TAMPA, FLORIDA - MARCH 21, 2026: Tate Southisene #19 of the Atlanta Braves warms up during the third inning of a Spring Breakout game against the New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field on March 21, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
The Desert Dogs fell to 1-6 after a late rally by the Saguaros last night. The Braves had six prospects play in the game, including the return to the diamond for Tate Southisene who has been out since July 28th after getting hit in the hand/wrist area.
To no surprise Tate’s first game back, and first plate appearance back, resulted in a five pitch at bat where the pitcher was forced to use three different pith types to retire Tate, ending in a slider on the outer third that Tate lined at 96 MPH straight to the right fielder. In his second at bat, Tate expanded his zone, swinging at a slider under the zone but ultimately grounded out to third base. In his third at bat Tate would protect the zone twice, fouling off pitches close to the zone, before taking an 8 pitch walk. Tate would be replaced in the sixth inning, ending his first game back at 0-for-2 with a walk.
Isaiah Drake got the start in right, going 1-for-4 with an RBI. In his first at bat Isaiah took an aggressive approach, swinging at the first pitch which was a cutter on the edge of the zone, popping up to second base. His second at bat came in the fourth inning when he once again swung at the first pitch, a slider in the zone, and flied out to right field this time. In his third at bat, Isaiah came to the plate with two runners on and two outs. He did a great job of protecting the inside of the plate, fouling off two pitches on the inside, before he took at 94 MPH cutter that sat middle-middle and singled to center field, driving in Dillon Lewis and putting the Desert Dogs up 3-1. Drake would then take second base on an errant throw by the center fielder. In his final at bat of the game, Isaiah came up with a runner on first and worked a six pitch at bat, where he didn’t expand once, before he lined out to left on a cutter high and inside, but in the zone.
Owen Carey hit 9th and got his first at bat in the third inning where he had an 8 pitch at bat where he fouled off four pitches in the zone, before ultimately grounding out to second. His second at bat Owen was less patient, striking out on three pitches, with two coming out of the zone including chasing a changeup high and outside the zone for strike three. In his third at bat Owen led off the seventh with a HBP, went to second on a ground out by Wyatt Sanford, and came into score on a Dillon Lewis single.
The first Atlanta pitcher to make an appearance was Owen Hackman who came into the game in the fifth inning and pitched a scoreless two innings. Owen was primarily four-seam, but also threw his sweeper, slider, and changeup. While the four-seam command was just okay, his sweeper and changeup were much better and he landed both in better locations and were used to generate weak contact. Overall, very solid two innings for Owen. He was replaced by Logan Samuels two surrendered a pair of runs but flashed a plus changeup, and solid slider, though struggled to generate whiffs. Tanner Bauman replaced Logan Samuels and picked up the blown save and eventual loss. Tanner’s slider was solid, but he struggled to command his two-seam, four-seam, curveball, and changeup. His whiff rate was impressive, coming in at 45%, but the second pitch home run he surrendered tied the game, and the eventual game winning runner was courtesy of him as well – however the run did score via an error on a missed catch by the first baseman.
It’s been broadly hinted by Cubs President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer that the Cubs might be moving on from outfielder Seiya Suzuki after the Japanese star had five productive seasons on the North Side.
Hoyer did not go into detail on Suzuki’s situation. Hoyer simply acknowledged that things could look different in 2027, given the volume of free agents the North Siders have both in terms of pitchers and hitters.
“We can’t retain everyone,” Hoyer said. “The team’s going to look and feel different next year. In a lot of ways, that’s a good thing. But I do want to emphasize that we have a lot of good players who are going to be free agents, and we’ll be in touch.”
Well. Let’s be clear. If the Cubs wanted to retain “everyone,” they could. It’s simply a matter of extending the payroll, something Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts did this year in a “win-now” situation. The Cubs didn’t win, obviously, but why should 2027 not be the same? Does the team want to win every year?
Rhetorical question, I suppose. The article linked above also quoted Suzuki:
“If we’re talking about all the good memories, it’s going to take about three hours. Is that OK?” Suzuki said via his interpreter, Edwin Stanberry. “My first time being in the U.S., it was with Chicago. Just being with the teammates, with the supportive staff, everybody around me that helped me, I enjoyed that. And also with playing at Wrigley, and the fans. They are so passionate. I was really hoping that we could go back to Wrigley and play in front of them.
“But there’s so many good memories. My family, they love Chicago. But with free agency, that’s something new for me. And I think there’s a lot of processes involved with that. So I’m not sure what’s going to happen.”
