Reese Kaplan -- Mets Offseason Roster Bullet List Number Eight

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.

When Push Comes to Shove

For many the whole Pete Alonso situation was a closed chapter with the Mets moving forward to go in a new direction.  Many of the rumors centered around former Baltimore Orioles slugger Anthony Santander who at age 30 and coming off a 44 HR season with over 100 RBIs seemed to be a great option giving his switch hitting ability in addition to his raw power.  His market, like Alonso’s, didn’t seem to be gaining any traction until Monday night when it was announced that the Toronto Blue Jays surprisingly offered the power hitting outfielder a five year deal for $90 million (average annual value of $18 million).  Double ouch!  Not only did it suggest that Pete Alonso is in deep trouble financially, but it does seem to validate the rumors that recently surfaced that the Mets are still in the hunt for a reunion. 

Available Relief Pitchers

A few stories evolved about the market for 32 year old reliever Carlos Estevez.  He’s a bit of an up and down reliever but chose the best time to put together an outstanding season during his walk year.  He finished 2024 with a WHIP below 1.000 and an ERA of just 2.45.  The Phillies let him walk and although he was serving as a closer, he is projected to get a three year/$42 million deal.  Given Edwin Diaz’s role on the Mets I can’t see Estevez being happy playing second fiddle nor do I see the Mets wanting to make a multiyear deal with a guy already 32.  He will, of course, always be a fond memory to Mets fans as he coughed up Francisco Lindor’s salami in the NLDS. 

Kirby Yates is still looking for a deal which is a combination of his poor health history and his 38 year old age.  Last season for the Rangers he was virtually unhittable, striking out 85 hitters in under 62 innings while earning 33 saves and finishing with a 1.17 ERA.  He’s surely going to get nabbed by a team on a short term but expensive deal even with the aforementioned risks.

Then there are a few former Mets still out there (and no, we’re not looking at Phil Maton).  David Robertson who has always been a setup guy and Ryne Stanek who has flourished in this role as well are still unemployed.  Obviously Robertson will cost more money but the return is pretty much guaranteed.  Stanek is a .500 career pitcher with a 3.65 ERA and actually underperformed that level in 2024.  Personally I think he’s a better choice than some of the fringier options currently fighting to be in the pen but a far cry from Robertson.
 
A new name surfaced this week in southpaw Tim Hill.  The now 35 year old reliever wouldn’t cost a fortune and he has thrown successfully in New York for the Yankees.  Over his career he is a 3.99 ERA guy who doesn’t fan a lot of hitters.  He did his best work ever in the 2nd half of 2024 with a 2.05 ERA in the Bronx along with only 18 Ks in 44 IP.  Yes, he cost under $2 million, but with the addition of A.J. Minter it would seem that Hill would be perhaps a nice to have but not necessary addition.
 

Starting Pitchers

More than one source suggested that the seemingly confused San Diego Padres could be convinced to trade starting pitcher Dylan Cease in his walk year.  Coming off a season with a 3.47 ERA he’s decidedly better than some of the current Mets starting rotation.  Of course, in addition to whatever you would have to offer up to get him you then embrace the risk that he would test the free agent marketplace.  Does David Stearns’ penchant for short term deals make it worth proposing a trade?

Although the name Luis Castillo has been floating around for a few months now, there are surprising articles surfacing this week suggesting that the $24 million man is no longer all that desirable given the surplus of starting pitching the Dodgers now have to offer up to willing trade partners.  Why would someone want a $24 million hurler when others could be available for less than half that price?
 

Third Base

If indeed Mark Vientos is making the diagonal shift to play first base, then third base is wide open for the Mets.  Yes, there are indeed in-house options but each one has its own issues.  Many advocate Brett Baty be given a third and final shot at the hot corner given his power hitting surge in AAA last year, but he has not delivered at the big league level after multiple attempts.  Former top prospect Ronny Mauricio would otherwise have been near the top of this list but according to Mike Puma he’s still working to recover from his ACL injury that lost him the entirety of 2024.  He needs to show he’s healthy and ready to play at a solid level.  Then there’s new September fan favorite Luisangel Acuna who did very well subbing for Francisco Lindor and dominating in the Winter League, but note that he has never played third base before.  Granted, if you can do shortstop, second base or the outfield then third base would not be that much of a challenge, but it would indeed be one.  There’s always Jeff McNeil, too, but he’s not done too well defensively at that slot when tried in the past.

Then there are the external options.  Alex Bregman is also falling under the Scott Boras failure to market his client.  He’s a year older than Alonso, also looking for that $200 million level and guess what — no takers.  He might take a shorter deal with an easily exercisable opt out.  He would be expensive but he is a solid hitter with a 2024 Gold Glove for his work at third base. 

One name not heard up until this point is all-or-nothing power hitting cornerman Paul DeJong.  Yes, he has hit as many as 30 HRs in a season but at the cost of a career batting average of just .229.  He is projected to hit 26 HRs, drive in 75 and repeat that mediocre average.  He was bought out by the Cardinals for $2 million.  Ummm, no. 

The Cardinal that does make more sense is Nolan Arenado.  Although he is owed $74 million over the period of 2025 through 2027, St. Louis allegedly was going to kick in as much as $20 million in the proposed deal to Houston that Arenado nixed.  So if you look at his stellar defense and somewhat diminished but still solid offense, paying about $13-$15 million per year for him is certainly worth considering. 
 

Miscellaneous Items

A story surfaced that David Stearns told 4th year Met Starling Marte he would attempt to trade him elsewhere to put him into a position to play regularly elsewhere.  Thus far no rumors have surfaced as to where nor how much salary the Mets would have to eat to do so. 

If you want a good laugh, read about the package suggested as to what Toronto would want to part with Vlad Guerrero, Jr.  The price seemed mighty steep as it would include Mark Vientos, Jett Williams and Jonah Tong.  Now if that was bringing in a long term contract for Guerrero, it would be a very stiff price to pay but at least worth considering.  However, all of that talent leaving for a one-year rental seems foolish.  Wouldn’t it be wiser to wait and play the Juan Soto bidding game in 2026?

A number of pieces suggested that the Mets are seriously considering embracing 2024 star hitter Jurickson Profar if at least a way for the Mets to deal away Starling Marte.  No one is sure if Profar can replicate what he did to put it all together this past season, but it’s an interesting option to consider.

Another missing-in-action player is the OMG-man, Jose Iglesias.  Not much has been heard about where he will land.  Given the already discussed issues with the Mets’ third base options and their lack of experienced infield depth you would think they would want to have a conversation about what it would take to bring him back. 

Finally, a story surfaced suggesting the Mets entertain trade offers on Paul Blackburn, Brett Baty, Dylan Covey, Sean Reid-Foley and, once again,, Starling Marte.