New York Mets

The New York Mets aren't giving up on their pursuit of David Stearns, but they are reportedly set to wait another year in an attempt to make it happen. 

Per Tim Britton, Britt Ghiroli and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Mets are targeting Stearns as their next president of baseball operations "even if they have to wait another season to land him."

The report noted that New York is "operating under the belief" that Stearns' contract with the Milwaukee Brewers runs out after next season, and he "has serious interest in the position" with the Mets. 

Stearns was one of the Mets' initial targets when they began seeking candidates for their president of baseball operations last month. 

Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported on Oct. 18 that the Brewers denied the Mets' request to interview Stearns. 

New York is still searching for a president of baseball operations and general manager. Ghiroli, Britton and Rosenthal noted the Mets are "moving closer" to hiring a general manager. 

Sandy Alderson currently serves as team president, but MLB Network's Jon Heyman said in September that the plan for next season was for someone new to run the baseball operations department. 

Speaking to reporters at the general manager meetings on Wednesday, Alderson said the Mets are only focusing on hiring a GM this offseason. 

Stearns has been a key figure in Milwaukee's front office since replacing Doug Melvin as general manager in September 2015. The 36-year-old added president of baseball operations to his title when he signed a contract extension in January 2019. 

When the Brewers hired Matt Arnold as general manager after the 2020 season, Stearns remained in the role of president of baseball operations. 

The Brewers have made four consecutive playoff appearances and won two National League Central titles since 2018. They lost to the Atlanta Braves in the NLDS this season.    

The New York Mets have been unable to lure top candidates for their front office vacancy this offseason, and team president Sandy Alderson believes it's due to the team's location.

"I think it's mostly about New York, and not about, you know, Steve [Cohen] or the organization or what have you," Alderson said, per Jake Seiner of the Associated Press. "It's a big stage and some people would just prefer to be elsewhere."

Owner Steve Cohen is reportedly running the search, per The Athletic, a little more than one year after purchasing the team. It hasn't led to much success with several notable people turning down the opportunity:

The team was initially on the hunt for a president of baseball operations, but Alderson said Tuesday the organization now only plans to hire a general manager this offseason.

Alderson also said he was surprised by being turned down by the initial list of candidates.

"There are a lot of factors that come into play, but I would say it's, you know, it's not unforgiving, but it's a demanding place," he said of New York. "Which I enjoy, by the way."

Moving to a big market could be a deterrent for someone like Billy Beane, who would be making a lateral move from the Oakland Athletics after running the front office since 1997. On the other hand, the team was also looking to bring in Theo Epstein, who found success with the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs—not exactly small teams with limited fanbases.

Raquel Ferreira chose not to formally interview for the role after serving as assistant general manager with the Red Sox.

The team was also turned down by New York Yankees assistant general manager Jean Afterman, who, as it turns out, works in the same city as the Mets.

New York was also unable to land a president of baseball operations last year, eventually hiring Jared Porter as general manager until he was fired for allegedly sending explicit text messages to a female reporter. Acting general manager Zack Scott was also dismissed after a DWI arrest. 

It leaves Cohen and Alderson on the lookout for someone willing to run the front office.

The New York Mets will reportedly discuss potentially signing free agent Kris Bryant with his agent, Scott Boras, during general manager meetings beginning Tuesday.

Mike Puma of the New York Post reported the news, noting the Mets asked the Chicago Cubs about the versatile Bryant in potential trade talks in 2021 before eventually acquiring his then-teammate Javier Baez.

Chicago traded Bryant to the San Francisco Giants.

Bryant figures to be on the short list of the most sought-after free agents available this offseason.

The 29-year-old features a resume that includes the 2015 National League Rookie of the Year award, the 2016 NL MVP, four All-Star selections and a 2016 World Series ring he earned by helping the Cubs snap a championship drought that dated back to 1908.

His ability to play third base, first base or either of the corner outfield spots stands out and was particularly useful for the Cubs and Giants in National League play, where double switches happen late in games.

Bryant was an All-Star in 2021 with a .265/.353/.481 slash line, 25 home runs, 73 RBI and 10 stolen bases and hit .471 with a home run during San Francisco's five-game division-series loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the playoffs.

The Mets haven't been to the postseason since 2016, but signing Bryant and pairing him with Pete Alonso, Francisco Lindor and potentially Baez if they re-sign him would make for a formidable lineup.

Even though the Atlanta Braves won the World Series, their 88 victories were fewer than the other five division winners.

The National League East is winnable in 2022, and Bryant would help New York take a big step toward accomplishing that goal.                 

Free-agent pitcher Justin Verlander held a workout on Monday, and both New York teams reportedly had an eye on the former Houston Astros ace.

Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports that the Mets sent two scouts to see Verlander. He added that an executive from another team said the two-time Cy Young Award winner "looked good."

