Carson Benge’s breakout year got the recognition it deserved Tuesday, when the Mets outfielder was named a finalist for the National League Rookie of the Year Award.
That wasn’t the only Mets-related note worth watching as free agency officially got underway. New York made a handful of small roster moves, claiming Jack Anderson from the Twins and Pierson Ohl from the Rockies, while also signing Christian Cairo to a one-year major league contract. The club also moved up its single-game ticket on-sale date to November 12, a shift from the usual December or January window.
There was more Mets news beyond the transactions. Anthony DiComo laid out why this offseason matters so much for David Stearns, who is heading into his fourth year as the team’s President of Baseball Operations.
Joe DeMayo also released his ranking of the organization’s Top 30 prospects, and fans can now vote for Nolan McLean for a Platinum Glove. Sandy Alderson, meanwhile, landed on the Hall of Fame ballot for the Contemporary Baseball Era.
Elsewhere in the division, the award season picture started to take shape. Cristopher Sánchez and Chris Sale were named finalists for the NL Cy Young Award, while Don Mattingly and Walt Weiss were finalists for NL Manager of the Year. Jhoan Duran was also listed as a finalist for NL Reliever of the Year.
The Marlins made a couple of notable moves of their own, claiming Cameron Weston off waivers from the Mets and signing Robinson Cano Jr. to a $1 million deal.
Across baseball, the league’s major award finalists were announced, covering the MVP, Cy Young, Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year, Manager of the Year, and Relief Pitcher of the Year races. Free agency chatter is already heating up too. ESPN’s staff weighed in on the offseason buzz, Jeff Passan reported that the Cubs badly want Tarik Skubal and could be the Dodgers’ toughest competition for him, and CBS Sports had three different landing spots for Skubal, including one writer who pegged the Mets.
Keith Law described this as the weakest free agent class in recent memory, while 21 more players officially hit the market and eight received qualifying offers. One name missing from that list was Jazz Chisholm Jr., who did not get a qualifying offer from the Yankees.
There’s also a race against time for Japanese players who are being posted ahead of the MLB lockout, according to Ken Rosenthal. The Contemporary Baseball Era Committee announced its Cooperstown candidates, and Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz were in Brooklyn yesterday as their trial began on four criminal counts tied to pitch rigging. Sam Blum put together a guide to the case.
Around the rest of the league, the Diamondbacks are staring at a busy winter with Ketel Marte at the center of the conversation, the Rangers claimed José Buttó off waivers from the Giants, the Cubs signed Jacob Webb to a one-year deal with a team option for 2028, and the Orioles declined Ryan Mountcastle’s option while Heston Kjerstad cleared waivers and was outrighted.
And in one final Mets-adjacent note, Lukas Vlahos argued that the Mets should not sign Tarik Skubal.
In Other News...
Mets Suddenly Have A Real Shot At A Coveted Power Bat
Teruaki Satos posting has suddenly put a coveted power bat on the board for every MLB club, and that includes the Mets, who are always interested when a hitter with legitimate thump becomes available from Japan. The 27-year-old Hanshin Tigers infielder now has a 45-day window for negotiations with all 30 teams, creating a brief but meaningful stretch for clubs looking to add impact offense without waiting for the market to develop.
For the Mets, the appeal is obvious: this is the kind of player who can change the conversation around a lineup if the fit and price line up. If no deal comes together in that window, Sato goes back to Hanshin for the 2027 season and will not be posted again until the next offseason, while the Tigers would still receive a release fee tied to any MLB contract he signs. [Read more 🡒]
Mets Add Experienced Voice Who Could Help Fix Two Key Areas
The Mets have added A.J. Ellis to their coaching staff in a role titled major league strategy coordinator, bringing in a familiar baseball mind with a long track record behind the plate and in the dugout-adjacent side of the game. Ellis, a former Dodgers catcher, also spent time as a special assistant in the Padres front office and has already crossed paths with Mets manager Andy Green, under whom he played in 2018.
For a club looking to sharpen its work in two important areas, Ellis gives the staff another experienced voice to lean on. His background as a catcher, including time working with Clayton Kershaw, puts him in position to help Francisco Alvarez and Luis Torrens while also offering support to the pitching staff, a blend of perspective that could matter in a season where small edges tend to add up. [Read more 🡒]
Juan Soto Is Becoming A Real Mets Roster Dilemma
Juan Sotos bat has been everything the Mets hoped for, but his glove has kept the conversation around him from settling down. With his offensive production still carrying real weight, the question has shifted to where he fits best long term, especially as the team weighs how to protect his value and manage the wear that has followed him in the field.
For now, there is no official plan in place, and the idea remains mostly speculation rather than a decision. Still, the mere fact that first base is being mentioned says plenty about how the Mets are thinking ahead, because a player this important can create a roster puzzle even when he is doing exactly what he was brought in to do at the plate. [Read more 🡒]