Reese Kaplan -- So What If Carlos Beltran Is Not the New Manager?

To hear most people picking up the popular narrative, Carlos Beltran is going to be the new manager in 2027.  There are certainly reasons why this selection could make sense.  He was once before hired to be a manager before the scandal of his Astros World Series appearance came to light and for purposes of public relations he was quickly asked to turn in his lineup pencil before he even got started.

Obviously Beltran has a solid Mets reputation and went into Cooperstown adorned with a Mets baseball cap.  That identity and Mets visibility follows what Tom Seaver and Mike Piazza did when they were inducted despite having played for other teams during their playing careers as well.  His seven years as a Met were far more good than bad and people generally count him as one of the rare good long term contracts the team offered up to anyone. 

There are some downsides to Beltran being the new skipper.  For one thing, he has no managerial experience.  While everyone indeed needs to start somewhere, it’s also a learning-on-the-job zeitgeist that often shows how green the new manager can be without several years at the helm previously.  We all saw eventually what happened when new managers like Luis Rojas and Carlos Mendoza hit the wall, though in Mendoza’s case it had as much to do with the poor roster he was given as his own growth.

So what if the Mets decide Beltran is not really the best choice despite the good public relations and instant recognition he would give the team if he took that role?  Or, what if Beltran decided he was not ready to suit up every day in the dugout, taking full responsibility for the success and failure of what his players do while on the field.  What do the Mets do then?

Oddly, interim manager Andy Green may be the temporary answer.  His years in San Diego were not exactly made of legendary performance, but everyone who knows the man extols both his knowledge and communication abilities.  With the great selloff having happened the Mets are suddenly starting to look like not quite the cellar dwellers they did under Mendoza.  He’s been working on the farm system since 2024 and some of the current players now on the big league roster like Carson Benge, A.J. Ewing, Zac Thornton, Nolan McLean and Christian Scott are all supporters of him at the helm. 

To a great many people the emergency fill in for Mendoza doesn’t carry the weight nor cache of new Hall of Famer Carlos Beltran.  His career managerial numbers are not outstanding and a quiet, knowledgeable guy in charge will not have the same public relations weight Beltran would.  It would, however, be an interesting plan B should the Beltran vision not happen from either side’s decision.  If indeed they need another managerial candidate does anyone else stand out as a superior option to Andy Green?  He knows the team’s majors and minors, he has real managerial experience and he would help bring some continuity over into the 2027 season.  

MACK - HOT ARMS - Matt Seelinger, Carlos Guzman, Josbel Torrez

 

PERIOD:  7/16 – 7/25

 

Matt Seelinger/AAA-Syracuse –

    1.20-WHIP, 3.1-IP, 5-K, 3-BB, 0.00

Matt Seelinger is a 31-year-old right-handed relief pitcher (born April 19, 1995, in Westbury, NY) for the New York Mets organization.

He stands 6'3" and weighs 190 lbs.

He is a Long Island native who attended W.T. Clarke High School and played college baseball at Division III Farmingdale State College.

Drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 28th round (838th overall) of the 2017 MLB Draft — the first player from Farmingdale State ever selected.

Bounced around organizations (Pirates → Rays → Giants → Phillies) via trades, releases, and minor-league deals.

Spent 2024 with the independent Atlantic League’s Long Island Ducks (hometown team), posting a dominant 0.44 ERA in 21 games with 31 strikeouts in 20.2 IP. The Detroit Tigers purchased his contract mid-2024.

Excelled in the Tigers system (especially Triple-A Toledo) with strong strikeout rates. In 2026 with Toledo, he had a 3.89 ERA in 39.1 IP (swing/long relief role), 49 K, and 19 BB.

Traded to the Mets for cash considerations on July 6, 2026 (he had an upward mobility clause). Promoted to the majors the next day for his MLB debut at Citi Field — a feel-good homecoming story.

Minor-league career (through 2026): 23-16 record, ~3.30 ERA, strong K rates (over 12 K/9 in many seasons), mostly in relief.

Seelinger is a three-pitch reliever with solid velocity for a depth arm and some unique deception.

Four-seam Fastball (FF): ~38-48% usage, averages ~92-93 mph (sits 92.4-92.8). Decent carry/rise; generates swings-and-misses and fly balls. Straight but effective when elevated.

