Teams historically run low on spending money at this stage of the offseason. But it’s interesting that a couple of the richest teams (Mets and Red Sox) and a few of the smaller-revenue teams (Marlins, Pirates and Brewers) saved money for January deals.
Andrew Chafin, whose market is heating up, is another Mets possibility.
The Red Sox are working late. After agreeing to terms with Adam Duvall for $7M and with Jorge Alfaro and Raimel Tapia on minor league deals, they are considering Elvis Andrus, Josh Harrison and perhaps Jurickson Profar.
The Red Sox seem to believe Kiké Hernandez can handle shortstop and like Harrison as someone who can play all over (including occasionally at short).
Andrew Chafin could be a thrifty option for the Mets bullpen.Getty Images
Yuli Gurriel, a South Florida resident, is a possible fit for the Marlins, who just added Johnny Cueto for $8.5M.
One person said he thought Marlins GM Kim Ng would be reluctant to sign a player with a domestic violence ban in his past. Miami surely considered that issue with Chapman, but it isn’t known whether that was the deciding factor.
The Marlins seem to sign a lot of Miami area residents (Avi Garcia and Jorge Soler are too). The Braves had interest in bringing 2022 World Series MVP Soler back at the deadline last year after Duvall went down, but wanted Miami to pay the deal down. They wound up dealing for Robbie Grossman.
The Pirates did well to sign Andrew McCutchen and Rich Hill, and the Brewers to ink Wade Miley and Brian Anderson (the former Marlins third baseman; Milwaukee’s TV announcer is also named Brian Anderson).
The Cardinals, Twins and Rockies are among the teams linked to Miami’s Pablo Lopez, who seems to be the most likely to go in a trade.
The Marlins would like Luis Arraez back for Lopez, but the Twins would want two pitchers for the AL batting champ.
Scott Boras is still baffled by the Mets over the Carlos Correa fiasco.
Correa finally signed with the Twins last week on a six-year deal, $200 million deal after having contracts fall through with the Giants and Mets over ankle injury fears. The Mets deal would’ve been worth north of $300 million, but for more years.
“I don’t understand the Mets,’’ Boras said. “I gave them all of the information. We had them talk to four doctors. They knew the issue the Giants had. And yet, they still call the same doctor the Giants used for his opinion. There was no new information. So why negotiate a contract if you were going to rely on the same doctor?
Scott Boras is still baffled about the process of dealing with the Mets on the blockbuster Carlos Correa contract that fell through.Getty Images
“It was different with the Giants because a doctor had an opinion they didn’t know about. But the Mets had notice of this. They knew the opinion of the Giants. So why did you negotiate when you know this thing in advance?”
The Post’s Dan Martin and Jon Heyman reported this past weekend that ankle surgeon Dr. Robert Anderson was brought in to consult about Correa’s risk.
Boras continued to voice his frustrations, saying that the Mets offered $157.5 million over six years plus a series of club options. He said he’d offered the Mets injury protections, including the opportunity to void the contract if he spent over 120 games on the injured list over the course of two years.
Carlos Correa said he has no ill feelings toward the Mets over his deal falling through.MLB Photos via Getty Images
“I said [to Mets lawyers], ‘You’re now putting the contract at risk,’” Boras said. “I’ve got to cover your risk by your deferral. You can’t have everything. You can’t defer the contract, save $100 million on the CBT taxes, and have him take all of the risk at the back of the contract that’s not guaranteed.’’
Ultimately, Mets GM Billy Eppler and owner Steve Cohen passed on the deal.
“There’s no hard feelings toward both organizations. There’s nothing but respect for them,” Correa told The Athletic. “Doctors have differences of opinion. That’s fine. But God took me here to the Minnesota Twins. I couldn’t be more grateful for this opportunity.”
The merciful end of the Carlos Correa saga — really! It’s over! He made the leap from “agreed with” to “signed with” the Twins! — is the unofficial end of baseball’s free-agent rush. There are still plenty of unsigned players, led by backbone-testing figures in Aroldis Chapman and soon-to-be-free-agent Trevor Bauer, but all the nine-digit contracts have been signed.
Which means we have a pretty good idea about how each team will look to begin the 2023 season, and that makes now as good a time as any to evaluate whose offseasons stood out. The two greatest outliers shouldn’t be a surprise.
