Carson Benge's rookie year closed strong: 20 homers, a .471 second-half slugging mark, and 7 homers each as cleanup hitter and leadoff man. That power may have locked him into cleanup, even though he looks like the better fit atop the Mets lineup. 🔍
Jacob Reimer opened Puerto Rican Winter League play with a 1-for-4 and a double in Leones de Ponce's 4-1 loss, looking to rebound from a groin-hampered .232/.335/.384 year at Double-A Binghamton. Ronny Mauricio went 2-for-4 in the Dominican league. ⚾
Mets international free agent profile: Taiwanese righty Jyun-Yue Tseng, 24, was posted by Fubon after a 1.57 ERA and 25 saves in 2026. Fastball touches the high-90s; the 5'8" reliever's other pitches are pedestrian. Small frame, big strikeout totals. ⚾
Mets met with Shoki Oda, the 18-year-old Japanese righty who reportedly wants to skip NPB and enter the MLB international amateur market. Phillies and Rangers also met with him, but the Dodgers are reportedly the favorite. 🎯
A proposed Mets-Tigers swap for Spencer Torkelson is floated as a first base fix after Jorge Polanco's -1.4 bWAR flop. Torkelson brings 57 homers over two seasons, but also a 31.7% strikeout rate and -12 OAA. Power, with caveats. ⚾
Part 3 of RVH's series says Milwaukee's run rests on a strong Stearns foundation that Matt Arnold built on, and credit can't be split neatly. The Mets question: can Stearns recreate that pipeline of talent and trade assets in New York, with Cohen's resources? 🔍
Winter ball is underway: Jacob Reimer, John Bay and Eli Serrano III suit up for Leones de Ponce in Puerto Rico. Meanwhile, pitching prospects Irving Cota and Ryan Lambert earned Arizona Fall League Fall Stars Game nods. ⚾
Mets deadline sellers get re-grades: Peterson for Cole Mathis slips to A-, Minter for Billy Amick and Bruin Agbayani rises to B+, and Peralta's prospect haul (Pitre, Smith, Gill Hill) climbs to B. Amick's power is doing the heavy lifting. 📈
Option deadline passed with 21 options declined and 17 exercised. Michael King and Sonny Gray hit the market, and they're the only real fits for Mets rotation needs. David Stearns likely eyes depth at first base or in relief, with Skubal's decision starting the dominoes. 🎯
Mets offseason groundwork: a Jacob deGrom return to Queens was discussed as a theoretical possibility if he's made available, and A.J. Ellis joins the staff as strategy coordinator. Ten arbitration-eligible players face a mid-November tender decision. 🍎
Bichette opting in to stay in Queens reportedly makes a Mets push for Japanese slugger Teruaki Sato less likely, per The Athletic. He projects as everyday third baseman, with a right-handed platoon partner for Jared Young at first and the rotation as priorities. 🔍
It’s a single-issue negotiation. MLB wants a cap, the players reject a cap. All of the details MLB has shared about its vision -- a number of which are good! -- are tied to the MLBPA accepting a cap system. Publicly, at least, the league has not put forth any vision of a non-capped league. The players, and again I’ll say this is based on what we know, appear to have no intention of accepting a payroll cap. Until one side or the other concedes on this point, there is nowhere for negotiations...
Jon Heyman says the Mets are "very interested" in Tarik Skubal, though hurdles remain. Heyman floated that striking before a possible salary cap could be smart, with Skubal and Juan Soto on one payroll a complication. Maybe, not yet. 🤔
Former Mets reliever Ryne Stanek has elected free agency after a 4.02 ERA, two saves and 65 strikeouts in 70 games for the Cardinals in 2026. He posted a 5.47 ERA over 82 games with New York across 2024-25. Bullpen-needy teams have a veteran option. ⚾
Mets righties Ryan Lambert and Irving Cota are headed to the AFL Fall Stars Game. Lambert hasn't allowed a run or hit through six outings with 10 Ks, and Cota has 15 Ks and a 0.86 WHIP over five. Sunday, MLB Network. ⚾
Bo Bichette skipped his opt-out, keeping his $42M for 2027, and that reportedly cools the Mets' appetite for Japanese free agent Teruaki Sato. With Bichette at third, a $115M infielder looks like a luxury. 🧊
Mets roster cleanup could continue: Christopher Morel (.200 in 32 tries, no options), Chayce McDermott and Robert Stock are flagged as DFA candidates. Mark Vientos headlines the late-November non-tender watch. 🦆
Mets are being urged to pursue Rays righty Drew Rasmussen, who'd earn $20M in 2027, to fix a rotation that's hurt them two years running. Tampa reportedly intends to keep him, so this stays a speculative trade idea. 🎯
2026 Topps Chrome Update is up for pre-order, releasing December 9. Mets rookies Carson Benge, Nolan McLean, Jonah Tong, Alex Carrillo and Jonathan Pintaro get one-of-one Rookie Debut Patch Autographs, with Soto and Lindor in the base set. 📦
The Mets are hiring A.J. Ellis as "major league strategy coordinator," adding another coach with big-league experience. The former Dodgers catcher played for Andy Green in 2018 and could help Francisco Alvarez and Luis Torrens behind the plate. 🧢
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