Word going around is the Mets might be high bidder for coveted Japanese right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Every big-market team has been tracking the two-time MVP but a couple rival GMs say they hear the Mets are expected to go big.
The Yankees, Cubs, Dodgers, Red Sox, Cardinals, Phillies, Giants, Diamondbacks, Tigers and Rangers and others heavily scouted Yamamoto.
The Mets scored big with Yamamoto friend Kodai Senga, and the $75M Senga deal looks like a bargain (he was hurt in talks by an iffy MRI as was reported here after he signed).
Yamamoto – Team Japan’s No. 4 starter in its star-studded WBC rotation — gets top marks for poise, competitiveness and command. He doesn’t throw quite as hard as Senga, but he’s younger and has a better medical. He also has a great forkball (but not a “ghost fork.”) The one question is stature at a thin 5-foot-10.
Says a GM: “It’s the only thing that gives me pause.”
The debate is which ace will score biggest in free agency: Yamamoto or Blake Snell. Snell is the likely NL Cy Young winner, but Yamamoto is 25 (and has no draft pick attached).
One rival GM thought he could garner as much as $200M.
Chicago is an improving team in a great town, but no one around the Mets believes Alonso has a craving for the Cubs, as was reported.
Alonso was upset about Buck Showalter’s firing, as our Mike Puma reported, but that shouldn’t kill the Mets’ chances.
And folks shouldn’t write off the Mets simply because Alonso hired BorasCorp. Scott Boras and Steve Cohen made three nine-figure agreements (Max Scherzer, Brandon Nimmo and Carlos Correa before the physical halted that one).
The report the Cubs are interested makes sense; they did try to acquire him at the deadline.
Craig Counsell will be managing somewhere next year and not take that rumored year off, but the question is how much more the Mets might have to pay to lure him from his hometown Brewers.
“If he ends up in New York he’s going to set (salary) records,” one rival GM said. Joe Torre still holds the manager record at $8M, while Bruce Bochy is thought the current leader at about $5M plus perks that take him to close to $6M. Counsell made $3.5M this year.
Many are starting to think now he’ll come. Says another exec: “It’s an upset if it’s not Counsell.”
New Mets honcho Stearns spoke of his willingness to hire a managing newcomer and “grow with” the choice. If so, some possibilities could include Don Kelly, Joe Espada, Raul Ibanez, Clayton McCullough, Eric Chavez and Joey Cora. Cora’s contract is up, and one Met opined that “they will really miss him if he leaves.” Cora is an outstanding 3B coach.
While Showalter announcing his own firing was awkward, it’s understandable the Mets wanted that issue settled before Stearns’ press conference.
Steve Cohen also rose early in the morning and flew from L.A. to speak in-person with Showalter, which he appreciated.
The Mets must pick up Brooks Raley’s $6.5M option. They need more lefties, not fewer.
Adam Ottavino was non-committal when asked if he will pick up his $6.75M option (with $4M deferred), but he previously suggested he was leaning toward doing so.
Daniel Vogelbach works for a small-market team with his relatively low salary, but his inability to play the field or run hamstrung Showalter.
The Mets get high marks for the prospects acquired at the deadline, especially Luisangel Acuna, Drew Gilbert and Ryan Clifford.
Wowing them in the Mets’ minors is Jett Williams, with 102 walks at age 19. He’s listed as 5-6 but someone who measured him swears he’s 5-6 ¾.