All-Star designated hitter J.D. Martinez has signed a one-year deal with the New York Mets. According to reports, Martinez will earn $12 million in base salary in 2024.

The Mets confirmed the move on their social media but didn’t disclose the financial terms of the agreement.

Martinez is coming off a strong campaign in 2023 in which he batted .271 with 33 home runs and 103 RBIs in 113 games with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He earned his third straight All-Star appearance and sixth overall.

The reason why Martinez lingered on the free agent market for so long, despite still being viewed as a menace on the plate, was his high asking price. According to multiple reports, he initially asked for a salary of around $20 million but found little interest. The San Francisco Giants were the closest to his asking price, offering $14 million in 2024, but he ended up rejecting their offer because he didn’t believe that the team’s Oracle Park is “hitter-friendly.”

The Mets reportedly were initially not interested in Martinez but ended up recognizing the opportunity to add a difference-maker once he lowered his demands.

“J.D. is a veteran Major League player with a proven track record,” Mets’ president of baseball operations David Stearns said in a statement. “His valuable bat will provide protection and extend the lineup. His addition to the club continues our commitment to compete in 2024 and beyond.”

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The New York Mets’ shortstop Ronny Mauricio is dealing with a torn ACL, according to an announcement made by the team. Mauricio suffered the injury while playing in the Dominican Winter League.

 The Mets said that Mauricio will undergo surgery and that the timetable for his return will be shared at a later date.

When asked about Mauricio and whether he’ll play in 2024, the Mets’ new manager Carlos Mendoza didn’t want to give any predictions.

“That’s hard to tell,” Mendoza told reporters on Wednesday. “He’s going through a lot of tests and we’ll see what the doctors — the reports that we get from the doctors and the medical department, and we’ll see where we at.”

Ronny Mauricio signed with the Mets in 2017 as an international free agent. After more than five years in the minors, Mauricio made his MLB debut this past season. While he had his ups and downs, finishing with a .248 batting average, two home runs and nine RBIs in 26 games, many believed the 22-year-old showed enough to be part of the Mets’ plans in 2024.

Playing the Winter League became a tradition for Mauricio. This was his fourth consecutive campaign, and he even won the MVP award in 2022.

The post Mets’ SS Ronny Mauricio Tears His ACL While Playing in Winter League appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The underachieving New York Mets have been quite busy ahead of the MLB trade deadline, dealing a number of veteran players in exchange for prospects. However, the team’s general manager Billy Eppler insists that this isn’t a “fire sale” and that the Mets are not heading towards a rebuild.

The Mets entered the 2023 campaign with the highest payroll in the league and expectations to compete for the World Series. But with 105 games already behind them, the New York team is at 50-55 and is a long shot to make the playoffs.

As a result, the Mets opted to move on from some of their high-paid veterans, trading closer David Robertson to the Miami Marlins and moving three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer to the Texas Rangers.

“I do want to be clear that it’s not a rebuild. It’s not a fire sale,” Eppler told reporters on Sunday when asked about the moves. “It’s not a liquidation.”

Despite this, Eppler indicated that the franchise will remain busy as the trade deadline approaches.

“We’re going to listen, but our price points are high,” Eppler added. “We have valuations on our existing personnel, and the bar is high to meet it, but we are willing in certain circumstances to use Steve’s investment and kind of repurpose that investment to serve the larger goal, which is to build a championship organization.”

The post Mets are Not Having a “Fire Sale”, Says GM Billy Eppler appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The New York Mets decided to address their lackluster bullpen this week by executing a trade with the Seattle Mariners. The Mets received pitchers Trevor Gott and Chris Flexen while sending left-hand pitcher Zach Muckenhirn to Seattle.

Immediately after the trade became official, the Mets decided to designate Flexen for assignment. The New York team will be on the hook for $3.9 million of Flexen’s salary and can either trade him or outright release him.

Gott signed with the Mariners on a one-year, $1.2 million deal in November. He made 30 relief appearances and had a 0-3 record with a 4.03 ERA and 32 strikeouts. The Mets hope that the 30-year-old player will bring some stability to the bullpen that ranked in the bottom half of the league this season.

Flexen, who started his MLB career with the Mets, played 17 games in 2023 and made four starts with the Mariners. He has a 7.71 ERA for the season with 29 strikeouts and a 0-4 record.

Muckenhirn just recently saw his first MLB action. He made three appearances and had a 6.00 ERA.

Speaking with the reporters about the trade, Mariners’ manager Scott Servais said that the exchange of pitchers might benefit both teams.

