Joel Sherman

The Mets have steadily addressed their checklist this offseason even while paralysis has overtaken most other clubs. They wanted to fortify the rotation, bullpen and catching while improving depth and defense. They have chipped away with Marcus Stroman accepting the qualifying offer and by obtaining Carlos Carrasco, Trevor May and James McCann. And they wanted...

Mets fans dreamed big once Steve Cohen took over their team. Why not? No one wins the lottery and envisions upgrading from one bedroom to two. They see the mansion or the penthouse. And, for the faithful, it surely felt like winning the lottery when Cohen’s wallet squeezed out the Wilpons. He demonstrated the power...

The business of baseball invades. How can it not? Francisco Lindor is a Met because the Indians decided they could not pay him into the future while continuing to afford the rest of a contending roster. And in the seconds — the seconds — after the Mets obtained Lindor, the mind immediately shifted to if...

It was a trade. But it also was free agency. The Mets acquired Francisco Lindor and Carlos Carrasco from the Indians in exchange for four players. But they also bought them. Cleveland’s well-regarded baseball operations department investigated what they could receive for Lindor, for Carrasco and for the duo together. Ultimately, job one, due to...

Francisco Lindor brings talent and joy to the Mets. He brings five tools of baseball and 71 inches of energy. He brings two Gold Gloves, two Silver Sluggers and a chance to be bronzed in Cooperstown some day. He also brings the Mets yet another walk-year contract. This is not insignificant, even for an organization...

Six months ago you are told a New York team is obtaining Francisco Lindor. Who you got? Because when reality hit Thursday, it wasn’t the Yankees. Instead, in the strongest symbol yet that baseball life in New York has changed with Steve Cohen as Mets owner, it was Sandy Alderson and Jared Porter in a...

A name like that of Corey Kluber in free agency always excites. Why not? For five years from 2014-18 he was arguably the majors’ best pitcher, combining durability and excellence. But notice the last superb season was 2018. Kluber has made eight starts since, just one last year before succumbing to a shoulder injury with...

The deadline for an MLB team to sign Tomoyuki Sugano is officially 5 p.m. Thursday, when his one-month posting period expires. But in reality, a deal for the Japanese ace has to be in place probably no later than Tuesday, maybe before, because there are enough elements that must be finalized well before Thursday to...

In some corners, the honeymoon lasted a few months. Already, I am receiving emails and tweets from angry Mets fans wondering whether Steve Cohen is the Wilpons, just hoarding a larger stash of money. After all, why was George Springer not under the Christmas tree? Why wasn’t Trevor Bauer provided to joyously greet 2021? Why...

COVID-19 will continue to have its input, and so will MLB owners and the Players Association. But I am hoping for baseball in 2021 to be as close to normal as possible. For I want to look forward optimistically to something because looking back at the last year is so dismaying and disheartening. For the...

Blake Snell had the best pitching season in Rays history in 2018, David Price the second best in 2012. They both won the AL Cy Young in those years. Price was traded 624 days after winning the award, Snell 774 days. James Shields had the third best Rays pitching season (using Baseball Reference WAR) in...

George Springer remains the centerpiece to the Mets’ renovation plans this offseason. He is not the only star on their radar, however. The Mets are, at minimum, looking into Tomoyuki Sugano and one outside executive said, “Watch the Mets on this. I think they have as good a chance as anyone.” Sugano, the long-time ace...

Even in a slow-moving offseason, it is baseball and it is New York, so there is action and attention. So here is a deeper dive into a few stories from the past week: General manager Brian Cashman reiterated that DJ LeMahieu is the Yankees’ priority and that he believes strongly in the 2020 group. So...