MLB Rumors

When Alex Rodriguez and Jennifer Lopez became attached to a bid to buy the New York Mets, many assumed they were doing so as the public faces of an ownership group while buying a minority share—similar to Derek Jeter with the Miami Marlins.

That is apparently not the case.

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported the power couple are investing between $225-300 million of their own  money into the bid, which is more than any other partner. Rodriguez would become the "control person" of the organization.

Rodriguez would be the only MLB player with a controlling interest in a franchise. The 14-time All-Star made $441 million during his career, and Lopez has a reported net worth of $400 million.

The couple reportedly met with New England Patriots owners Robert and Jonathan Kraft this month to discuss potential development opportunities around Citi Field. Their plan would include using Lopez's influence in the entertainment industry to help book concerts in the area, along with adding various bars, restaurants and other forms of entertainment.

Thornton McEnery and Josh Kosman of the New York Post reported the Wilpon family is looking to sell the Mets by the end of 2020 to rid themselves of the debt-riddled franchise. The team could lose upwards of $200 million this year because of lost revenue from the COVID-19 pandemic. In a typical year, the Mets were already losing tens of millions of dollars.

Mike Ozanian of Forbes reported the Mets have $350 million in debt and as much as $450 million in debt from SNY.tv. 

Billionaire Steve Cohen had a deal in place to purchase the franchise for a $2.4 billion valuation but backed out in February after the Wilpon family attempted to change terms of the agreement. The gamble has proved to be a losing one for the Wilpons, who have received "weak" bids, below the $2 billion mark, per Charles Gasparino of Fox Business.

The Atlanta Braves were hoping Yasiel Puig could come in and give the team outfield depth heading into Opening Day. Instead, the Braves will continue to scour the market for other options.

Puig announced Friday afternoon he had tested positive for COVID-19. As a result, he will not, in fact, be signing with Atlanta, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. Rosenthal also reported the Braves "never reached a formal agreement" with Puig but had intended to sign him pending a negative test.

With Opening Day set for Friday, the Braves now find themselves in an interesting spot.

Atlanta believed it had the outfield pretty well solidified in the offseason after re-signing right fielder Nick Markakis and also inking former St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Marcell Ozuna to a one-year deal.

Markakis made the All-Star team in 2018 and hit .285 in 2019. He would hold down the right-field spot while Ozuna—who hit 29 homers with the Redbirds last year—slotted into left field. Naturally, Ronald Acuna Jr. would be in center. While Ozuna and Acuna are ready to go, Markakis opted out of the 2020 season.

The Braves have two of the top outfield prospects in baseball in Cristian Pache and Drew Waters. The 20-year-old Pache hit 12 homers and posted an .802 OPS between Double-A and Triple-A last season, and was impressive during Summer Camp. It seemed he stood a shot at earning the starting spot in right.

But Pache suffered a Grade-2 ankle sprain earlier this week, and it remains to be seen just how long he will be on the shelf.

Meanwhile, Waters is not on Atlanta's 40-man roster. The 21-year-old, like Pache, also spent time between Double-A and Triple-A last year, finishing the season with an .819 OPS and 16 stolen bases. It is possible he could join the team at some point, but right now, it looks like Waters is destined for the taxi squad.

Where will the Braves go from here? Rosenthal stated the team would seek out more offense and "preferably a left-handed bat off the bench." Justin Bour might have been someone of note, but he is playing for the Hanshin Tigers in Japan.

Realistically, there are almost zero outside options if the Braves want outside bats. The most likely solution is some kind of platoon mostly involving Austin Riley and Ender Inciarte.

Riley is probably the most likely candidate. He actually posted solid defensive metrics last year, though he mostly played left field. The 23-year-old hit 18 homers in 274 at-bats last year. He also punches out quite often. Riley had a 36.4 strikeout rate last year, per FanGraphs.

Meanwhile, Inciarte is a superb defender. But he has a .664 career OPS against lefties and missed nearly 100 games last year because of injuries. Adam Duvall could certainly be another option after posting an .882 OPS in 41 games with the Braves last year. But Duvall is another guy who strikes out a bunch and does not draw a ton of walks. 