“Trevor Gott, he did some good things for us. I thought he made some really nice improvements. That was a really good pickup for us in the offseason,” said Servais. “But this is an opportunity for those guys to go elsewhere. In the meantime, we get a player back, and we will use a couple of different players to fill that extra bullpen spot as we go forward.”

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Star pitcher Justin Verlander will make a rehab start in the minors this week before making his debut for the New York Mets. Verlander hasn’t played at all in 2023 after suffering a teres major strain during spring training.

The Mets’ manager Buck Showalter said on Tuesday that Verlander is expected to throw three to four innings on Friday and then re-join the team. This opens the possibility of Verlander making his Mets’ debut on May 3 against the Detroit Tigers.

Speaking with reporters, Verlander said that it has been “frustrating” for him not to be able to play at the start of the season.

“It’s hard for me not to be a part of and not want to help in some way, shape, or form. But everybody behind the scenes is saying, ‘Just wait, your time will be here,’” Verlander said.

However, the three-time AL Cy Young Award winner said that he believes the injury is now behind him and that he is close to being 100% ready to play.

The Mets have been solid to start the 2023 season, going 14-10 in their first 24 games. However, they didn’t look as convincing as many predicted, considering the abundance of talent on their roster. With Verlander in the mix, that will likely change.

The post Justin Verlander to Make a Rehab Start Before Mets’ Debut appeared first on SportzBonanza.

National League batting champion Jeff McNeil has agreed to a four-year, $50 million contract extension with the New York Mets, sources confirmed on Friday.

Prior to reaching an agreement with the team, McNeil was set to go on an arbitration trial with the Mets as he requested $7.75 million. The team offered $6.25 million in response.

The deal, which is pending a physical, includes the option for a fifth year which would raise the value of the agreement to $63.75 million if activated.

McNeil’s decision to take a deal made sense given that it would be another two years before he would reach free agency, at which point he would be 33 years of age. Also, the market has not been rewarding contract-oriented players as of late, making his decision that much more straightforward.

With a career batting average of .307, McNeil remains one of the Mets’ biggest hitters. In 2022, he hit .326/.382/.454 with 39 doubles, 9 home runs, 62 RBIs, and just 61 strikeouts.

Following the deal, the Mets’ projected payroll plus tax is around $467 million; a figure that is set to exceed the current league record.

The post Mets’ Jeff McNeil Agrees to Four-Year Contract Extension appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Free agent Carlos Correa, who recently agreed to a 12-year, $315 million contract with the New York Mets, is set to work through a medical issue with his new team following a physical exam. The Mets confirmed that Correa’s medical revealed that the player is exhibiting the same issues with his right leg that were evident during his time with the San Francisco Giants.

Hours before agreeing to his Mets contract, Correa’s previous deal with the Giants was put on hold after the team expressed concern about the shortstop’s lower right leg. The player underwent surgery on this part of his leg back in 2014 after breaking his fibula during a minor league game.

While the contract between Correa and the Mets has not yet been signed by both parties, it is believed that the Mets are still likely the sign the player despite his injury setback. There is, however, the possibility that the contract will be reworked, either whereby the term will be shortened or his proposed pay rate is reduced.

In over eight seasons in the MLB, Correa has a .836 OPS. As one of four shortstops available on free agency, Correa was expected to earn the most of the four before his deal with the Mets was put on hold.

The post Mets Newcomer Carlos Correa Faces “Medical Issue” appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Adam Ottavino has agreed to a two-year, $14.5 million contract with the New York Mets, sources confirmed on Wednesday. This sees the veteran reliever remain with the team for whom he posted a 2.06 ERA in 66 appearances this year.

Ottavino’s figures made him one of the most consistent relief pitchers in the National League last season. Due to his involvement in crucial moments throughout the season, the Mets were able to rack up 101 wins.

Famed for his fastball-slider mix, Ottavino has recorded a 3.44 ERA with 727 strikeouts and 274 walks. Following his peak in 2018 and 2019, Ottavino struggled to find his form in 2020 and 2021. This year, however, marks the revival of the 37-year-old player’s career. In 2022, Ottavino walked 4.1 batters per nine innings.

The Mets have been highly active in the market this winter, signing pitcher Justin Verlander for $86.6 million, Jose Quintana for $26 million, and David Robertson for $10 million. In addition, the team retained center fielder Brandon Nimmo, who signed for $162 million.

The post New York Mets Sign Adam Ottavino on Two-Year Deal appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Sandy Alderson revealed that he has decided to step down from his role as president of the New York Mets. The 74-year-old has served two separate stints as president.

