakthrough or if he is more of a mid .260s type of hitter as he’d shown earlier in his minor league career.

Finally, there’s the baseball mystery man, Brett Baty.  While formerly the top of the prospect heap for the New York Mets, Baty has not done well at all after hot spring performances each time the Mets gave him a shot coming north from Port St. Lucie.  Last season Baty had added an unexpected wrinkle to his performance resume.  The batting average dipped several points but that corresponded with a major increase in home run power.  For the year he hit just .252 but knocked 16 HRs and drove in 45 runs in just 238 ABs.  Extrapolated over a full season you’re looking at a 30/90 type of player who at second base would be a star.  The left handed hitting Baty has played mostly third base during his minor and major league career, but with Vientos’s 2024 performance Baty may have to look elsewhere.  For now he has 230 games at 3B with just 27 at 2B, but if he sees playing second is his now route to the majors you can bet he’ll be asking to play there regularly. 

The question for David Stearns and the rest of the front office is whether one of these would-be major leaguers or veteran Jeff McNeil is the best answer for second base.  Stearns was not here when McNeil was starring for the club nor was he here when any of these minor leaguers came on board.  From a loyalty perspective none would seem to have an edge, but if the club is serious about becoming perennial contenders then it might make sense to find some lower priced talent to fill in at second while reserving payroll dollars for other positions of need. 

What do you all think?

Paul Articulates - Lost focus

Baseball reached a new level of absurdity this week.  That in itself is quite a statement, as the sport of baseball has always been associated with showmen and promotions.  Think of the promotions of Bill Veek that spanned four decades or think of the time when the St. Louis Browns sent 3'7" tall Eddie Gaedel to the plate.  

This week, MLB announced that for two days in the middle of the 2025 season, the Binghamton Rumble Ponies (yes, that's our AA franchise) would be renamed the "Bathtub Donkeys".  It appears that this designation is meant to celebrate an arcane blue law that is still on the New York books since the 1800s that prohibits donkeys from sleeping in bathtubs.  

Is the law real?  Yes - a legal search will confirm it.  Is there a reason to celebrate that?  Apparently, MLB and the new owners of the Binghamton franchise Diamond Baseball Holdings thought there was.

Promotions are always very creative - find ways to gain the public's interest so one has an audience to sell to.  However, in this case it is hard to imagine that an audience that thirsts for outdated legal quirks would also enjoy watching athletic competitions.

The owners or some combination of their sponsors will have to fund new uniforms, the advertising, and even the creation of a new logo, a monogrammed towel, and a lettermark - all of which can be found on MiLB.com.

At this point I have to say that in my opinion, the money spend on this kind of tomfoolery will not have a good return on investment.  It would be better spent on players' salaries, better food/lodging for MiLB players, or even more baseballs.  The most recent collective bargaining agreement gave better salaries and benefits to minor league players, but it is still far from a great wage to live on - these guys go through real hardship to pursue their dreams.

Are you with me, or am I over-reacting?

Tom Brennan: Soto and Attendance; And 23-9, Not 12-6, is the Real Tally; And Position Player Arm Stength

The Mets have hugely under-earned the Yankees each year.

Steve Cohen know that.  

David Stearns knows that.

Even in 2024, the Yankees drew a whopping 1 million more regular season fans to their tilts in the regular season than the Mets (3.3 million vs. 2.3 million), the equivalent of 25 additional Yankees sell outs, despite both teams making the 2024 playoffs. 

The Mets greatly underperformed…at the ticket box.

Here are 3 interesting info links on team revenues:

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/estimating-postseason-revenue-for-players-and-teams/

https://www.sportspro.com/news/mlb-revenue-2024-rob-manfred-yankees-dodgers-world-series/

https://www.visualcapitalist.com/which-mlb-teams-take-home-the-most-revenue/

In 2023, it tells me the Yankees grossed the most revenue at $679 million. 

The Mets were only 11th, at $393 million in revenues, or only about 60% of the Yankees’ haul. 

The Mets, in other words, appear to have grossed a whopping $286 million less in just 2023 than did the Yanks. 

