Mets Morning News: As winter meetings loom, Steve Cohen’s Mets spur intrigue

Meet the Mets

Bradford William Davis of the New York Daily News points to non-tenders of players like Adam Duvall and Kyle Schwarber, as well as the Rays balking at spending to build on their 2020 success as examples of how modern front offices are operating (especially in the COVID-19 era) and why executives are shying away from an owner in Steve Cohen who openly states that winning is the goal.

But for players and fans? There is already evidence that Steve Cohen’s Mets are something they want to be a part of, writes Deesha Thosar.

Billy Beane for Mets GM? Don’t count out the possibility completely, opines Bob Klapisch. Of course, that would involve wresting him away from his current (higher) position in Oakland - where he has never won a championship, as Kapisch points out.

Around the National League East

When one looks at the best OPS+ through age 21 (with a minimum of 1,000 plate appearances), only the following players rank above Juan Soto: Mike Trout, Ted Williams, Jimmie Foxx, Rogers Hornsby, and Ty Cobb. Four more Hall of Famers round out the top ten on the list. It’s no doubt that the young Nationals phenom is on a Hall of Fame trajectory, as things stand.

Federal Baseball lamented the lack of direction in the Nationals’ offseason plans.

The Phillies signed Ronald Torreyes to a minor league contract.

Since it seems pretty clear that the Phillies are not going to be big spenders this offseason, they will be relying on emerging homegrown players like Scott Kingery and Adam Haseley to step up big, writes Scott Lauber of the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Around Major League Baseball

Joel Sherman of the New York Post laments how much he is going to miss the in-person winter meetings this week, but still predicts we’ll see some big signings. He provides his picks for where he thinks each of the major remaining free agents will land, including George Springer to the Mets.

MLB.com evaluates some trade fits for Kris Bryant, including one in which the Mets give up J.D. Davis and prospects Matthew Allan and Robert Dominguez to land Bryant.

The Mariners avoided arbitration with Mitch Haniger by settling on a one-year, $3.01 million deal.

Yesterday at Amazin’ Avenue

Lukas Vlahos took a look at the group of relievers that were non-tendered by other teams and highlighted players that might be good options for the Mets bullpen.

This Date in Mets History

The Mets acquired John Franco on this date in 1989.