<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/new-york-mets/mets-perfect-trade-offer-for-phillies-nick-castellanos');   ga('set', 'title', 'Mets’ perfect trade offer for Phillies’ Nick Castellanos');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/nick-castellanos-in-a-mets-uniform.jpg"></figure><h1>Mets’ perfect trade offer for Phillies’ Nick Castellanos</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-17T18:00:39-08:00">December 17th, 6:00pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-17T18:13:37-08:00">December 17th, 6:13pm</time><address><a>Garrett Kerman</a>Garrett Kerman also goes by the name of The Fight Analyst. He covers all combat sports, from MMA, to boxing, to even bare-knuckle. He is also very well-versed in all American sports when it comes to news and betting analysis. Whether you want betting advice or some breaking news, Garrett is your guy.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/phillies-rumors-club-begging-castellanos-trade-offseason">With Castellanos currently on the trade block</a> and the Phillies seeking to shed salary, an opportunity exists for the Mets to acquire a proven right fielder who can solidify their lineup. Given the Mets’ willingness to explore trades and their deep prospect pool, a fair deal between both organizations makes considerable sense heading into the 2026 season.</p><p>Castellanos represents an intriguing target for the Mets despite his recent down year. The veteran right fielder brings consistent power production and a proven track record as a professional hitter. While the 2025 season didn’t produce the numbers Castellanos is accustomed to, teams evaluating him understand the considerable value he brings to a contending roster. The Mets, positioned with young talent and an established core, have the flexibility to package a deal that works financially while maintaining their competitive window.</p><h2>The Trade Framework for Nick Castellanos</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Nick-Castellanos-i.jpg?w=1024"><figcaption>Aug 11, 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Nick Castellanos (8) runs off the field at the end of the third inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>For the Mets to acquire Castellanos, they need to offer an attractive package without mortgaging their future. The organization has young pitching prospects who have already proven capable of succeeding in the major leagues, combined with established big-league talent who could intrigue the Phillies. The Mets also possess middle-infield depth that could be repositioned in a trade scenario. A balanced approach ensures both sides feel satisfied while maintaining roster flexibility going forward.</p><h2>Perfect Trade Package for Nick Castellanos</h2><p><b>Phillies Receive:</b></p><ul><li>3B Brett Baty</li><li>RHP Jonah Tong</li><li>SS Jett Williams</li></ul><p><b>Mets Receive:</b></p><ul><li>OF Nick Castellanos</li></ul><h2>Why This Deal Makes Sense</h2><p>The Mets gain a veteran right fielder who can provide consistent production while solving a positional need. Castellanos would slot seamlessly into the outfield mix alongside existing talent. The Phillies, meanwhile, receive three assets with varying timelines and positional value. Baty showed tremendous promise in the second half of 2025, demonstrating the potential that made him a top prospect originally.</p><p>Jonah Tong represents one of baseball’s most exciting young arms, having emerged from relative obscurity to become a legitimate top prospect following his dominant minor league performance. Tong’s potential upside appeals to any organization, particularly the Phillies, who understand the value of controlled, cost-effective starting pitching. Jett Williams adds another layer of prospect depth, offering positional versatility as the Mets recognize his projection as a future major league contributor.</p><p>For the Mets, this trade doesn’t sacrifice their most coveted prospects. Brandon Sproat and Nolan McLean remain untouched, preserving the most elite tier of the organization’s pipeline. The deal clears outfield minutes while addressing positional redundancy without completely overhauling the roster. It’s a measured approach that demonstrates commitment to winning without creating long-term complications.</p><p>This trade proposal respects both organizations’ timelines while addressing immediate needs and organizational priorities for the 2026 season and beyond.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Mets’ perfect trade offer for Phillies’ Nick Castellanos

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/new-york-mets/mets-news-new-york-2-roster-moves-luke-weaver-signing');   ga('set', 'title', 'Mets make 2 roster moves after Luke Weaver signing');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/New-York-Mets-manager-Carlos-Mendoza-64-looks-over-the-dugout-railing-before-the-game-against-the-Pittsburgh-Pirates.jpg"><figcaption>© Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Mets make 2 roster moves after Luke Weaver signing</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-17T15:37:53-08:00">December 17th, 3:37pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-17T15:37:53-08:00">December 17th, 3:37pm</time><address><a>Abdullah Imran</a>Abdullah Imran works as an Associate Editor for All Sports at ClutchPoints. He’s been a sports fan his entire life and enjoys writing about every sport. He has spent three years in sports journalism and loves analyzing games. In his free time, he very much enjoys binge-watching shows and playing video games.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The New York Mets made <a href="https://x.com/Mets/status/2001370983631147200" rel="noopener">a pair of roster moves</a> on Wednesday, claiming catcher Drew Romo off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles and designating left-handed pitcher Brandon Waddell for assignment, shortly after signing former New York Yankees reliever <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/new-york-mets/mets-news-luke-weaver-follows-devin-williams-yankees-exit-on-22-million-contract">Luke Weaver to a two-year, $22 million deal</a>.</p><p>Romo was the 35th overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft by the Colorado Rockies and had previously been ranked among the top 100 prospects in baseball, including spots 80 and 84 by Baseball America and MLB Pipeline, respectively. At 24, the switch-hitting catcher has earned a reputation for his defensive skills and powerful arm. In limited big-league action with Colorado, he compiled a .167/.196/.222 slash line with 21 strikeouts in 56 plate appearances.</p><p>In the minors, Romo has shown more promise. Over parts of three Triple-A seasons, mostly with Albuquerque, he slashed .286/.337/.466 in 149 games, amassing 45 home runs and 240 RBIs in 426 games. However, his 2025 performance was less impressive, hitting .264/.329/.409 with a 25.8% strikeout rate and posting a wRC+ 25% below league average in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League.</p><p>Romo still has two minor league option years remaining, giving New York flexibility to shuttle him between Triple-A Syracuse and the majors as depth behind starter Francisco Alvarez, with veteran Luis Torrens and right-handed hitter Hayden Senger also on the 40-man roster.</p><p>To make room for Romo, the Mets designated Waddell for assignment. The 31-year-old lefty appeared in 11 games for the Mets in the past season, totaling 31 1/3 innings with a 3.45 ERA. While his ERA was respectable, the numbers behind it told a more complete and less flattering story. He had a 16.4% strikeout rate, 8.2% walk rate, 82% strand rate, a .260 BABIP, 4.54 FIP, and 5.65 xERA.</p><p>Waddell spent much of the year in Triple-A Syracuse, recording a 3-9 record and 5.02 ERA over 19 games, 15 of which were starts. He previously spent three years pitching in Korea with the Doosan Bears, achieving a 2.98 ERA across 244 2/3 innings, and made 12 starts in Taiwan’s CPBL in 2023. Since he has no remaining minor league options, the team must either trade him or put him on waivers in the next five days.</p><p>New York’s catching corps now includes Romo, Torrens, Senger, and starter Francisco Alvarez, providing multiple options to support the major league roster. On the pitching side, the addition of Weaver strengthens the back end of a bullpen that already includes Devin Williams, A.J. Minter, and Brooks Raley.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Mets make 2 roster moves after Luke Weaver signing

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/new-york-mets/mets-news-clay-holmes-nolan-mclean-join-team-usa-wbc');   ga('set', 'title', 'Mets’ Clay Holmes, Nolan McLean join Team USA for WBC');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Mark-DeRosa-manages-Team-USA-in-2023-World-Baseball-Classic.jpg"><figcaption>Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Mets’ Clay Holmes, Nolan McLean join Team USA for WBC</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-17T15:18:44-08:00">December 17th, 3:18pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-17T15:18:44-08:00">December 17th, 3:18pm</time><address><a>Abdullah Imran</a>Abdullah Imran works as an Associate Editor for All Sports at ClutchPoints. He’s been a sports fan his entire life and enjoys writing about every sport. He has spent three years in sports journalism and loves analyzing games. In his free time, he very much enjoys binge-watching shows and playing video games.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The New York Mets will be <a href="https://x.com/MLBONFOX/status/2001359581734408244" rel="noopener">well represented on the mound</a> after Team USA added right-handers Clay Holmes and Nolan McLean to its 2026 World Baseball Classic roster on Wednesday.</p><p>Holmes and McLean will both be making their WBC debuts. Their inclusion gives Team USA multiple established starters alongside reigning Pittsburgh Pirates 2025 National League Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes, who committed earlier, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/minnesota-twins/twins-star-joe-ryan-makes-big-team-usa-wbc-move">as well as Minnesota Twins right-hander Joe Ryan</a> and Chicago Cubs veteran Matthew Boyd. The additions are a welcome boost after Skenes remained the only confirmed pitcher for months, with <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/mlb-stories/world-baseball-classic-team-usa-2026-manager-mark-derosa">USA Baseball manager Mark DeRosa</a> previously acknowledging that some high-profile targets, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/new-york-yankees/yankees-news-max-fried-final-team-usa-world-baseball-classic-decision">including Max Fried, declined invitations</a>.</p><p>Holmes’ selection follows a successful transition season with the Mets. The 32-year-old spent nearly his entire major league career from 2019 through 2024 as a reliever before moving into the starting rotation on a three-year, $38 million free-agent deal. In his first year as a full-time starter, he appeared in 33 games, including 31 starts, and logged 165 2/3 innings. Holmes finished the season with a 3.53 ERA, a 1.304 WHIP, and set career highs in workload and strikeouts, totaling 129 punchouts. Taking the ball every five days made him one of New York’s most dependable starters and a sensible choice for Team USA during a tournament that overlaps with spring training.</p><p>McLean’s rise has been much quicker. The Mets selected the 24-year-old right-hander in the third round of the 2023 MLB Draft. In August, New York called up McLean for the first time last season, and he made eight starts at the major league level. Over 48 innings, he posted a 2.06 ERA with a 1.04 WHIP and struck out 57 batters.</p><p>Team USA lineup now includes Kyle Schwarber, Gunnar Henderson, Will Smith, Aaron Judge, Brice Turang, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Corbin Carroll, Bobby Witt Jr., and Cal Raleigh among the position players. The confirmed pitchers are Skenes, Boyd, Holmes, McLean, and Ryan.</p><p>The Mets will have several players competing in the 2026 WBC. Alongside Holmes and McLean on Team USA, Mark Vientos will represent Nicaragua, and Francisco Lindor will play for Puerto Rico. Meanwhile, Juan Soto, the 5x NL Silver Slugger, has not yet confirmed whether he will join the Dominican Republic.</p><p>The 2026 WBC will run from March 5 through March 17. Team USA opens Pool B play on March 6 against Brazil at Daikin Park in Houston.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Mets’ Clay Holmes, Nolan McLean join Team USA for WBC