Heck, even the Mariners’ gross revenues exceeded that of the Mets.

Steve Cohen knows that.  

David Stearns knows that.

Juan $oto may level the Mets’ and Yanks’ revenues.  

Perhaps entirely erase that $286 million annual revenues deficit.

That’s a ton of extra Mets cabbage, or extra moola boola, so to speak.

So…do you still think the Mets paid too much for Juan $oto?

Or is he ... I dunno ... a bargain?

I always like to remind readers of what he would be getting paid if his contract was broken out yearly by his potential value for that year, rather than straight line.  First 5 years are total prime years, 2nd 5 years, he hopefully is only in modest decline and still great, and 3rd 5 years, he is "baseball old" and hopefully still reasonably dangerous.

I would estimate the real annual value as follows: 

1) First 5 years: $80 million per year = $400 million

2) Second 5 years: $50 million per year = $250 million

3) Last 5 years: $23 million per year = $115 million.

23-9, Not 12-6

The re-upped Sean Manaea in point of fact won 12 and lost 6 in 2024.

But in his 32 starts, the Mets were 23-9.

I think the latter is far more significant than the former, don’t you?

A lot better than if he went 13-7, but they were 17-15 in his 32 starts.

What do I hope for in 2025? Oh, I dunno….23-9 would be nice.

METS' POSITION PLAYER ARM STRENGTH

The savvy stat-casters at Baseball Savant track lots of dandy data stuff, including arm strength, by position and by team (excluding catchers, who they rank based on "pop time").  

Naturally, I looked at the Mets' dudes Mets Position Players Arm Strength.

Strongest arm on average?  Starling Marte at 91 MPH.  

But Harry Bader had the strongest throw (speed-wise) at 98.3.

Weakest starting Mets position player arm? Pete Alonso, whose strongest throw was 72.9, putting him well down among MLB first basemen in that regard.  (Sorry, Pete, but the owners know this at contract time).  Vlad Guerrero, by comparison, hit 90.9 for his max throw at first base, with an average of 88.5.  Who knew?

Lindor maxed out at 92.3, while neither Vientos nor Baty owned rifles - Mark Vientos topped out at 88.7 and Baty at 85.9.

Still, not a Shawon Dunston or Roberto Clemente in the Mets bunch.  Those two had licensed howitzers.

Finally, Colton Cowser of the Orioles clocked in with the fastest position player throw of 2024, at 104.3 MPH: he was one of 17 players who were clocked above 100.0 MPH.  The Mets' best, Harry Bader at 98.3, was 38th fastest among MLB position players.

I have to speed off right now - you all have a day with real Pop Time. 

CATCHERS?

Before you chastise Francisco Alvarez for his seemingly very bad caught stealing performance, just 14 of 80 last year (17.5%), please realize that major leaguers on the whole in 2024 were successful in 79.2% of their steal attempts (3,617 successes and just 951 times caught stealing). So caught stealing % was just 20.8% in MLB. Why?

Guys are faster and pitchers are poorer at holding runners than in the good old days.

In fact, Alvarez is ranked 31st in arm velocity by Statcast, at 84.2 MPH (84.8 MPH in 2023).  Two things, though, about that 31st ranking.  

Add one more MPH on that (to 85.2) and he'd be ranked 16th.  And the list is comprised of 83 catchers, so he is in the top 40%. Lastly, only 3 of the 83 catchers are above 86.9 MPH, just as a point of perspective.

Lastly, on a look-back to 2019, former Met Nido was at 80.1, Buffalo Ramos was 81.6, and Plawecki was limp-noodled at 77.1.  James McCann 81.1, and the repaired Travis d'Arnaud topped them at 83.4, still almost one MPH short of Francisco. 

So quit yer yappin'.

TIM HILL?

Apparently there is interest in this LHRP.

ELIAN PENA

I long wished the Mets would put “all their chips” on a top one or top two international signing, like Juan Soto and Vlad Jr were several years ago, money so well spent. Well, the new, smart Mets finally did so. Elian was either top one or top 2, excluding Sasaki. BRAVO!!

