Morning Briefing: Soto Meets with Yankees Monday, Dodgers Next

Good morning, Mets fans!

After meeting with the Yankees on Monday, Juan Soto is set to meet with the Dodgers today, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports. Feinsand adds that the belief in the industry is that Soto will make a decision prior to the Winter Meetings in December. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported that Soto will almost certainly sign with the highest bidder.

Latest Mets News

Alden Gonzalez of ESPN reports that Sean Manaea will decline the Mets’ $21.05 million qualifying offer. The deadline for decisions on the offers is today at 4:00 p.m. EST.

The Mets made three minor league signings on Monday, inking outfielder Rafael Ortega, infielder Donovan Walton, and righty Justin Hagenman. Ortega played with the Mets in 2023, posting a .613 OPS over 136 plate appearances. Walton, who was originally drafted by the Mets in 2012 but didn’t sign, spent 2024 with the Giants organization, getting 25 plate appearances in the majors. Hagenman has yet to appear in the bigs, posting a 4.91 ERA over 91 2/3 innings in Triple-A this year. Hagenman’s deal is a split contract.

Francisco Alvarez and Edwin Díaz will participate in a celebrity softball game for SauceGiving in Puerto Rico on December 1. Jose Ramírez, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and Fernando Tatis will also participate, along with musical artists Arcángel, Brayy, Dei V, Eladio Carrión, Foreign Teck, Jowell, Jon Z, Latin Mafia, Mora, Noriel, Sech, Yandel and Young Miko. SauceGiving will also offer baseball clinics for children, and food stations will be set up as well as games and activities for children.

Latest MLB News

Paul Skenes was named the National League Rookie of the Year, while Luis Gil won the award on the American League side. Skenes received 23 of the 30 first-place votes, with the other seven going to runner-up Jackson Merrill. Gil narrowly beat out Colton Cowser by just five points. This marks the first time both winners were pitchers since 2011.

Reds right-hander Nick Martinez officially accepted the qualifying offer. He is the only player so far who has made his decision official.

The 2025 Hall of Fame ballot was revealed on Monday, with Ichiro Suzuki and C.C. Sabathia headlining a class of 14 newcomers joining the 14 holdovers from 2024. Curtis Granderson is the lone former Met added this year. Results will be revealed on January 21 at 6:00 PM.

John Romano of the Tampa Bay Times reports that the Rays’ deal for a new stadium may be dead due to Pinellas County stalling a bond vote. The stadium deal was already projected to cost $1.3 billion, but because of the delay, the price may increase significantly. Additionally, the estimated cost to repair the roof of Tropicana Field may have been lower than the actual cost. The Rays could consider relocation by 2026.

Jeff Passan of ESPN reports that the Cubs are hiring Tyler Zombro as a special assistant. Zombro has been a pitching trainer at Tread Athletics and will be working to improve the Cubs’ pitching performance throughout the organization.

The Astros have renamed their stadium Daikin Park. Owner Jim Crane said the contract with the air conditioner manufacturing company is for 15 years.

The White Sox have signed outfielder Austin Slater to a major league deal for the 2025 season. Slater spent time with the Giants, Reds, and Orioles in 2024, posting a .209/.321/.266 batting line with two homers over 212 plate appearances.

The Brewers have agreed to a minor-league deal with right-hander Deivi García. Once a top-100 prospect in baseball, García struggled badly in the majors for the White Sox this season, posting a 7.07 ERA with 11 walks in 14 major league innings, and hardly fared better in Triple-A, getting torched for a 6.18 ERA in 51 innings.

The Rays have signed veteran righty Cole Sulser to a major league contract. Sulser appeared in four games for the Mets in 2024, allowing five earned runs in 4 2/3 innings. He tossed 11 2/3 scoreless innings after the Rays purchased his contract in July.

Latest on MMO

Johnluke Chaparro profiles free agent first baseman Christian Walker.

Sean Kenny breaks down the decisions the Mets will have to make before the Rule 5 Draft.

On This Date in Mets History

1984: Dwight Gooden is named the National League Rookie of the Year, receiving 23 of the 24 first-place votes. Gooden posted a 2.60 ERA with a major league-leading 276 strikeouts over 218 innings.

Born On This Date: Michael Tonkin (1989), Francisco Alvarez (2001).

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