Most ambitious: New York
This city has won this offseason. The Yankees and Mets have combined to commit more than a billion dollars to 12 free agents, Aaron Judge ($360 million) the largest outlay among the two teams and Justin Verlander ($43.3M) receiving the most per season. While the Yankees (about $573.5 million) and Mets (about $477 million) have bought their way to at least expected contention, no other team exceeded $400 million in free-agent pacts. Six clubs have spent less than $13 million in free agency (the Diamondbacks, Reds, Rockies, Mariners, Brewers and Braves, who at least have the excuse of locking up their stars early).
The Mets did not land Correa — whom Steve Cohen viewed as the last piece and one true upgrade over the 2022 Mets — but they did retain Brandon Nimmo ($162 million), Edwin Diaz ($102M) and Adam Ottavino ($14.5M). Verlander ($86.6M) will replace Jacob deGrom, and Kodai Senga ($75M) and Jose Quintana ($26M) will step in for Chris Bassitt and Taijuan Walker. David Robertson ($10M) will be a new weapon in a revamped bullpen and Danny Mendick ($1M) will be a flexible infielder. The Mets, who essentially traded James McCann for Omar Narvaez, look similarly built to the club that won 101 games last season.
The Yankees agreed to shell out $162 million for Carlos Rodon in hopes of finding a co-ace to pair with Gerrit Cole.Corey Sipkin
The turnover is smaller in The Bronx, where the Yankees held on to Judge and Anthony Rizzo ($40 million) and added Carlos Rodon ($162M) and old friend Tommy Kahnle ($11.5M). Rodon — a strikeout machine and injury worry — elevates the ceiling for a team that won 99 games last season. There probably is more work to do, though — including developing prospects such as Anthony Volpe and Oswald Peraza — to catch the Astros.
Most disappointing: Giants
We’re differentiating disappointing from worst (more on that later). Because the Giants did plenty! Only the Mets (eight) have signed more free agents than the Giants (seven). President of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi spread out about $193 million to reshape a team that disappointed last season. If Michael Conforto and Mitch Haniger stay healthy, and if Joc Pederson grows into a star with rules preventing extreme defensive shifts, and if the Giants’ pitching minds work their magic with Sean Manaea and Ross Stripling, there is a pretty clear route to the playoffs.
But the Giants sought a star and struck out. They drew 30,650 fans per game last season, their lowest in a non-COVID-affected season since 1999. Zaidi’s belief in platoons — utilizing one lineup against lefty pitchers and another against righties, with few bats appearing in both — has proven it can work (in 2021) and proven it can be difficult to market. Fans often come to games to see stars — not to see lineup changes that result in a new cleanup hitter when the opposing team brings in a different-handed reliever.
An offseason that began with visions of Carlos Correa at shortstop eventually left the Giants counting on Brandon Crawford to start there yet again.Getty Images
The Giants would have loved to find a star to pencil into their lineup every day, which is precisely what they found until they found an issue in Correa’s physical. The Giants let the shortstop walk (as did the Mets), but were left without a name to build around. Maybe this offseason was productive, but it fell far short of expectations.
Worst (on paper): Red Sox
Baseball is funny and unpredictable. The Nationals lost Bryce Harper and won the World Series. The World Series-winning Astros somehow looked stronger without Correa. Offseason winners are rarely championship winners.
So maybe the Red Sox know something the rest of the baseball world doesn’t, but it is difficult to detect the plan that led to this offseason’s results.
Four-time All-Star and lifelong Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts is now in San Diego. His presumed heir, Trevor Story, had surgery on his throwing elbow and might miss the entire season. Barring a late addition, they might have to ask Kiké Hernandez, their center fielder, to be their 2023 shortstop.
J.D Martinez, a difference-making bat, is now with the Dodgers. Filling his DH spot likely is Eric Hosmer, who has hit 20 total home runs in the past two seasons.
The Padres’ 11-year, $280 million offer was too much for now-former Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts to refuse.Getty Images
The Red Sox’s rotation ERA of 4.49 last season was the worst in the AL East. All they have done to address the weakness is replace Nathan Eovaldi with Corey Kluber. Perhaps they are banking on a shutdown bullpen, having added Kenley Jansen, Chris Martin and former Met Joely Rodriguez, but the unit does not project to be strong enough to compensate for the other flaws across the roster.