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/new-york-yankees/mlb-rumors-yankees-lead-mets-dodgers-as-frontrunner-to-sign-cody-bellinger');   ga('set', 'title', 'MLB rumors: Yankees lead Mets, Dodgers as frontrunner to sign Cody Bellinger');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Cody-Bellinger-rounding-the-bases.jpg"><figcaption>© Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>MLB rumors: Yankees lead Mets, Dodgers as frontrunner to sign Cody Bellinger</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-17T12:26:22-08:00">December 17th, 12:26pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-17T12:38:35-08:00">December 17th, 12:38pm</time><address><a>RB Hayek</a>RB Hayek has been writing about sports for over a decade and is currently a member of ClutchPoints' editorial team after primarily focusing on betting content. In addition, he is also a published author of thriller novels, available on Amazon.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Dodgers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/new-york-yankees/mlb-rumors-yankees-still-favorite-cody-bellinger-mets-phillies-blue-jays-loom">race for free agent Cody Bellinger</a> has been an interesting chase, with several teams displaying interest. But now, the New York Yankees seemingly <a href="https://x.com/JimBowdenGM/status/2001352606082564587" rel="noopener">lead the chase</a> to re-sign Bellinger over the New York Mets and the Los Angeles Dodgers, according to MLB insider Jim Bowden.</p><p>“The market for Cody Bellinger is robust, with the most likely result that he signs with a big market, contending team, as expected, with the Yankees, Mets, and Dodgers the most likely landing spots for him at this point in that order,” Bowden wrote on X, formerly Twitter.</p><p>Bellinger is coming off a solid season, where he hit .272 with 29 home runs, 98 RBIs, and scored 89 runs. Additionally, he had a .480 slugging percentage with a .334 on-base percentage. Throughout his career, he has batted .261 with 225 home runs and 695 RBIs over 1,157 career games.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/los-angeles-dodgers/the-perfect-150-million-contract-dodgers-must-offer-cody-bellinger-to-steal-him-from-yankees">Bellinger began his career with the Dodgers</a>, so there is still a chance that he could rejoin the team that drafted him. Currently, he is testing the waters of free agency after a strong season with the Yanks. But as the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/los-angeles-dodgers/mlb-rumors-cody-bellinger-reunion-dodgers-in-play-if-leaves-yankees">Dodgers attempt to bring Bellinger back to Chavez Ravine,</a> the Yanks are making a push to keep him in the Bronx.</p><p>Because of the strong season he just had, the value for him is higher than it’s ever been. It was also a slight improvement over the 2024 season, when he hit .266 with 18 home runs, 78 RBIs, and 72 runs. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/mlb-stories/mlb-news-scott-boras-bold-cody-bellinger-free-agency-claim">Bellinger provides a great bat to any team</a> that he signs with. Likewise, his defense is solid as he finished in the 93rd percentile in overall defense, and a 91% arm value.</p><p>For now, the Yanks have a strong chance of retaining their valued outfielder. Of course, it will cost them, as it will the Dodgers or Mets, should they attempt to sign him. If the Yankees can bring Bellinger back, they will reunite him with Aaron Judge, who remains the top hitter in this lineup.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

MLB rumors: Yankees lead Mets, Dodgers as frontrunner to sign Cody Bellinger

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/new-york-mets/mets-news-luke-weaver-follows-devin-williams-yankees-exit-on-22-million-contract');   ga('set', 'title', 'Luke Weaver follows Devin Williams’ Yankees exit to Mets on $22 million contract');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Luke-Weaver-on-Sept.-30-2025.jpg"><figcaption>Brad Penner-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Luke Weaver follows Devin Williams’ Yankees exit to Mets on $22 million contract</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-17T09:31:31-08:00">December 17th, 9:31am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-17T09:37:16-08:00">December 17th, 9:37am</time><address><a>Zachary Weinberger</a>Zachary Weinberger joined ClutchPoints in October 2023 as a Miami Heat reporter as well as an Associate Editor. He graduated from Florida Atlantic University in 2022 after covering the school's athletic programs since his freshman year at the FAU University Press, where he was a Sports Editor and Editor-in-Chief. He then covered FAU Sports for The Palm Beach Post.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>When the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/new-york-mets/mets-news-new-york-devin-williams-agree-to-three-year-contract-in-mlb-free-agency">New York Mets signed Devin Williams earlier</a> in the month, it turned out that it wouldn’t be the only pitcher that the team signed from the New York Yankees. With the<a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/new-york-mets/mlb-rumors-nick-pivetta-many-padres-pitchers-linked-mets-trade-talks"> rumors around the Mets this offseason,</a> the team made another move in Luke Weaver.</p><p>This was reported by Joel Sherman of The New York Post, saying that the reliever in Weaver <a href="https://x.com/Joelsherman1/status/2001339261745008903" rel="noopener">will get a two-year contract</a>, worth $22 million.</p><p>“The Mets are working toward trying to finalize a deal with free agent reliever Luke Weaver, a source told The Post,” Sherman wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “When finalized, the Weaver deal will be for 2 years and $22M with the Mets. It is pending physical.”</p><p>Weaver has been in the league since 2016, being a part of six different teams, including the Yankees, where he has been since being traded in-season from the Seattle Mariners in 2023. Last season with the Yankees, he recorded a 3.62 ERA to go along with eight saves and 72 strikeouts, also having a 4-4 record in 64 game appearances.</p><p>It does seem to be an ongoing trend from the Mets to sign productive pitchers who have played with their in-state rival, the Yankees, as judged by their recent signing in Williams. At any rate, there’s no denying that the Mets’ offseason has been one that fans have had problems with, as the team lost Pete Alonso and Edwin Diaz to the Baltimore Orioles and the Los Angeles Dodgers, respectively.</p><p>New York looks to improve next season in 2026 after finishing 83-79, which put them second in the NL East division, but it was not good enough to contend for the playoffs, being eliminated. All eyes will be on the team to live up to expectations as they build their bullpen.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Luke Weaver follows Devin Williams’ Yankees exit to Mets on $22 million contract

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/new-york-mets/mlb-rumors-nick-pivetta-many-padres-pitchers-linked-mets-trade-talks');   ga('set', 'title', 'MLB rumors: Nick Pivetta one of many Padres pitchers linked to Mets trade talks');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Nick-Pivetta.jpg"><figcaption>Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>MLB rumors: Nick Pivetta one of many Padres pitchers linked to Mets trade talks</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-16T15:58:30-08:00">December 16th, 3:58pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-16T15:58:30-08:00">December 16th, 3:58pm</time><address><a>Matty Breisch</a>Matty Breisch is a Senior Editor at ClutchPoints. He can be read at Heavy, FanSided, The Needle Drop, Philadelphia Sports Network, and right here at ClutchPoints. Are you ready to read about football and wrestling? Well, you've come to the right place.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>When the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/mlb-stories/mlb-rumors-dodgers-join-edwin-diaz-sweepstakes-mets-blue-jays">Los Angeles Dodgers stole Edwin Diaz away from the Big Apple</a>, signing him to a $69 million contract in the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/los-angeles-dodgers/dodgers-news-edwin-diaz-reveals-biggest-deciding-factor-choosing-la-over-mets">hopes of finally securing a World Series ring</a>, it put the New York Mets in panic mode.</p><p>Sure, they signed Devin Williams away from the New York Yankees, hoping that his down year a few stops down the subway was an aberration versus his typical “Airbending” ways, but that didn’t stop the team from letting it be known they are <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/mlb-stories/mlb-rumors-mets-blue-jays-pivoting-to-robert-suarez-after-dodgers-edwin-diaz-contract-agreement">still in the relief pitching market</a>, and potentially willing to pony up for a really good one.</p><p>Could that come via trade? According to Ken Rosenthal on Foul Territory, it very well might, with Nick Pivetta of the San Diego Padres a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=53&amp;v=qSIx0BqnWdg&amp;feature=youtu.be" rel="noopener">name to watch</a> alongside Mason Miller and Ramon Laureano.</p><p>“Nick Pivetta is certainly a guy the Padres have talked about. Well you might say, wait, they’ve lost Dylan Cease. They’re probably going to lose Michael King. Yu Darvish is out for the season. Why are they trading Nick Pivetta? And the answer would be simply that they can turn Nick Pivetta into two younger pitchers or something else that can get them young pitching, that’s what they would want to do,” Rosenthal explained.</p><p>“They need multiples. So Pivetta is one name. Mason Miller is another name. Ramon Laureano a third, and there are two other relievers we’ve heard as well. And these are just some of the names in the Mets conversations. That’s Jeremiah Estrada and Adrian Morejon.”</p><p>While Miller is arguably the name to watch in that group, as the former Athletic was one of the hottest names before the 2025 MLB trade deadline, Pivetta is a much more gettable target, having just signed a four-year, $55 million contract back in February. He may not be as flashy as Diaz, or even Miller, but if the Mets are serious about getting better, it’s not a bad avenue to go down.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