Cutter (FC): ~42% usage, ~86 mph. High whiff rate, heavy sink, good horizontal movement. One of his better swing-and-miss pitches.

Knuckle Curve / "Knuckle Drop" or "Knuckle Puck" (KC/CU): ~19-26% usage, ~80-81 mph. His signature pitch — a unique, low-spin offering (often 1,300-1,700 rpm, can vary widely) with a custom grip (modified four-seam grip with bent fingers). It blends curveball, splitter, and sometimes screwball traits: significant downward "drop" (negative vertical movement, e.g., -5 to -12 inches), variable shape, and tunneling potential off the fastball. High whiff rates and low opponent production in the minors. Coined/perfected on Long Island.

He tunnels his pitches well (fastball and breaking ball often look similar out of the hand) and has shown above-average swinging-strike ability in the minors, though command can be inconsistent (elevated walk rates at times).

Overall Profile: Classic journeyman/late-bloomer reliever with a standout homemade pitch. Strong strikeout stuff in Triple-A but raw results in his brief MLB look.

 

Carlos Guzman/AA-Binghamton –

    2.10-WHIP, 3.1-IP, 5-K, 2-BB, 0.00

Carlos Guzman (full name: Carlos Alberto Guzmán) is a right-handed relief pitcher (primarily) in the New York Mets organization.

Born May 16, 1998 (age 28), in Maracay, Venezuela, he stands 6'1" and weighs 210 lbs.

He throws right-handed  

Signed by the Detroit Tigers as an international free agent in 2015 (age 16).

Spent time in the Tigers system, reached High-A as a starter in 2022 (9-6, 4.16 ERA in 25 starts for West Michigan).

Traded to the Chicago Cubs in March 2023 for INF/OF Zach McKinstry.

Signed as a minor-league free agent by the Mets in November 2023 (and re-signed later).

Has pitched mostly in relief at upper levels since joining the Mets, with stints at Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Syracuse. He has also played in the Venezuelan Winter League (Tigres de Aragua).

As of 2026, he remains a depth reliever in the Mets system (not on the 40-man roster), bouncing between AA/AAA. He has not yet debuted in MLB.

He is a hard-throwing righty who has transitioned from starting to relief. He has shown flashes of effectiveness in the upper minors but has not broken through to the majors yet.

4-Seam Fastball: 92-95 mph (primary pitch).

Changeup: 83-85 mph.

Cutter: 88-90 mph.

Slider: 83-86 mph.

This is a four-pitch mix suited for relief work, with the fastball providing velocity and the offspeed/breaking pitches offering separation. He has generated strikeouts (around 9-10 K/9 in recent upper-minors seasons) but can be hittable at times, especially in AAA.

Guzman is a classic minor-league depth arm with a solid but not elite repertoire. He could provide bullpen help for the Mets if he refines command and consistency, but he is not currently a top prospect.

 

Josbel Torrez/DSLB –

    1.40-WHIP, 5.0-IP, 5-K, BB, ER, 1.80

Josbel Rafael Torrez is a 19-year-old right-handed pitching prospect in the New York Mets organization.

Born: April 5, 2007, in Barquisimeto, Venezuela.

Height/Weight: 6'1", 180 lbs.

Bats/Throws: Right/Right.

The Mets signed him as an international free agent to a minor league contract on May 6, 2026. He was assigned to the DSL Mets Orange (Dominican Summer League) shortly after.

He has shown some strikeout ability in limited innings but has also allowed some hard contact/walks, which is common for a teenage pitcher adjusting to pro ball.

Torrez is a very new, low-level prospect with limited public scouting reports available right now. At 19 and pitching in the DSL, he is in the earliest stages of his career.

Tom Brennan: Best-Performing Mets Minor League Newbies; MLB’s Top 100 Blues

 

You Can Always Find Marvelous Mets Guppies Doing Neat Stuff in the Minors 

 

Recently, the Mets did two things: 

1) Drafted a bunch of guys

2) Traded for a bunch of prospects

I am not going to tell you here anything about the ones doing poorly. 

Or the ones, like drafted pitchers, who have not yet tossed a pro inning.

Only about the good performing ones, post-draft and post-trade - and I am including the top draftee and top bonus baby from last year.