Boston’s biggest signing, Masataka Yoshida for five years and $90 million, was a polarizing addition. Many rivals feel the Japanese batting champion is not worth the contract.
Maybe the Red Sox’s offseason has been brilliant, but it seems as if that outcome would surprise many across baseball.
Strangest: Dodgers
The team with the highest payroll in baseball last season has dished out about $44.5 million in free agency — or, about one season of Verlander.
Clayton Kershaw is back, and the Dodgers have added a few high-upside weapons in Martinez, Noah Syndergaard and Shelby Miller. But the Dodgers, who are typically in talks with every top free agent, have mostly sat out the winter — a winter that has been costly in terms of departures.
Unlike a handful of other key Dodgers, Clayton Kershaw will return to a Dodgers team that spent modestly in free agency.MediaNews Group via Getty Images
They lost longtime third baseman Justin Turner and one of the best players in baseball in Trea Turner — replaced Wednesday at shortstop by Miguel Rojas in a trade with the Marlins. Talented if perplexing center fielder Cody Bellinger signed with the Cubs. The Dodgers’ rotation lost Tyler Anderson and Andrew Heaney, who both were excellent last season. And the Dodgers lost the arbitrator’s decision regarding the suspended Bauer, whom they must pay $22.5 million this season even after they cut him.
The consistent juggernauts, who have averaged 103.8 wins in the past five full seasons (and won the World Series in the shortened 2020 campaign), might finally be mortal. But they also have rare unclaimed positions that could be won by some of the best prospects — seven of MLB Pipeline’s top 100 to end last season — in the game.
Under the radar: Blue Jays, Rangers
Neither team is a sure bet for the postseason, but both have considerably raised their ceilings.
Jacob deGrom was just the latest splurge by the Rangers in their efforts to chase down the Astros in the AL West.Getty Images
The Blue Jays have improved through swaps and signings. They added Daulton Varsho, a strong hitter, outfielder and catcher, in a win-now trade with the Diamondbacks, who got Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and top prospect Gabriel Moreno. Few teams can match Alek Manoah and Kevin Gausman at the top of the rotation, and Toronto added one of MLB’s best No. 3 starters in former Met Chris Bassitt. Longtime Giants first baseman Brandon Belt, picked up this week, had an injury-plagued 2022, but posted a .975 OPS as recently as 2021.
The Mets’ deafening free-agent splurges have taken away attention from clubs such as the Rangers, who won the deGrom sweepstakes. DeGrom is injury-prone, but that likely played a role in the Rangers deepening their rotation, which will follow with Heaney, Jon Gray, Eovaldi and the re-signed Martin Perez, with Jake Odorizzi in the wings. If their previous free-agent signings in Corey Seager and Marcus Semien can carry the offense and their pitching lives up to expectations, the Rangers can be a force in the AL West.
When a team that looks destined for the postseason drops its final six games, fans usually demand a pound of flesh. Teams search for the weak link. Changes get made.
The Jets’ offense, which scored zero touchdowns in its final three games, was the clear weak link, and Mike LaFleur was its leader.
On Thursday, the Jets and their offensive coordinator parted ways, which was only somewhat surprising in its terminology. “Parted ways” is usually a euphemism for “fired,” but not always.
Mike LaFleur (right) failed to develop Zach Wilson in two seasons. Will LaFluer’s successor as Jets offensive coordinator face that task?Bill Kostroun/New York Post
The Post’s Ryan Dunleavy reported, citing a source, that weeks of speculation about LaFleur’s job security led to other teams reaching out to the brother of the Packers head coach. Internal discussions followed, and the Jets decided to allow LaFleur to seek other opportunities.
The Jets, who have failed to develop Zach Wilson and have been a mess on offense for LaFleur’s two seasons, cannot be blamed much if they pulled the plug. Wilson has been the worst quarterback in football since he arrived. The Jets need to find someone who can help the 23-year-old grow, and it has not happened under LaFleur.
If LaFleur pulled the plug, it’s hard to place blame on him either. He was a rising young star in San Francisco before Robert Saleh recruited him to New York, where he was tasked with developing a prospect in Wilson who clearly needed more time than the Jets anticipated. If LaFleur, who is not the hot head-coaching candidate he probably wants to be, stayed for another season, he would be on shaky ground with a shaky young quarterback and a win-now team.