MLB rumors: Nick Pivetta one of many Padres pitchers linked to Mets trade talks

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/new-york-mets/mets-news-david-stearns-jorge-polanco-signing');   ga('set', 'title', 'Mets’ David Stearns breaks silence on Jorge Polanco signing');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Mets-executive-David-Stearns.jpg"><figcaption>Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Mets’ David Stearns breaks silence on Jorge Polanco signing</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-16T15:18:27-08:00">December 16th, 3:18pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-16T15:18:27-08:00">December 16th, 3:18pm</time><address><a>Josh Davis</a>Josh Davis is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints with a focus on MLB. As the founder and creator of OutOfSightSports, Josh spearheads the development and expansion of an engaging social media platform, with a core focus on Twitter/X. A passionate sports writer, Josh is dedicated to delivering compelling content that connects fans and fuels vibrant sports conversations. His vision is to craft stories so vivid that fans feel like they’re standing at the plate or on the field.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The New York Mets moved quickly to reshape their roster, and the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/new-york-mets/mets-news-jorge-polanco-40-million-contract">signing of Jorge Polanco</a> now sits at the center of the club’s evolving MLB offseason strategy. With David Stearns’ leadership guiding the front office, the Mets’ plan at first base has taken a new direction, signaling a clear break from past roster construction.</p><p>The Mets officially signed Polanco to a two-year, $40 million deal on Tuesday, addressing a significant vacancy left behind after a wave of departures. The move reflects a broader emphasis on roster flexibility rather than committing to traditional positional profiles. Stearns believes that approach aligns with where the Mets stand as they look ahead to the 2026 season.</p><p>USA Today reporter Bob Nightengale <a href="https://x.com/BNightengale/status/2001062471541645633?s=20" rel="noopener">shared comments</a> from the Mets president of baseball operations on X (formerly known as Twitter), after the signing became official, explaining how the 32-year-old veteran fits into the team’s long-term vision.</p><p>“Jorge’s athleticism and versatility on both sides of the ball make him a perfect fit,” Stearns said. “As we stand now, we would anticipate Jorge playing first base, DH, and bouncing around to other positions as needed.”</p><p>The Mets’ plan at first base represents a significant shift, as Polanco has spent most of his career as a middle infielder. Still, the organization is betting that his athletic profile and recent offensive resurgence can offset the defensive transition. Polanco is coming off a strong 2025 season with the Seattle Mariners, where his production rebounded to near All-Star levels.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/new-york-mets/mets-news-david-stearns-free-agency-plan">Stearns’ approach</a> has drawn mixed reactions from fans, particularly following the departures of Pete Alonso, Edwin Diaz, and Brandon Nimmo. However, he continues to prioritize shorter contracts, positional versatility, and financial flexibility as the Mets reset their competitive window.</p><p>As spring training approaches, the Polanco signing will remain a defining storyline. Whether the Mets’ gamble on roster flexibility pays off at first base could help determine how this retooled club performs in the seasons ahead.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Mets’ David Stearns breaks silence on Jorge Polanco signing

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/new-york-mets/mets-rumors-analyst-believes-new-york-preparing-big-trade');   ga('set', 'title', 'Mets rumors: Analyst believes New York is preparing for ‘big’ trade');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Mets-players.jpg"><figcaption>© Brad Penner-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Mets rumors: Analyst believes New York is preparing for ‘big’ trade</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-16T12:35:57-08:00">December 16th, 12:35pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-16T14:21:16-08:00">December 16th, 2:21pm</time><address><a>Benjamin Adducchio</a>Benjamin Adducchio is a journalist and writer with more than a decade of experience in covering sports news. Ben is a passionate sports fan who loves college football, basketball, and the New York Yankees.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/new-york-mets/orioles-news-pete-alonso-breaks-silence-first-post-since-leaving-mets">New York Mets have lost some familiar faces this offseason, including fan-favorite Pete Alonso</a>. New York has been active in the free agent and trade market, looking for players to help offset the losses. One podcast host believes New York’s National League club is on the doorstep of <a href="https://twitter.com/TalkinBaseball_/status/2000989429708816712" rel="noopener">making a big trade</a>.</p><p>“The Mets are setting up for a big deal, they have to have something planned,” Talkin’ Baseball co-host Jake “Rocky” Storiale said on the show.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Mets have so many pieces, they have to be planning a massive trade <a href="https://t.co/IMRd4Bf9Tm">pic.twitter.com/IMRd4Bf9Tm</a></p><p>— Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) <a href="https://twitter.com/TalkinBaseball_/status/2000989429708816712?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Storiale threw out a few names that could be possible trade candidates, including Detroit Tigers star pitcher Tarik Skubal. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/detroit-tigers/tigers-news-president-refuses-call-tarik-skubal-untouchable-trade-talks">Skubal was not declared as untouchable in trade talks</a>, by Tigers management. The hurler won the American League Cy Young award again in 2025, for the second consecutive year.</p><h2><b>Mets are a team looking for pieces</b></h2><p>New York was arguably the most disappointing MLB team in 2025. After hitting a home run before the season by signing free-agent Juan Soto, New York then struggled to win games. The Mets ended up missing the postseason, losing a Wild Card spot to the Cincinnati Reds.</p><p>The Mets have been involved heavily this offseason in finding players. New York made a really big splash, by signing veteran reliever Devin Williams to a free-agent contract. Williams left the New York Yankees, where he had spent just one season.</p><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/los-angeles-dodgers/dodgers-news-edwin-diaz-reveals-biggest-deciding-factor-choosing-la-over-mets">Mets lost Alonso and closer Edwin Diaz in free agency</a>, which were tough blows. New York is working to figure out the <a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/47314814/mlb-2025-free-agency-new-york-mets-david-stearns-steve-cohen-alonso-diaz-nimmo-collapse" rel="noopener">right formula to win again</a>.</p><p>“I think we’re always weighing how certain transactions fit into the larger puzzle of the resources we have,” Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said at the MLB winter meetings, per ESPN. “We have a lot of resources. No team has unending resources, and I’ve said that before. We’ve got all the resources we need, all of the payroll space. We need to put a really good team on the field. That doesn’t mean it’s infinite, nor should it be.”</p><p>Storiale believes that formula has to include immediate impact players.</p><p>“They have ammunition…..they need win now moves,” Storiale added.</p><p>Time will tell if the Mets can return to the postseason in 2026. New York went 83-79 in the 2025 campaign.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Mets rumors: Analyst believes New York is preparing for ‘big’ trade

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/mlb-stories/mlb-rumors-mets-very-in-on-cody-bellinger-catch-yankees-attention');   ga('set', 'title', 'MLB rumors: Mets being ‘very in’ on Cody Bellinger will catch Yankees’ attention');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Sep-7-2025-Bronx-New-York-USA-New-York-Yankees-left-fielder-Cody-Bellinger-35-hits-the-ball.jpg"><figcaption>© Mark Smith-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>MLB rumors: Mets being ‘very in’ on Cody Bellinger will catch Yankees’ attention</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-16T11:05:52-08:00">December 16th, 11:05am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-16T11:26:29-08:00">December 16th, 11:26am</time><address><a href="https://linktr.ee/colinloughran">Colin Loughran</a>Colin Loughran is a NYC-based Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. He has spent several years covering sports and has worked for outlets such as the New York Post, AP Radio, and FanSided. Colin is also a three-time NYSBA award winner and a proud graduate of Fordham University.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The<a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/new-york-mets/mets-rumors-insider-says-quiet-part-out-loud-about-cody-bellinger-after-pete-alonsos-departure"> New York Mets have not had a stellar offseason,</a> but they may have designs on luring a former Yankee <a href="https://x.com/MLBNetwork/status/2000972690228724174?s=20" rel="noopener">to Flushing.</a></p><p>According to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, the Mets are “very in” on <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/new-york-yankees/yankees-rumors-will-new-york-pursue-cody-bellinger-trent-grishams-contract-decision">outfielder Cody Bellinger, who spent the 2025 campaign in the Bronx.</a> This is not the first time that Bellinger has been connected to the Mets. Agent Scott Boras even hinted at this with a recent cryptic response <a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/scott-boras-cody-bellinger-market-winter-meetings" rel="noopener">regarding his client’s future.</a></p><p>“It’s not for me to Judge, but great players see Red if they have a big bat Yanked out of their lineup,” Boras told Bryan Hoch during this month’s Winter Meetings. “I haven’t Met a team that Dodges a five-tool player. To Phil the center-field need is a Giant step towards the playoffs.”</p><p>Across 152 games with the Yankees, Bellinger bashed 28 homers, ripped 25 doubles, and collected 98 RBIs with an .813 OPS. According to Baseball Savant, he ranked in the <a href="https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/savant-player/cody-bellinger-641355?stats=statcast-r-hitting-mlb" rel="noopener">82nd percentile in Batting Run Value.</a></p><p>Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has expressed interest in retaining the 30-year-old slugger, but has also acknowledged that he fits the needs of multiple teams.</p><p>“I think he’d be a great fit for anybody,” Cashman said. “I think he’s a very talented player that can play multiple positions at a high level, and hits lefties, hits righties. He’s a contact guy, and I think our environment was a great one for him.”</p><p>The Mets traded Brandon Nimmo and allowed both first baseman Pete Alonso and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/los-angeles-dodgers/dodgers-news-edwin-diaz-reveals-biggest-deciding-factor-choosing-la-over-mets">closer Edwin Diaz to sign elsewhere.</a> It remains to be seen if president of baseball operations David Stearns and the front office will take a big swing this winter, but it’s possible that cutting a deal with Bellinger is one of their priorities.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

