We are in the “Hot Stove” season, where every conversation centers around the latest news in MLB trades and free agent acquisitions.
Often we will include a feature where our writers discuss what is happening, but this year we want more involvement from the readers.
We have combined two traditional features, “Hot Stove” and “Open Thread” into this year’s “Hot Thread” which will run every Tuesday at 6:00am EST.
Considering the recent market activity and knowing your team’s needs, what would your next move be? Hope we have sparked your interest! Tell us in the comments below.
Last week’s transactions:
Mets signed elite international prospect Dominican shortstop Wandy Asigen ($3.9M bonus) and several more.
Tampa Bay Rays traded RF Josh Lowe to Los Angeles Angels for RHP Chris Clark and LF Gavin Lux.
Chicago Cubs signed free agent 3B Alex Bregman. 5 yrs, $175M.
Colorado Rockies signed free agent RHP Michael Lorenzen.
St. Louis Cardinals traded 3B Nolan Arenado and cash to Arizona Diamondbacks for RHP Jack Martinez.
Miami Marlins traded LHP Ryan Weathers to New York Yankees for CF Brendan Jones, OF Dillon Lewis, 1B Dylan Jasso and SS Juan Matheus.
Pittsburgh Pirates traded RHP Chase Shugart to Philadelphia Phillies for IF Francisco Loreto.
St. Louis Cardinals signed free agent RHP Ryne Stanek. 1 year, $3.5M.
Last week’s rumors:
The Yankees have dug their heels in on the Bellinger negotiation and have provided their best and final offer.
Reds star Elly De La Cruz turned down record contract extension.
Who is left out there?
Big name position players like Cody Bellinger, Eugenio Suarez, and Harrison Bader are still out there. Pitchers Framber Valdez and Zac Gallen also remain.
Old Mets favorites like Jose Iglesias, Wilmer Flores, Starling Marte, Mark Canha, and Michael Conforto are available.
This week’s questions:
1. The Yankees seem to have stalled in the Bellinger negotiations (5yrs, $160M). Do the Mets sweep in with a sweeter offer for him?
2. The Braves have lost newly acquired starting shortstop Ha-Seong Kim to injury. Do the Mets offer LuisAngel Acuna for some starting pitching talent?
3. Should the Mets try to get Harrison Bader back on a one year deal?
21 comments:
Question #1 - Do the Mets offer a sweeter deal to a below average hitter away from the hitter friendly Yankee Stadium?
1. The Yankees seem to have stalled in the Bellinger negotiations (5yrs, $160M). Do the Mets sweep in with a sweeter offer for him?
MACK - Only on something like a three-year max, let's say, $40mil per
2. The Braves have lost newly acquired starting shortstop Ha-Seong Kim to injury. Do the Mets offer LuisAngel Acuna for some starting pitching talent?
MACK - The Braves trade a starter to the Mets?
ha, ha, ha, ha, hee, haw, cough, ha, ha...
3. Should the Mets try to get Harrison Bader back on a one-year deal?
MACK - Sure... great idea... but Bader will not have anything to do with a one-year deal, especially to a team he once played for
The Mets were not wild about Harry, and vice versa.
Acuna to Braves? It would be like Hank and Tommie Aaron, talent-wise.
Bellinger? Shorten up a sweet deal. Leave the Judge with no jury. Then move the Citi right field fence in and call it the Cody Corner or the Bellinger Bend. It would make Soto and Lindor smile, too.
I remember Gavin Lux looking like the next big thing for LAD, when in 2019, he hit .392/.478/.719 in PCL AAA in 49 games at age 21. And he’s been only an adequate major leaguer (.256/.332/.381) since.
Morale? Don’t overly fall in love with your favorite minor league hitter. He may not be as good as you surmise, so fear not the trade.
Unlike we rooters, David Stearns has to discern who will be the next Mets hitting prospect that can wildly succeed at the big league level and who won’t. The Yankees just signed one of the “who won’t “ guys:
“ I The Yanks and outfielder/first baseman Seth Brown agreed to a minor league deal on Monday, bringing the former Athletics slugger into the organization to potentially serve as insurance at Triple-A.
Brown, 33, was released by the Athletics last year after he spent parts of seven seasons in the big leagues with them, batting .226 with a .712 OPS and 74 home runs in 568 games. The left-handed hitter’s best year came in 2022, when he hit .230 with 25 home runs with a .749 OPS, but in three years since he has hit .223 with 29 home runs and a .667 OPS.”