Regardless of who did the plug-pulling, the Jets need to find a new offensive coordinator who can quickly cure the offense — while likely inheriting a huge question mark at the sport’s most important position — and work within a regime that won’t last long without better immediate results. Good luck.
The Bills safety, whose health has been the country’s concern since he went into cardiac arrest mid-game and had to be resuscitated on the field Jan. 2, has been discharged from a Buffalo hospital, the team announced.
A little more than a week after cardiac arrest put Damar Hamlin’s life in jeopardy on national TV, he was given the OK to continue his recovery at home in Buffalo.Getty Images
“We have completed a series of tests and evaluations, and in consultation with the team physicians, we are confident that Damar can be safely discharged to continue his rehabilitation at home and with the Bills,” said Jamie Nadler, a critical care physician at Buffalo General Medical Center.
Hamlin, already the nation’s darling, could become the darling of the postseason. If in a few weeks, he shows up on the Bills’ sideline, Buffalo crowds would explode and hearts would be warmed.
Of course, the Bills would have to beat the Dolphins first — the same Dolphins who, on Wednesday, ruled out quarterback Tua Tagovailoa for Sunday’s wild-card game. Tagovailoa is believed to have suffered three concussions in 13 games this season, including a terrifying September incident in which his hands and fingers appeared to lock up in front of his face, a neurological response to the head injury.
Great news on Hamlin, but every football player is risking his health every time he steps on the field.
Ben there, need to do that
The Nets will play their first game since Kevin Durant went down when they host the Celtics Thursday night. The focus probably will be on Kyrie Irving — playing his former team and needing to pick up the scoring slack — but this should be Ben Simmons’ time to step up.
With Kevin Durant injured, the Nets will need Ben Simmons to rediscover the willingness to drive to the basket on offense that once made him one of the NBA’s more dynamic players.Corey Sipkin
After an understandably rough start to his season after sitting all of last season, Simmons has come along, played excellent defense and filled gaps on offense. He still will not shoot outside the lane, but he hasn’t needed to. Teams with Durant and Irving don’t need a ton of scoring help.
But now the Nets do. As recently as 2019-20, Simmons averaged 11.9 drives per game, which was just behind the speedy Markelle Fultz (12.0) and just ahead of Eric Bledsoe (11.8), who always could get to the hoop.
This season, Simmons is averaging 3.2 drives per game, equal with 7-foot Kristaps Porzingis and narrowly edging out the Knicks’ Evan Fournier (3.1), who barely dribbles.
The Nets will not be asking Simmons to score 30 points per game, but they should be asking him to create more than he has all year.
The eagerly awaited consummation of the Carlos Correa/Mets blockbuster deal was on hold for the Christmas holiday Sunday. But there seems to remain reason for a decent dose of hope.
The Mets and Correa’s camp have been said to be trying to work things out since the team mentioned an issue with Correa’s physical examination, which was performed Thursday and Friday in New York. The holdup, which was learned about Saturday, is believed to regard ankle surgery done in 2014, and a subsequent MRI.
Before the holiday momentarily interceded, the sides were discussing the value of an iffy MRI versus the “functionality” of the joint and Correa’s history of dependability — he’s missed only an average of 14 games the past three seasons, and according to agent Scott Boras has never received any related treatment since that 2014 surgery.
Word is that a few other teams have checked in following the Mets’ findings. But unlike in the case of the Giants, where they informed Correa’s camp only that they needed more time according to what Boras told New York writers on Thursday, there seems to be more substantive talk between the Mets and Correa’s representatives following this latest medical exam.
The Mets remain optimistic about the Carlos Correa deal. Getty ImagesCarlos Correa’s MRI has raised concerns. MLB Photos via Getty Images
There’s been a lot of excitement about this deal following the agreement between Mets owner Steve Cohen and Boras around 8:30 p.m. Tuesday in Hawaii (2:30 a.m. New York time), where Cohen was vacationing. (Boras was on the phone from San Francisco, where Correa’s press conference had been canceled only hours earlier.)
“We needed one more thing, and this is it,” Cohen told The Post moments after the deal was agreed to. “This was important. … This puts us over the top.”