MLB rumors: Mets being ‘very in’ on Cody Bellinger will catch Yankees’ attention

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/los-angeles-dodgers/dodgers-news-edwin-diaz-reveals-biggest-deciding-factor-choosing-la-over-mets');   ga('set', 'title', 'Edwin Diaz reveals biggest deciding factor in choosing Dodgers over Mets');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Mets-closer-Edwin-Diaz-on-the-mound.jpg"><figcaption>Brad Penner-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Edwin Diaz reveals biggest deciding factor in choosing Dodgers over Mets</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-15T20:03:41-08:00">December 15th, 8:03pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-15T20:03:41-08:00">December 15th, 8:03pm</time><address><a>Matty Breisch</a>Matty Breisch is a Senior Editor at ClutchPoints. He can be read at Heavy, FanSided, The Needle Drop, Philadelphia Sports Network, and right here at ClutchPoints. Are you ready to read about football and wrestling? Well, you've come to the right place.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Dodgers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>When news broke that <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/mlb-stories/mlb-rumors-dodgers-join-edwin-diaz-sweepstakes-mets-blue-jays">Edwin Diaz decided to join the Los Angeles Dodgers</a> after an incredible success tenure with the New York Mets, it left fans in the five boroughs wondering what on earth went wrong.</p><p>Sure, the Dodgers offered Diaz $3 million more over the course of the contract, which is nice, and the Mets already signed Devin Williams to a three-year deal as a potential closing option, but after being named an All-Star in 2025, why would the 31-year-old closer take his talents west when he had such a good thing going for him at Citi Field?</p><p>Well, while talking to reporters on Monday, Diaz spilled some of the beans, noting that, at this stage of his career, he wants to play for a team with an opportunity to win, and the Dodgers <a href="https://x.com/SleeperMets/status/2000654559719633337?s=20" rel="noopener">simply check that box</a> better than the Mets.</p><p>“We have a team that’s gonna win. At this point in my career, I’m looking for a team that has the opportunity to win,” Diaz said via @CMF_Collazo. “The decision was the Mets or the Dodgers, and I chose the Dodgers because again, I think they’re gonna win.”</p><p>Now rightfully, Mets fans will take issue with that assertion. While the Dodgers are the reigning and defending World Series champions two times over, the Mets were right up there with them in terms of spending and saw their playoff chances come right down to the wire, even if they ultimately failed to qualify for October baseball. New York clearly believes they can make a run and will <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/new-york-mets/mets-rumors-new-york-interested-reliever-losing-edwin-diaz-dodgers">likely still end up with a quality team</a> even after losing one of the best closers in the game in free agency.</p><p>And yet, if a player wants to play for a winner, it’s hard to argue with signing a deal with the Dodgers, as they are the odds-on World Series favorites for a reason. With a three-year contract inked up, Diaz’s chances of becoming a champion look very good indeed.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Edwin Diaz on his offseason decision: </p><p>“We have a team that’s gonna win. At this point in my career, I’m looking for a team that has the opportunity to win. The decision was the Mets or the Dodgers, and I chose the Dodgers because again, I think they’re gonna win.” </p><p>Via IG… <a href="https://t.co/91tMuQbgV3">pic.twitter.com/91tMuQbgV3</a></p><p>— SleeperMets (@SleeperMets) <a href="https://twitter.com/SleeperMets/status/2000654559719633337?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Edwin Diaz reveals biggest deciding factor in choosing Dodgers over Mets

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/new-york-mets/mets-rumors-ny-willing-trade-mark-vientos-turbulent-offseason');   ga('set', 'title', 'Mets rumors: NY willing to trade Mark Vientos amid turbulent offseason');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Mark-Vientos_586fc1.jpg"><figcaption>Sam Navarro-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Mets rumors: NY willing to trade Mark Vientos amid turbulent offseason</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-15T14:50:02-08:00">December 15th, 2:50pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-15T14:50:02-08:00">December 15th, 2:50pm</time><address><a>Dan Fappiano</a>Dan Fappiano is a Connecticut-based sports journalist with over five years of professional experience. After graduating from Central Connecticut State University with a bachelor's degree in journalism, he has covered every sport from fencing to football in the online and print medium. Dan hopes to see his beloved Bears win a Super Bowl someday.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/new-york-mets/mets-news-steve-cohen-message-angry-fans-losing-edwin-diaz-pete-alonso">New York Mets will look like a much different team</a> when they step onto the diamond in 2026. Trading away corner infielder Mark Vientos would only add an extra element to the Mets’ new look.</p><p>New York <a href="https://www.si.com/mlb/mets/onsi/news/source-mets-are-open-to-trading-mark-vientos">has at least considered</a> the idea of dealing him away, via Pat Ragazzo of Sports Illustrated. The Mets are preparing to completely change the right side of their infield.</p><p>They acquired Marcus Semien in a trade with the Texas Rangers to play second base. Then, the Mets signed Jorge Polanco to play first. Of course, they needed a new option at the cold corner <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/baltimore-orioles/orioles-news-fans-react-pete-alonso-official-announcement-fan-reaction">after Pete Alonso signed a $155 million deal with the Baltimore Orioles</a>. Former top prospect Brett Baty seems to have locked up the third base position while Francisco Lindor isn’t going anywhere at shortstop.</p><p>While Vientos could always serve as the designated hitter, that leaves him without a clear cut position. With four years of control left on his contract, he would be a valuable resource in a trade. If president of baseball operations David Stearns gets proposed an offer he feels is fair for Vientos, there’s a strong possibility he accepts it.</p><p>Despite those defensive issues, Vientos’ bat would play in the Mets’ or any lineup in MLB. He’s coming off of a bit of a down year in 2025, hitting .233 with 17 home runs and 61 RBIs. But a year prior, Vientos swatted .266 while belting 27 home runs and 71 RBIs. Only 26-years-old, the infielder still possesses plenty of potential.</p><p>The Mets must decide if that potential is better used in their lineup or as trade bait. Stearns will consider all options as he overhauls New York’s roster.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Mets rumors: NY willing to trade Mark Vientos amid turbulent offseason