“For me personally and for the organization, it’s the right time for this transition,” Alderson explained. He justified his decision by referring to the strong position in which the team currently finds itself both on and off the field, further revealing that he will assume an advisory role in which he will support the Mets owners Steve and Alex Cohen.

Alderson’s first tenure as Mets president was from 2010 to 2018. He rejoined the team two years later when the Cohen brothers bought the franchise. At the start of his second stint, Alderson also filled in as the team’s general manager until Billy Eppler was hired during last year’s offseason.

According to Steve Cohen, Alderson still plays a pivotal role in the development of the team, which is why he has been kept on as a special advisor despite his presidency coming to an end. “When I asked Sandy to come back to the team, it was for a defined period of time and with a specific mandate—revive our culture and this iconic franchise for our fans, partners and employees,” Cohen stated.

The post New York Mets President To Step Down; Will Assume Advisory Role appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The New York Mets announced the acquisition of veteran outfielder Tyler Naquin and lefty reliever Phillip Diehl in a trade with the Cincinnati Reds. The Mets gave up minor prospect pitcher Jose Acuña and minor prospect second baseman Hector Rodríguez for the duo.

The Reds have been looking to deal Naquin for some time now, considering that he is playing on an expiring contract. The former first-round pick has been batting .246 in 2022 while hitting seven homers with 33 RBIs. The 31-year-old player, who previously also played with the Cleveland Guardians, is a .269 career hitter.

Naquin probably won’t be the start of the show for the Mets, but he does add some depth as a left-handed bat to the team’s outfield that could prove important down the stretch. He is also expected to be a part of the group that handles DH tasks.

Diehl might be considered a throw-in since he’ll head to the minor league for the time being. If he does well there, he might be proved useful for bullpen depth later on.

For the Reds, this deal was about extracting as much possible for devaluated assets. They will add a fine boost to their farm system and might see value from Rodríguez, who was regarded as one of the Mets’ top 30 prospects.

The post Mets Acquire Veterans Tyler Naquin and Phillip Diehl in a Trade With Reds appeared first on SportzBonanza.

All-Star designated hitter J.D. Martinez has signed a one-year deal with the New York Mets. According to reports, Martinez will earn $12 million in base salary in 2024.

The Mets confirmed the move on their social media but didn’t disclose the financial terms of the agreement.

Martinez is coming off a strong campaign in 2023 in which he batted .271 with 33 home runs and 103 RBIs in 113 games with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He earned his third straight All-Star appearance and sixth overall.

The reason why Martinez lingered on the free agent market for so long, despite still being viewed as a menace on the plate, was his high asking price. According to multiple reports, he initially asked for a salary of around $20 million but found little interest. The San Francisco Giants were the closest to his asking price, offering $14 million in 2024, but he ended up rejecting their offer because he didn’t believe that the team’s Oracle Park is “hitter-friendly.”

The Mets reportedly were initially not interested in Martinez but ended up recognizing the opportunity to add a difference-maker once he lowered his demands.

“J.D. is a veteran Major League player with a proven track record,” Mets’ president of baseball operations David Stearns said in a statement. “His valuable bat will provide protection and extend the lineup. His addition to the club continues our commitment to compete in 2024 and beyond.”

The post All-Star DH J.D. Martinez Signs a 1-Year, $12 Million Contract With the NY Mets appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The New York Mets’ shortstop Ronny Mauricio is dealing with a torn ACL, according to an announcement made by the team. Mauricio suffered the injury while playing in the Dominican Winter League.

 The Mets said that Mauricio will undergo surgery and that the timetable for his return will be shared at a later date.

When asked about Mauricio and whether he’ll play in 2024, the Mets’ new manager Carlos Mendoza didn’t want to give any predictions.

“That’s hard to tell,” Mendoza told reporters on Wednesday. “He’s going through a lot of tests and we’ll see what the doctors — the reports that we get from the doctors and the medical department, and we’ll see where we at.”

Ronny Mauricio signed with the Mets in 2017 as an international free agent. After more than five years in the minors, Mauricio made his MLB debut this past season. While he had his ups and downs, finishing with a .248 batting average, two home runs and nine RBIs in 26 games, many believed the 22-year-old showed enough to be part of the Mets’ plans in 2024.

Playing the Winter League became a tradition for Mauricio. This was his fourth consecutive campaign, and he even won the MVP award in 2022.