Correa is said to be similarly excited to have a chance to join this star-studded Mets team, which now has a record $380 million-plus roster and a good chance to be the World Series favorite (if this deal happens). Correa was said to be fine giving up the shortstop position even though he is considered among the two or three best defensive shortstops in the game, if not the best, to move to third base and accommodate his friend Francisco Lindor.
Scott Boras speaks at Carlos Rodon’s introductory Yankees press conference. AP
Much of the talk following the Mets’ medical exam does seem related to the value of relying on an MRI versus actual on-field dependability and performance. But ultimately, the sides may need to agree on language to protect the Mets, at the least. It isn’t known whether Correa is motivated enough to agree to any sort of reworking of the terms, or even if the Mets will suggest anything along those lines.
Boras has in the past sometimes solved medical issues with revised contract language, as he did in the case of J.D. Martinez, whose past foot issues were flagged in a Red Sox examination following agreement on his $110 million, five-year deal with Boston.
“There’s no current issue with Carlos’ health whatsoever,” Boras told New York writers on Thursday when he was in town for Carlos Rodon’s Yankees press conference. The Mets, however, seem to have some concern about his future.
Absolutely unbelievable. The fact that the years & AAV went down suggests that something’s wrong medically. The fact he’s going to the Mets—on the day the Giants planned to introduce him—suggests that this is an absolute nightmare scenario for the Giants and their fans. Stunning. https://t.co/t2Xqrh19SB
And in a Zoom press conference on Thursday, Diaz, speaking publicly for the first time since signing the most lucrative contract for a relief pitcher, $102 million for five years, the closer said he had faith the Mets would find a way to build another solid relief corps.
“I’m back and I know all the free agents, but Billy will do his best to get a great bullpen, like we had last season,’’ Diaz said. “I can’t wait to see what they do.”
Eppler wouldn’t divulge many details about the Mets’ plans for filling out the pen, but both sides made it clear they weren’t surprised a deal to keep Diaz in Queens came together quickly.
“For me and my family, the number one priority was to stay in New York because we love the city of New York, the team and the organization,’’ Diaz said. “Setting a record with that deal, I feel happy to help other guys. It keeps pushing the value of relievers up.”
Edwin Diaz thinks the Mets can build a “great” bullpen this offseason. Getty Images
Diaz made his desire to stick around known to Eppler and owner Steve Cohen during conversations that took place during the World Series.
“We reached a deal really quickly because they knew what we wanted and we were pleased with it,’’ said Diaz, who was as dominant as any reliever in the game a year ago, with 118 strikeouts and a WHIP of 0.84.
It was Diaz’s best season since 2018, when he had 57 saves for the Mariners. That preceded the trade four years ago that brought the right-hander and Robinson Cano to the Mets in exchange for a package led by Jarred Kelenic.
“When we think about building teams that can really compete, having that type of elite talent and competitiveness he possesses for games’ most important moments, is critical,’’ Eppler said.
Now, the 28-year-old will be tasked with trying to match his success of last season in a pen that currently has plenty of holes. Joely Rodriguez has signed with the Red Sox and setup men Seth Lugo, Adam Ottavino, Trevor May, Tommy Hunter and Trevor Williams are free agents.
While the Mets have not yet announced their recent coaching changes, Eppler said other teams had been looking to hire Jeremy Barnes to be their top hitting coach.
That forced the Mets to bump Eric Chavez, the hitting coach last season, to bench coach and promote Barnes from assistant hitting coach to the top spot.
“We felt good about it and [Chavez] and Buck [Showalter] felt good about it,’’ Eppler said.
The moves came as a result of talks with Showalter, as well as the 2022 bench coach, Glenn Sherlock, who will now coach the Mets’ catchers.
Eppler credited Sherlock for his willingness to take a lesser role, which allowed the Mets to “keep our talent,” Eppler said.
LAS VEGAS — Eric Jagers’ strong background in biomechanics and movement science stood out as the Mets considered him for a top development position.
The 27-year-old Jagers, who spent the last two seasons as Reds assistant pitching coach, has joined the Mets as their director of pitching development, general manager Billy Eppler said Tuesday at the GM Meetings.
Jagers will oversee the Mets’ minor league pitchers, working in conjunction with major league pitching coach Jeremy Hefner.