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/new-york-mets/mets-perfect-trade-offer-padres-mason-miller');   ga('set', 'title', 'Mets’ perfect trade offer for Padres’ Mason Miller');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Mason-Miller.jpg"><figcaption>Denis Poroy-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Mets’ perfect trade offer for Padres’ Mason Miller</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-14T02:41:08-08:00">December 14th, 2:41am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-14T03:05:03-08:00">December 14th, 3:05am</time><address><a>Mike Gianakos</a>Mike Gianakos is a veteran editor and writer for print and digital media. He also created and oversaw video and event production departments for legacy media brands. Mike is a longtime podcaster and even longer suffering NY Jets fan.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The New York Mets face a critical offseason after <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/new-york-mets/mets-most-to-blame-for-historic-collapse-to-miss-playoffs">failing to reach the playoffs in 2025</a>. New York was expected to build on a successful 2024 campaign, when the team made a surprise run to the NLCS. With the addition of Juan Soto, the Mets had World Series aspirations. But the club never really gelled. And a late season collapse saw New York fall just short of a Wild Card berth.</p><p>While many believed the team would attempt to rebound by flexing its unmatched purchasing power, courtesy of the richest owner in the sport, the hot stove has been lukewarm. Even worse, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/new-york-mets/mets-news-steve-cohen-message-angry-fans-losing-edwin-diaz-pete-alonso">Mets let Pete Alonso and Edwin Diaz walk</a> in free agency, leaving fans distraught.</p><p>New York <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/new-york-mets/mets-news-jorge-polanco-40-million-contract">signed Jorge Polanco</a> to a two-year, $40 million deal. But the addition did little to curb complaints.</p><p>But there’s nothing like a blockbuster trade to rally the fanbase. And the Mets have an opportunity to do just that by acquiring San Diego Padres reliever Mason Miller.</p><h2><b>Miller on the market</b></h2><p>Although San Diego just landed Miller in a trade deadline deal last season, the team is reportedly willing to move the pitcher for the right price. Of course, as every team feels obligated to note when hyping a trade, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/san-diego-padres/padres-rumors-mason-miller-trade-possibility-overwhelmed-catch">Padres would have to be “overwhelmed” by the offer</a>.</p><p>In this case, it’s certainly understandable. San Diego gave up an awful lot for half a season of Miller in a setup role. The Padres traded their top prospect Leo De Vries (currently the third-ranked prospect in baseball’s top 100) and three promising minor league pitchers for Miller and LHP JP Sears.</p><p>San Diego went all-in on the 2025 season, bolstering their bullpen for a playoff run. But the team got bounced in the Wild Card round by the Chicago Cubs. Now, because all things are possible with Padres GM A.J. Preller, Miller could be on the move again. For the right price, of course.</p><h2><b>Help wanted in Mets bullpen</b></h2><p>The Mets’ bullpen has taken a beating this offseason. NL Reliever of the Year Edwin Diaz bolted to the Los Angeles Dodgers and the team also lost Ryan Helsley, Tyler Rogers and Gregory Soto in free agency.</p><p>New York did nab Devin Williams, luring the former Yankees closer to Queens with a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/new-york-mets/mets-news-new-york-devin-williams-agree-to-three-year-contract-in-mlb-free-agency">three-year, $51 million deal</a>. However, if you read the tea leaves (or watched Williams pitch last season) it’s apparent the Mets would prefer to have him in a setup role. At the very least, they’d like some flexibility and depth in the bullpen.</p><p>That opens the door for Miller. The 27-year-old hurler is unquestionably one of the best relievers in baseball. He routinely reaches triple digits on the radar gun and produces stellar strikeout rates.</p><h2><b>Miller makes sense for the Mets</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Mason-Miller-2.jpg"><figcaption>Denis Poroy-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>After a slowish start with the A’s last season, Miller caught fire with the Padres. In 22 appearances for San Diego he had a 0.77 ERA, 0.729 WHIP, a preposterous 561 ERA+ and an eye-popping 17.4 K/9. Miller racked up 1.4 bWAR in just 23.1 innings with the Padres. In total, he recorded 104 strikeouts in 61.2 innings.</p><p>And Miller’s all the more attractive given his contract. The three-year pro is under club control for the next five years and won’t become a free agent until the 2030 season.</p><p>While the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/atlanta-braves/braves-robert-suarez-contract-grades-45-million-deal">Padres lost Robert Suarez to the Atlanta Braves</a> they’re open to trading Miller for a package that includes controllable talent to address needs and help the team compete long term.</p><p>New York has the prospects to get a deal done. But the Mets should only make an offer if they believe Miller can be their closer for the next five years. If the team is ready to hand the ninth inning to Miller and use Williams as the setup man it’s worth dipping into the prospect pool.</p><h2><b>Mets trade offer</b></h2><p>The Mets could offer RHP Jonah Tong (New York’s <a href="https://www.mlb.com/milb/prospects/mets/jonah-tong-804636" rel="noopener">No. 4 prospect</a> and No. 46 in MLB’s top 100) and OF/SS/2B Jett Williams (<a href="https://www.mlb.com/milb/prospects/mets/jett-williams-702518" rel="noopener">No. 3</a> and No. 30) as well as a pot sweetener (more on that below).</p><h2><b>Jonah Tong</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Johah-Tong.jpg"><figcaption>Brad Penner-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The Padres desperately need to add to their rotation. The team lost Dylan Cease to free agency and Michael King is expected to follow him out of San Diego. Additionally, veteran hurler Yu Darvish is out for the season. Naturally, the Padres would expect one of the Mets’ three young starters – Nolan McLean, Brandon Sproat or Tong – to be part of a package for Miller.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/new-york-mets/mets-news-nolan-mclean-makes-mlb-history">McLean looked like a future ace</a> during his late-season major league debut. New York won’t be moving him. Sproat fared better than Tong in their brief big league stints last season. He boasts a blazing fastball that can reach triple digits and he’s enjoyed some minor league success.</p><p>However, Tong has outshined Sproat in the minors. He doesn’t throw as hard. But the young righty’s pitches have a ton of movement. His fastball appears faster with significant break. And his curveball drops off a cliff.</p><p>Between Double- and Triple-A last season, Tong went 10-5 with a 1.43 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and an impressive 179 strikeouts in 113.2 innings. Throughout his three seasons in the minors Tong has shown a promising ability to miss bats. Plus he’s three years younger than Sproat.</p><p>New York would likely prefer to hang on to Tong. But he’d probably need to be included in a deal for Miller.</p><h2><b>Jett Williams</b></h2><p>Williams offers San Diego a versatile defender who’s ready to contribute to the lineup. The Mets’ No. 3 prospect can get on base. And when he does, he uses his blazing speed to swipe a bag.</p><p>Williams slashed .261/.363/.465 in 130 games split between Double- and Triple-A in 2025. He showed decent pop with 17 home runs and 34 doubles while scoring 91 runs and stealing 34 bases.</p><p>The 22 year old can play multiple positions, offering the Padres depth and flexibility. While Williams was drafted as a shortstop, he’s spent time at second base and in center field as well. He’s a versatile, major league-ready run creator who can help San Diego compete now and in the long term.</p><h2><b>The pot sweetener</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Mark-Vientos.jpg"><figcaption>Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Two top 46 MLB prospects is a solid haul for Miller. But if the Mets want to put this deal over the top, they can offer Mark Vientos. The fourth-year veteran is a corner infielder/DH with solid pop. Vientos hit 27 home runs and 22 doubles while racking up 3.1 bWAR in just 111 games in 2024. And he went on a tear in the postseason, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/new-york-mets/mets-news-mark-vientos-mets-franchise-record-tense-game-6-dodgers">making Mets history</a>. His production dipped last year but he still smacked 17 dingers.</p><p>Vientos is exactly the type of player the Padres are looking for. He has strong power potential at a position of need (first base) and he’s under team control until 2030. Vientos is set to earn the league minimum in his age-26 season next year.</p><h2><b>TL;DR</b></h2><p><b>Mets receive</b>:<br>Mason Miller</p><p><b>Padres receive</b>:<br>RHP Jonah Tong<br>OF/SS/2B Jett Williams<br>3B/1B/DH Mark Vientos</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Mets’ perfect trade offer for Padres’ Mason Miller

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/new-york-mets/mets-rumors-listening-to-trade-offers-star-prospect');   ga('set', 'title', 'Mets rumors: New York ‘listening’ to trade offers for star prospect');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Mets-rumors-New-York-listening-to-trade-offers-for-star-prospect.jpg"><figcaption>Brad Penner-Imagn Images.</figcaption></figure><h1>Mets rumors: New York ‘listening’ to trade offers for star prospect</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-13T12:36:54-08:00">December 13th, 12:36pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-13T12:36:54-08:00">December 13th, 12:36pm</time><address><a>Josh Davis</a>Josh Davis is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints with a focus on MLB. As the founder and creator of OutOfSightSports, Josh spearheads the development and expansion of an engaging social media platform, with a core focus on Twitter/X. A passionate sports writer, Josh is dedicated to delivering compelling content that connects fans and fuels vibrant sports conversations. His vision is to craft stories so vivid that fans feel like they’re standing at the plate or on the field.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The New York Mets are listening to trade offers for right-handed <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/new-york-mets/mets-news-jonah-tong-starts-off-historic-three-game-stretch">pitching prospect Jonah Tong</a>, signaling a potential shift in offseason strategy as the club searches for proven major league help. Tong finished the 2025 season <a href="https://www.mlb.com/milb/prospects/mets" rel="noopener">ranked</a> as the organization’s fourth best prospect and is viewed across the league as a high ceiling arm with strong trade value.</p><p>The update surfaced during ongoing winter trade talks, as front offices continue evaluating how to balance long term development vs. the pressure to win now. For the Mets, that balance centers on acquiring established pitching while protecting the top of their system.</p><p>The New York Post Sports’ Jon Heyman took to X (formerly known as Twitter) on Saturday, <a href="https://x.com/JonHeyman/status/1999930586266542181" rel="noopener">offering clarity</a> on how the organization is approaching trade conversations and which prospects remain protected as negotiations unfold.</p><p>“Jonah Tong is highly coveted in trade talks, and while Mets value him highly, they are listening. Nolan McLean is viewed as off-limits and Carson Benge close to that. Mets are stocked with good MLB-ready prospects (Williams, Sproat too), need proven pitchers (plus an OF or two).”</p><p>Tong, 22, dominated the minors in 2025 before making a late season debut, flashing strikeout upside despite inconsistent results at the major league level. The combination of present exposure and future projection places him in a unique category as a valuable but movable asset.</p><p>New York’s prospect depth allows flexibility. Nolan McLean and Carson Benge remain foundational pieces, while Jett Williams and Brandon Sproat add additional leverage in <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/new-york-mets/mets-must-make-this-trade-offer-brewers-freddy-peralta">broader Mets trade rumors</a>. That surplus positions the organization to pursue a front line starter without dismantling its long term core.</p><p>The willingness to listen to trade talks regarding Tong reflects the club’s urgency. After losing key contributors and watching the rotation falter late last season, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/new-york-mets/mets-news-david-stearns-free-agency-plan">the Mets offseason strategy</a> now prioritizes certainty over patience. Whether a deal materializes remains unclear, but the message is direct. New York is actively exploring ways to convert prospect strength into immediate impact.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Mets rumors: New York ‘listening’ to trade offers for star prospect

