As if signing Juan Soto to a report contract wasn’t sufficient, the Mets may very well be exploring one other big-ticket addition for the nook infield.
Ari Alexander of KPRC reports that the Mets are among the many groups who’ve curiosity in Alex Bregman, whereas president of baseball operations David Stearns informed MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo and different reporters that the Mets would “like to carry [Pete] Alonso again.”
“I feel our possession has persistently demonstrated that there’s going to be assets after we want them. There’s the flexibility for us to make baseball strikes after we assume that they’re there to enhance the workforce, and we’re going to proceed to pursue all kinds of areas to proceed to enhance our workforce,” Stearns mentioned whereas referring to Alonso’s market however maybe talking broadly concerning the Mets’ payroll scenario as a complete.
Which means neither Alonso, Bregman, or maybe a top-tier pitcher might be dominated out throughout what has already been an aggressive offseason in Queens. The Mets had a lot coming off the books this winter that even with Soto’s mega-deal now factored in, New York’s luxury-tax quantity continues to be a comparatively modest $251.8M (as per RosterResource’s estimate). Whereas that is over the $241M tax threshold, merely exceeding the tax line is nothing to Mets proprietor Steve Cohen, whose workforce had an estimated $358.1M tax quantity in 2024.
Mark Vientos’ breakout season makes him a lock for one nook infield slot, giving New York some flexibility in deciding what to do with the opposite facet of the diamond. Vientos might simply stay on the sizzling nook, and the Mets might run it again solely by re-signing a preferred homegrown slugger in Alonso. Or, the Mets might shake issues up by shifting Vientos to first base, clearing room for Bregman as the brand new beginning third baseman.
Each Bregman and Alonso rejected qualifying gives, although in re-signing Alonso, the Mets wouldn’t have to surrender any compensation since he’s their free agent. Signing Soto value the Mets $1M in worldwide draft pool cash and their second- and fifth-highest picks within the 2025 draft, so signing one other QO-rejecting free agent would value one other $1M of bonus pool funds plus two extra picks — this time, New York’s third- and sixth-highest choices.
It isn’t solely out of the query that the Mets might burn such an enormous chunk of a draft yr in quest of premium win-now expertise, although the membership’s choice is prone to keep away from one other free agent tied to compensation.
Transferring onto pitching targets, ESPN’s Jorge Castillo writes that the Mets are one of many groups linked to Jonathan Loaisiga’s market. Loaisiga was identified to have received interest from 14 groups, together with each New York golf equipment. Mets supervisor Carlos Mendoza may be very acquainted with Loaisiga from their shared time collectively within the Bronx when Mendoza was the Yankees bench coach.
Loaisiga pitched simply 4 innings within the 2024 season earlier than his yr was reduce brief by a UCL-related surgical procedure (not a Tommy John process). A number of accidents have restricted Loaisiga to 219 2/3 innings since his MLB debut in 2018, however the right-hander has been an intriguing bullpen weapon when he’s been wholesome, delivering a 3.28 ERA over 181 1/3 frames as a reliever.
The buy-low potential is robust, so it isn’t shocking that Loaisiga is drawing such widespread consideration from groups in want of bullpen assist.
Stearns additionally offered a few harm updates throughout his media session (hat tip to DiComo and Newsday’s Tim Healey). The Mets consider Paul Blackburn will likely be prepared for Opening Day within the aftermath of an October surgery to repair a spinal fluid leak. As harmful as that process sounds, it carried a comparatively transient restoration timeline of 4-5 months, and the Mets are inspired sufficient by Blackburn’s rehab to now undertaking him on the shorter finish of that time-frame.
Blackburn may very well be one other a part of New York’s bullpen image, however Stearns mentioned the right-hander continues to be being seen as a beginning pitching choice. Blackburn would presently line up because the fifth starter behind Kodai Senga, Frankie Montas, David Peterson and Clay Holmes, although each his well being standing all through spring coaching and the Mets’ additional offseason strikes might affect that rotation job.
Acquired from the A’s ultimately yr’s commerce deadline, Blackburn was restricted to 5 begins and 24 1/3 innings (posting a 5.18 ERA) because of each his again drawback and a hand bruise.
It was nearly precisely a yr in the past that high prospect Ronny Mauricio suffered a torn ACL throughout winter ball motion, and Stearns mentioned that Mauricio is now getting again to baseball-related actions. A former common of the top-100 prospect rankings, Mauricio made his MLB debut within the type of 26 video games and 108 PA for the Mets in 2023, however his harm dealt an enormous setback to his possibilities of being an even bigger a part of the infield combine final season.
