Carson Benge’s run at National League Rookie of the Year came up just short, but the Mets still had a strong showing in the voting.
Benge finished second behind Reds first baseman Sal Stewart, whose big home run and RBI numbers carried the day over Benge’s more all-around case. The Mets also landed two more players in the mix: Nolan McLean placed fourth, and A.J. Ewing finished ninth.
The Rookie of the Year results arrive as the Mets turn their attention to a busier stretch on the calendar. The GM meetings opened this week in Las Vegas, and while that gathering usually doesn’t produce a ton of immediate action, this year carries a different feel with a looming lockout in the background.
Tarik Skubal remains a major name to watch, and the Mets are being linked to the sweepstakes. Jon Heyman said on MLB Network yesterday, “I do favor the Mets at this point,” though the Dodgers’ financial situation could complicate their own pursuit of the top free agent on the market this offseason.
The Mets’ plans at the meetings may not stop there. Anthony DiComo looked at what the club could target this week while also keeping an eye on Skubal, and SNY MLB insider Chelsea Janes said from Vegas, “I think the Mets are going to be looking to make some trades for starting pitching,” adding, “I don’t expect them to go full free agency.”
Elsewhere in the organization’s orbit, the Dodgers claimed infielder Christian Cairo off waivers from the Mets after New York had signed him before the 40-man roster deadline and then designated him for assignment. The Mets did the same with infielder Kyren Paris, but he cleared waivers and has been outrighted to Triple-A Syracuse.
Around the National League East, the Braves have “ no interest ” in trading Ronald Acuña Jr., according to Jon Morosi of MLB Network. The Phillies have reportedly checked in on shortstop Ha-Seong Kim as insurance, with Trea Turner potentially moving elsewhere on the diamond if they choose.
The Marlins are targeting left-handed pitching, with Adrian Morejon, Alex Vesia, and Sean Newcomb among their top free-agent options. And in Washington, Sam Sallick of Federal Baseball believes Paul Toboni may try to add a bat even as the Nationals focus on pitching.
Awards Week is also underway across the league. Detroit Tigers shortstop Kevin McGonigle won American League Rookie of the Year in a landslide, with Parker Messick and Payton Tolle finishing behind him. On the National League side, early-season favorite JJ Wetherholt of the Cardinals ended up third after injury slowed him late in the year, behind Stewart and Benge.
There’s plenty more to monitor from Las Vegas, too. Brent Maguire of MLB.com laid out six storylines to follow during Awards Week, while the Cubs are expected to make starting pitching their top offseason priority. Even so, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reported that Chicago “ appear unlikely to enter the bidding war,” for Skubal, though the club is expected to check in on nearly every other free-agent starter.
The Rangers are also drawing attention, with speculation building that they could shop Corey Seager, Jacob deGrom, and Nathan Eovaldi in a move to trim payroll. That won’t be simple, though: deGrom and Eovaldi both have full no-trade clauses, while Seager has a partial no-trade clause and is owed $150 million over the next five years.
In New York, the Yankees may not be focused on adding a second baseman despite Jazz Chisolm’s departure in free agency. Jon Heyman reported the club could instead look to upgrade at third base. And with David Bednar now a free agent, Max Ralph of MLB.com examined who might step in as the Yankees’ closer next season.
In Other News...
Mets Prospects Are Sending Very Different Signals In Arizona
The Arizona Fall League has offered a mixed read on a handful of Mets prospects over the past week, with some players stacking productive outings while others have been harder to pin down. The game results from Nov. 2 through Nov. 8 have given the organization a fresh look at where several young names stand, and the season-to-date numbers have started to separate those who are making a clear case from those still searching for rhythm.
Bruin Agbayani, Boston Baro, Cole Mathis, Irving Cota, Brendan Girton, Ryan Lambert, Peyton Prescott and Calvin Ziegler have all been part of that uneven picture, with batting and pitching lines that point in different directions. For the Mets, that is the point of the AFL in the first place: a chance to see which prospects are building momentum, which ones are simply getting reps, and which ones still have a little more proving to do before the winter wraps up. [Read more 🡒]
Mets Could Face An Early Trade Mistake At GM Meetings
The GM Meetings are set to put the Mets in a familiar spot, balancing present-day needs against a roster that still has plenty of moving parts. Mark Vientos and Francisco Alvarez are both part of that conversation, and the front office is weighing whether to use one of those young pieces to bring back help that fits a more immediate need, especially on the mound.
What makes this stretch tricky is the timing. With an impending lockout hanging over the sport, the Mets may not get many clean chances to reshape the roster later, which raises the stakes on every trade discussion now. That is why the idea of chasing short-term starting pitching rentals is being viewed with caution, even as names like Reid Detmers surface in broader talks and the pressure to make the right call only grows. [Read more 🡒]
Mets Bullpen Squeeze Leaves David Stearns Facing Harder Choices
Luis Garcias exit after only six games was a reminder of how little room there is for error in a Mets bullpen that was already packed when the offseason began. Signed as a free agent last winter, Garcia never got much of a runway before the club designated him for assignment, and his departure only sharpened the roster squeeze David Stearns inherited.
The bigger issue now is flexibility, or the lack of it. With no impending free agents to clear space and several pitchers still under review because of availability and performance concerns, the Mets have to sort out who fits where before they can even think about adding to the mix. Setup roles and the ninth inning are part of the conversation, but the more immediate challenge is simply finding enough breathing room to make the bullpen work. [Read more 🡒]