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/new-york-mets/mets-news-jorge-polanco-pete-alonso-reality');   ga('set', 'title', 'Insider reveals Mets slugger Jorge Polanco’s Pete Alonso reality after landing with New York');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/b3ffb1f2-d84b-11f0-9f21-0242ac120003.avif"><figcaption>Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images.</figcaption></figure><h1>Insider reveals Mets slugger Jorge Polanco’s Pete Alonso reality after landing with New York</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-13T10:33:27-08:00">December 13th, 10:33am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-13T10:33:27-08:00">December 13th, 10:33am</time><address><a>Josh Davis</a>Josh Davis is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints with a focus on MLB. As the founder and creator of OutOfSightSports, Josh spearheads the development and expansion of an engaging social media platform, with a core focus on Twitter/X. A passionate sports writer, Josh is dedicated to delivering compelling content that connects fans and fuels vibrant sports conversations. His vision is to craft stories so vivid that fans feel like they’re standing at the plate or on the field.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Baltimore Orioles</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The New York Mets entered the 2025 MLB offseason searching for answers and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/new-york-mets/mets-news-jorge-polanco-40-million-contract">found one in second baseman Jorge Polanco</a>. The veteran infielder agreed to a two-year, $40 million contract, a move that ushers in the first major step of David Stearns’ 2026 plan. The signing came just days after the team lost slugger Pete Alonso to the Baltimore Orioles on a five-year, $155 million deal, signaling a clear organizational shift.</p><p>The departure of Alonso was both a financial and emotional blow for New York. Alonso left Queens as the franchise’s all-time home run leader and one of the most recognizable faces in the clubhouse. Polanco, by contrast, represents a versatile switch-hitting bat on a shorter commitment, aligning with Stearns’ preference for roster flexibility. Last season with the Seattle Mariners, Polanco hit .265 with 26 home runs, 78 RBIs, and a .821 OPS, helping propel the club to within three outs of its first World Series appearance.</p><p>USA Today’s Bob Nightengale took to his X (formerly known as Twitter), <a href="https://x.com/BNightengale/status/1999886273830592839?s=20" rel="noopener">to point out</a> how the storyline surrounding the veteran second baseman will unfold and why comparisons to Alonso will be unavoidable throughout the 2026 season.</p><p>“It will be an ongoing narrative all season comparing Jorge Polanco’s stats to Pete Alonso after Mets president David Stearns unveils the first step of his 2026 plan with the signing of Jorge Polanco to a 2-year, $40 million deal.”</p><p>The quote from Nightengale underscores the reality facing the Mets as the season approaches. Every Polanco homer, RBI, and defensive play will be weighed against Alonso’s production in Baltimore as fans track box scores nightly.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/new-york-mets/mets-news-david-stearns-free-agency-plan">For Stearns, the decision</a> reflects a broader vision tied to roster balance and long-term payroll control. The Mets have shifted away from long, high-dollar commitments in favor of shorter deals that preserve future flexibility.</p><p>As December carries on and the new calendar year approaches, the pressure will be immediate. Polanco does not need to replicate Alonso’s home run totals, but his performance will serve as the first real measuring stick for the Mets’ new direction.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Insider reveals Mets slugger Jorge Polanco’s Pete Alonso reality after landing with New York

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/mlb-stories/mlb-rumors-padres-mets-potential-trade-mason-miller');   ga('set', 'title', 'MLB rumors: Padres, Mets ‘engaging’ on potential trade including Mason Miller');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Mason-Miller-pitches-against-the-Reds.jpg"><figcaption>Denis Poroy-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>MLB rumors: Padres, Mets ‘engaging’ on potential trade including Mason Miller</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-13T08:58:34-08:00">December 13th, 8:58am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-13T08:58:34-08:00">December 13th, 8:58am</time><address><a href="https://www.facebook.com/joey.mistretta/" rel="facebook">Joey Mistretta</a>Joey Mistretta is a Dallas Mavericks beat reporter, Dallas Wings beat reporter and lead MLB editor for ClutchPoints. He is originally from Lake Arrowhead, California. Mistretta graduated from Biola University with a degree in broadcast journalism.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>San Diego Padres star reliever <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/san-diego-padres/padres-news-mason-miller-trade-harold-reynolds-mlb-network">Mason Miller has emerged as a trade candidate</a> this offseason. According to an article by Ken Rosenthal, Dennis Lin and Will Sammon of The Athletic, Miller is <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6886542/2025/12/13/mets-padres-trade-talks-mlb/" rel="noopener">among the players being discussed</a> in a potential Padres’ trade with the New York Mets.</p><p>“The teams are engaging, according to people briefed on their conversations,” the article states.</p><p>It goes on to mention that stars such as Francisco Lindor and Fernando Tatis Jr. are not part of the trade talks. The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/san-diego-padres/padres-news-aj-preller-shuts-down-fernando-tatis-jr-trade-possibility-untouchable-admission">Padres previously made it clear that Tatis is not going to be traded</a> this offseason.</p><p>Nevertheless, there is a trade being discussed, although The Athletic article states that “no deal appears close.” However, the article also reveals that Miller, Ramon Laureano and Nick Pivetta are the Padres players in talks, while San Diego would have interest in young MLB talent or top prospects from the Mets.</p><p>Moving on from Pivetta and Laureano makes sense for the Padres. San Diego is looking to add younger talent while still trying to remain competitive. Miller is only 27 years old and is a star, though, so why would the team attempt to trade him?</p><p>Miller is under team control through 2029. There’s no rush to move on from him. The Padres would likely only trade Miller if they received an offer they couldn’t refuse. If the Mets offered the Padres a trade proposal including their best possible prospects, perhaps San Diego would be willing to include Miller. Otherwise, the chances of a deal involving Miller coming to fruition appear to be slim.</p><p>Regardless, he was among the players mentioned in the trade talks report. He seemingly isn’t untouchable when it comes to possible trade discussions. The Mets — after <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/mlb-stories/mlb-rumors-dodgers-join-edwin-diaz-sweepstakes-mets-blue-jays">losing Edwin Diaz to the Los Angeles Dodgers</a> — would surely love to add a reliever such as Miller to their bullpen.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

MLB rumors: Padres, Mets ‘engaging’ on potential trade including Mason Miller

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/new-york-mets/mets-news-jorge-polanco-40-million-contract');   ga('set', 'title', 'Mets sign Jorge Polanco to 2-year, $40 million contract');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Former-Mariners-2B-Jorge-Polanco.jpg"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Mets sign Jorge Polanco to 2-year, $40 million contract</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-13T08:40:54-08:00">December 13th, 8:40am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-13T09:06:59-08:00">December 13th, 9:06am</time><address><a>Zachary Draves</a>Zachary Draves is a sportswriter and broadcaster based in the Quad Cities of Illinois and Iowa. Zachary covers a variety of different sports as well as sports history, sport and society, and sport and culture. He is also a professor of sociology.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/seattle-mariners/mariners-rumors-snag-seattle-jorge-polanco-reunion-talks-pirates-interest">Seattle Mariners’ loss became</a> the New York Mets’ gain. On Saturday, <a href="https://x.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/1999875328832122894" rel="noopener">it was announced</a> that the Mets had officially signed infielder Jorge Polanco to a two-year, $40 million contract, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.</p><p>Recently, Polanco declined a $6 million player option with the Mariners, thus opening himself up to free agency. Plus, teams such as the Red Sox and Blue Jays <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/seattle-mariners/mlb-rumors-red-sox-blue-jays-named-potential-jorge-polanco-threats-mariners" rel="noopener">expressed interest in him</a>. This past season, Polanco batted .265 with 125 hits, 26 home runs, and 78 RBIs.</p><p>Meanwhile, the Mariners finished with a 90-72 record and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/seattle-mariners/mariners-most-to-blame-for-blowing-alcs-vs-blue-jays" rel="noopener">made it to the ALCS</a> before succumbing to the Toronto Blue Jays in seven games. During the playoffs, Polanco batted .208 with 10 hits, three home runs, eight RBIs, and seven runs. </p><p>Also, the Mets finished the year 83-79, in second place in the NL East, and didn’t make the playoffs. This move is just the latest in a string of big-time decisions that New York has undertaken this offseason. </p><p>This week, they lost Pete Alonso and Edwin Diaz to the Baltimore Orioles and Los Angeles Dodgers, respectively. The Orioles <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/baltimore-orioles/orioles-pete-alonso-contract-grades-155-million-deal" rel="noopener">signed Alonso to a $155 million deal</a>, and the Dodgers <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/los-angeles-dodgers/dodgers-news-edwin-diaz-breaks-silence-choosing-la-over-mets-free-agency" rel="noopener">signed Diaz to a $69 million contract</a>. </p><p>Altogether, Polanco brings some notable attributes to the Mets. </p><h2><b>Jorge Polanco brings the power and the flexibility to New York</b>.</h2><p>As a second baseman/third baseman, Polanco is an anomaly. He is a switch-hitting, power-hitting infielder. Polanco is especially effective in the middle of the batting order. </p><p>Not only that, but he can be versatile in the infield, playing both positions. Furthermore, he brings a depth of postseason experience to the Mets, even within this season. Altogether, Polanco has played in 24 postseason games. </p><p>In a big way, his presence helps fill the void left behind by the power-hitting Alonso. Polanco has played 12 seasons in the MLB, beginning with the Minnesota Twins in 2014 and continuing through 2023. </p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Mets sign Jorge Polanco to 2-year, $40 million contract