As for Puig, the former Los Angeles Dodgers star will look to get healthy and find his way back to an MLB roster. Rosenthal reported the Miami Marlins, San Francisco Giants and Baltimore Orioles have shown interest in the 29-year-old, with MLB.com's Mark Feinsand previously reporting the Orioles even offered Puig a contract.

Puig's combination of power and speed would have been an ideal fit for the Braves. Instead, both parties will seek out other options.

              

All stats obtained via Baseball Reference, unless otherwise noted.

New York Mets ace and back-to-back National League Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom has already cemented his place among the best pitchers in baseball. But his dominance is all the more important this summer.

Considering the 2020 MLB season will be just 60 games, it is absolutely imperative the Mets have deGrom available to the fullest extent possible. Thus, there was some concern when deGrom left Tuesday's intrasquad start with "back tightness."

Mets fans can breathe easier, however, as MLB.com's Anthony DiComo reported Wednesday afternoon an MRI of deGrom's back "did not show anything concerning." The 32-year-old also told DiComo and other reporters he felt much better on Thursday, adding he still has every intention of starting on Opening Day next Friday.

The relatively clean bill of health, as well as deGrom's own optimism, would seem to indicate all systems are a go for next week's opener against the Atlanta Braves. But the Mets might throw a curveball of their own.

DiComo noted "Mets officials cut off deGrom’s Zoom interview with reporters after less than six minutes," with manager Luis Rojas saying the team "did not have a plan" for deGrom past Thursday. 

As previously mentioned, there are only so many games in this season, and it would seem deGrom should pitch if healthy.

However, the Mets are still exhibiting caution with respect to their ace. It is not without reason, either. 

DeGrom was not quite right at the start of last season, resulting in a trip to the injured list in April. Indeed, deGrom had a 4.85 ERA in his first five starts, per Baseball Reference.

Granted, this is a vastly different injury. But it still seems the Mets want to ensure deGrom is at 100 percent prior to making any commitments for Opening Day.

     

Zack Godley in Boston

   

Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reported Tuesday the Boston Red Sox were "closing in" on a deal with right-handed starter Zack Godley.

It would seem the two sides will announce a deal at any moment. Rob Bradford of WEEI reported Godley was seen in Boston on Wednesday and was "presumably getting cleared physically." The Red Sox jumped at the opportunity to add another arm to their makeshift rotation after Godley was released by the Detroit Tigers on Monday.

Boston dealt David Price to the Los Angeles Dodgers as part of the Mookie Betts trade, and it also lost left-handed ace Chris Sale to Tommy John surgery. They let Rick Porcello walk in free agency after the former American League Cy Young Award winner posted a 5.52 ERA last season. Eduardo Rodriguez figures to start on Opening Day, but questions loom after E-Rod.

Perhaps Godley can get his career back on track in Beantown. The 30-year-older seemed to be on the verge of breaking out when he posted a 3.37 ERA and 9.6 strikeouts per nine innings in 155 innings of work during the 2017 season. But Godley sputtered in 2018, and his landslide continued in 2019, when he posted a 5.97 ERA in 92 frames.

The Red Sox will be hoping for something closer to the 2017 version of Godley as they look to get a clearer vision of the rotation.

     

Latest on Mets Sale

   

The Wilpon family is listening to offers for the Mets franchise, and things are progressing towards a sale.

Four investment groups—including one spearheaded by Alex Rodriguez and Jennifer Lopez—have "advanced to the second round of bidding," per Scott Soshnick of Sportico. Soshnick also reported the groups were instructed not to bid for SNY, the company providing regional broadcasting for the Mets.

Billionaire Steve Cohen submitted a $2 million bid for the team and reportedly bid $2 billion for SNY as well, per Soshnick. Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils co-owner Josh Harris also remains involved.

As for A-Rod and J-Lo, the power couple are "backed" by Florida Panthers owner Vinnie Viola and Vitamin Water co-founder Mike Repole, according to Soshnick.

Rodriguez and Lopez have also looped a number of other athletes into their bid, including Hall of Fame linebacker Brian Urlacher, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and Washington Wizards star Bradley Beal, among others. 

      

All stats obtained via Baseball Reference, unless otherwise noted.