Why go all in?  You win big with big stars.

17 year old SS/3B who is expected to be a GREAT hitter.

Tom Brennan: Frankie Montas

Montas Back in 2019 with the A’s

Sean Manaea on Frankie Montas:

 “I’m super excited [for the Mets signing Montas]. I love him to death. I’m very happy to be reunited with him,” Manaea said. “... He is a funny guy. He is very passionate about pitching. He goes out there and is a dog. He is tough and he is incredible, too.”

Fangraphs projects this for Montas:

10-8, 4.05 in 155 innings.

What’s so bad about Frankie Montas for SP-5?

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!”

Tom Brennan: Matt Harvey v. Brandon Sproat; the Cost of Siri; Short Termers, Anyone?

The Dark Knight, Matt Harvey

The Dark Knight, Matt Harvey, was drafted seventh overall in 2010 by the New York Mets.

In 2011 he started out great in the lower minors, and then was promoted to AA. 

For the majority of 2012, he pitched in AAA. He did great in the lower minors, but in his 2012 and 2011 segments in AA and AAA, his ERA was close to 4.00 and his WHIP was 1.35, not eye popping.

He then was called up and proceeded to become the Dark Knight of Gotham almost immediately. He was the toast of the town, along with David Wright, in 2012 and 2013, before he needed Tommy John surgery. He returned well from it in 2015, but thereafter had thoracic problems and was never the same again. But in 2012 and 2013, he was just about the Mets’ comparable to Max Scherzer of Washington.

Brandon Sproat was drafted by the Mets in 2022, didn’t sign, and then was drafted again in 2023. He first pitched for the Mets in the minors  in 2024, and was great in A ball and in AA. 

In his 29 innings and AAA, late in 2024, he certainly had his ups and downs, but the fact that he was pitching in AAA in his first minor league season at all is very impressive.

Essentially, he outpitched Matt Harvey over the same stretch of time in their respective early careers.

White Knight Brandon Sproat

I believe that Brandon Sproat in his “second term” in AAA in 2025 will dominate the league, and be ready for his”inaugural” call up to Queens in June.

He will shortly thereafter become the Mets’ White Knight.

SPROAT?

SP = starting pitcher

ROAT = really outstanding and terrific.

ORZE FOR SIRI

The Mets traded Eric Orze for Jose Siri. Orze got called up once, briefly, in 2024, but in 2025, Fangraphs projects he will log 44 innings, with a 3.97 ERA and a K per inning. So acquiring Siri was not a freebie.

SHORT TERMERS?

Read this in Mets Trade Rumors: “a report from Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic this evening (1/11) suggests that some of the major free agents still available are weighing the possibility of turning towards short-term deals with high average annual values, as the so-called “Boras Four” of Blake Snell, Cody Bellinger, Matt Chapman, and Jordan Montgomery did last winter after not finding the long-term pacts they were hoping for in free agency.  Per Rosenthal and Sammon, outfielder Anthony Santander and right-hander Jack Flaherty are both now open to considering that sort of deal.”

- What about Santander on a 1 year deal for $30 or $35MM, to play 1B?  

- He’s played 16 games at 1B in his career, so why not add a 44 HR man?

- And/or add Jack Flaherty for a 1 year deal, adding him to the rotation?

OH, THE TRIVIALITY 

My mind seeks out the trivial at times.  Here's one trivial tidbit...Detroit led all of MLB in triples in 2024, with 47.  The White Sox, on the other hand, were in little hurry - they totaled just 9. But somehow stole 14 more bases than the Tigers.

NOW THEY HAVE BOTH

In 2013, the Mets drafted Dom Smith in the first round, and the Yanks grabbed man-mountain Aaron Judge about 20 slots later. Now…the Yanks have both,

They signed Smith to a minor league deal. Can he resurrect his career with “the porch.”  He’ll probably hit 30 HRs this year.

The 29 year old Smith has hit 64 HRs, Judge only 62.  I know you understand the difference.