Before his Reds stint, Jagers worked for Driveline Baseball, a performance center that uses research and advanced data to help players.
“What we’re trying to do — regardless of this hire or any hire — is really serve the players,” Eppler said. “You just want to be able to answer every question, so if a player has questions you want to have them talk to somebody from a technical expertise and maybe from a psychological expertise. If we can really have that diversity of thought we should be able to serve the players for what they need.”
Billy EpplerBill Kostroun
Hefner had a large say in hiring Jagers, according to Eppler.
“[Hefner] actually went through all the interviews for all the candidates,” Eppler said. “We’re really happy to get Eric on board and watch him kind of implement his vision and give him all the tools and latitude, and the synchronicity he had with Jeremy Hefner was a major factor in him getting this job.”
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman — who could be in the market for a closer — was asked about his surprise level that the Mets completed a deal so quickly with Edwin Diaz, who agreed to a five-year contract worth $102 million before hitting free agency.
“I made the assumption all year long they were going to retain their guy, but you never know,” Cashman said. “He had a hell of a year, an amazing season that he put together and that trumpet is pretty awesome, too.”
Eppler won’t discuss the Diaz deal until it becomes official. Diaz was expected to take a physical on Tuesday.
Eppler acted quickly to fill many of the Mets’ needs last offseason with a lockout looming, but realizes he could be in store for a marathon this winter.
“If anybody wants to turn this into NBA free agency or NFL free agency I am all for it,” Eppler said
The Mets’ rotation didn’t get any younger this season.
In a win-now mode, the team last November added Max Scherzer, who turned 38 in July, and also featured the 35-year-old Carlos Carrasco and Jacob deGrom, who turned 34 in June. Chris Bassitt, who arrived in a trade from the A’s, turned 33 before the season.
It’s a fact team brass will have to weigh heavily this offseason. Mostly, that pertains to deGrom — and also to Carrasco and Bassitt — as the Mets consider how to rebuild a rotation that was strong for most of the season, but faded in the final weeks as the Mets squandered their NL East title chances and lost to the Padres in the wild-card series.
DeGrom at his best is the most electrifying force in baseball, but how long the Mets are willing to extend the relationship, more than the average annual value of a new contract, might be the largest factor in whether the two-time Cy Young Award winner returns.
Does owner Steve Cohen set a strict two-year limit on a deGrom deal? Three years? DeGrom has indicated he plans to opt out from his contract, and a team desperate for a marquee attraction with Cy Young upside might be willing to hand over the moon to get it.
DeGrom has started 23 games combined over the two seasons Cohen has owned the team, which included a nearly 13-month stretch without an appearance. The risk is significant.
Jacob deGrom exited his lone playoff start amid uncertainty about whether he would return to the Mets.Corey Sipkin
Carrasco is a back-end starter these days, and for the $11 million it will cost the Mets to pick up his option for next season (the net outlay of the $14 million option when the $3 million buyout in his contract is considered), it’s sensible to keep him.
But that’s only if you believe Carrasco has enough left in the tank to approach the same effectiveness he showed this season, when he started 29 games and pitched to a 3.97 ERA.
Bassitt was maybe the Mets’ most consistent starting pitcher, but he’s now headed toward free agency as somebody who will turn 34 in spring training. Team brass loved Bassitt’s dependability this season, but if deGrom and Carrasco stay — with Scherzer signed for two additional years — can the Mets justify keeping another older pitcher?
All factors considered, the Mets might want to take a long look at Carlos Rodon, who can opt out from the two-year contract he received from the Giants last offseason. Rodon, who is represented by superagent Scott Boras, is likely to reject the $22.5 million option and aim for a multiyear deal (think: five or six) in the $30 million range annually.
Rodon does have a history of shoulder issues, but he’s thrived the past two seasons while making a combined 55 starts. Rodon, who turns 30 before spring training, would provide a younger (and left-handed) alternative to potentially replace deGrom or Bassitt. This season, Rodon led the major leagues in FIP (fielding independent pitching), which measures a pitcher’s ability to strike out batters and limit home runs, walks and hit batsmen. Rodon had 2.25 FIP, which is measured on roughly the same scale as ERA. Rodon’s traditional numbers for the Giants this year were also strong, highlighted by a 14-8 record with a 2.88 ERA over 178 innings.
