Meet the Mets
Carson Benge finished second in the National League Rookie of the Year balloting—runner-up to Reds first baseman Sal Stewart, whose massive home run and RBI totals beat out Benge’s more well-rounded case.
The Mets had two other players receive votes for NL Rookie of the Year; Nolan McLean finished fourth and A.J. Ewing came in ninth.
“I do favor the Mets at this point,” said Jon Heyman on MLB Network yesterday regarding the Tarik Skubal sweepstakes, which is heating up with the Dodgers facing financial
constraints that may limit their ability to re-sign this off-season’s top free agent.
Anthony DiComo takes a look at what the Mets might address at the GM meetings this week alongside their pursuit of Skubal.
“I think the Mets are going to be looking to make some trades for starting pitching,” said SNY MLB insider Chelsea Janes, reporting from the GM meetings in Vegas. “I don’t expect them to go full free agency.”
The Dodgers claimed infielder Christian Cairo off waivers from the Mets, who had signed him prior to the 40-man roster deadline and then designated him for assignment. They did the same with infielder Kyren Paris, but he cleared waivers and has been outrighted to Triple-A Syracuse.
Around the National League East
Per reporting by MLB Network’s Jon Morosi, the Braves have “no interest” in trading Ronald Acuña Jr.
The Phillies have reportedly shown interest in shortstop Ha-Seong Kim as insurance at the position in case they decide to have Trea Turner, who has not excelled defensively, play elsewhere on the diamond.
With left-handed pitching at the top of their wish list, Adrian Morejon, Alex Vesia, and Sean Newcomb are top free agent targets for the Miami Marlins.
Though the Nationals will be focused on pitching, Sam Sallick of Federal Baseball thinks Paul Toboni might try to make a move to add a bat as well.
Around Major League Baseball
Detroit Tigers shortstop Kevin McGonigle won the American League Rookie of the Year honor decisively, with Parker Messick and Payton Tolle rounding out the top three. With injury holding him back at the end of the season, early-season NL favorite JJ Wetherholt of the Cardinals came in third behind Stewart and Benge.
Brent Maguire of MLB.com ran down six storylines to watch during Awards Week this week.
The GM meetings kick off this week in Las Vegas and normally one would not necessarily expect there to be a flurry of activity, but with a looming lockout, this year is different.
One team who will be active is the Cubs, who are looking to address their starting rotation, which is their biggest priority this off-season. Though that makes them a great candidate for the Skubal sweepstakes on paper, they “appear unlikely to enter the bidding war,” for Skubal, according to Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic. However, it is expected that Chicago will check in on pretty much every other free agent starter.
Speculation is growing that the Rangers may be shopping the expensive trio of Corey Seager, Jacob deGrom, and Nathan Eovaldi in an attempt to shed payroll. But it won’t necessarily be a simple feat; both deGrom and Eovaldi have full no-trade clauses and Seager has a partial no-trade clause and is owed $150 million over the next five years.
Per reporting from Jon Heyman, the Yankees are not necessarily looking to sign a second baseman, even with the departure of Jazz Chisolm in free agency. The club may look to upgrade at third base instead.
Speaking of notable Yankees departures in free agency, Max Ralph of MLB.com explores who may be the Yankees’ closer next year in the absence of now free agent David Bednar.
Yesterday at Amazin’ Avenue
Thomas Henderson wrote about the fascinating NL Rookie of the Year race, representing a battle of more traditional counting stats against more analytical triumphs and how Carson Benge’s case combined the resumes of the run-producing Sal Stewart and the defensive skills of JJ Wetherholt.
This Date in Mets History
Former Mets GM Omar Minaya turns 68 today.
