The Mets have signed right-hander Daniel Duarte to a minor league contract
Daniel
Duarte is a Mexican professional baseball relief pitcher (born December
4, 1996). He has played in MLB for the Cincinnati Reds (2022–2023) and
Minnesota Twins (2024),
Pitch Repertoire
His pitch arsenal consists of five
pitches, based on data from 2022–2024 (via Brooks Baseball and Baseball
Savant):Four-seam
Fastball — ~96 mph (primary pitch,
above-average velocity with some sink and whiff potential).
Slider — ~84 mph (key breaking
pitch).
Cutter — ~92 mph (high velocity
with strong cutting action, often flyball-inducing).
Changeup — ~89 mph (off-speed
offering with fade and sink).
Sinker — ~94 mph (used sparingly).
He throws right-handed with a
hard-throwing profile, relying heavily on the fastball, slider, and cutter,
while mixing in the changeup and sinker less frequently (especially in limited
2024 samples).
He did not pitch in MLB in 2025 due to recovery from
UCL revision surgery.
Angry
Mike @AngryMike24
Mets Brass encouraged Ryan Clifford to be more aggressive early in the
count for the 2025 Season, in order to avoid from having to constantly hit
being behind in the count.
Mets Brass hit a bullseye with
their assessment:
2025 Season:
Clifford’s Stats: Ahead in the
Count: 218 PA || 133 AB
133 AB | .308 BA | 16 HR | 1.295
OPS | .581 OBP | 85 BB |
39% BB-Rate || 13%
K-Rate
Clifford’s Stats -> Behind in
the Count: 197 PA || 170
AB
197 AB | .194 BA | 6 HR | 576 OPS
| .205 OPS | 0 BB |
14% BB-Rate || 37%
K-Rate
Clifford batted 104 points higher
in 20 more plate appearances when he was aggressive earlier in counts.
39% BB-Rate & 85 BB shows
elite plate discipline & pitch recognition. (I doubled checked the # of
walks 5 times )
Pitchers rarely got him to chase
after he got ahead, evidenced by his 13% K-Rate, almost 3x lower compared to
when he fell behind in the count (37%).
Clifford’s one the more intriguing
power bats in Mets system, with the departure of Pete Alonso, his arrival in
Queens might be expedited & his power to all fields, a welcomed addition.
SleeperMets @SleeperMets
Former Mets hitting coach Eric Chavez when asked if he thinks David Stearns
is over his head in managing a big market team:
“Yes I do.”
MACK –
I assume Chavez is in a good place financially, because
public comments like this one will sure as hell not assure you a future position
with any position in this sport.
SNY @SNYtv
The Mets have inquired about Luis Robert Jr.
MACK –
It seems every year we re-visit this story. Yes, he
hits better than Tyrone Taylor. He even plays a little better
defense in center. But we have run out of superlatives about this guy. Can’t we
just leave center in the hands of Taylor until one of the kids graduate?
Please?
Jacob @AndThatsBB
Things I’ve learned at the Winter Meetings:
- everyone who works in baseball is either 5’8” or 6’4”
- most quarter zips per capita at any event ever
- Jon Heyman paces around a lot
Mets
Could Trade Jeff McNeil
The longest tenured player on the team is now Jeff McNeil,
and he might be traded. The Mets will be active in the market, and some folks
around the game expect them to be aggressive the remainder of the offseason.
They kinda have to be, no?
McNeil could slot into multiple different spots in the Mets
lineup as of late Thursday afternoon. There is a gap in left field, center
field and first base. However, McNeil has a grand total of 40 career
appearances at first base and center field combined, meaning left field would
be the most viable option.
The veteran utility man started to have his name thrown
around in trade rumors as soon as Marcus Semien was
acquired for Nimmo on November 24. Now, after the team reportedly lost Diaz on
Tuesday and Alonso on Wednesday, the odds for McNeil to go seem to have
increased as David Stearns looks to make major changes.
Expect to see his name pop up more as the offseason
progresses.
MACK –
I think
all the Mets that departed this off-season were close to Jeff, which would only
add to his wanting off this new ship Stearns.
20 comments:
Hopefully, any OF upgrade will be better and less risky than a Luis Robert.
I see Mike's comments. I hope my constant pleadings for Vientos, Baty, and Clifford over the past 18 months to be much more aggressive were listened to. It seems from Mike's note that they were.
Jeff McNeil was my first (and last) live interview with a prospect for Macks Mets, back in Spring 2018. If he is traded, I will miss him being a Met.
Morning
Back online today for commenting only.
FULL DISCLOSURE:
I've been in and out of doctor visits, tests, and hospital moments for the greater portion of this past week. Today's three posts by me are kinda short and I apologize for that. I am scheduled for an operation this coming Wednesday morning, which will pretty much muck up next week as well. My fellow writers are stepping in for me and filling in where my Wednesday and Friday Observations would have been. I should be back at 100% come next Sunday.