Chris Bassitt won 15 games while throwing a career-high 181 ⅔ innings this year, but the soon-to-be 34-year-old may not make for a good fit in an already-aging Mets rotation.Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
A dominant left-handed component to the rotation would be welcomed. David Peterson was effective in a fill-in role, but Rodon would have the potential to become a CC Sabathia-type presence.
The Mets had a lefty on their mind last offseason, but Steven Matz spurned a return to Citi Field to sign with the Cardinals, eliciting venom from Cohen toward the pitcher’s agents, whom he accused of “unprofessional” behavior. Matz was a disappointment for the Cardinals, pitching to a 5.25 ERA in 15 appearances before a torn medial collateral ligament in his left knee ended his season.
Rodon’s talent, relative youth (compared to the other members of the Mets rotation this season) and left-handedness are all factors that could make him an attractive addition for the Mets this winter.
A worthy cause
The winner of the Roberto Clemente Award — honoring MLB’s top humanitarian — will be announced during the World Series. The Mets’ nominee was James McCann for his work with families of premature babies.
McCann’s wife, Jessica, gave birth in December 2017 to twin boys who arrived seven weeks early. The twins spent seven weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
James McCann was nominated for baseball’s Robert Clemente Award for the work he and his wife, Jessica, have done supporting the parents of premature babies.Corey Sipkin
The McCanns visit NICUs in New York and at home in Nashville to lend support to families and distribute gift packages.
“The thing that is tough, and a lot of people don’t understand, when the baby is in there full-time, parents still have to go to work, they are not just sitting in the hospital all the time,” McCann said. “We go and visit … once in a while, we get a note from someone thanking us for the gift package that we left them. We’re just letting them know that as somebody who has been in their shoes, that as tough as it is right now, there’s brighter days ahead.”
McCann’s sons Christian and Kane, who weighed three pounds at birth, are fully healthy, according to McCann.
“They love baseball,” McCann said. “They will step over trucks and cars and legos to pick up a bat and a ball. They are obsessed. It’s incredible. Everything is normal as normal gets.”
McCann could join a list that includes Curtis Granderson, Carlos Delgado, Al Leiter and Gary Carter, all of whom won the Clemente award while playing for the Mets. The list of winners also includes Carrasco, who received the award with Cleveland in 2019.
“Just being nominated and in that conversation is a special thing, but to win the overall award and have your name etched in that legacy would be incredible,” McCann said. “When we had the Roberto Clemente night , you see the names of past winners … it’s a special group of people.”
System shakeup
Tim Teufel’s 25-year tenure in a variety of instructiuonal roles for the Mets has come to an end, but he likely will serve as a team ambassador moving forward.Getty Images
Tim Teufel’s departure from the Mets’ instructional ranks was surprising (he won’t be retained as the minor league infield coordinator) given his deep roots in the organization, but you can’t blame general manager Billy Eppler for wanting to import his own people.
In recent years, fan favorites such as Edgardo Alfonzo and Wally Backman departed from Mets minor league managerial roles as part of player development changes.
Teufel, 64, has served the organization well in various roles over the past 25 years and will remain a club ambassador. Omar Minaya, Mike Piazza, Mookie Wilson and Todd Zeile also served in that role this season.
At every turn, the Billy Eppler Mets have prioritized a long-term vision over the immediate future. They have wanted their title window cracked open for a sustained, long period, which led to Eppler refusing to jeopardize that goal by trying to pry this season’s window wide open.
So none of the Mets’ top 19 prospects, Eppler said, were traded at the deadline. The Mets opted for reasonably priced upgrades at the margins over, say, a splashy move — such as importing the Cubs’ Willson Contreras or a more expensive piece such as Raisel Iglesias, who went from the Angels to the Braves.
“One of the things we have talked about here is trying to maintain that organizational discipline to try to crush any urge to make a snap or impulsive decision and give up large amounts of future World Series odds or expectation just in exchange for marginal gains right now,” Eppler said after the trade deadline passed. “I think some of that undisciplined thinking can lead to years of mediocrity.”
Billy Eppler faces many Mets unknowns entering the offseason.Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
Perhaps the biggest question facing Eppler, who will speak publicly Friday in an end-of-season news conference after the Mets were knocked out of the wild-card round by the Padres, will concern how he balances the long-term future with fielding a quality roster for the 2023 Mets. A team that spent about $282 million on payroll, according to Spotrac, somehow did not go all-in in 2022.
