Mets Hot Stove talk--2024-25

Juan Soto is a generational talent. The fact that he is still just 26 is amazing. He has tons of playoff experience at such a young age. I would love to see him with the Mets. All that being said there are some “red flags” with chasing Soto.I’ll play devils advocate.

1- The Yankees looked like a classic 23-2 team. A bunch of “guys” then Soto and Judge. In the end that wasn’t enough. Signing Soto and letting Alonso walk do the Mets become Soto/Lindor and ??? Sure Vientos and Alvarez could be players but are we sure? Would the Soto contract stop us from getting premium pitchers?

2- Soto is not a great fielding outfielder. Not horrible but not great. How does that age in a 10 year commitment? He could end up being the highest paid DH in history.

3- Soto was now on good teams in SD and NYY. Despite his greatness and two very good teams they did not win. I am not saying it’s his “fault” because that’s not how baseball works. Just spitballing. He did help carry the Nats to the WS win. He has very very good playoff stats.

www.statmuse.com

Juan Soto Career Postseason Stats | StatMuse

Juan Soto has a .281 batting average with 45 hits, 11 homers, 30 RBIs and 31 runs scored in 43 games in the postseason in his career.
www.statmuse.com www.statmuse.com

Again, I’d take my chances but this will be huge money, long term commitment.

Let the speculation begin.
 
dk423 said:
Heyman: "The early smart money has the Mets re-signing Jose Iglesias, aka Candelita, this time to a major league deal. Iglesias was a delight in the Mets clubhouse, as well as on the field, where he hit .337 (he’s the batting champion with enough plate appearances)."
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I don’t see where we have the room with Acuna, Baty, and Mauricio. It has to be a sweetheart deal where we can cut bait easily if he doesn’t perform or we need the roster spot.
 
Marillac2 said:
I don’t see where we have the room with Acuna, Baty, and Mauricio. It has to be a sweetheart deal where we can cut bait easily if he doesn’t perform or we need the roster spot.
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....or we end up trading a couple of them for a pitcher this offseason.
 
sjc88 said:
Juan Soto is a generational talent. The fact that he is still just 26 is amazing. He has tons of playoff experience at such a young age. I would love to see him with the Mets. All that being said there are some “red flags” with chasing Soto.I’ll play devils advocate.

1- The Yankees looked like a classic 23-2 team. A bunch of “guys” then Soto and Judge. In the end that wasn’t enough. Signing Soto and letting Alonso walk do the Mets become Soto/Lindor and ??? Sure Vientos and Alvarez could be players but are we sure? Would the Soto contract stop us from getting premium pitchers?

2- Soto is not a great fielding outfielder. Not horrible but not great. How does that age in a 10 year commitment? He could end up being the highest paid DH in history.

3- Soto was now on good teams in SD and NYY. Despite his greatness and two very good teams they did not win. I am not saying it’s his “fault” because that’s not how baseball works. Just spitballing. He did help carry the Nats to the WS win. He has very very good playoff stats.

www.statmuse.com

Juan Soto Career Postseason Stats | StatMuse

Juan Soto has a .281 batting average with 45 hits, 11 homers, 30 RBIs and 31 runs scored in 43 games in the postseason in his career.
www.statmuse.com www.statmuse.com

Again, I’d take my chances but this will be huge money, long term commitment.

Let the speculation begin.
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He’s answered all the questions I had for him with his increased power (which should only grow).

He is 98-99% in chase rate, his eye is exceptional, and his OBP is generational.

You get 2-4 years of position play before he becomes a DH. Maybe he can last longer in left? He does have a good arm. He showed last night that he can run a bit by almost beating out a play at first.

I am never on the side of having to get the top free agent, but we absolutely must get Soto or we won’t be able realistically compete with the Dodgers on a consistent basis.

We have the young kids and the GM to be able to fill in the roster with small deals to balance some huge contracts.
 
Marillac2 said:
He’s answered all the questions I had for him with his increased power (which should only grow).

He is 98-99% in chase rate, his eye is exceptional, and his OBP is generational.

