10:53 PM EDT, Mon March 18, 2024
Amazin Avenue

Adam Ottavino is back in the Mets’ bullpen in 2024

Photo by Alex Slitz/ Ottavino is entering his age-38 season. Back at the start of this offseason, Adam Ottavino chose to decline his option to stay with the Mets on a $6.75 million salary for the 2024 season. After testing free agency, the 38-year-old reliever ended up signing back with the Mets on a one-year, $4.5 million deal. In between those decisions, he also made some appearances on SNY and expressed concerns about what the Mets were trying to accomplish this year along with his desire to play for a contender. It was all a bit weird. Here we are, though, with...

Amazin Avenue

Phil Bickford is one of several Mets pitchers vying for a bullpen spot

Photo by Rich Storry/ Picked up in a trade with the Dodgers last year, Bickford remains in the mix. When it comes to deciding the final composition of their Opening Day bullpen, the Mets still have some work to do. With a few bullpen spots claimed by sure-thing major league pitchers, at least one or two spots are still up for grabs, and the team has a bunch of pitchers—most of them without options remaining—trying to claim one. Enter Phil Bickford, a 28-year-old right-handed pitcher traded to the Mets by the Dodgers at the deadline last summer. On the Los Angeles...

Amazin Avenue

Mets Morning News for March 13, 2024

Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports Your Wednesday morning dose of New York Mets and MLB news, notes, and links. Meet the Mets Jose Quintana had a strong game on Tuesday while Joey Lucchesi did not. Darryl Strawberry is recovering after suffering a heart attack. Steve and Alex Cohen released a statement on the news of Strawberry. J.D. Martinez and the Mets have shown mutual interest in each other in bringing the free agent DH to New York. The Mets redid their field-level Delta luxury club, making it three times bigger than what it was previously. Carlos Mendoza likes the Mets...

Amazin Avenue

From Complex To Queens, Episode 265: Draft follow SZN

It’s time to announce our draft follows and see if we can predict the Mets’ 1st round pick yet again. Welcome to From Complex to Queens, Home Run Applesauce’s podcast focusing on the Mets’ minor league system. Last week was leg day, this week is arms; today’s promote-extend-trade focuses on our favorite upper body workouts. Nobody likes benching, both because it’s hard and because it’s socially awkward to ask for a spot on your 100lb bar. (Still waiting on a protein powder sponsorship we’ll get back to you on that). On to the draft follows. We’ve got the full...

Amazin Avenue

Shintaro Fujinami is one of the most intriguing players on the 2024 Mets

Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via The flamethrower was brought in as a low-risk option with tons of upside in the bullpen. Last offseason, the Oakland A’s made their one-and-only splash in the free agent market by signing Japanese right-hander Shintaro Fujinami to a one-year, $3.25 million contract out of NPB. There was a lot of interest in Fujinami coming over from Japan due to his velocity and his raw stuff—he easily touches 100 MPH with a plus splitter—but a lot of teams saw him as a reliever due to his command issues despite elite strikeout rates in Japan...

New York Post

Tyrone Taylor looking to make mark with Mets after Brewers trade

If Tyrone Taylor ever needed outfield inspiration, the Brewers possessed plenty of sources. Lorenzo Cain. Ben Gamel. Christian Yelich.

Amazin Avenue

Pete Alonso looks to continue his prolific power-hitting ways in 2024

Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via The slugging first baseman will be a free agent at the conclusion of the 2024 campaign. Before we dive into what will be an uncertain year for Pete Alonso and the Mets, let’s take a moment to acknowledge how special Alonso’s tenure has been for the organization. The Mets have been a pitching-dominant franchise since their inception, making Alonso something of a unicorn for them. Sure, they’ve had home run hitters in the past, but none who have made the long ball the central tenant of their game, and have not just excelled at...

The Crawfish Boxes

Astros Crawfish Boil

Chas McCormick | Photo by Megan Briggs/ Welcome to the Wednesday Boil. Houston Astros News Verlander (shoulder) needs time to build strength, will open season on IL Small-town guy Trey Cabbage dreaming big with Astros this spring (Houston Chronicle) Here’s how Astros next extension candidate might actually catch you by surprise (Sportsmap Houston) We have the depth’: Analyzing Astros’ rotation after JV injury Astros’ Alex Bregman could be at the center of uptick in Mets-Yankees free agency battles AL West News Blarts — Rangers spring training postcard: The...

