Morning Briefing: Pirates ‘Hanging Around’ Alonso Market

Good morning, Mets fans! Pete the Pirate?!

Winter Meetings

The winter meetings got started Sunday in Orlando and MMO’s Mike Mayer is on hand. He has the scoop on Super Nintendo World. (Spoiler: it is epic.)

As for any epic signings or trades, nothing to report on the first day. USA Today’s Bob Nightengale did have lots of Mets tidbits in his column, however, and perhaps the most interesting was that the Pirates are “hanging around” the Pete Alonso market.

Nightengale said David Stearns isn’t going to let public pressure push him into signing Alonso (he proved this last offseason by playing the waiting game with the first baseman) and added that he won’t pay $100 million over five years for Edwin Díaz either.

“If Diaz chooses not to return at their price, they’ll be perfectly content to pursue Robert Suarez or even return Clay Holmes to the bullpen,” Nightengale wrote. The Mets, he said, and this has been reported elsewhere, are shopping Kodai Senga and Jeff McNeil. The Pirates may be interested in trading for McNeil, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported.

Nightengale also predicts the Mets (and Orioles) will land at least one free agent starter, but not during the winter meetings. He expects that the real action will occur in the two weeks between when the meetings end on Wednesday and Christmas.

Rosenthal reported that the Pirates have made Kyle Schwarber a four-year offer, according to people briefed on their discussions. The offer is most likely for more than $100 million. The Phillies are still the favorite to re-sign the slugger, but the Mets, Reds, Red Sox and Orioles are “serious suitors,” per Nightengale.

The American League champion Blue Jays will introduce Dylan Cease Tuesday and have Kyle Tucker and Suarez on their radar, according to Nightengale. If Toronto does land Tucker, it is expected they will let free agent Bo Bichette go. Boston is one potential destination.

The Yankees are the favorite to re-sign Cody Bellinger, but Nightengale said the Mets are “in play” and he is a fallback plan for the Phillies and Blue Jays (if they were to miss on Schwarber and Tucker.)

Alex Bregman will attract interest from the Red Sox, Tigers and Cubs, Nightengale reported. The Marlins have told teams they won’t deal Sandy Alcantara, but that Edward Cabrera is available.

The Tigers are telling teams they will listen to offers for Tarik Skubal, but he is not expected to be dealt, partly because the team adding him knows he will be free agent after the 2026 season.

Ketel Marte (signed through 2031) is more likely to be moved and the Red Sox, Rays and Tigers have checked in with Arizona. Jon Heyman of the New York Post and MLB Network reported that the Mariners, Pirates and Blue Jays are among teams that are a fit for Marte. Baseball reporter Francys Romero reported the Phillies are also in on Marte.

Romero also reported that the Cubs are looking for a third baseman and Eugenio Suárez is on their radar.

The Red Sox want to move Jarren Duran or Wilyer Abreu to alleviate a crowded outfield, per Nightengale. The Padres are taking offers on Jake Cronenworth. The Phillies “will give away” Nick Castellanos.

Rosenthal and Katie Woo of The Athletic reported that Pete Fairbanks could be the next closer to sign and that sources told them the Blue Jays and Marlins are among the teams interested.

The Royals are looking sign or trade for an outfielder and are willing to deal a starter, perhaps Kris Bubic, per Rosenthal. Free agent outfielders Kansas City may go after include Mike Yastrzemski, Adolis Garcia, Max Kepler, Mike Tauchman, Lane Thomas and JJ Bleday. The Angels are hunting for help in their rotation.

Latest Mets News

Jeff Kent, who hit 67 of his 377 career home runs with the Mets from 1992-1996, was elected to the Hall of Fame Sunday with 14 of 16 votes from the Contemporary Baseball Era Committee. Twelve votes were needed for election.

Carlos Delgado fell three votes shy of the Hall and received the second-most support of the eight players up for election. MMO’s Evan Mazza made the case for Delgado’s induction here. Don Mattingly and Dale Murphy each earned six votes. Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Gary Sheffield and Fernando Valenzuela each received fewer than five votes. MMO’s James Villani has more here.

Ronny Mauricio belted a two-run, walk-off home run Sunday to lift Tigres del Licey to a 6-5 victory in Dominican Winter League play. In Venezuelan Winter League play, Luisangel Acuña hit his sixth homer in 30 games and stole two bases.

Latest MLB News

Former Texas Rangers owner Tom Hicks died Saturday in Dallas at the age of 79. Hicks bought the club in 1998 and was the majority owner until August 2010. The team won division titles in his first two years of ownership and credited his hires of general manager Jon Daniels, manager Ron Washington and president Nolan Ryan with helping the Rangers make back-to-back World Series appearances in 2010-11.

Latest on MMO

James Villani covered it all from a Mets perspective in a winter meetings mega preview, complete with a payroll forecast and a look at potential moves. His prediction: The Mets add Freddy Peralta and Cody Bellinger and re-sign Edwin Díaz. But Pete Alonso is gone, replaced by Willson Contreras.

John Wilson focused his statistical spotlight on the curveball of Nolan McLean. It had an average of 26 inches of total movement, which led the league. Batters hit .074 against it. Wow.

Michael Mayer details how the Mets’ farm system is deep enough to trade for an ace.

On This Date in Mets History

1961: The Mets bought Richie Ashburn from the Cubs. The Hall of Famer’s salary for the 1962 Mets: $29,000. He earned $339,339 for his 15-year career.

1977: Jon Matlack and John Milner are traded to the Rangers for Willie Montanez, Ken Henderson and Tom Grieve.

1978: Jerry Koosman is traded to the Twins for Jesse Orosco and Greg Field. I was unaware that the pitcher who got the last out in the 1969 World Series was traded for the pitcher who would record the last out in the 1986 World Series.

2024: Reports broke that Juan Soto was signing with the Mets for a few dollars more than Ashburn did 63 years prior – $765 million over 15 years.

Born on This Date: Alex Torres (1987), Tim Foli (1950).

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