The post Mets’ SS Ronny Mauricio Tears His ACL While Playing in Winter League appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The underachieving New York Mets have been quite busy ahead of the MLB trade deadline, dealing a number of veteran players in exchange for prospects. However, the team’s general manager Billy Eppler insists that this isn’t a “fire sale” and that the Mets are not heading towards a rebuild.

The Mets entered the 2023 campaign with the highest payroll in the league and expectations to compete for the World Series. But with 105 games already behind them, the New York team is at 50-55 and is a long shot to make the playoffs.

As a result, the Mets opted to move on from some of their high-paid veterans, trading closer David Robertson to the Miami Marlins and moving three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer to the Texas Rangers.

“I do want to be clear that it’s not a rebuild. It’s not a fire sale,” Eppler told reporters on Sunday when asked about the moves. “It’s not a liquidation.”

Despite this, Eppler indicated that the franchise will remain busy as the trade deadline approaches.

“We’re going to listen, but our price points are high,” Eppler added. “We have valuations on our existing personnel, and the bar is high to meet it, but we are willing in certain circumstances to use Steve’s investment and kind of repurpose that investment to serve the larger goal, which is to build a championship organization.”

The post Mets are Not Having a “Fire Sale”, Says GM Billy Eppler appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The New York Mets decided to address their lackluster bullpen this week by executing a trade with the Seattle Mariners. The Mets received pitchers Trevor Gott and Chris Flexen while sending left-hand pitcher Zach Muckenhirn to Seattle.

Immediately after the trade became official, the Mets decided to designate Flexen for assignment. The New York team will be on the hook for $3.9 million of Flexen’s salary and can either trade him or outright release him.

Gott signed with the Mariners on a one-year, $1.2 million deal in November. He made 30 relief appearances and had a 0-3 record with a 4.03 ERA and 32 strikeouts. The Mets hope that the 30-year-old player will bring some stability to the bullpen that ranked in the bottom half of the league this season.

Flexen, who started his MLB career with the Mets, played 17 games in 2023 and made four starts with the Mariners. He has a 7.71 ERA for the season with 29 strikeouts and a 0-4 record.

Muckenhirn just recently saw his first MLB action. He made three appearances and had a 6.00 ERA.

Speaking with the reporters about the trade, Mariners’ manager Scott Servais said that the exchange of pitchers might benefit both teams.

“Trevor Gott, he did some good things for us. I thought he made some really nice improvements. That was a really good pickup for us in the offseason,” said Servais. “But this is an opportunity for those guys to go elsewhere. In the meantime, we get a player back, and we will use a couple of different players to fill that extra bullpen spot as we go forward.”

The post Mets Acquire Pitchers Trevor Gott and Chris Flexen From the Mariners appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Star pitcher Justin Verlander will make a rehab start in the minors this week before making his debut for the New York Mets. Verlander hasn’t played at all in 2023 after suffering a teres major strain during spring training.

The Mets’ manager Buck Showalter said on Tuesday that Verlander is expected to throw three to four innings on Friday and then re-join the team. This opens the possibility of Verlander making his Mets’ debut on May 3 against the Detroit Tigers.

Speaking with reporters, Verlander said that it has been “frustrating” for him not to be able to play at the start of the season.

“It’s hard for me not to be a part of and not want to help in some way, shape, or form. But everybody behind the scenes is saying, ‘Just wait, your time will be here,’” Verlander said.

However, the three-time AL Cy Young Award winner said that he believes the injury is now behind him and that he is close to being 100% ready to play.

The Mets have been solid to start the 2023 season, going 14-10 in their first 24 games. However, they didn’t look as convincing as many predicted, considering the abundance of talent on their roster. With Verlander in the mix, that will likely change.

The post Justin Verlander to Make a Rehab Start Before Mets’ Debut appeared first on SportzBonanza.

National League batting champion Jeff McNeil has agreed to a four-year, $50 million contract extension with the New York Mets, sources confirmed on Friday.

Prior to reaching an agreement with the team, McNeil was set to go on an arbitration trial with the Mets as he requested $7.75 million. The team offered $6.25 million in response.

The deal, which is pending a physical, includes the option for a fifth year which would raise the value of the agreement to $63.75 million if activated.

McNeil’s decision to take a deal made sense given that it would be another two years before he would reach free agency, at which point he would be 33 years of age. Also, the market has not been rewarding contract-oriented players as of late, making his decision that much more straightforward.

With a career batting average of .307, McNeil remains one of the Mets’ biggest hitters. In 2022, he hit .326/.382/.454 with 39 doubles, 9 home runs, 62 RBIs, and just 61 strikeouts.