His numbers bear some resemblance to the Mets trio of Baty, Vientos, and Mauricio. Will their careers ultimately mirror those of so-so Seth, or be much better? That is what David has to figure out. All we have to do is render opinions.
LF?
I sign either Hayes or Andujar to a one-year deal
If both say no, start Benge
Is this a Cody Killer?
he he
I would just say no to Bellinger. At this point, with no other offers, I applaud the Yankees for telling him to KISS MY ASS AND BORASS TOO.
THE GREEDY BASTARD.
It's a trap for the Mets...look at his away stats. Yes, he's a good fielder but not worth $35m
OK
34
Bellinger on ST deal - if thy can get him. Minimum sign Hayes - can play & also platoon with Benge. My guess, they will sign Hayes & make a trade for another OF at this point. But, Bellinger on ST deal - wow
As long as Bellinger can hit 20 homers a year and play stellar outfield defense for next 4 out of 7 years, then move to first base and play great defense there as well?
I’m all for giving him $210 for 7 years with not signing a no trade clause.
No, no no to Bellinger. Terrible idea.
NO MORE 7 YEAR CONTRACTS
#1: Bellinger’s Statcast numbers are all trending down, except for the chase rate. He did have a 5.1 bWAR, and still had an adjusted Homerun total of 25 not the 30 he actually hit, but he is a flexible defender and can help in various spots.
#2: I wouldn’t trade the Braves a pile of crap. I’d make them go find their own.
#3: Bader wants two years after his career year. Can’t blame him, but won’t offer it.
The Bellinger situation could be a very telling moment. If the Mets were just scrambling to react to the loss of Tucker when they bought Bichette out from under the Phillies' offer, then they may spring for Bellinger. If they are sticking to a strategy, they would say no to offering more ($ and duration) than Bellinger is worth.
I am surprised that there was not more reaction to the Acuna question. He is the kind of player that the Braves turn into a superstar (like Michael Harris) and the Mets turn into a utility player that is eventually let go. Acuna has the talent but not the opportunity, so give him a role or move him for what you can get. And beware, because if he connects with his brother in Atlanta he will come back to haunt the Mets for years.
Paul, I agree that Acuna hasn’t had the opportunity but what bothers me is that he hasn’t even excelled in AAA. But, I don’t trade this guy and I keep waiting to see the light turn on with him; just like Mauricio.
Bellinger on short term higher AAV / opt-outs would work. Especially for 2026.
Absolutely NO long term deals for players over 30 & only for Soto/Skenes/Skubal level players.
After this article was published, the Phillies agreed to a 3 year, $45M deal with JT Realmuto that includes an additional $15M in incentives. Did the Mets force Philly into an overspend by grabbing Bichette right out of their hands? Will the (up to)$60M spent on an aging catcher hurt the Phillies' ability to make other deals in the future? Or is this just baseball as usual where every year the prices go up?
If our highest level prospects were more seasoned, how they would perform with the team would be a bit more projectable. And this is just another way of saying (which is the theme of my next post) that uncertainty regarding projectability is the leading driver of dipping into the free agent market and the greatest source of poor trades (a bit exaggerated).
Next year's FA class is weak on top tier position players and obviously stronger on pitchers. That is one reason why the 1st year player option on a short contract is an incredibly important clause to put into a contract. A sensible deal for Bellinger would be 3 years with a team option and buyout of 45, 40 30, 30 with options after years 1 and 2.. One advantage is that over the first two years he gets more than he would with the Yankees and could opt out after either year. No deferred payments. And he doesn't have to move cities. So over the next two years he makes about 5 million more from the Mets and incurs no moving costs. He definitely helps defensively and offensively and blocks no one. He also can move to center after one year or to first base if that becomes necessary taking at least Taylor off the books. Benge can then move to left full time and Ewing, eg. could be fourth outfielder.
If Bellinger doesn't bite, my preference would be Hays as I had mentioned a month ago along with Benge in a platoon and as the 4th outfielder when not playing full time. This would require a 5th outfielder, who for me would be a right handed bat and a defensive specialist -- perhaps the versatile, Acuna.. I believe in the absence of a trade, Baty will be the first baseman; he has enough range, is used to short hops so he should be able to adjust the kind of short arm throws periodically coming his way, etc.
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