The Offseason Thread

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Only 1 week away from opening day.





The Polar Bear is hungry...and that's a good thing.

Classic atmosphere has Alonso eyeing '23 postseason

NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Over his four-year career, Pete Alonso has played in three postseason games. Total. All three took place this past October, when Alonso’s Mets lost a best-of-three National League Wild Card Series to the Padres. “The result wasn’t there,” Alonso said, “but I wanted more.” He did

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[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Max was stellar in his final tuneup before he starts on opening day....

Max Scherzer K's 11 Rays | 03/24/2023

Max Scherzer strikes out 11 Rays across six innings while allowing two runs during his final Spring Training start

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Mets 11-2 Rays (Mar 24, 2023) Final Score - ESPN

Game summary of the New York Mets vs. Tampa Bay Rays MLB game, final score 11-2, from March 24, 2023 on ESPN.

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Mets-Marlins Opening Day starting pitchers: Scherzer vs. Alcantara

When the National League East rival Mets and Marlins meet on Opening Day next Thursday at loanDepot park at 4:10 p.m. ET, it’ll be a matchup of Cy Young Award winners … just not quite the reigning honorees. Mets right-hander Max Scherzer (2013, '16, '17) and Marlins right-hander Sandy Alcantara

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[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Some Mets roster openings....

Breaking down Mets' remaining roster battles

This story was excerpted from Anthony DiComo's Mets Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

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[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

The Captain chats with 2 of the young guys...

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

The Rotation....

Breaking down Mets' Opening Day rotation

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Although the Mets won’t finalize their Opening Day roster until later this week, much of it is already clear. That includes a rotation that has taken firm shape over the past few days. While there aren’t any surprises in terms of personnel, the rotation order

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[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Well it's about time.
It didn't workout, gotta move on.

Mets designate struggling Ruf for assignment

The Mets designated first baseman/outfielder Darin Ruf for assignment on Monday.

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[Nasty_Magician]

Probably for the best, although I would have liked him bringing Ohtani in

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Probably for the best, although I would have liked him bringing Ohtani in

Gotta wonder If Stearns brings in Craig Counsel as the manager now that the Brewers were bounced out of the WC round.

 

[Nasty_Magician]

Gotta wonder If Stearns brings in Craig Counsel as the manager now that the Brewers were bounced out of the WC round.

Seems likely he'll go with his guys.

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Seems likely he'll go with his guys.

Yep.

Now...about that Mets bullpen....lol

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Seems likely he'll go with his guys.

But wait...there's more....

Sources: Eppler resigned amid MLB investigation

Billy Eppler stepped down as the Mets' general manager on Thursday amid a Major League Baseball investigation into improper use of the injured list, sources said.

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....but other team GM's have done it as well...so perhaps him resigning is just coincidental, because he knew the FO was gonna make changes no matter what...and that he didn't play into their long term plans.

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Thoughts?

Morning Briefing: Joe Maddon Reportedly Interested in Managing Mets - Metsmerized Online

Good morning, Mets fans! Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported Sunday that Joe Maddon wants to manage again and is interested in the Mets' managerial opening. Maddon last managed the Angels from 2020-22, getting fired last June. The three-time Manager of the Year led the Rays to their first AL...

metsmerizedonline.com

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Mets' Lindor has surgery to remove bone spur

Two-time Gold Glove-winning Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor, a four-time All-Star, is recovering following surgery on his right elbow to remove a bone spur.

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[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Some This & That.....


We Need a Manager...

Mets expected to interview Counsell for manager job (source)

NEW YORK -- The Mets are expected to interview Brewers manager Craig Counsell for their managerial vacancy, according to a person with knowledge of the situation, making Counsell the first publicly known candidate for Buck Showalter’s old job. Neither club has confirmed. This comes as no...

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The Front Office...

5 questions looming for the Mets this offseason

This story was excerpted from Anthony DiComo's Mets Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

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Gary Cohen...

10 broadcasters up for Hall of Fame's Frick Award

Ten of the National Pastime’s most beloved voices have been named as the finalists for the 2024 Ford C. Frick Award, presented annually for excellence in baseball broadcasting by the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. This ballot will mark the second of four consecutive elections...