Here goes, with 10 boppers, and how they’re doing:

A) Last year’s signees who are the stars of today:

Mitch Voit - killing it (on base 5 times Saturday; 40 times in 15 AA games. Is he ready? Name me another Mets minor leaguer who ever did that. No, not Ryan Clifford, who fanned 3 more times last night. 159 Ks in 103 games. He is a stunning 20 for 171 since June 1, with 81 Ks. I would send Clifford to St Lucie to have him attempt to start over.). OK, back to newbies….

Elian Peña - killing it

B) Trade bangers

Jefferson Rojas - killing it

Emilien Pitre - killing it (over .400)

Sammy Stafura - killing it

Billy Amick - killing it (around one million RBIs already)

Aidan Smith - killing it

2026 draftees:

Aiden Robbins - 92nd overall pick; hitting well. 3 hits, first pro HR Saturday

Ryan Tayman - 9th round catcher - hitting well.

John Smith III - 19th round - hitting well.

Their offensive output speaks for itself.

I am, except for Voit, leaving out numbers. Their numbers will “speak more” after the next two weeks.

I left out this year’s top DSL signees. Why? Due to stuff like this:

ANOTHER DELIGHTFULLY DANDY DSL BOX SCORE 

On Thursday, the Mets’ DSL Blue squad lost on the road, 16-10, in a seven inning “Juannybrook”.

26 total runs on 18 hits, 11 walks, 7 wild pitches, 8 hit batsmen, 7 stolen bases, and 5 errors. 

In just 13 half-innings of baseball. 

Imagine if it was a 9 inning game? 

You’d need an NVIDIA chip to tabulate it.

Well, on Friday, we found out - the same Mets team actually went 9 innings and had just 6 hits…and scored 17 runs. The two teams had 35 runs, just 22 hits, but an insane 34 walks, 6 hit batsmen, 8 errors, a slew of steals, etc. 

Crazy, crazy, crazy.

When you go to one of those DSL games…make sure to…

…go to the bathroom before that game starts, because if you didn’t and then had to go mid-game, you might miss 20 baserunners.

Amazingly, though…

In the other Thursday 7 inning Mets DSL (Orange) game that day, a 3-0 win, two Mets pitchers combined had a vintage Matt Harvey killer outing: 

7 IP, 1 hit, 11 Ks, no runs.

The pitchers? Maxgregori HARVEY (1.82) - yep, Harvey.

And Olmedo Barria (6-0, 2.00).

Two 19 year old pitchers who seemingly can PITCH. At least to DSL hitters.

I guess those two will come stateside next season. Then we’ll see.

Friday. Of course, the same other DSL Mets squad won 3-0 again. Abner Meza won to move to 5-2, 1.81.

So one DSL Mets squad scores 27 runs in 2 games, but loses because the opponents scored 34, while the other Mets squad tossed 2 shutouts while their hitters scored just 6 runs. Whacky.

ELIAN PEÑA IS GONNA BE GOOOOD!

Senor Pena extended his hitting streak to 12 game hitting streak with St. Lucie, blasting two HRs on Tuesday, the first stateside multi-homer game of his career. He added a single. All 3 hits exceeded 100 MPH.

Over those 12 games, he slashed .385/.448/.635.

Yes…He’s gonna be GOOOOD! 

He’ll be a NY Met starting position player by opening day 2029, if not sooner.

The kids are coming. By the truckload. 

That 2029 Mets line up could be INSANE. Or, at least, good.

HOWEVER…PROSPECT WATER SPLASHED IN MY FACE

How so, you ask?  Well, MLB just released their new Top 100 prospects list.

 - They only have Jefferson Rojas at # 76 for the Mets. 

 - ONE MET. In the bottom quartile, too. Ugh.

Top 10 by position?

Only Rojas (#2, 3rd base) and Emilien Pitre (#9, 2B), are in top 10 lists.

Voit is not. Pena is not. Reimer? Nope. Stafura? Uh-uh. Amick? Nyet.

Santucci is not in the top 10 lefties. Left out. Ugh.

Tong is not in the top 10 righties. He was last year. Ugh.

Braves, Philly, Marlins and Nats all have 3 to 5 top 100 dudes. Ugh.

I am disappointed. Perhaps a little devastated.  But not dismayed.

