Ryan Finkelstein

Host of @LockedOnMets, part of the Locked On Podcast Network. Editor-in-Chief for @JustBB_Media.

[Ryan Finkelstein @FinkelsteinRyan]

@Cjm884 I’m with you 100%. Not trading Tong or any the top infielders for a rental unless you know the team is playoff bound in late July

[Ryan Finkelstein @FinkelsteinRyan]

Two problems with this:

1. It didn’t work with Freddy Peralta. There’s no guarantee any of those rentals pitch well in New York.

2. The Mets system is nowhere near as loaded as it was a year ago. The Mets don’t have 7+ top 100 prospects to pluck from.

Sign Skubal + Holmes

[SNY Mets @SNY_Mets]

Could the Mets pursue rotation additions this offseason beyond Tarik Skubal?

SNY's Chelsea Janes with more:

"If the Mets sign Skubal and still need to add, I could see them pursuing a similar deal to the one they made for Peralta this year, plucking a proven guy about to hit free agency away from a team that will not pay him.

Joe Ryan from Minnesota, Nick Martinez (big mutual option in Tampa), Drew Rasmussen (also potentially big option in Tampa), George Kirby and others fit this profile.

I do not know exactly how the Mets feel about any of those players in particular, other than Derek Falvey’s experience with Ryan in Minnesota should mean they can make an informed decision about his ability to survive New York.

But I think even if Skubal signs, another biggish-name starter could still be on the way."

[Ryan Finkelstein @FinkelsteinRyan]

@Cjm884 You trade for pitching at the deadline. Not in the offseason unless you are getting control

[Locked On Mets @LockedOnMets]

If you look up and down the NL Champion Brewers’ lineup, two things jump out:

🔹️ Speed
🔹️ Defense

Compare that to the Mets’ depth chart and there’s not a whole lot outside of Benge, Ewing, and Lindor.

Nick Morabito could be a solid bench piece, but David Stearns clearly has his work cut out for him this offseason. #LGM

[SNY @SNYtv]

Kevin Long is no longer a consideration for the Mets' hitting department https://t.co/0wg6BXvNuF

[Ryan Finkelstein @FinkelsteinRyan]

@Metrocai It didn’t take that much for the Rangers to get him. 3-for-1 but only one top 20 prospects and that was for four years of control not two.

[Ryan Finkelstein @FinkelsteinRyan]

The Mets should trade Mark Vientos and a prospect to the Rangers for Jake Burger.

The Rangers can roll the dice on a change of scenery for Vientos, and save about $4-5 million.

Platoon Young/Burger knowing that Burger has been an everyday guy and could always take over.

[Locked On Mets @LockedOnMets]

Jake Bauers had a breakout season this year 💥

🔹️.873 OPS
🔹️26 HR
🔹️NLCS MVP

Should the Mets pursue Bauers in free agency, or trust that Jared Young could take a step forward next season? #LGM

[Ryan Finkelstein @FinkelsteinRyan]

@Metrocai Remember this is a team that was non tendering guys last year to save $. Burger is better but he’s still just a slightly above average regular who really should be a short side of the platoon 1B.

The sweetener beyond Vientos would matter too.

[Ryan Finkelstein @FinkelsteinRyan]

@johnsaponaro Counter point if you sign Ty France or Jake Bauers and they suck you keep chasing your trail at the 1B position.

Sato is the only everyday guy I’d be interested in

[Locked On Mets @LockedOnMets]

Freddy Peralta won ALCS MVP… because of course he did.

People are quick to spam “lolmets,” which is fair. But nobody’s paying attention to the Brewers side of the original trade.

There’s a real chance that Peralta (who the Brewers traded to the Mets) could end up being the reason the Brewers don’t win the World Series.

At least the Mets got prospects in return that can help them in 2027.

If you’re curious, go look at how Brandon Sproat and Jett Williams have performed in the Brewers organization. 👀 #LGM

[Ryan Finkelstein @FinkelsteinRyan]

@klf3681 @LockedOnMets Which was the entire point of the podcast and the video you commented on. All roads lead to Skubal. They need to get that deal done

[Ryan Finkelstein @FinkelsteinRyan]

@klf3681 @LockedOnMets You clearly haven’t been watching Drew Rasmussen this October

[Locked On Mets @LockedOnMets]

The Mets may trade for a top arm this offseason.

Pitchers like:
🔹️ Drew Rasmussen
🔹️ Logan Gilbert
🔹️ Joe Ryan

The only question is whether any of those players can handle New York. Freddy Peralta certainly couldn’t.

All three pitch for small-market teams. Should the Mets try to trade for one of these starters when there’s a chance they won’t pitch well in NY? #LGM

[Ryan Finkelstein @FinkelsteinRyan]

@SamLuckiniYW Hate to break it to you, but unless Bichette opts out, no shot. The Mets have 3 top prospects who could grab 2B next year and David Stearns said Brett Baty was a top 5 hitter in baseball in September (it’s crazy I know). They’re not signing a 2B.

[Just Baseball @JustBB_Media]

NEW Saturday Just Baseball Show!

Ryan and Peter discuss:

⚾️: ALCS Game 4 Recap
⚾️: ALCS Game 5 Picks

LIVE on YouTube after the game!

[Ryan Finkelstein @FinkelsteinRyan]

@metsedinthehead No, I am giving him all the credit for putting all those people in place. It's just their team now. Same way I don't pat Billy Eppler on the back for the current core the Mets are building under Stearns.

[Ryan Finkelstein @FinkelsteinRyan]

The way I’ve put it on my show is simple: David Stearns doesn’t deserve any of the credit for the current Brewers going to the World Series.

He does however deserve most of the credit for turning the Brewers into a winning organization.

The current FO and Pat Murphy took a well-built infrastructure and improved upon it.

[Mike Mayer @mikemayer22]

There's some really dumb narrative out there that the Brewers have been more successful this year because Stearns isn't there lol.

Matt Arnold has proven he's very good at this job and that current front office deserves a ton of credit, but Stearns certainly played a role in building up that roster/organization. We don't need to pass Stearns credit (it should mostly go to the folks still there), but blaming Stearns is nonsensical.

[Ryan Finkelstein @FinkelsteinRyan]

@SamLuckiniYW My guy. Glad you found that key under the mat, welcome home

[Ryan Finkelstein @FinkelsteinRyan]

Would be a MASSIVE hire. I’d rather have K-Long back over most of the top bats on the market.

Which is admittedly a reflection on how bad the free agent class is. But Long is as good as it gets for a hitting coach.

[Metsmerized Online @Metsmerized]

Should the Mets Bring Back Kevin Long?
https://t.co/yidyS9fRrX