When looking at the best pitchers in the MLB right now, it's no surprise to see Gerrit Cole make the list.

But, is the recently acquired Yankee currently the best pitcher in the league? An anonymous American League executive thinks so. 

The Athletic recently put together a list ranking starting pitchers in baseball, from aces to applicants to everyone else. Cole was the first name to come up under the "aces" tier, and one AL executive detailed why Cole deserves that spot: "He is the best pitcher on the list. I don't know that you can point to a weakness, and then he does it for 200 innings. If I had to pick one pitcher for a game where I was betting my life, I would pick Gerrit."

Cole was unsurprisingly pegged as an ace by all 20 people who gave input for the rankings. 

The 29-year-old spent his first five years in the majors with Pittsburgh and the following two with Houston, where he helped lead the Astros to a World Series appearance in 2019 before ultimately falling to the Nationals in Game 7.

Cole's stats from the 2019 season were unbelievable, as he finished 20-5 with an American League-leading 2.50 ERA over 33 starts. He led all leagues in strikeouts (326), ERA+ (185), and strikeouts per nine innings (13.8).

If the right-hander's impressive statistics aren't enough to convince you he's the real deal, the Yankees' confidence in him should.

Gerrit Cole signed the richest contract ever for an MLB pitcher ... and it's not even close 💰 pic.twitter.com/ZQLG5pIF6j

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 11, 2019

In a league that has high potential for injuries and is weary of takings risk, the Yankees signed Cole to a historic contract—the fourth-largest deal in MLB history. The Athletic's Marc Craig and Andy McCullough added: "In a sport that has valued the sure thing over anything else, Cole secured a record nine-year, $324 million contract. There are fewer bigger risks than committing that many years and dollars to a pitcher. But Cole's overwhelming skills made it easy for teams to forget."

There's always the chance Cole gets hurt or something happens that affects his ability to pitch, but New York is giving him the big bucks anyway.

We have yet to see what Cole can do in New York, but with the 2020 MLB season finally starting July 23, we won't have to wait much longer.

     

New MLB/MLBPA Agreement

The MLB and its players' association reportedly reached an agreement on "a variety of previously unresolved issues regarding individual contracts," according to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal.

Rosenthal noted that vesting options, bonuses, and roster bonus will be prorated during the 60-game regular season that begins July 23; however, postseason bonuses will be paid in full. Additionally, the 2021 season will still vest at full amounts. 

Here are the highlights of the agreement, detailed by Rosenthal:

Highlights of new MLB-PA agreement, per source:

*All vesting options for ‘21 will vest at full amounts (Andrew Miller’s $12M option would still be worth $12M)

*The thresholds for the vests will be prorated (Miller needed 37 games pitched in 2020; number now reduces to 14).

1/2

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 13, 2020

Tiny correction on first item, but let’s get it right: 200-inning threshold would round up to 74 1/3 innings and bonus would be $74,333. https://t.co/4EwCmY9sam

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 14, 2020

In the 60-game season, teams will only play their divisional opponents and those in their corresponding division in the other league.

     

Updates on Mets Bids

A few more famous names have joined power couple Alex Rodriguez and Jennifer Lopez in their bid to buy the Mets. 

Super Bowl champion Travis Kelce, Hall of Fame linebacker Brian Urlacher and 2014 NFL Offensive Player of the Year DeMarco Murray headline the group of new investors who joined forces with Rodriguez and Lopez. Other investors include Joe Thomas, Bradley Beal and Mason Plumlee.

"Being a former athlete and having a chance to be a part of a group trying to purchase a professional team, it's pretty cool," Urlacher told ESPN on Monday. "It's especially cool to be involved with Alex. Alex is the man. You've got Kelce, Joe Thomas, DeMarco Murray. It's great to be in a group with them."

Kelce, Kansas City's star tight end, added: "This is a crazy opportunity. I had a chance to meet Alex Rodriguez a couple years ago and just told him how much of a fan I was as a kid of him. I'm very thankful for the success that I've had in the NFL, to have an opportunity like this come across the table. I couldn't think of a more unique set of people to be in charge of this."