I do have DEEP DIVES on both Jorge Polanco and Zach Peet this morning in my MORE FOCUS post at 10:30am.
As for Polanco... I like it for it's lightness during a transition period. It fits David Stearns' no big contract policy (for at least bats) and one does have to balance the less HR production vs. Pete with the projected salary cost vs, Pete if they resigned him. This does give both Jacob Reimer and Ryan Clifford the proper time to mature at first, though I have no friggin idea why the Mets currently project Polanco to play at a postition THAT HE HAS NEVER LODGES ONE MAJOR LEAGUE INNING AT. If that's the criterea, why not Ronny Mauricio?
Gotta tell ya... weird shit coming out of the team I though I knew things about.
Tough week coming up, but the tough do tough it out. I am expecting a great report.
I am guessing they expect little out of Mauricio.
Polanco - I hope you look at his # of games played. He wasn't playing 162 like Pete.
Mauricio
I'm not sure he even has any trade value anymore.
Polanco
He hits from both sides, right?
Make him a full time DH and let Vientos have his shot at first
Good luck with your surgery Mack ,I'm in that age when we need some fine tunning too. Sterns is showing why is real good, getting Polanco was a nice move. We need clutch and consistent hitting and he provides that ,hitting that homer of Skubal in the playoffs to send the Jays forward was just as exciting as Pete homer off Williams. We are getting a real good hitter to smack right in the center of the lineup. Tong needs another pitch and I'm worried about his pitching style being able to teach that other pitch same as with Linecum. The staff there had trouble with teaching him because of his unique pitching style. The Padres players available are exactly perfect fits for our club. Miller will easy makes us forget the Trumpet .Morejon would be the ideal lefty for our pen.Estrada is real good too.The Mets liked the potential of Pivetta and they were right he had breakout year and would add an arm to our needing staff and to top it off they have a legit leftfielder in area were we have McNeil as our only option because Benge is counted for center duties out of the gate .In one trade we can solve so many holes it's the perfect time IMO to move Tong to close this deal.
I am looking forward to the next Mets move
I fully understand if it involves Tong
He currently looks more valuable as a trade chip
I just don't want any deals for rentals
For what?
To help strengthen a transition team to lose closer to a playoff slot?
Morning Mack, Best wishes for a speedy recovery...it's not the same without you.
Who's going to talk me off the ledge when I lose my shite.
As for the trade, not a bad stop gap. I guess He and Vientos will share 1B. You're looking for defense, and you bring in someone who never played 1B...I'm verklempt.
I not only think the Mets are putting themselves in a good position going forward, but that they are in a very good position for next year -- even though I admit it may not look that way to many fans and commentators.
Thank you Joe. At least you have a ledge left.
And he plays a HORRIBLE infield defense
Make him a full time DH
Correct, polanco is a switch hitter. Th reason he could play 1B is that he has proven he can hit & is a better athlete than Vientos. I bet they get Contraras via trade or Christian walker (for Sean Manaea) to actually play 1B. Let’s see…
Polanco was also playing on a winner
Not every fan are the ones that bitch on X
Most upset are ones that attended family friendly events with Nimmo and Pete
Those days are history
Plus
Most that attend have, ya know, A LIFE
There are great trade matchups with St. Louis, San Diego, CWS (Robert, with Benge in LF) that can bring back 1B, OF & SP/RP reinforcements that fit the profile for the compression period I mentioned yesterday.
I just can't wrap my head around this obsession with Louis Robert.
Geez, this guy has sucked for 2.5 years. His stats are only marginally better than Taylors.
To be honest, if Stearns gives up more than a middling prospect or two then he is a bigger schmuck than I thought.
Praying for a speedy recovery from surgery for you Mack.
I like the pOlanco signing because it didn’t cost us any prospects, he is versatile and last years stats are very similar to top free agent Kyle Tuckers numbers.
Put a first basemen glove on him, as well as Vientos and see how it goes until the kids are ready.
Good morning Mack. Sending good thoughts and hoping that your week goes as easily as possible.
On Mauricio, I think there was method to the madness of keeping him on the roster all of last year. He has an option left which will allow him to get a full season at AAA, where we know he can hit when healthy. Assuming that he does, he’ll rapidly improve his trade value and I think they see him as a potential big chip at the ‘26 deadline or next offseason.
Polanco is a serviceable bat that will help them be at least competitive this season and fits the timeline, with their truly contending window opening in ‘27 (at the earliest) as the wave of kids get their feet wet and are ready to contribute.
SD matches up with us well. Pivetta has an option, and Laureano has one year on his deal, meaning they’re ‘26 rentals, while the relievers in question are high-end and controllable into our window. If we can work this out for guys like Vientos, Acuña, Peterson, and Williams without giving up Tong/Sproat/Ewing/etc. (pretty sure McLean and Benge are off-limits), it’ll likely be a good deal.
Thank you Zozo
Thank you Smitty
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