Lone Star Ball

Wheeler, Phillies agree to extension, per reports

Photo by Kevin C. Cox/ Zack Wheeler and the Philadelphia Phillies have reportedly agreed to terms on a three year deal MLB Rumors: Zack Wheeler and the Philadelphia Phillies have agreed to terms on a contract extension that is expected to be announced today, per reports. Matt Gelb of the Athletic says it is a 3 year, $126 million extension. Wheeler, who turns 34 in May, has blossomed since joining the Phillies prior to the 2020 season. Originally drafted by the San Francisco Giants sixth overall in the 2009 MLB Draft and then traded to the New York Mets at the trade...

Amazin Avenue

Flushing is Burning: Spring Has Sprung, I Guess

Spring Training games have begun, and they’re fine! Grace is back with actual baseball games to discuss! First, she talks the Mets first few Spring Training games, how they’ve looked and what could possibly be ahead. She laments the participation of Murphy in the booth but is resigned to the fact that he will just be in the Mets orbit until the end of time. And she touches on the Steve Cohen’s recent remarks about Pete Alonso’s free agency. Then, she generally discusses the state of baseball, with the controversy around Scott Boras and his clients this offseason. His...

New York Post

Astros’ Alex Bregman could be at the center of uptick in Mets-Yankees free agency battles

For most of the nearly half century of major league free agency, the New York teams have avoided each other on that financial battlefield until both almost pulled out all the stops to not get Yoshinobu Yamamoto this offsesason.

Amazin Avenue

Sean Manaea will look to revitalize his career in New York

Photo by Rich Storry/ Sporting increased velocity and a completely revamped arsenal, Manaea has overhauled himself as a pitcher and is a high-upside gamble for 2024. If you were dreaming up potential Mets free agent signings to shore up the starting rotation at the beginning of the offseason, your list probably started with names like Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, or Jordan Montgomery. A name like Sean Manaea was probably not high on your list, if it was even on your list at all. But while Yamamoto went to LA and Snell and Montgomery still sit untouched on the free...

Amazin Avenue

Drew Gilbert, coming soon to a ballpark near you

Photo: Chris McShane One of the Mets’ prizes from last year’s deadline is knocking on the door of the big leagues. If you told a fan at the start of 2023 that Drew Gilbert would be a Met by the end of the year, they’d likely have looked at you askance. The Astros had just selected Gilbert with the 28th overall pick of the 2022 draft, and he’d received consideration for offseason top-100 lists. The Mets meanwhile spent more than $400M on free agents and were heading into the season with nearly $350M on their payroll, by far an MLB record. Clearly they intended to...

Amazin Avenue

From Complex To Queens, Episode 263: A Penny For Your Thoughts

Process and prospects Welcome to From Complex to Queens, Home Run Applesauce’s podcast focusing on the Mets’ minor league system. Samuel Colt patented the revolver that would come to be known as the Colt .45 on this date back in 1836, so Steve, Ken, and Thomas discuss players who played for the Mets and for the Houston Colt .45s in Promote, Extend, Trade. Following that, the guys discuss the thought processes behind how they made their individual Top 25 Mets prospect lists for the 2024 season and highlight the different things that they looked at. As always, you can listen...

Amazin Avenue

Mets Morning News for February 24, 2024

Set Number: X163532 TK1 Your Saturday morning dose of New York Mets and MLB news, notes, and links. Meet the Mets There are a few candidates to replace Kodai Senga now that the Mets ace will open the season on the injured list. Despite the internal options present, there’s no doubt that the team’s rotation has taken a hit with Senga’s injury. Steve Cohen acknowledged his desire to keep Pete Alonso with the Mets after this season. Alonso may wind up pulling a Brandon Nimmo and reaching free agency before ultimately re-signing with the Mets. A familiar face will be...

New York Post

Pete Alonso could follow Brandon Nimmo’s free agency path back to Mets

Two years ago, Nimmo began spring training in the same spot Alonso now sits, entering his walk year and feeling the pressure to succeed.