This is interesting: #Chiefs TE Travis Kelce, former #Browns OT Joe Thomas, former #Bears LB Brian Urlacher and former #Cowboys RB DeMarco Murray are part of a group of investors who have joined Alex Rodriguez & Jennifer Lopez in a bid to buy the New York Mets, per @vxmcclure23.

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) July 13, 2020

The group's initial bid of $1.7 billion sits behind the top bid of $2 billion by hedge fund billionaire Steve Cohen.

     

Stats courtesy of Baseball Reference.

The Boston Red Sox are in dire need of starting pitching.

After trading David Price to the Los Angeles Dodgers and letting Rick Porcello walk in free agency, they lost left-handed ace Chris Sale to Tommy John surgery at the end of March.

Boston signed former Minnesota Twins left-hander Martin Perez and agreed to terms with former Houston Astros right-hander Collin McHugh.

However, it seems an already makeshift rotation might see even more improvisation.

Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reported the Red Sox are interested in signing Zack Godley after he was released by the Detroit Tigers on Monday. While the article noted "multiple" teams are also involved, the Red Sox are "believed to have a chance" to sign the right-hander.

The 30-year-old had a tough year in 2019, posting a 6.39 ERA and 4.1 walks per nine innings in 27 appearances with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He managed a 3.94 ERA in 16 innings after being claimed off waivers by the Toronto Blue Jays, but his season was over at the start of September.

Godley's career has been something of a roller coaster. He made an early impression by posting a 3.19 ERA in over 36 innings of work with the Diamondbacks in 2015. He regressed in 2016, but it seemed the best was yet to come.

The South Carolinian put together an excellent 2017, posting a 3.37 ERA in 25 starts while also posting 9.6 strikeouts per nine innings. The Diamondbacks hoped he would be yet another strong arm in a rotation that, at the time, also included Zack Greinke and Robbie Ray.

Instead, Godley's command issues resurfaced. He walked 4.1 hitters per nine innings and led all of baseball with 17 wild pitches. He also led the National League with 12 hit batsmen. Still, the strikeouts were still there, and he allowed just 16 homers in over 178 innings of work.

As previously noted, though, last year was more of the same for Godley. Perhaps more ominously, his strikeout rate fell while the home run rate rose.

The Red Sox will certainly hope Godley can rediscover some of the things that made him successful during his first few years in Arizona.

Boston heads into the season with Eduardo Rodriguez and is relying on Nathan Eovaldi to stay healthy and eat innings as the No. 2 starter, which is hardly a sure bet.

Needless to say, someone needs to step up and be effective if the Red Sox are to return to the postseason.

          

Orioles Offered Puig a Contract

The Baltimore Orioles are still in a full-scale rebuild, but they might be adding a veteran outfielder to the mix in order to supply some production in the middle of the order.

Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reported the Orioles offered a contract to Yasiel Puig, though MLB.com's Joe Trezza noted the team had not confirmed any offer was made.

A partnership could be productive for both sides. The Orioles desperately need some slugging in the outfield, particularly given the absence of Trey Mancini, who is recovering from treatment for cancer, while Anthony Santander and Dwight Smith Jr. are also absent for "undisclosed" reasons, according to Trezza.

Meanwhile, Puig should be more amenable to a short-term deal. He still had a decent year in 2019, hitting 24 homers and stealing a career-high 19 bases, but his market is shrinking.

Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reported in February talks between the 29-year-old and the San Francisco Giants were "all but dead," though CBS Sports' Jim Bowden reported linkage between the two sides in June.

Outside of San Francisco and Baltimore, though, it does not appear Puig is generating much interest.

The former Dodgers star is still young and likely has plenty more baseball to offer. He might be inclined to take a "prove it" offer from the Orioles and re-enter the market in the next year or two.

       

All stats obtained via Baseball Reference, unless otherwise noted.

Toronto Blue Jays players reportedly face significant penalties if they violate rules during the 2020 Major League Baseball season. 

Per TSN Sports' Scott Mitchell, players have been told they can be fined $750,000 and potentially serve jail time if they wander outside of the hotel and ballpark this season. 

The level of discipline is in line with pre-established quarantine rules set by the Canadian government during the coronavirus pandemic. The fine and jail time are the maximum sentence allowed and Mitchell reported players have been told that's what they'd face for breaking the rules "no matter what."

