Meet the Mets
MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo explained his reasoning for voting for David Wright when casting his first Hall of Fame ballot—that his peak rivaled anyone in his era and the all-time greats and should be given consideration just as much as accumulating stats over a longer career.
“The clubhouse in 2024 compared to last year was definitely different,” said former Mets pitcher Paul Blackburn, who signed with the Yankees this offseason, to the New York Post when asked about the Mets’ supposed clubhouse issues
last season. “I wouldn’t say guys were in there throwing blows or anything like that, but it definitely had a different vibe. When I came over in 2024, J.D. Martinez and Jose Iglesias had a big impact on everyone in there and everyone vibed together. Those were the guys that helped the clubhouse mesh and last year, those guys weren’t there.”
Around the National League East
The Phillies are among the teams interested in 27-year-old free agent Bo Bichette, according to reporting by Jon Heyman.
MLB Trade Rumors reviews the Nationals’ closer options after trading away the most obvious candidate for the job in Jose A. Ferrer.
Longtime Braves beat writer David O’Brien, who covered the team for both The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and The Athletic, announced his retirement on New Year’s Eve.
Around Major League Baseball
The Toronto Blue Jays signed Japanese third baseman Kazuma Okamoto to a four-year, $60 million deal.
Meanwhile, right-hander Kona Takahashi, whose posting deadline was today, is heading back to Japan.
Freddie Freeman—the current active MLB hits leader and surefire Hall of Famer already—may be the next player to reach the 3,000 hit mark.
This Date in Mets History
Darryl Strawberry fell off the Hall of Fame ballot on this date in 2005 without being enshrined in Cooperstown. He is, of course, an inner circle Mets Hall of Famer, however.