Following the deal, the Mets’ projected payroll plus tax is around $467 million; a figure that is set to exceed the current league record.

The post Mets’ Jeff McNeil Agrees to Four-Year Contract Extension appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Free agent Carlos Correa, who recently agreed to a 12-year, $315 million contract with the New York Mets, is set to work through a medical issue with his new team following a physical exam. The Mets confirmed that Correa’s medical revealed that the player is exhibiting the same issues with his right leg that were evident during his time with the San Francisco Giants.

Hours before agreeing to his Mets contract, Correa’s previous deal with the Giants was put on hold after the team expressed concern about the shortstop’s lower right leg. The player underwent surgery on this part of his leg back in 2014 after breaking his fibula during a minor league game.

While the contract between Correa and the Mets has not yet been signed by both parties, it is believed that the Mets are still likely the sign the player despite his injury setback. There is, however, the possibility that the contract will be reworked, either whereby the term will be shortened or his proposed pay rate is reduced.

In over eight seasons in the MLB, Correa has a .836 OPS. As one of four shortstops available on free agency, Correa was expected to earn the most of the four before his deal with the Mets was put on hold.

The post Mets Newcomer Carlos Correa Faces “Medical Issue” appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Adam Ottavino has agreed to a two-year, $14.5 million contract with the New York Mets, sources confirmed on Wednesday. This sees the veteran reliever remain with the team for whom he posted a 2.06 ERA in 66 appearances this year.

Ottavino’s figures made him one of the most consistent relief pitchers in the National League last season. Due to his involvement in crucial moments throughout the season, the Mets were able to rack up 101 wins.

Famed for his fastball-slider mix, Ottavino has recorded a 3.44 ERA with 727 strikeouts and 274 walks. Following his peak in 2018 and 2019, Ottavino struggled to find his form in 2020 and 2021. This year, however, marks the revival of the 37-year-old player’s career. In 2022, Ottavino walked 4.1 batters per nine innings.

The Mets have been highly active in the market this winter, signing pitcher Justin Verlander for $86.6 million, Jose Quintana for $26 million, and David Robertson for $10 million. In addition, the team retained center fielder Brandon Nimmo, who signed for $162 million.

The post New York Mets Sign Adam Ottavino on Two-Year Deal appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Sandy Alderson revealed that he has decided to step down from his role as president of the New York Mets. The 74-year-old has served two separate stints as president.

“For me personally and for the organization, it’s the right time for this transition,” Alderson explained. He justified his decision by referring to the strong position in which the team currently finds itself both on and off the field, further revealing that he will assume an advisory role in which he will support the Mets owners Steve and Alex Cohen.

Alderson’s first tenure as Mets president was from 2010 to 2018. He rejoined the team two years later when the Cohen brothers bought the franchise. At the start of his second stint, Alderson also filled in as the team’s general manager until Billy Eppler was hired during last year’s offseason.

According to Steve Cohen, Alderson still plays a pivotal role in the development of the team, which is why he has been kept on as a special advisor despite his presidency coming to an end. “When I asked Sandy to come back to the team, it was for a defined period of time and with a specific mandate—revive our culture and this iconic franchise for our fans, partners and employees,” Cohen stated.

The post New York Mets President To Step Down; Will Assume Advisory Role appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The New York Mets announced the acquisition of veteran outfielder Tyler Naquin and lefty reliever Phillip Diehl in a trade with the Cincinnati Reds. The Mets gave up minor prospect pitcher Jose Acuña and minor prospect second baseman Hector Rodríguez for the duo.

The Reds have been looking to deal Naquin for some time now, considering that he is playing on an expiring contract. The former first-round pick has been batting .246 in 2022 while hitting seven homers with 33 RBIs. The 31-year-old player, who previously also played with the Cleveland Guardians, is a .269 career hitter.

Naquin probably won’t be the start of the show for the Mets, but he does add some depth as a left-handed bat to the team’s outfield that could prove important down the stretch. He is also expected to be a part of the group that handles DH tasks.

Diehl might be considered a throw-in since he’ll head to the minor league for the time being. If he does well there, he might be proved useful for bullpen depth later on.

For the Reds, this deal was about extracting as much possible for devaluated assets. They will add a fine boost to their farm system and might see value from Rodríguez, who was regarded as one of the Mets’ top 30 prospects.

The post Mets Acquire Veterans Tyler Naquin and Phillip Diehl in a Trade With Reds appeared first on SportzBonanza.