Ben Berkon

writer/producer; opinions are my own.

[Ben Berkon @BenBerkon]

@metalpina76 Hey bud. I have some very rare/low-numbered Yaz cards. Can you follow me back so I can DM you? Thx!

[Ben Berkon @BenBerkon]

@WexlerRules One of the biggest systemic issues Mets need to overcome is evaluating their own talent, and executing early extensions. Would have saved them $$$ with Nimmo and Alonso. Wonder what they’ll do re: Alvarez.

[Ben Berkon @BenBerkon]

@WexlerRules My vote is to screw him up until he forgets how to hit?

[Ben Berkon @BenBerkon]

@WexlerRules You wouldn’t rather have Lopez, Tonkin, and Adams? ;)

[Ben Berkon @BenBerkon]

@KBorkman It's not meaningless when Mets are filling 40/25-man roster with subpar RPs when good/better ones are signing for similar deals.

[Ben Berkon @BenBerkon]

Makes Stearns' $2M guarantee to Jorge Lopez look silly.

Suter's '23 Savant profile attached.

Career as RP: 2.99 ERA / 3.72 FIP, 21.1% K%, 7% BB%, 46.6% GB%

Would have been a great add'n at a very low $. Btw Suter and Shelby Miller, Stearns has missed opps / misread RP mkt

[MLB Trade Rumors @mlbtraderumors]

#Reds continue adding to the pitching staff
https://t.co/EDc8EG970E

[Ben Berkon @BenBerkon]

@Rob_Z_31 Mets could platoon recently claimed Diego Castillo vs. LHP, and sign Adam Frazier vs. RHP. Frazier is kind of a poor-man's McNeil.

[Ben Berkon @BenBerkon]

McNeil seems like Mariners' ideal 2024-hitter:
-98th % in Whiff%
-99th % in K%
-Plays 2B, 3B, OF

Wonder if Woo is avail w/DeSclafani around. McNeil + MiLB (TBD...) for Woo would be great. But Mariners also have Topa & Speier (who both have MiLB options + under team control).

[MLB Trade Rumors @mlbtraderumors]

Mariners Still Exploring Infield, Bullpen Markets https://t.co/3TE05afAK1

[Ben Berkon @BenBerkon]

As I said back in Dec ‘23:

Mets should acq Castillo:
-AAA ’23: 117 wRC+, 17.4% BB%, 14.2% K%
-MLB ’22: 112 wRC+ (153 PAs) vs. LHP; 9.9% Barrel %, 37.7% Sweet-Spot%, 73rd % in Arm Strength
-still has 1 MiLB option

Superior option to both Short and even Wendle.

[Tim Britton @TimBritton]

Mets announce they’ve claimed IF Diego Castillo off waivers from the Diamondbacks.

[Ben Berkon @BenBerkon]

@DannyAbriano He’s a beast vs. LHP. Even in 2023.

[Ben Berkon @BenBerkon]

@usedtobedan I assume Stewart will get a look in one of the corners vs. RHP. Perhaps Marte DHs to keep him healthy.

[Ben Berkon @BenBerkon]

I like the move.

Bader:
-153 wRC+ (97 PAs) vs. LHP in ’23
-Career 121 wRC+ vs. LHP
-9 OAA in CF in ’23

Bader crushes LHP & provides sterling defense in CF. Alleviates Nimmo from fulltime CF role & gives Mets more SB-speed, too. Bader will have to earn ABs vs. RHP, however.

[Joel Sherman @Joelsherman1]

Mets have agreed with Harrison Bader for one year at $10.5M

[Ben Berkon @BenBerkon]

@DannyAbriano I can see Phillies being interested.

[Ben Berkon @BenBerkon]

@DannyAbriano I think it’s an okay signing. But health. Severino hasn’t pitched a full season since 2018. Solid buy low. But hard to depend on him.

[Ben Berkon @BenBerkon]

@NewLife__2019 @DannyAbriano I don’t think he’s a fit; will surely command a multi-year deal.

Seems like Mets are sitting out the offseason as meaningful spenders.

Perhaps: Junis, Manaea, Montas, Keller, Paxton, Ryu

[Ben Berkon @BenBerkon]

@DannyAbriano Very disappointing offseason.

[Ben Berkon @BenBerkon]

@WexlerRules @Mets Agreed in a vacuum. Just wondering about realities of 25-man roster.

[Ben Berkon @BenBerkon]

@NewLife__2019 @DannyAbriano The pitchers avail on a one-year deal tend to be damaged goods (eg Severino).