You get 2-4 years of position play before he becomes a DH. Maybe he can last longer in left? He does have a good arm. He showed last night that he can run a bit by almost beating out a play at first.

I am never on the side of having to get the top free agent, but we absolutely must get Soto or we won’t be able realistically compete with the Dodgers on a consistent basis.

We have the young kids and the GM to be able to fill in the roster with small deals to balance some huge contracts.
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Don’t disagree with you at all. Just throwing it out there. I also think Cohen if he gets close will spend as necessary to get it done.
 
Marillac2 said:
I don’t see where we have the room with Acuna, Baty, and Mauricio. It has to be a sweetheart deal where we can cut bait easily if he doesn’t perform or we need the roster spot.
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Iglesias could slot in for late inning defense and be a spot starter and pinch hitter.

He obviously played well above his mean, but the team loves him and he is a glue guy. He will not break the bank, and may be happy with a bench role.

Injuries happen. He will play over the course of the season. At least we know Iglesias is a capable player.

Plus, of the trio you mentioned, only Acuna seems like he will make the team. Mauricio needs more time to rehab and then play as much as possible in Syracuse. Baty is a conundrum.
 
kranmars said:
Iglesias could slot in for late inning defense and be a spot starter and pinch hitter.

He obviously played well above his mean, but the team loves him and he is a glue guy. He will not break the bank, and may be happy with a bench role.

Injuries happen. He will play over the course of the season. At least we know Iglesias is a capable player.

Plus, of the trio you mentioned, only Acuna seems like he will make the team. Mauricio needs more time to rehab and then play as much as possible in Syracuse. Baty is a conundrum.
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Thought I read where they just resigned him already.
 
The wishlist begins with Soto obviously. But those negotiations will take time, and will hold up other signings of FA bats.

If Soto does sign with the Mets, does Cohen say “screw it” and sign Alonso too. He is still good for 30 homers and did have big hits in the playoffs.
 
kranmars said:
The wishlist begins with Soto obviously. But those negotiations will take time, and will hold up other signings of FA bats.

If Soto does sign with the Mets, does Cohen say “screw it” and sign Alonso too. He is still good for 30 homers and did have big hits in the playoffs.
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I think they should. Lindor turns 31 in two weeks. Maximize that five year championship window and go from there.
 
kranmars said:
Iglesias could slot in for late inning defense and be a spot starter and pinch hitter.

He obviously played well above his mean, but the team loves him and he is a glue guy. He will not break the bank, and may be happy with a bench role.

Injuries happen. He will play over the course of the season. At least we know Iglesias is a capable player.

Plus, of the trio you mentioned, only Acuna seems like he will make the team. Mauricio needs more time to rehab and then play as much as possible in Syracuse. Baty is a conundrum.
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If Baty doesn’t make the team, he’s done.
I think his career was grossly mismanaged as I’ve said many times. Promoting a kid after 6 AAA games is insane.

Vientos had over 200 AAA games by comparison! We’ve seen this before with guys like Conforto who were rushed and had to be sent back to the minors in subsequent years to work on things.

Baty had a total of just 32 AAA games coming into this season. He picked up an extra 62 this season to work on the adjustments pitchers made to him and he played second base in 27 games there making only one error.

Iglesias will be 35 in January. I love how he mentors the younger players, who he is a as teammate, his glove, etc. but he has to be in the 2 mill range to make sense.
 
dk423 said:
I think they should. Lindor turns 31 in two weeks. Maximize that five year championship window and go from there.
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Soto and Alonso complement each other so well. Lefty-righty bats, massive protection for Soto (and Lindor and Vientos), one guy is always on base and the other is boom or bust. And Pete’s deal is nothing compared to Soto’s deal.

Slot Nimmo in behind Alonso with Marte and Alvarez behind him. That is a long and dangerous lineup.

Our window is now with Lindor and Nimmo starting the backend of their primes and Senga signed to a sweetheart deal.
 