Sherman also said that the New York Yankees had a scout in attendance as Verlander's workout was held at a facility owned by Eric Cressey, the team's director of player health and performance.

Verlander hasn't pitched a full season since 2019, the last time he won the Cy Young. He pitched one game in 2020 before being shut down because of a forearm strain. The 38-year-old underwent Tommy John surgery in September of that year and he missed all of 2021 while recovering.

Verlander was reportedly among the 14 free agents to receive qualifying offers before Sunday night's deadline. The one-year qualifying contract would be worth $18.4 million. A team is entitled to draft pick compensation if a player rejects the offer and signs elsewhere.

When healthy, Verlander is one of the best pitchers in MLB. Two seasons ago, the right-hander led the league in innings pitched (223.0) and wins (21), had 300 strikeouts (12.2 per nine innings) and a 2.58 ERA. The eight-time All-Star helped lead the Astros to a World Series title in 2017, the first of his career, and another appearance in 2019.

A healthy Verlander would be a big boost to either New York team's pitching staff.

The Yankees lacked depth in their starting rotation last season. Gerrit Cole was the team's ace, but he fell apart late in the season, including in New York's loss to the Boston Red Sox in the AL Wild Card Game. Behind Cole, Yankees starters failed to perform consistently.

For the Mets, pairing Verlander with Jacob deGrom would give them one of the strongest duos in baseball. DeGrom was limited to 15 starts in 2021 because of elbow issues, but he had a 1.08 ERA and 146 strikeouts in 92 innings.

Former New York Mets pitcher Pedro Feliciano died Sunday night at the age of 45, as ESPN's Eduardo Perez reported Monday:

The Mets confirmed the news in a statement:

The Mets are so saddened to hear of the loss to their family today. Pedro Feliciano will be remembered as a beloved member of the Mets organization for his impact as a great teammate as well as his reputation as one of the most competitive, durable and reliable relievers during his time in Queens. Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Feliciano family. Rest in peace, Pedro.

Feliciano appeared in 484 games as a reliever across nine seasons with the Mets from 2002-13. The lefty specialist led the league in pitching appearances in three straight seasons from 2008-10.

Though Feliciano signed with the New York Yankees in 2011, injuries kept him off the field in each of the next two seasons before returning to the Mets in 2013. 

The Puerto Rico native also spent time in the minors with St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Dodgers and Cincinnati Reds, plus one year in Japan, but only appeared in the majors for the Mets. 

His 484 games pitched ranks second in Mets history behind only John Franco (695), finishing his career with a 22-21 record and 3.33 ERA.   

Ahead of Major League Baseball's free agency, the New York Mets are making moves to potentially retain two key players. 

Per SNY.tv's Andy Martino, Noah Syndergaard and Michael Conforto are likely to receive qualifying offers from the Mets. 

Per ESPN's Buster Olney, MLB set the qualifying offer value at $18.4 million for 2022. 

Teams have until Saturday at 5 p.m. ET to extend a qualifying offer. Players who receive the one-year tender from their current team have one week after the start of free agency to accept or reject the offer. 

If a player rejects the offer and signs with another club as a free agent, his former team would receive a draft pick as compensation. 

Conforto and Syndergaard are two interesting test cases for the market this offseason. They have both been All-Stars in the past but are coming off seasons that raised questions about their long-term outlook. 

Syndergaard seems like a perfect candidate to take a one-year offer to rebuild his value and try to cash in with a lucrative deal next year. The 29-year-old only pitched two innings at the end of last season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in March 2020. 

Conforto's absence of power in 2021 really hindered his offensive performance. He hit .232/.344/.384 with 14 homers in 125 games. The Oregon State product averaged a .269/.369/.495 slash line and 24 homers per season from 2017-20. 

Assuming the Mets extend both offers, they appear to be sending a message that they are betting on their own players returning to full strength in 2022 as they look to improve on this season's disappointing 77-85 record.    

The New York Mets are on to the next person in their search for a new head of baseball operations.

Per Andy Martino of SNY.tv, New York Yankees assistant general manager Jean Afterman declined an interview request from the Mets.

Martino noted the Mets asked for permission to speak with Afterman even though they "had the impression" she wasn't interested in leaving the Bronx.

The Mets have been struggling to find someone to run their front office despite casting a wide net for the job.

Theo Epstein, Billy Beane and David Stearns were their top targets, but Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reported Oct. 18 all three men were no longer being considered. 

Other notables who have either turned down the job or declined an interview include Milwaukee Brewers general manager Matt Arnold, Los Angeles Dodgers assistant general manager Brandon Gomes and St. Louis Cardinals general manager Mike Girsch. 

Afterman has been in the Yankees front office since 2001 when she was hired as assistant general manager. She added the title of senior vice president to her resume in 2012.

