Where is Juan Soto going?
It’s a query that started circulating lengthy earlier than final season ended, and on the cusp of MLB’s greatest offseason occasion, the winter conferences, it nonetheless has not been resolved.
Soto’s reply pertains on to the Mets, whose offseason will largely be formed by what the All-Star outfielder decides. Soto’s market consists of the Mets, Yankees, Red Sox, Blue Jays and Dodgers, in keeping with trade sources.
The Post’s Jon Heyman reported Saturday that the Mets and Yankees have submitted bids within the $710 million to $730 million vary.
As the conferences start informally on Sunday in Dallas, the Mets might be hoping a solution is close to, permitting crew officers to form the remainder of their offseason.
Last winter the Mets needed to anticipate Shohei Ohtani (whom they by no means critically pursued) and Yoshinobu Yamamoto (whom they courted closely) to achieve choices earlier than choosing a path. Both stars finally landed with the Dodgers
Now the Mets await Soto.
The quest for Soto leads the listing of issues to search for with the Mets on the winter conferences. Here are 4 others:
Talking turkey with Alonso
A decision on Soto’s standing will permit the Mets to show towards one other of Scott Boras’ large purchasers, Pete Alonso.
In a standard offseason — one with out a participant of Soto’s magnitude in the marketplace — Alonso’s free company could be garnering lots of the headlines regionally.
But all has been quiet on the Alonso entrance for the reason that Mets performed their closing recreation in October and the primary baseman once more expressed his want to stay in the one group he’s identified.
Here’s the query: Would Soto touchdown with the Mets enhance or lower the chance Alonso returns?
On one hand, Cohen would have already spent a staggering sum of money to handle the lineup and will place Soto between Francisco Lindor and Mark Vientos, with attainable shorter-term options obtainable for first base.
The flip aspect is for those who signal a participant of Soto’s caliber, why not elevate the passion degree to the hilt by bringing again a fan favourite who hit 37 homers final season?
Finishing the rotation
The Mets will look so as to add no less than one, if not two, beginning pitchers to finish a rotation that has added items in latest weeks.
Frankie Montas (two years, $34 million) and Clay Holmes (three years, $38 million) are two low-risk additions the Mets are including to Kodai Senga and David Peterson.
Others within the combine embody Tylor Megill, Paul Blackburn and Jose Butto.
It could be stunning if the Mets regarded towards Corbin Burnes or Max Fried — one other starter in that weight class, Blake Snell, obtained a five-year contract value $182 million from the Dodgers — however the crew may look towards others trying to rebuild worth, resembling Walker Buehler or Mike Soroka.
Sean Manaea emerged as an ace within the second half of final season for the Mets, however he may very well be taking a look at a contract properly north of the deal his former rotation-mate Luis Severino (three years, $67 million) obtained from the A’s final week.
Trade speak
The Mets have been concerned in a single commerce of observe this offseason, buying Jose Siri from the Rays final month as primarily Harrison Bader’s substitute in middle area.
Could the Mets discover a deal for pitching or a possible DH with out sacrificing high prospects?
The X issue could be the place Starling Marte, getting into the ultimate yr of his contract, may match if the Mets have been to amass Soto.
The Mets may look to deal Marte and add a lower-cost fifth outfielder behind Soto, Brandon Nimmo, Tyrone Taylor and Siri.
Brett Baty’s future with the Mets most likely hinges upon whether or not Alonso returns.
In a situation during which Alonso re-signs, Mark Vientos would stay at third base, seemingly squeezing out Baty.
But the Mets nonetheless may retain Baty at Triple-A and look to construct his commerce worth.
Relief in sight?
Last winter the Mets gave free-agent offers to Adam Ottavino, Jorge Lopez and Jake Diekman and none actually labored out. Lopez and Diekman didn’t even end the season with the crew.
But Stearns excelled in constructing the bullpen all through the course of the yr, including items resembling Phil Maton and Ryne Stanek.
Edwin Diaz, Reed Garrett and Butto (if he’s not utilized as a starter) are identified commodities within the bullpen and acquainted faces resembling Sean Reid-Foley and Dedniel Nunez are working again from accidents.
The crew has signed a slew of relievers to minor league offers this offseason, however there may be actually a necessity for no less than one or two established arms.
Tanner Scott is the highest free-agent reliever obtainable and would give the crew a dynamic lefty to pair with Diaz.
Or possibly the Mets would think about a reunion with ageless David Robertson, coming off a high-quality yr with Texas in what has been an outstanding main league profession.
Blake Treinen and Paul Sewald are different intriguing names.
