Morning Briefing: Mets Discussed Starling Marte Trade With Royals

Good morning, Mets fans!

According to Pat Ragazzo of Sports Illustrated, the Mets discussed a deal with the Royals around the Winter Meetings that would send Starling Marte to Kansas City in exchange for reliever Hunter Harvey. The Mets would have paid down some of Marte’s contract in this situation, but it never gained any traction.

The Mets are open to moving Marte and are likely still in the market for a reliever, even after making an impact signing to the bullpen on Friday.

Latest Mets News

The Mets signed lefty reliever A.J. Minter to a two-year, $22 million deal with an opt-out after year one. Minter pitched in just 39 games a year ago but had a 2.62 ERA and has a career 3.28 ERA in parts of eight seasons with the Braves.

The Mets officially announced that they signed outfielder and designated hitter Jesse Winker to a one-year deal. It was reported on Thursday that he would be returning.

2024 Triple-A Syracuse pitching coach Grayson Crawford announced on LinkedIn that he has been promoted to assistant pitching coordinator with the Mets.

Howie Rose joined the Awful Announcing Podcast to discuss the Mets, MLB’s pitch clock, and his call for Pete Alonso‘s ninth inning home run in Game 3 of the Wild Card series.

Former Met Kevin Plawecki is entering the coaching world, as he will become an instructor in the Arizona Fall League.

Latest MLB News

Coveted free agent Rōki Sasaki announced on Instagram that he is signing with the Dodgers. The 23-year-old is considered one of the best pitchers in the world and was sought after by the Mets this offseason. The signing bonus on Sasaki’s deal is for $6.5 million.

According to Jim Bowden on an episode of Foul Territory, the former general manager believes multiple teams could look into asking MLB to investigate the Dodgers for having a pre-cut deal with Sasaki.

The Blue Jays acquired center fielder Myles Straw and international bonus pool money from the Guardians in exchange for cash or a player to be named later. The Guardians will send the Blue Jays $1 million this year, $1 million next year and $1.75 million at the end of next year in addition to $2 million in international bonus pool money. That money was supposedly to be for Rōki Sasaki before he chose the Dodgers.

After missing out on Sasaki, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet reports the Blue Jays have been in contact with Anthony Santander. Talks picked up Friday morning, but a deal has not yet been reached.

The A’s signed reliever José Leclerc to a one-year, $10 million deal. He had a 4.32 ERA a year ago, but he owns a career 3.27 ERA in parts of eight seasons with the Rangers.

The Mariners signed former Mets minor leaguer Shintaro Fujinami to a minor league deal with an invite to spring training. Fujinami pitched mostly for Triple-A Syracuse in 2024, earning a shaky 5.94 ERA.

Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said the team plans to address the third base position internally, with 2024 third baseman Isaac Paredes now in Houston. That would seem to take Chicago out of the sweepstakes for Alex Bregman.

The Cubs also announced that Sammy Sosa and Derek Lee are being inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame.

Infielder Jake Burger announced that he will wear No. 21 with the Rangers in honor of his daughter who has Down Syndrome.

The Braves claimed reliever Amos Willingham off waivers from the Nationals. Willingham pitched mostly for Washington’s Triple-A team in 2024, recording a 3.69 ERA in 55 appearances. The Braves also DFA’d Allan Winans, a former Mets minor leaguer.

The Brewers signed reliever Elvin Rodríguez to a one-year deal with a club option for 2026. To make room on the 40-man roster, Milwaukee DFA’d JB Bukauskas. Rodriguez spent 2024 in the Japan Central League, where he pitched to a 1.74 ERA in 49 appearances.

Kenny Serwa, who has gone viral on the internet for his high-80s knuckleballer, signed a professional contract with the Tigers. He played independent ball in 2024.

Latest on MMO

Mathias Altman-Kurosaki lists five Mets prospects who could help the major league team in 2025.

On the latest MMO Weekly, Sal Manzo, Mathias Altman-Kurosaki and Christian De Block discuss the Mets re-signing Jesse Winkerand all of the latest Pete Alonso news.

Brian Wright makes the Hall of Fame case for Curtis Granderson.

On This Date in Mets History

2013: Mike Piazza missed out on making the Hall of Fame by nearly 100 votes, securing just 57.8 percent of the vote in his first year on the ballot. He would have needed 75 percent of the vote to be inducted. It would take three more years for Piazza to be inducted, when he received 83 percent of the vote in 2016.

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