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/new-york-mets/mets-must-make-this-trade-offer-brewers-freddy-peralta');   ga('set', 'title', 'Mets must make this trade offer for Brewers’ Freddy Peralta');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Freddy-Peralt.jpg"><figcaption>Mark Hoffman / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Mets must make this trade offer for Brewers’ Freddy Peralta</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-13T02:07:33-08:00">December 13th, 2:07am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-13T02:32:20-08:00">December 13th, 2:32am</time><address><a>Mike Gianakos</a>Mike Gianakos is a veteran editor and writer for print and digital media. He also created and oversaw video and event production departments for legacy media brands. Mike is a longtime podcaster and even longer suffering NY Jets fan.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The New York Mets entered the offseason determined to bounce back from a disappointing 2025 campaign. Despite a massive payroll and the addition of superstar right fielder Juan Soto, New York failed to reach the playoffs. Now the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/new-york-mets/mets-news-david-stearns-free-agency-plan">Mets turn their attention to free agency</a>.</p><p>With Steve Cohen’s blessing, New York’s President of Baseball Operations David Stearns is expected to aggressively pursue the top players available on the open market. However, Mets fans had a rough week as the team allowed Pete Alonso and Edwin Diaz to walk in free agency.</p><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/new-york-mets/mets-rumors-will-new-york-sign-kyle-tucker-after-losing-pete-alonso-edwin-diaz">Mets have been linked to Kyle Tucker</a> this offseason. The team could also pivot and try to steal Cody Bellinger from the Yankees. However Stearns proceeds, it’s a safe bet that New York will add a power bat this winter to help replace Alonso’s production in the lineup.</p><h2><b>Starting pitching sank Mets’ seaso</b>n</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/New-York-Mets-at-Milwaukee-Brewers.jpg"><figcaption>Benny Sieu-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>While a number of factors contributed to the Mets’ down year in 2025, starting pitching was the primary culprit. New York’s rotation struggled with injuries and inconsistency last season. And things got even worse down the stretch. Kodai Senga, Frankie Montas, Sean Manaea and David Peterson all limped to the finish line.</p><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/new-york-mets/mets-news-david-stearns-turned-3-young-star-pitchers-save-season">Mets turned to a trio of rookies</a> to save their season. Nolan McLean led the way, followed by Jonah Tong and Brandon Sproat. All three young hurlers showed flashes but McLean was sensational in a historic start to his career. Unfortunately, the young guns couldn’t get New York back on track and the team missed out on a Wild Card berth.</p><p>The Mets have some pieces in place but the team’s mix of veteran mid- to back-end starters and homegrown talent isn’t good enough. New York needs to upgrade if it wants to boast a championship-caliber rotation. And fielding a deep group of quality starters is all the more important considering the Los Angeles Dodgers’ imposing arsenal.</p><p>New York is looking to add a high-end starter in free agency. The team missed out on Dylan Cease, who signed a $210 million deal with the Toronto Blue Jays. However, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/new-york-mets/mets-rumors-insider-says-new-york-favorite-land-framber-valdez">Mets are reportedly the favorites to land Framber Valdez</a>.</p><p>Steve Cohen’s money keeps New York in play for any available free agent. And the team badly needs an ace for 2026. But the Mets could also bolster their rotation by trading for one of baseball’s best No. 2 starters, Freddy Peralta.</p><h2><b>Mets target Freddy Peralta in trade</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Freddy-Peralta-2.jpg"><figcaption>Benny Sieu-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Peralta enjoyed a dominant 2025 campaign. The eight-year veteran put together the best season of his career, leading the National League with 17 wins while posting a 2.70 ERA and 1.075 WHIP with 204 strikeouts in 176.2 innings. He also set career-high marks with a 154 ERA+ and 5.5 bWAR in 33 starts.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/milwaukee-brewers/brewers-news-freddy-peralta-100-on-scoreless-inning-streak">Peralta recorded a streak of 30 consecutive scoreless innings</a> in the second half of the season. He earned his second career All-Star Game nod and finished fifth in NL Cy Young voting.</p><p>The Milwaukee Brewers made the easy call and exercised Peralta’s $8 million club option for 2026. However, the team also extended a qualifying offer to Brandon Woodruff and he accepted.</p><p>With <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/milwaukee-brewers/brewers-rumors-milwaukee-could-subtract-roster">payroll concerns looming in Milwaukee</a>, the Brewers are looking to cut costs. And the team could be motivated to move on from Peralta, who’s entering the final year of his deal.</p><h2><b>Mets’ trade offer for Peralta</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Ryan-Clifford.jpg"><figcaption>Sam Navarro-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The Brewers finished with the best record in baseball and reached the NLCS before being <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/milwaukee-brewers/brewers-news-most-to-blame-nlcs-sweep-dodgers">swept by the Dodgers</a>. While cost conscious, Milwaukee still wants to compete. But getting Peralta’s salary off the books and replacing him with the right prospects could be the team’s best option.</p><p>The Mets should offer first baseman/outfielder Ryan Clifford (New York’s No. 8 prospect) and RHP Will Watson (No. 11).</p><p>Clifford is a 22-year-old lefty who hits for power and can play first base or a corner outfield spot. He mashed at Double-A in 2025 and was elevated to Triple-A where he held his own. The young slugger could help the Brewers’ lineup in 2026. And his versatility covers positions of need/concern for Milwaukee.</p><p>It will be a bit harder letting Clifford go now that the Mets let Alonso walk in free agency. But assuming the team addresses the loss of production by signing an established power hitter, including Clifford in a package for Peralta makes sense.</p><p>Any deal for Peralta will likely need to include a young pitcher. If the Brewers’ righty were under team control at a reasonable price for a couple more years, the Mets would have to add either Sproat or Tong to the package. But for one year at $8 million, Watson seems reasonable.</p><p>The 23-year-old starter can reach the upper 90s on his fastball and he’s had success missing bats with his change up and slider. Watson played at three different levels in 2025 and showed an impressive strikeout rate at each. He finished the year in Double-A. And while he’s rising fast, he could be another season away from the majors.</p><p>No. 14 prospect Jonathan Santucci is also an option to include in a trade package. However, he’s one of very few promising lefty starters in the Mets organization. So, ideally, New York would keep him around.</p><h2><b>Everybody wins</b></h2><p>With the Brewers looking to cut payroll, moving Peralta ahead of the final year of his contract makes sense. Milwaukee could add two promising prospects to keep costs low and continue competing for years to come. And Clifford could help the team defend its division crown in 2026.</p><p>The Mets would add a near-top of the rotation starter at a reasonable salary. And they’d have the inside track to sign him long term if everything worked out as expected.</p><p>Peralta is a durable and reliable starter – exactly what the Mets were missing in their forgettable 2025 campaign. He’s tossed over 165 innings and racked up at least 200 strikeouts in each of the last three years.</p><p>With major investments in the lineup, the Mets can’t allow starting pitching to sink the 2026 season. Peralta could help provide New York with depth and consistency as the team attempts to rebound from a disappointing year.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Mets must make this trade offer for Brewers’ Freddy Peralta

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/los-angeles-dodgers/dodgers-news-edwin-diaz-breaks-silence-choosing-la-over-mets-free-agency');   ga('set', 'title', 'Dodgers’ Edwin Diaz breaks silence on choosing LA over Mets in free agency');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Edwin-Diaz.jpg"><figcaption>© Brad Penner-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Dodgers’ Edwin Diaz breaks silence on choosing LA over Mets in free agency</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-12T14:46:16-08:00">December 12th, 2:46pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-12T15:10:02-08:00">December 12th, 3:10pm</time><address><a>Alex House</a>Alex House is a sports journalist who covers the NFL, NBA, and MLB for ClutchPoints. He grew up in a New York sports-heavy region in Connecticut and earned his journalism degree at the University of Rhode Island. His in-depth knowledge of two of the most passionate and raucous fan bases in the country gives him a truly unique writing voice.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Dodgers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Los Angeles Dodgers carry an aura of invincibility during the offseason. If the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/los-angeles-dodgers/dodgers-news-world-series-game-7-nearly-26-million-viewers-most-since-2017">two-time reigning World Series champions</a> are seriously interested in a free agent, they will likely snag him before winter’s end. However, no one can actually outbid New York Mets owner Steve Cohen. If the Hedge Fund King covets a player, he has the financial means to bring him to Queens. But if the finances are similar, it will be tough to outsell LA. Just ask Edwin Diaz.</p><p>The three-time Reliever of the Year signed a three-year, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/los-angeles-dodgers/why-dodgers-edwin-diaz-69-million-signing-could-backfire-after-tanner-scott-disaster">$69 million contract with the Dodgers</a>, which was reportedly only slightly larger than the deal the Mets offered him. During his introductory press conference on Friday, Diaz <a href="https://x.com/SNYtv/status/1999599815534006544?s=20" rel="noopener">made it clear</a> why he chose to join the Boys in Blue.</p><p>“It wasn’t easy,” the veteran right-hander said, per the SNY X account. “I spent 7 years in New York. They treat me really good, they treat me great. I chose the Dodgers because they’re a winning organization. I’m looking to win. And I think they have everything to win. Picking the Dodgers was pretty easy.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Edwin Díaz was asked how hard it was to leave the Mets and pick the Dodgers</p><p>"It wasn't easy. I spent 7 years in New York. They treat me really good, they treat me great.</p><p>I chose the Dodgers because they're a winning organization. I'm looking to win. And I think they have… <a href="https://t.co/OiMzeYo3z4">pic.twitter.com/OiMzeYo3z4</a></p><p>— SNY (@SNYtv) <a href="https://twitter.com/SNYtv/status/1999599815534006544?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Diaz contradicted himself with his “it wasn’t easy/ it was easy” remarks, but one can probably make sense of what he means. The three-time All-Star closer enjoyed his time in New York, but he wants to reach the sport’s pinnacle. Although the Mets still possess plenty of talent, no ballclub can currently match LA’s reputation. The likeliest path to a World Series ring still appears to run through Chavez Ravine.</p><p>Shohei Ohtani just won his second straight National League MVP Award, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman round out a fearsome trio and the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/los-angeles-dodgers/dodgers-news-yoshinobu-yamamoto-teammates-game-7-performance">Yoshinobu Yamamoto-led starting pitching rotation</a> achieved superhero status in the playoffs. The one glaring weakness the Dodgers had entering the offseason was its bullpen. They just upgraded the unit in a big way.</p><p>Edwin Diaz tallied a spectacular 1.63 ERA with 98 strikeouts in 66 1/3 innings pitched last season. It is worth noting that the 31-year-old oscillated between elite and shaky during his six-season tenure with the Mets, but fans will give him the benefit of the doubt until proven otherwise.</p><p>Diaz essentially echoed what other high-profile acquisitions have said after signing with Los Angeles: this is the place people go to win. New York and other big-market squads should take those words to heart as they move through the offseason.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Dodgers’ Edwin Diaz breaks silence on choosing LA over Mets in free agency