I had to look this up to believe it. On a Mets podcast I listen to, they said the highest paid reliever in the Dodgers bullpen was at 8 million for Joe Kelly (who didn't even pitch). That is correct.

www.spotrac.com

2024 Los Angeles Dodgers Payroll Table

An updated look at the Los Angeles Dodgers 2024 payroll table, including team totals, retained figures, and complete breakdowns of player salaries, and bonuses.
www.spotrac.com www.spotrac.com
 
Marillac2 said:
Soto and Alonso complement each other so well. Lefty-righty bats, massive protection for Soto (and Lindor and Vientos), one guy is always on base and the other is boom or bust. And Pete’s deal is nothing compared to Soto’s deal.

Slot Nimmo in behind Alonso with Marte and Alvarez behind him. That is a long and dangerous lineup.

Our window is now with Lindor and Nimmo starting the backend of their primes and Senga signed to a sweetheart deal.
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I agree with you about keeping Alonso and signing Soto. Also, Lindor and Vientos should be locks on the left side of the infield. In an earlier email, you mentioned the names of Acuna and Mauricio. Why not Acuna at second and Mauricio in center field? Didn't the Mets think about trying Mauricio in center field during spring training? The odd man out in this lineup would be Marte who could possibly be a DH. Does this lineup make any sense?
 
Does everyone feel a little better today as we have now officially closed the 2024 season last night and we can say at least we won TWO games against the Bums and they did NOT get to celebrate on our home field! As a young one I was brought up to believe that it was a good day when the Bums won and a great day when the Bums won and the Giants and Yankees lost. I brought my son up with a similar mantra--It's a good day when the Mets win and a great day when the Mets win and the Yankees lost. LGM!!!
 
dk423 said:
I had to look this up to believe it. On a Mets podcast I listen to, they said the highest paid reliever in the Dodgers bullpen was at 8 million for Joe Kelly (who didn't even pitch). That is correct.

www.spotrac.com

2024 Los Angeles Dodgers Payroll Table

An updated look at the Los Angeles Dodgers 2024 payroll table, including team totals, retained figures, and complete breakdowns of player salaries, and bonuses.
www.spotrac.com www.spotrac.com
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Blake Treinen for 1 mill is criminal. His ball moves like nothing I’ve seen in years.
 
CBA69 said:
I agree with you about keeping Alonso and signing Soto. Also, Lindor and Vientos should be locks on the left side of the infield. In an earlier email, you mentioned the names of Acuna and Mauricio. Why not Acuna at second and Mauricio in center field? Didn't the Mets think about trying Mauricio in center field during spring training? The odd man out in this lineup would be Marte who could possibly be a DH. Does this lineup make any sense?
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The former Mets brass screwed up big time by not getting Mauricio looks elsewhere. The kid screams center fielder to me.

In any top organization Mauricio would have been playing second and center as well as SS for years. From 2018-2022 Mauricio only played SS. How crazy is that?! In 2023 did they move him around. He got 56 games at second (where he struggled) and 26 in LF. When he was called up to the Mets that year, he played 21 games and second and 5 at third — his first games ever at third in the Mets organization.

Acuna has 35 games in center the last two seasons, so he might be the easier of the two to move. Although Acuna also has a much better glove than Mauricio on the infield as well. He’s a huge asset in the field.
 
Marillac2 said:
The former Mets brass screwed up big time by not getting Mauricio looks elsewhere. The kid screams center fielder to me.

In any top organization Mauricio would have been playing second and center as well as SS for years. From 2018-2022 Mauricio only played SS. How crazy is that?! In 2023 did they move him around. He got 56 games at second (where he struggled) and 26 in LF. When he was called up to the Mets that year, he played 21 games and second and 5 at third — his first games ever at third in the Mets organization.

Acuna has 35 games in center the last two seasons, so he might be the easier of the two to move. Although Acuna also has a much better glove than Mauricio on the infield as well. He’s a huge asset in the field.
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Vientos, Mauricio and Acuna in the starting lineup helps the Mets (Cohen) salary wise and gives them a little breathing room to go after Soto.
 
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