Given the quarantine and travel restrictions in Canada, which require anyone coming into the country to self-isolate for 14 days, it was unclear if the Blue Jays would be allowed to play home games at the Rogers Centre. 

The Canadian federal government granted the Blue Jays an exemption, with the organization developing a quarantine area between the Rogers Centre and the Toronto Marriott City Centre Hotel overlooking the stadium. 

The Blue Jays are currently holding summer camp in Toronto. They will open the regular season on July 24 against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Their first home game will be on July 29 against the Washington Nationals. 

The Chicago White Sox are now set to face the St. Louis Cardinals in a regular-season game on Aug. 13 near the Field of Dreams movie site, according to Tommy Birch of the Des Moines Register. 

The New York Yankees were initially set to face the White Sox in the game, but the 60-game shortened season has led to more regional matchups, leaving the Cardinals to take their place.

The game will be played in a specially constructed stadium in Dyersville, Iowa, where the 1989 movie was filmed.

"We hope to have the option to play," MLB said in a statement, per Ronald Blum of the Associated Press. "Construction is continuing and we are following all CDC and state protocols regarding recommended safety practices, including social distancing, washing hands, and temperature checks before arriving to the site."

"We are monitoring ongoing events and plan to remain as flexible as these circumstances demand," the league added.

Though the newly created stadium is set to hold 8,000 fans, it's currently unclear whether spectators will be allowed to attend amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Despite the adjustments, keeping the White Sox involved likely remains a priority given the spirit of the game.

The film follows Ray Kinsella (played by Kevin Costner), who builds a baseball field in the middle of his Iowa farm. Shoeless Joe Jackson appears out of the cornfield and is soon followed by other members of the 1919 Chicago White Sox.

The new stadium will have an outfield wall—unlike in the original in the film—but it is expected to have windows to show the cornfield.

New York Yankees star Aaron Judge is someone who can easily attract attention. After all, he stands 6'7" with a muscular frame, and routinely crushes home runs over 450 feet.

But the spotlight is just about as bright as ever. All of the focus seems to be on Judge's health as the Bronx Bombers enter a shortened 2020 season as one of the favorites to win the World Series.

The 28-year-old's status was something of a question mark earlier this year. Judge was diagnosed with a fractured right rib at the beginning of March, an injury believes originated last September.

While Judge would not undergo immediate surgery, that option seemed to loom large in the recovery process. There were reports about his progress, with general manager Brian Cashman saying in May he did not expect the 2017 American League Rookie of the Year to be ready to go until "summer time."

Vagueness was abundant when it came to assessing Judge's rehab. It was something of an unknown whether he was even taking cuts in the cage.

However, there has been more clarity with respect to Judge's readiness recently. Lindsey Adler of The Athletic wrote about New York's 2020 player pool on Monday, noting Judge is "reportedly swinging a bat." Additionally, Erik Boland of Newsday previously spoke with a source who claimed to have witnessed Judge working tee drills while still at the team facility in Florida.

Cashman gave his own update on Tuesday, saying "there is optimism" Judge will be ready for Opening Day on July 23, per Bryan Hoch of MLB.com.

Judge himself shed some light on his recovery during an interview with Sports Illustrated (h/t Hoch):

"This break has allowed some of the players, including myself, to get healthy. Luckily, I've been able to go into our facility in Tampa Bay with five or six teammates to work out, get on the field and run around, and hit a little bit. For us, it's kind of been business as usual and has felt like an extended Spring Training."

Yankees fans can only hope their superstar is in fact ready to go by late July.

The 60-game season will not allow for much wiggle room. One bad losing streak or setback could put even the most talented of teams in a compromised position. The Yankees were able to overcome their injuries over the course of a full 162-game season in 2019, but it might be that much harder if their roster looks like the "walking wounded" once again in 2020.

Not to mention, Judge is one of the best two-way players in baseball. The Californian hit 27 homers and posted a .921 OPS in just 102 games last season. Judge also shined in the outfield, ranking fifth among all outfielders (min. 750 innings) with 20 defensive runs saved, per FanGraphs. He ranked third in ultimate zone rating.