What is dismaying, though, is the friggin’ Dodgers.

The super team has # 6, # 16, # 20, # 36, and # 87.

How is that possible? Three in the top 20? Four in the top 36? Ugh.

The 75-47 Brewers? Another ugh.

They have 5 in the Top 100.  Not Jett Williams. He is only their # 11.

SUGAR IS BAD FOR YOUR HEALTH

Remember those stretches that Edwin “Sugar” Diaz had as a Met, where you were really suffering as he horrifically blew games? 

Most of the time he was great, but he had more than a handful of those gut-wrenching games where you just wanted to jump off a ledge.

Now, with the Dodgers, I am pleased to note he is pitching so much worse.

After Thursday’s debacle, Edwin’s allowed 14 runs in less than 11 innings. 

The Dodger Blue Crew must have Blue a gasket.

Greed sometimes backfires.

AND…

RONNY MO: 

14 HR, 41 RBI in 46 AAA games.

AND:

Joshua Baez homered 3 times in his first MLB game with the Cardinals.

After 36 AAA HRs in 2026.

He was drafted in 2021, a few picks after the Mets selected Calvin Ziegler.

Tom Brennan - Adjoining Nations Have Vastly Different Baseball Perspectives

Chico Escuela Knows How Very, Very Good Baseball Can Be

To Both Successful Players and to a Country’s GDP

Soon, the latest annual Dominican Summer League of 50+ teams will come to their season’s close. 

Which got me to thinking how beneficial baseball is to baseball-avid Dominican Republic fiscally, and how other neighboring Caribbean countries fail to similarly benefit fiscally by adopting baseball with the same level of passion

I read this:

“Haiti is a country in the Caribbean, occupying the western third of the island of Hispaniola, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Its capital and largest city is Port-au-Prince. 

But while the Dominican Republic has long been a hotbed of baseball, producing hundreds of major leaguers, neighboring Haiti has rarely produced any minor leaguers and has never produced a major leaguer, although there have been a number of players of Haitian background, such as Estevan Florial, Juan Pierre, Jesen Therrien and Touki Toussaint. Williams Louico were born there.”

Those two adjoining countries have virtually identical populations approximating 12 million.

Baseball can be a boon to countries like the Dominican Republic that realize it can be a huge contributor to GDP, in various ways.

In that regard, I read this in Wikipedia: “The rise of baseball in the Dominican Republic has also had a massive impact on the economy of the country as a whole, generating around $1 billion per year via training facilities and professional games.” And I imagine highly successful major league players invest a lot back in their homeland.

I also read this:

Haiti and the Dominican Republic are two Caribbean countries that share the same island, Hispaniola. However, despite sharing the same island, the two nations have developed very differently in recent decades. In 1990, Dominicans had twice the GDP per capita of Haitians. 32 years later, they are seven times richer than Haitians.

The chart shows both trajectories. While the Dominican Republic experienced sustained growth during the three decades, Haiti’s GDP per capita has barely grown and, at times, even slightly decreased.

That article’s chart showed that a few years ago, the DR’s GDP was close to $20,000 per person, but Haiti’s GDP was below $3,000 per person.

So it seems that many countries like Haiti, Columbia, and Brazil are making a huge fiscal mistake by not adopting baseball as a country growth industry.

Number of MLB 26-man players by country (or possession) (2025)^[1]

Rank	Country (or possession)	#	%
1	United States	1,081	73.5%
2	Dominican Republic	144	9.8%
3	Venezuela	93	6.3%
4	Cuba	34	2.3%
5	Puerto Rico	27	1.8%
6	Canada	22	1.5%
7	Mexico	15	1%
8	Japan	13	0.9%
9	Colombia	8	0.5%
10	Panama	6	0.4%
11	South Korea	5	0.3%
11	Curaçao[a]	4	0.3%
13	Nicaragua	3	0.2%
14	Aruba[b]	2	0.1%
	Australia	2	0.1%
	Germany	2	0.1%
	Italy	2	0.1%
	Taiwan	2	0.1%
19	Bahamas	1	0.1%
	Honduras	1	0.1%
	Peru	1	0.1%
	Portugal	1	0.1%
	South Africa	1	0.1%
	United Kingdom	1	0.1%