Your Friday morning dose of Mets and Major League Baseball news, notes, and links.
Meet the Mets
Juan Soto is open to being approached by all 30 teams in Major League Baseball, and the Mets are among the first teams to check in on him.
Soto is said to be eyeing a $700 million deal without massive deferrals like the contract signed by Shohei Ohtani.
The Mets signed right-handed pitcher Dylan Covey, who spent the vast majority of his 2024 season with the Phillies’ Triple-A affiliate, to a major league contract.
Tim Healey wrote about what the Mets see in Covey.
Right-handed pitcher Joander Suarez could have been a minor league free agent but has re-signed with the Mets.
Mets prospects Drew Gilbert and Jett Williams are strengthening their bond in the Arizona Fall League.
The Athletic started looking at the Mets’ free agents with a piece on Pete Alonso.
Around the National League East
The Braves traded Jorge Soler to the Angels for right-handed pitcher Griffin Canning.
Weston Wilson fared well for the Phillies at the major league level this year, albeit in just 98 plate appearances.
Dodgers first base coach Clayton McCullough is still in contention for the Marlins’ managerial job, while Guardians bench coach Craig Albernaz has withdrawn from the process.
Here’s a primer on the Nationals’ offseason.
Around Major League Baseball
Freddie Freeman was dealing with more than his ankle injury as he led the Dodgers to a championship as World Series MVP.
Shohei Othani was more injured than the Dodgers let on as he played in the final three games of the World Series.
Here are some stats and facts from the decisive Game 5 of the World Series.
Grant Brisbee wrote about the things we learned from this World Series.
Daniel Hudson, who contributed to the Dodgers’ World Series win, is going out on top and retiring.
Scott Boras says that if former Padres owner Peter Seidler were still alive, Juan Soto would have stayed with the Padres for a long time.
The Giants will name Zack Minasian their new general manager.
Having missed the 2024 season entirely, Lucas Giolito picked up his player option with the Red Sox for the 2025 season.
The Twins declined their part of the mutual option they had with Maneul Margot, making him a free agent.
In more surprising Twins news, former first-round pick Alex Kiriloff has decided to retire from baseball at the age of 26.
The Cardinals are declining their 2025 options on Lance Lynn, Kyle Gibson, and Kenyan Middleton.
The White Sox chose not to pick up Yoan Moncada’s $25 million option, making him a free agent.
Randal Grichuk declined his option to stay with the Diamondbacks for the 2025 season, making him—you guessed it—a free agent.
The A’s traded outfielder Daz Cameron, son of former Mets outfielder Mike Cameron, to the Orioles for cash.
The Rangers have claimed right-handed pitcher Roansy Contreras off waivers from the Angels.
Major League Baseball will test a ball-strike challenge system in spring training.
There might not be as many players as usual protected from the Rule 5 draft this year.
Here are the top 35 trade candidates in baseball, per MLB Trade Rumors.
Good news, everyone: Bob Costas is retiring from play-by-play work.
Some Dodgers fans and the police clashed after Los Angeles won the World Series.
This Date in Mets History
The Mets traded away Gary Gentry, who logged 233.2 innings for the ‘69 Mets in the regular season and another 8.2 innings combined during that postseason, on this date in 1972.