The Yankees figure to let Giancarlo Stanton get some at-bats in the designated hitter spot, given he has also been banged up these past several months. But manager Aaron Boone might also elect to use Judge as a DH every now and then if there are still concerns about his rib. Regardless, they will want to find ways to get Judge into the lineup.

        

All stats obtained via Baseball Reference, unless otherwise noted.  

The circumstances surrounding the 2020 MLB amateur draft were somewhat unfortunate.

Normally, the draft is scheduled for 40 rounds. This allows all 30 clubs to select from a much wider pool of both prep and college players, while also giving more players the opportunity to realize a dream.

But the coronavirus pandemic has made things anything but normal for the sporting world, including baseball. The draft was shortened to just five rounds this year, robbing potential up-and-coming stars of the chance to embark on the journey of a lifetime.

Whereas a number of players missed out, however, top players selected within the past few years suddenly find themselves in position to possibly play at the big-league level this season.

The 2020 campaign will be just 60 games and, in part because of the uncertain future impact of COVID-19, the league is allowing a 60-man "player pool" teams can choose from throughout the season.

These pools will give teams the ability to select top minor leaguers and prospects to add to their roster. It is a good idea, especially considering the fate and structure of the minor leagues are up for grabs, per Michael Baumann of The Ringer.

As a result, some of the top players in the minors—and indeed in this year's draft class—could make their MLB debuts in 2020. This includes the top prospect in the game, Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco, as well as No. 1 overall draft pick Spencer Torkelson.

     

Franco to be Added to Rays' 60-Man Player Pool 

   

The Rays have one of the deepest farm systems in baseball, one headlined by a 19-year-old shortstop.

Franco was ranked the No. 1 player in the MLB.com Top 100 Prospect Rankings for 2020, and with good reason. The switch-hitting star tore through Class-A ball last season, slashing .327/.398/.487 with nine homers and 18 stolen bases.

It would be devastating for Franco to lose a year of development after such a promising start to his professional career. But the Rays do not appear relegated to that possibility.

Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com reported the Rays will be adding Franco to their 60-man player pool. Given Rays manager Kevin Cash's tendency to exploit his team's depth, it is certainly possible Franco could see action at some point during the season.

Current Rays shortstop Willy Adames is only 24 years old. Adames hit 20 homers last year and is also coming off a strong spring training. But the positional versatility of both Adames and Brandon Lowe (who played second base last year) might open up a spot for Franco to get some at-bats.

Some fans might believe it is a stretch for a 19-year-old to be thrust into action so quickly. Then again, Washington Nationals star outfielder Juan Soto made his debut at that age and already looks like he could be the best player in baseball in a few short years.

The Rays know Franco is the future of the organization. They are allowing themselves the chance to see what the youngster can do in 2020.

         

Torkelson "Expected" to be on Tigers' 60-Man Roster

Whereas Franco has some seasoning under his belt, Spencer Torkelson has yet to even finalize the terms of his contract, much less get his first professional at-bat.

The Detroit Tigers made the former Arizona State first baseman the top pick in the 2020 draft after Torkelson clubbed 54 homers and slugged .729 in 628 plate appearances with the Sun Devils.

Though Torkelson has yet to sign, Jason Beck of MLB.com reported the Tigers are likely to ink him this week, as the 20-year-old is "expected" to be one of the names on Detroit's 60-man roster.

Beck noted the Tigers have just over $8.44 million remaining in signing bonus money. Torkelson's draft slot is worth just north of $8.4 million, and he figures to shatter the previous bonus record of $8.1 million, set by 2019 top pick Adley Rutschman. 

Torkelson played first base throughout his collegiate career, but he was actually announced as a third baseman when the pick was made. Wherever he plays, the Tigers are hoping his prodigious offensive talent will make him a middle-of-the-order guy in the bigs for a long time.

Depending on whether Detroit adds Torkelson to the roster, he might also be making his debut ahead of schedule.

        

Marlins "Likely" to Include Max Meyer on 60-Man Roster

Torkelson was all but a shoo-in to be taken No. 1 overall in the draft, but the next few picks were slightly more surprising.

The Baltimore Orioles selected Arkansas outfielder Heston Kjerstad with the second pick before the Miami Marlins selected the first pitcher, opting for University of Minnesota right-hander Max Meyer.

