RELATED: Jeurys Familia prioritized return to Mets, who also add OF Rajai Davis
Jeurys Familia Returns to the Mets
18
Dec
Category Archives: Free Agency
Mets Reach 2-Year Deal with Catcher Wilson Ramos
17
Dec
The Mets addressed another one of the areas they targeted for improvement this off-season, reaching an agreement on Sunday with the two-time All-Star catcher Wilson Ramos.
The deal is for two years with $19 million guaranteed, according to two people familiar with the negotiations who requested anonymity because the contract was pending Ramos’s medical review. After that is complete, the Mets may introduce Ramos, 31, at a news conference later this week.
You gotta love this deal. Ramos is a veteran player who can hit and play adequate defense and the JT Realmuto saga was getting long-winded anyway. With the injury-prone Travis d’Arnaud as Ramos’ backup, playing only 40 or so games a year, the catcher position looks set.
The Mets Should Go Hard After David Robertson
8
Dec
David Robertson is available and the Mets need to go after him. Robertson is a veteran reliever, former closer, knows New York well having had two turns with the Yankees, is exceedingly reliable with only 1 DL stint during his career and a Robertson-Diaz combo at the back of the bullpen could compete with almost any team. Brodie Van Wagenen needs to make it happen.
Wilmer Flores Is Now a Free Agent, But Mets Offer Travis d’Arnaud
1
Dec
The Mets failed to offer a 2019 contract to Wilmer Flores, allowing the infielder to become a free agent.
Flores hit .267 with 11 homers and 51 RBI in 126 games this year, when he made $3.4 million. He endeared himself to Mets fans when he got emotional during a game against San Diego on July 29, 2015, believing media reports he had been traded to Milwaukee. The proposed swap for Carlos Gomez fell through, and two days later Flores hit a game-ending 12th-inning homer to beat Washington.
New York did offer a contract to catcher Travis d’Arnaud, who was limited to four early season games this year by a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow that required Tommy John surgery. D’Arnaud, on the disabled list for the fifth straight season, had a $3,475,000 salary.
Does making an offer to d’Arnaud mean that the Mets aren’t going to be pursuing a new starting catcher? d’Arnaud can’t throw and he’s injury-prone. But the guess here is that keeping him around as a back-up would be more beneficial than letting him go because he can hit with a little power and knows the Mets pitching staff so well. As for Wilmer, of course he’s fan favorite, being home grown and coming up with big hits for the Amazin’s time and time again. But if he can’t come back here because of playing time or whatever, hopefully he gets a starting job somewhere else with an opportunity to make much more money, which he deserves.
Will the Mets Be a Good Fit for Manny Machado?
13
Nov
With all the troubling shenanigans Machado’s pulled this season, I don’t think he’s worth the $$$. And his poor performance during the post-season doesn’t help either.
Mets Interested in Free-Agent Reliever Andrew Miller
8
Nov
New Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen’s “win-now” approach could include a significant addition to the bullpen, as a source tells MLB.com’s Jon Morosi that New York is interested in free-agent reliever Andrew Miller.
Miller is familiar with Mets manager Mickey Callaway, who served as the Indians’ pitching coach from 2013-17. But the landscape has changed for Miller since Callaway’s departure, as the lefty threw just 34 innings and endured multiple stints on the disabled list this past season while battling ailments in his right knee and throwing shoulder. Miller finished ’18 with a 4.24 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP — both his highest marks since he was primarily a starter with the Red Sox seven years ago — and he will enter his age-34 season in ’19.
Still, the Mets could use quality relief help as they enter a new era. SNY’s Andy Martino reported Tuesday that the club is thinking about pursuing a high-profile reliever such as Miller, Craig Kimbrel, Zach Britton, David Robertson and Adam Ottavino.
I’m not sure how I feel about this. Sure, everybody talks about that great year Miller had in 2016 and he’s had a great stretch from 2013 to 2018 as a reliever. But last year Miller was injured a lot and had a pretty down year at 34 when he did pitch. So concern about his age and body should be at a premium. Plus too, knowing how bad the Mets need bullpen help, I think that Robertson and/or Familia would be more reliable for the Mets and a better fit.
Could The Mets Reunite With Jeurys Familia?
19
Oct
The bullpen, I think, is where the Mets will need the most help this off-season. And they definitely need a closer. So why not reunite with an old, reliable face? There will only be so many top-notch closers that will be available on the open market and I doubt that the new GM will want to kick in what Britton or Kimbrel might cost. Of course, there’s always the possibility that Familia could demand a price that’s too high. But he’s still young, did well with the A’s and has a proven track record with us.