Sandy Alderson is running the Mets' baseball operations department until they hire a president. He was hired as team president by owner Steve Cohen in September 2020. 

New York parted ways with acting general manager Zack Scott on Monday, per Martino. He had been on administrative leave after a DWI arrest in August. 

The Mets finished the 2021 season with a 77-85 record and in third place in the National League East. They have missed the playoffs in each of the past five seasons.   

New York Mets infielders Francisco Lindor and Jeff McNeil got involved in a physical altercation in the clubhouse tunnel during a May 7 game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, according to Mike Puma of the New York Post.

As Puma explained, the issue came after a dispute about positioning on a defensive shift:

The shortstop Lindor, frustrated by the second baseman’s latest positioning gaffe and their ensuing argument, grabbed McNeil by the throat and pinned him against a wall in the tunnel, according to multiple industry sources. Before the situation could escalate, Mets players hearing the commotion arrived to break it up.

Some commotion was captured by the television broadcast between innings, showing multiple players running into the dugout and into the tunnel. 

After the game, Lindor told reporters there was simply an argument over whether they saw a rat or raccoon in the dugout:

McNeil also denied there was an altercation at the time.

"They can believe whatever they want," McNeil said after Lindor's story was met with skepticism. "We're a tight-knit group. Everybody loves everybody."

Though the players stood by their story, then-Mets general manager Zack Scott didn't confirm it.

"You'd have to ask the players that, why they chose to handle it that way," Scott said a day later. "It's definitely not how I'd go."

As Puma explained, tension between the two players had been building for multiple weeks with McNeil reportedly dismissive of Lindor. 

"[Lindor] would always try to get him to move and Jeff would be like, 'Shut up, I got it,'" a club source said. "It was building and building."

McNeil had at least two more defensive miscues before the May 7 one that led to the altercation.

Lindor was in his first year with the Mets after a trade from Cleveland last offseason, although he did have two Gold Glove awards with four All-Star selections on his resume. McNeil was in his fourth year with the team but had rotated around several positions during his tenure.

This middle infield combination didn't last to the end of the year as McNeil mostly played left field after Javier Baez was acquired in a trade from the Chicago Cubs.  

New York Mets star Jacob deGrom missed the second half of the 2021 season with an elbow injury, which he believed stemmed from getting an MRI.

Anthony DiComo of MLB.com detailed the situation from the pitcher's July test to check on his elbow discomfort:

Although the MRI revealed nothing more than a mild forearm strain, deGrom’s arm discomfort spread from his forearm to elbow in the ensuing days. He believes now that the positioning of his arm in that MRI tube—he laid on his stomach with his elbow raised above him for nearly an hour—exacerbated the issue.

"I honestly think that's what aggravated it," deGrom told DiComo.

A second MRI two weeks later revealed inflammation around his UCL. The 33-year-old did not return to the mound for the rest of the season.

Mets president Sandy Alderson later referred to the injury as a partial tear of the UCL but told reporters in September that "the elbow is perfectly intact."

Though deGrom was cleared to resume throwing in late August (after a fourth MRI in two months), the Mets had already fallen out of playoff contention, and he was shut down for the year.

It ended what had been on track to be one of the best seasons for a pitcher in major league history.

The two-time Cy Young Award winner was 7-2 with a 1.08 ERA and 0.55 WHIP, adding 146 strikeouts in 92 innings. Not only were his 14.3 strikeouts per nine innings a career high, but his 13.3 strikeouts per walk would have been a major league record if he qualified. 

Only once in 15 starts did the right-hander allow more than two earned runs.

If healthy in 2022, he'll try to help the Mets end their run of five straight years without a playoff appearance. 

The four-time All-Star can become a free agent next offseason if he opts out of the final two years of his contract. 

Zack Scott's time as the acting general manager of the New York Mets is reportedly over.

Andy Martino of SNY reported he "will no longer be a part of the organization."

Tim Healey of Newsday noted Scott was on paid administrative leave for two months after he pleaded not guilty to a DWI charge. The trial for his charge is set for Dec. 8.

ESPN reported on Sept. 1 that he was arrested in the early morning hours after police found him sleeping behind the wheel at a traffic light and he refused a breathalyzer test.

The Mets said he was at a fundraising event at owner Steve Cohen's house earlier in the evening.

They also released a statement that said, "We were surprised and deeply disappointed to learn this morning about an alleged DUI involving Zack Scott. We take this matter very seriously. Zack will not be traveling with the team for our upcoming road trip while we learn more and determine next steps."

New York named Scott the acting general manager in January after it fired Jared Porter when it was revealed Porter sent inappropriate messages to a female reporter when he was working with the Chicago Cubs.

Scott was with the Boston Red Sox for 17 seasons prior to joining the Mets and spent his final two years with the American League East team as the assistant general manager.

New York finished in third place in the National League East in 2021 with a 77-85 record.