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/new-york-mets/mets-rumors-writer-willson-contreras-trade-over-christian-walker');   ga('set', 'title', 'Mets rumors: Writer would rather see New York trade for Willson Contreras over Christian Walker');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Mets-rumors-Writer-would-rather-see-New-York-trade-for-Willson-Contreras-over-Christian-Walker.jpg"><figcaption>ClutchPoints</figcaption></figure><h1>Mets rumors: Writer would rather see New York trade for Willson Contreras over Christian Walker</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-12T08:28:33-08:00">December 12th, 8:28am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-12T08:28:33-08:00">December 12th, 8:28am</time><address><a>Yasmin Edañol</a>Yasmin D.G. Edañol is a PhD candidate in Chemistry at the University of the Philippines Diliman, with a background in scientific research and publishing. He brings a data-driven perspective to sports storytelling as an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints, with a focus on the NBA. Whether it's breaking down a clutch play or a stat line, he believes every great moment has a deeper layer waiting to be uncovered.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The New York Mets remain stuck in <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/new-york-mets/mets-rumors-insider-new-york-trade-kodai-senga-david-peterson">a tense holding pattern as MLB Free Agency rolls on</a>, and the next trade debate has already taken shape. Willson Contreras and Christian Walker sit at the center of it. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/new-york-mets/mets-news-new-york-fans-in-absolute-shambles-losing-edwin-diaz-pete-alonso-back-to-back-days">With the Mets reeling from Winter Meetings losses</a>, including <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/mlb-stories/mlb-rumors-dodgers-join-edwin-diaz-sweepstakes-mets-blue-jays">Edwin Diaz joining the Los Angeles Dodgers</a> and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/baltimore-orioles/orioles-news-baltimore-pete-alonso-155-million-contract-agreement">Pete Alonso signing with the Baltimore Orioles</a>, the front office faces pressure to strike cleanly and decisively. Mets writer Michael Baron <a href="https://x.com/michaelgbaron/status/1999495358909427971" rel="noopener">didn’t hedge his stance</a>.</p><p>“I think I’d rather the Mets trade for Willson Contreras. That’s not to say Walker won’t bounce back in 2026, but by all indications, Contreras hasn’t declined the way Walker has at the plate, yet.” Under the stadium lights, that argument hits home.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/new-york-mets/mets-news-steve-cohen-message-angry-fans-losing-edwin-diaz-pete-alonso">The Mets’ needs feel urgent</a>. Diaz is gone. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/new-york-mets/mets-news-fans-in-shambles-again-losing-out-robert-suarez-to-rival-braves">Robert Suarez landed with NL East rival Atlanta Braves</a>. Alonso’s future slipped away during the meetings. The roster now lacks both middle-order stability and emotional gravity. Fans feel it. So does the room. In that vacuum, Baron’s logic centers on trajectory, not reputation. Contreras still looks steady. Walker, while respected, carries louder questions.</p><h2><b>Why Contreras fits the Mets’ moment</b></h2><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/st-louis-cardinals/cardinals-news-oli-marmol-drops-measured-take-willson-contreras-trade-rumors">Willson Contreras brings credentials that matter now</a>. He’s a three-time All-Star. A World Series champion with the Cubs in 2016. Since joining the Cardinals in 2023 on a five-year, $87.5 million deal, he has remained productive and durable. Last season, Contreras posted a .257/.344/.447 slash line with 20 home runs and 80 RBI. The bat plays. The approach holds. The edge still shows.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/houston-astros/astros-rumors-2-stars-houston-isnt-planning-to-trade-this-offseason">Christian Walker offers a different profile for the Mets</a>. He’s a three-time Gold Glove winner and a respected defender. On December 23, 2024, he signed a three-year, $60 million deal with the Astros. His 2025 line read .238/.297/.421 with 27 homers and 88 RBI. Solid power. Less on-base certainty.</p><p>For a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/new-york-mets/mets-news-fans-clown-front-office-in-social-media-comments-spring-training-tickets-put-on-sale">Mets team stripped of anchors and staring at a fragile NL East</a>, this choice feels philosophical. Do they bet on defense and hope? Or chase consistency and heartbeat?</p><p>With Citi Field waiting for clarity as MLB Free Agency unfolds, which path will finally steady the Mets’ next move?</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Mets rumors: Writer would rather see New York trade for Willson Contreras over Christian Walker

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/new-york-mets/mets-news-pete-alonso-wife-moving-farewell-new-york-message');   ga('set', 'title', 'Pete Alonso’s wife shares moving farewell Mets message');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Pete-Alonso-1.jpg"><figcaption>Jim Rassol-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Pete Alonso’s wife shares moving farewell Mets message</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-11T21:45:08-08:00">December 11th, 9:45pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-11T21:45:08-08:00">December 11th, 9:45pm</time><address><a>Paolo Mariano</a>Paolo Mariano is a freelance writer, editor, and producer based in Manila, Philippines. He is a journalism graduate from the University of Santo Tomas and the father of a young girl whose personality swings from Simone Biles to Dillon Brooks. A beacon of objectivity, he believes Penny Hardaway is the true NBA GOAT.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Baltimore Orioles</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>It is a new chapter for Pete Alonso and his family after the star slugger <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/baltimore-orioles/next-move-orioles-must-make-after-agreeing-to-contract-with-pete-alonso">agreed to join the Baltimore Orioles</a> on a five-year contract worth $155 million.</p><p>Alonso is bidding goodbye to the New York Mets, where he spent his last seven seasons, becoming one of the league’s biggest stars.</p><p>Alonso’s wife, Haley Alonso, couldn’t help but reminisce as she <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DSI_20qjUQt/?e=5c8a623d-142e-42cc-a3ea-b53ef99e19da&amp;g=5" rel="noopener">penned a farewell message</a> for New York. She included a picture of the five-time All-Star from his debut game with the Mets in 2019.</p><p>“This picture. It encapsulates all that Pete is as a ballplayer. Those who’ve watched him over the years know that it’s undeniable that his love for the game absolutely radiates off him,” wrote Haley on Instagram.</p><p>“I hope his legacy with New York is how deeply he cared and how much of himself he poured into this game, this team, and this city.”</p><p>She expressed her gratitude to the Big Apple for embracing their family and serving as their home.</p><p>“We fell in love with New York City and lived in Manhattan for six years. We fell in love with the fans and their passion. Sometimes glowing, sometimes spirited 😉, but always heartfelt. We loved this team,” added Haley.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="instagram-media"><div style="padding: 16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DSI_20qjUQt/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="line-height: 0; padding: 0 0; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank"> <div style="display: flex;"><div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div><div style="display: flex;"><div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div><div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div><div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"><div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div><div style="display: flex; margin-bottom: 14px;"><div><div></div><div></div><div></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"><div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div><div></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"><div></div><div></div><div></div></div></div><div style="display: flex; margin-bottom: 24px;"><div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div><div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div><p></p></a></div></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><p>The 31-year-old Alonso, who won the Silver Slugger Award this season, exits the Mets as the team’s all-time leader in home runs with 264. He also tallied 951 hits and 712 RBIs.</p><p>In his own farewell message, the beloved baseman said he appreciated the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/orioles-news-pete-alonso-breaks-silence-first-post-since-leaving-mets">“tough love” he received in New York</a>.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

New York
Mets NEWS

NEW YORK

METS

New YorkMets NEWS

NEW YORK

METS

New York
Mets NEWS