Both selections were likely made with the hopes these players would sign deals under slot, though Meyer could well be eating innings for Miami's MLB club this season.

Jon Heyman of MLB Network reported Meyer, who currently remains unsigned, is "likely" to be among those named to the Marlins' 60-man player pool. Heyman added the team believes Meyer could be "quick to the majors."

Meyer dominated at Minnesota, finishing his career with a 2.13 ERA and averaging 11.4 strikeouts per nine innings in 148 frames. The 21-year-old had a strong start to his junior season before COVID-19 intervened, going 3-1 with a 1.95 ERA and 0.831 WHIP in his first four starts.

The Marlins might as well throw Meyer into the fire. Youngsters Sandy Alcantara and Jordan Yamamoto have looked fairly promising in their early showings, and the Marlins need another arm to fill the void left by the departure of Zac Gallen. 

Pitchers tend to move more quickly through the minor league system, anyway. In this unprecedented 2020 season, it seems Meyer could have the opportunity to make an immediate impact at the major league level.

        

All stats obtained via Baseball Reference, unless otherwise noted.

Can the New York Mets be legitimate contenders in the 2020 season?

With a pitching staff that includes Jacob deGrom, Marcus Stroman and Steven Matz, and a lineup that features Pete Alonso and Jeff McNeil, the Mets have the potential to make a deep run when baseball resumes.

Yoenis Cespedes coming back from injury will only boost their chances.

The outfielder hasn't appeared in a game for New York in almost two years. After having undergone multiple surgeries on his heel in 2018, Cespedes sustained a right ankle injury during an encounter with a wild boar the following year.

"I think there is a strong chance he is going to be ready once the 60-game season starts," a club source told the New York Post's Mike Puma on Wednesday. "And having his bat in the lineup, that is special."

https://twitter.com/oneshiningmets/status/1275452280402178048

The report added that before spring training was suspended back in March, Cespedes was "taking live batting practice and shagging flies" but still hadn't mastered base-running.

"[Cespedes] is serious," the source said. "A lot of stuff happened to him with his contract, and he came to spring training on a mission. There was a lot of doubt he would be ready for the season, but I think this whole COVID-19 situation, it gave him a lot of time to heal up and be able to do stuff."

Cespedes could really shine in the upcoming season at the designated hitter position. He had an .892 OPS in 81 games for the Mets in 2017, along with a slash line of .292/.352/.540.

If the 34-year-old is able to bounce back and channel the power he had before his slew of injuries, he could be a huge boost for the Mets at the plate.

More good news arrived for the Mets this week with the signing of their 2020 first-round draft pick. According to MLB's Jonathan Mayo, the team officially signed 19th overall pick Pete Crow-Armstrong at full slot value on Thursday:

Per @JonathanMayo, the #Mets have agreed to a deal with 19th overall #MLBDraft pick Pete Crow-Armstrong for $3,359, 000 (full slot value).

Here's a look at the @Mets' 2020 @MLBDraft picks, slot values and signing bonuses: https://t.co/Vj5MFi8Hip pic.twitter.com/mHQLZf2x5d

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) June 25, 2020

"I've never really felt anything like this before," Crow-Armstrong said after being drafted, per the New York Daily News. "In the moment, it was shocking and it was a bit of a rush. After that, it's just a ton of excitement to get ready and start with the Mets. I'm thankful for the organization. Man, I can't wait."

This leaves the Mets roughly $2.6 million in their draft pool to sign second-rounder J.T. Ginn (nearly double his $1.4 million slot value, and more than the Dodgers offered him out of high school two years ago). https://t.co/v0BIL8VvbE

— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) June 25, 2020

The center fielder was a top 25 draft prospect—No. 20 for MLB Pipeline. Coming from Harvard-Westlake in California, Crow-Armstrong is a strong defensive player but has some work to do at the plate. He reneged on his commitment to Vanderbilt in order to sign a minor league deal with the Mets.

If he's able to develop his offensive power to match the rest of his abilities, the 18-year-old has the potential to be a solid all-around player for an exciting upcoming Mets team.

                         

Stats courtesy of Baseball Reference.