The longest deal Eppler, as Mets GM, has given to a player is the four years awarded Starling Marte. None of Eppler’s multiyear pacts from last offseason — Marte, Max Scherzer, Mark Canha and Eduardo Escobar — look like albatrosses after one season. Eppler bet well and managed risks, which brought long-term flexibility and a short-term excellent regular season (and quick exit from the postseason).
Going all-in for next season might look like attempting to package a hoard of prospects for Shohei Ohtani, if the Angels make the two-way star available. It might look like giving an extra year, perhaps a fifth, to Jacob deGrom to ensure the best pitcher in the world stays in Queens at a heavy cost, even if a contract would take him into his late 30s.
It is unlikely Eppler will push in all of his chips to chase a championship next season, even if that would be the preferred method of a 38-year-old Scherzer. But how much will Eppler prioritize next year after a campaign in which thinking about the future likely hurt the Mets’ present?
That question will hover over Eppler’s news conference, as will:
Billy Eppler, right, and Buck ShowalterTom DiPace
How much will the Mets value the non-baseball aspects of their free agents?
Last offseason, the Mets pursued players with positive reputations in the clubhouse after a 2021 season filled with controversy and downward-pointed thumbs.
This offseason, how much will Eppler (and Steve Cohen) consider the spectacle that the 2022 Mets became?
At full health, deGrom is an ace’s ace and likely will be paid as such. But does his relationship with Mets fans, who have watched him blossom since being a ninth-round pick in 2010, add some heft to a deal?
Similarly, there are not many more popular in Queens than Brandon Nimmo, who complements his on-field productivity with a smile and a never-ending hustle. Will his intangibles make him more attractive to the Mets?
Has Cohen assigned a bottom to his wallet?
The Post’s Mike Puma has estimated the Mets’ payroll could skyrocket to $345 million if they retain all their free agents. In late August, Cohen told The Post’s “The Show” podcast, “You should be able to build a pretty good team at $300 million.”
Has Eppler been told he cannot exceed that $300 million hurdle? A hard line would create issues for a team that only is certain to return Scherzer to its rotation.
Steve Cohen watches the Mets’ Game 3 loss to the Padres. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Will there be room for the kids?
Francisco Alvarez, Brett Baty and Mark Vientos debuted with more promise than productivity. Does Eppler believe Alvarez can compete for a starting job next spring, which could open the door for a trade of James McCann?
Does Eppler believe Baty can be a starting third baseman, which could lead to the club moving Escobar?
Brett Baty AP
The Mets’ evaluation of Vientos could affect their handling of Darin Ruf, who is due $3 million next season.
How much will the new rules affect the Mets’ roster building?
En route to his batting title, Jeff McNeil hit .364 when opposing infield defenses played the shift — which will be regulated next season.
Will the tweaked rules lead to Eppler valuing a player such as Daniel Vogelbach, who pulls the ball often and batted against shifts in about three-quarters of his at-bats? Speedy defenders could prove more prized, too.
The Mets also will have most of a bullpen to reconstruct. How much attention will Eppler pay to the incoming pitch clock, which will be particularly targeted toward relievers who take their time to load up their arms before throwing a pitch?
The Mets’ once-promising season came to a crashing halt.
They lost to the Padres 6-0 in Game 3 of the wild-card series Sunday night, eliminating them from the playoffs. They previously lost Game 1 of the series Friday night, and won Game 2 on Saturday.
Joe Musgrove gestures to Mets fans after he was checked for an illegal substance. Corey Sipkin for the NY POSTChris Bassitt reacts during the second inning. Corey Sipkin for the NY POSTFrancisco Lindor strikes out in the fourth inning. Charles Wenzelberg / New York PostPete Alonso reacts in the fifth inning. Charles Wenzelberg / New York PostMets owner Steve Cohen watches the game from his suite. Charles Wenzelberg / New York PostUmpires check Joe Musgrove’s ear for an illegal substance. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Padres starter Joe Musgrove pitched seven shutouts innings and gave up just one hit. Mets starter Chris Bassitt, on the other hand, gave up three runs in just four innings pitched.
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