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Kevin Mitchell in '86...

Mitchell's time with Mets was catalyst for fine MLB career

NEW YORK -- Former Major Leaguer Kevin Mitchell was a rookie while playing with the 1986 Mets. In fact, it was his only full season with New York, but it was a year to remember. That season, the Mets dominated Major Leagues Baseball, compiling 108 victories and winning the World

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[Nasty_Magician]

Sounds a lot like Luis Rojas?

 

[redskinsfan1963]

Gotta wonder If Stearns brings in Craig Counsel as the manager now that the Brewers were bounced out of the WC round.

just announced he,s going to manage the cubs next year.shocking to me

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Umm..this is a bit of a head scratcher if confirmed....

Counsell went with the Cubbies.


But Carlos Mendoza?

Mets hire Mendoza from Yankees as next manager

NEW YORK -- Since Terry Collins resigned in October 2017, the Mets have lacked consistency in the dugout. The team has gone through six managers in seven seasons, none of them lasting more than two years on the job. During that period, the shortest tenure of a Mets manager was

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Hoyer on hiring Counsell: 'He's at the very, very top of the game'

CHICAGO -- It was simply an opportunity that Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer could not let slip away. Given his admiration of Craig Counsell from afar, and the trajectory of a Cubs team expecting to return to the October stage next year, Hoyer decided it was the right

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[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Each team's offseason roster ranked, 1-30

It hasn't even been a week since the Rangers won the 2023 World Series, but the 2024 season has already begun, in a manner of speaking. Signings have already happened, minor trades have been made, and the rosters that teams have right now already look different than they did just

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13) Mets (38 WAR)
Free agents: RHP Carlos Carrasco, RHP Adam Ottavino

Biggest needs: At least six new pitchers, corner outfield, second base

Thirteenth, between the Cardinals and Mariners, tells you where this roster is. Unlike the Padres or even the Yankees, they can’t just point to injuries or underperformance, because after their mid-season sell-off the lineup has holes and the pitching is decimated. Right now, Kodai Senga and maybe José Quintana are the only starting pitchers you can really rely upon, and the bullpen needs help, too – though the anticipated healthy return of Edwin Díaz will sure do a lot to help there.

The lineup has fewer questions, though it’s hardly set, because a power bat who can play an outfield corner is an absolute must, and they’ll almost certainly move on from Daniel Vogelbach at DH as well. It’s still not clear how much they can trust young bats Brett Baty, Mark Vientos, Ronny Mauricio, or even Francisco Alvarez. At some point, extremely soon, they’re going to need to figure out if they’re extending first baseman Pete Alonso or looking to move him via trade. Considering there’s a new president of baseball operations and a new manager in town, it’s hard to predict the path for 2024 other than that they’ll make a great deal of noise doing it.

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Senga...

Senga named finalist for NL ROY Award

NEW YORK -- Kodai Senga’s sparkling rookie season could end with a bit of personal hardware. Senga was named a finalist for the National League Rookie of the Year Award on Monday, along with D-backs outfielder Corbin Carroll and Dodgers outfielder James Outman. That means Senga was one of the

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Pete & Frankie...

Silver Slugger Award finalists announced

The Silver Slugger Award is presented each year to the best offensive player in each league at each position on the diamond. Beginning in 2022, the honor has also been bestowed upon the most prolific hitter in each league among utility players.

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A.O.

Ottavino declines player option, becomes free agent

NEW YORK -- Back in August, reliever Adam Ottavino said he would only decline his 2024 player option on his Mets contract if he felt he could negotiate a more lucrative deal on the open market. A New York City native who highly values geography and a winning culture at

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New skipper...

Reacting to the Carlos Mendoza news

This story was excerpted from Anthony DiComo's Mets Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

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[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Gotta Keep Pete...

Stearns confirms there are no plans to trade Alonso

This story was excerpted from Anthony DiComo’s Mets Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

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Worthy FA List...

Breaking down this winter's free agents into 5 tiers

The baseball world -- and possibly the sports world -- has never seen a free agent such as Shohei Ohtani. But only one team will enter Spring Training with the presumptive American League Most Valuable Player on its roster, leaving the other 29 looking elsewhere for talent. Below is a

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