New York Post

Mets’ looming talks with Francisco Alvarez, agent Bad Bunny have luxury tax problem

Unless Alvarez wants to sign very cheap (unlikely), it’s hard for a team over the fourth-tier luxury-tax threshold to do anything long term early.

Amazin Avenue

Adrian Houser should be a capable, versatile arm for the 2024 Mets

Photo by Sam Hodde/ Houser is a prime example of a cromulent major league pitcher. The Mets haven’t done much in the way of making splashy moves this offseason, but one of the team’s objectively good moves was the trade that brought right-handed pitcher Adrian Houser and outfielder Tyrone Taylor to Queens. In bringing in two players from his old organization in Milwaukee, David Stearns gave the team some depth at a minimal prospect cost: right-handed pitcher Coleman Crow. Landon Marceaux, the other minor league pitcher the Mets got from the Angels alongside Crow...

Amazin Avenue

Mets Morning News for February 21, 2024

Rich Storry-USA TODAY Sports Your Wednesday morning dose of New York Mets and MLB news, notes, and links. Meet the Mets Tylor Megill is lined up to start the Mets Grapefruit League opener this Saturday against the Cardinals. David Wright visited Port St. Lucie on Tuesday and said it’s an honor to make the cut to remain on the Hall of Fame ballot. Wright also discussed the state of the 2024 Mets. Anthony DiComo shared some observations from the first week of Mets camp. Brandon Nimmo’s free agency provided a blueprint for the Mets and Pete Alonso. Tim Britton writes...

DRaysBay

Rays sign Amed Rosario, add Yu Chang to increase shortstop depth

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports Expect Rosario to play a short-side platoon role with Tampa Bay. Amed Rosario, longtime shortstop for the Mets and Guardians, has been signed by the Tampa Bay Rays, in a move that will surprise for several reasons. First is that Rosario is available at all. Among the free agents available this off-season, Rosario could be considered the top free agent shortstop available. Ranked No. 46 on the FanGraphs free agent list but as the top player at his primary position. Second is that Rosario is signing for a $1.5 million guarantee, when FanGraphs...

South Side Sox

Who is that guy? (Part 1: White Sox minor league deals)

Danny Mendick managed to be really bad for the Mets over just 33 games in 2023, so he’s back on a MiLB deal, hoping for another run on the South Side. | Adam Hunger/ The South Siders have brought a million players to camp, so here’s a breakdown of the of the guys on MiLB deals Immediately after signing on to be the general manager for the White Sox, Chris Getz took a different approach than his predecessors Rick Hahn and Ken Williams by testing the waters with small trades and acquisitions. Nothing splashy, of course — but the lack of quality doesn’t mean...

Amazin Avenue

From Complex To Queens, Episode 262: The Final Countdown

The team finishes up reviewing the Amazin’ Avenue 2024 Top 25 Prospect list. Welcome to From Complex to Queens, Home Run Applesauce’s podcast focusing on the Mets’ minor league system. In honor of Valentine’s Day, Steve, Ken, and Thomas dedicate Promote, Extend, Trade to the only Valentine Mets fans should have- Bobby Valentine. Following that, we finish up discussing the 2024 Amazin’ Avenue Top 25 Prospects list. We start with some Ronny Mauricio (6) discussion, then move on to Christian Scott (5), Ryan Clifford (4), Luisangel Acuna (3), and Drew Gilbert (2) banter,...

Biggest 2019 MLB Trade Deadline moves

Zack Greinke to the Astros. Marcus Stroman to the Mets. Trevor Bauer to the Reds. Yasiel Puig on the Indians. It was a quality MLB Trade Deadline!

MLB Whip Crew discusses the three-team trade, plus the latest with Noah Syndergaard | MLB WHIPAROUND

MLB Whip Crew discusses the three-team trade involving Trevor Bauer and Yasiel Puig. Plus, the latest with on Mets ace Noah Syndergaard. #FOXSports #MLB #TrevorBauer #YasielPuig #NoahSyndergaard

The Marcus Stroman trade makes NO SENSE for the Mets | Time to Schein

Adam Schein gives his take on Marcus Stroman being traded from the Toronto Blue Jays to the New York Mets and how this unexpected deal does not make any sense. Adam Schein also discusses potential trade targets for the New York Yankees now that Marcus Str