MLB rumors: Mets are 'Yamamoto or bust' this offseason?
The New York Mets and team owner Steve Cohen spent approximately $500 million in total money in hopes of bringing the team its first World Series title since 1986. They brought in the likes of Justin Verlander and Kodai Senga while retaining Brandon Nimmo and Edwin Diaz. Instead, the team didn't even get close to playoff contention and sold at the trade deadline, notably moving on from Verlander and Max Scherzer.
On the final day of the season, Mets manager Buck Showalter announced that he would not be returning for the 2024 season. Additionally, general manager Billy Eppler resigned in light of being investigated by MLB. With a new team president in David Stearns, the Mets fanbase is wondering what he will do this offseason to improve the team.
It's no secret that the Mets are linked to Japanese superstar starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The pitcher was brought up throughout the 2023 season, given the link to Eppler, who signed Shohei Ohtani as general manager of the Los Angeles Angels, and Senga with the Mets. Just how important is it that the Mets bring in Yamamoto?
SNY's Sal Licata said on "Baseball Tonight in New York" that its his belief that this offseason is "Yamamoto or bust" for the Mets.
As mentioned before, the Mets' interest in Yamamoto is the worst-kept secret in baseball. They were one of the teams that sent scouts to watch the pitcher's performance in the past month. Oh, and that performance was a no-hitter. And a recent report says that the Mets will do whatever it takes to bring him in.
According to New York Post MLB insider Jon Heyman, the Mets "might be high bidders" for Yamamoto, while mentioning that a "couple rival GMs" say that they hear the NL East team is "expected to go big."
In his seven year career, Yamamoto recorded a 1.72 ERA, a 0.915 WHIP, a 75-30 win-loss record, 986 strikeouts, and 216 walks in 967.2 innings pitched (188 games).
While the Mets prioritized bolstering their farm system, essentially paying for top prospects at the trade deadline, they are still expected to be in the running for big names. Yamamoto is easily one of their best free agent targets, not named Ohtani.
MLB rumors: Alek Manoah demotion 'created some frustration'
The Toronto Blue Jays' season is over, as they were eliminated in the AL Wild Card Round for the third time in the past four years. With the team entering offseason mode to try and figure out how they can get further in the postseason, there are obvious question marks surrounding starting pitcher Alek Manoah.
In 2022, Manoah was an All-Star pitcher and Cy Young candidate. This season, Manoah's numbers skyrocketed, resulting in him getting demoted not once but twice. Manoah also failed to report to the Florida Complex League and Triple-A Buffalo on time.
Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins spoke about Manoah's two demotions and his failure to report in a timely manner. Atkins said that Manoah was upset about being sent down a second time, feeling that he could help the team in the majors.
"Any time a pitcher of his success is optioned, it's a very difficult thing to stomach and he disagreed with that decision," Atkins said, h/t ESPN. "That created some frustration. He felt as though he should remain with the team."
In regard to the pitcher's status with the team, Atkins said that Manoah has not requested a trade and that they are "focused on solutions with him and focused on putting him in position to be successful."
Atkins revealed that Manoah received an injection in his right shoulder to take care of some discomfort.
Through 19 starts, Manoah recorded a 5.87 ERA, a 1.740 WHIP, a 3-9 win-loss record, 79 strikeouts, and 59 walks in 87.1 innings pitched.
MLB rumors: Reported teams expected to bid for Cody Bellinger
Last offseason, the outfield class was far from deep, which was headlined by 2022 AL MVP Aaron Judge. One big-name player who was available was Cody Bellinger, whose market was not vast due to injuries in recent years with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Bellinger signed a one-year, prove-it deal with the Chicago Cubs, and had one of the best seasons of his career. Now, he's looking to cash in on a lucrative contract.
So, which teams would be interested in signing Bellinger?
New York Post MLB insider Jon Heyman wrote recently about the statuses of New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone and general manager Brian Cashman after the team's audit this offseason. In that article, Heyman noted that the Yankees had passed on "several big position free agents in recent years," but said that Cody Bellinger "looked like a fit."
Additionally, Heyman said that the Cubs "will be in that hunt," while also bringing up the San Francisco Giants.
The Yankees notably passed on adding a left fielder in the offseason, granted the options available weren't great, and the Pittsburgh Pirates wouldn't part with Bryan Reynolds. But that move came back to haunt them, as the defense was shoddy, and they had 10 different players man left field, with seven playing in over 10 games. After missing the playoffs, the Yankees will undoubtedly try to bring in some big-name players after going the cheaper, "low-risk, high reward" route that had bit them.
As for the Giants, they have been linked to numerous big-name free agents over the years, including Judge last offseason. Like the Yankees, they missed out on the playoffs this season. Will they actually reel in the big fish this winter? One would hope...
The Cubs took a chance on Bellinger, and it paid off. Now, they are at risk of losing him to a team willing to pay big bucks. Can they get him to stay? We should get a better idea this offseason, potentially as soon as the MLB Winter Meetings from Dec. 4-7 in Nashville, Tenn.