Morning Briefing: Mets Sign Brandon Waddell to Minor League Deal

Good morning, Mets fans!

The Mets have inked lefty Brandon Waddell to a minor league contract. A fifth-round pick by the Pirates in 2015, Waddell spent most of the last three seasons in the KBO with a brief stop in the CPBL, pitching to a 2.98 ERA with 215 strikeouts against 65 walks in 244 2/3 for the Doosan Bears. 2023 was Waddell’s best professional season, posting a 2.82 ERA with 160 strikeouts against 44 walks in 175 2/3 innings. In 2024, he only pitched 75 innings, but he recorded a solid 3.12 ERA with 75 strikeouts against just 11 walks.

Latest Mets News

The Mets have signed infielder Jared Young to a split contract for the 2025 season. Young began the season in the Cardinals organization, batting .285/.411/.506 with 11 homers in 286 plate appearances before being released to play in the KBO, where he was teammates with Brandon Waddell. Once arriving in Korea, Young did nothing but mash, batting .326/.420/.660 with 10 homers, 16 doubles, and 39 RBIs in 169 plate appearances.

Former Mets team photographer Marc Levine will be posthumously inducted into the New York State Baseball Hall of Fame in 2025. Levine served as the team’s photographer from 1989 until his sudden passing this past July.

Yoenis Céspedes will be the next guest on the Terry Collins Show. You can submit questions for the Mets’ former star to Collins’ Twitter account.

Latest MLB News

The Orioles have signed Japanese righty Tomoyuki Sugano to a one-year contract worth $13 million. Sugano was originally expected to come stateside after the 2020 season but opted to stay in Japan. The 35-year-old enjoyed a great bounce-back season, posting a 1.67 ERA with 111 strikeouts against 16 walks in 156 2/3 innings.

Commissioner Rob Manfred said recently that he is against imposing an innings minimum for starting pitchers and acknowledged that salary deferrals could become a problem in the future. Manfred said he isn’t particularly concerned about dealing with another offseason lockout, as long as it doesn’t extend into the season.

Statcast introduced a new baserunning leaderboard, featuring stats such as base-stealing, extra bases taken, and overall baserunning value. Corbin Carroll grades as the most valuable base runner in the majors, while Elly De La Cruz led the league in bases gained.

Latest on MMO

Mathew Brownstein had the chance to talk with Christian Scott in an MMO Exclusive interview.

Allison Waxman writes about the significance of Luisangel Acuña‘s strong showing in winter ball.

David Melendi profiles infielder Jorge Polanco as a free agent.

On This Date in Mets History

Born On This Date: Bob Ojeda (1957), Edwin Almonte (1976), Dale Thayer (1980), Josh Edgin (1986), Daniel Vogelbach (1992).

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