It does sound like Suzuki would like to stay with the Cubs, though I wouldn’t expect him to give the team any sort of “hometown discount.”
So what would it take to keep Suzuki a Cub? He just finished what is probably overall his best season. His SLG of .473 was almost exactly at his career mark of .472. He set career highs in runs and walks, and by the eye test and also statistically, he had his best defensive season in MLB. That might even put him in the running for a Gold Glove.
Suzuki signed a five-year, $85 million deal with the Cubs just before the 2022 season, an AAV of $17 million. Clearly, he was worth everything the Cubs paid for him and more — beyond his production on the field, he helped raise the team’s profile in Japan. While Shohei Ohtani is obviously the MLB icon in Japan, when I went to the Tokyo Series last year I ran into quite a number of Japanese fans who were big fans of Suzuki. That’s certainly something worth having in addition to his baseball skills.
I think Suzuki will age better than many MLB players as he enters his mid and late 30s. He just turned 32 in August, so signing him to (say) a five-year deal would be his age 32 through age 36 seasons. He’s likely to be oe of the top hitting free agents, if not right at the top of the list.
Bottom line: I don’t think the Cubs can afford to NOT keep Suzuki. They don’t really have any ready replacement for him.
So, without further ado: Would five years and $120 million keep Suzuki in Chicago? Hoyer says he doesn’t want to get into a bidding war, but I do think the Cubs could afford that.
25 JUL 1993: NEW YORK METS THIRD BASEMAN BOBBY BONILLA WATCHES A PREVIOUS HIT DURING THE METS VERSUS LOS ANGELES DODGERS GAME AT DODGER STADIUM IN LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA. MANDATORY CREDIT: STEPHEN DUNN/ALLSPORT | Getty Images
It is easy to look at every season that the Mets have failed to make the playoffs after a large investment in a new player and evoke the title of the Bob Klapisch and John Harper book about the 1992 Mets’ season. The Worst Team Money Could Buy is an evocative title, and is indicative of the type of thinking that was and is still prevalent when discussing failing teams with big payrolls.
While 1992 led to a dark age in Mets’ fandom, there are hopes that 2027—if baseball is played at all—can and should be a better year for the Mets. But in anticipation of that potential lockout, we’re going to start up a book club where, every month for the duration of the offseason, we will read a book about the Mets and/or baseball in general, and then have a chat about it.
And so, four weeks from today, on November 9, we will have a chat in our comments section about the book. It is available to borrow from Archive.org, it is available via Bookshop.org, check your local library, and there are lots of used copies out there in the wild.
If you’ve got ideas for a future selection, leave them in the comments!
MILWAUKEE, WI - OCTOBER 11: Brice Turang #2 of the Milwaukee Brewers crosses home plate after hitting a solo home run in the fourth inning during Game One of the National League Championship Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on Sunday, October 11, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Team news
[SI] Diamondbacks Rookies Poised For Bigger Roles in 2027 – The Arizona Diamondbacks, like all 29 other baseball clubs in the 2026 season, found themselves dipping into their pool of prospects at one point or another in their unsuccessful search for a postseason berth. Some such prospects stood out more than others. Some stayed on the roster long enough to graduate that status and become rookies. Here are three of those rookies who are likely to see their fair share of playing time in 2027, and perhaps well beyond.
[Tucson.com] Diamondbacks top prospect chasing MLB dream in Arizona Fall League – Demetrio Crisantes played soccer and baseball until he was 11, when his father and assistant coach, Miguel, told him he had to pick one sport. When they settled on baseball, Miguel decided to go “all-in” for his son. The family owned a produce warehouse consisting of tomatoes, cucumbers and bell peppers in Nogales, the historic border city in Southern Arizona. Miguel decided to split the warehouse in half with a blue tarp and transform the other side into a baseball training gym for the community to share. That warehouse has produced a bountiful crop.
[Arizona Sports] Diamondbacks bringing back hitting coach Joe Mather – Mather has been the Diamondbacks’ hitting coach for the past five seasons, taking on the role after the 2021 campaign. From 2024-26, only the Los Angeles Dodgers scored more runs than the Diamondbacks (2,416), as Arizona led the league in scoring in 2024 and finished sixth in 2025. Throughout Mather’s tenure, the Diamondbacks have been a high-walks, low-strikeouts offense. This past season was more uneven for the offense collectively, which tied for ninth in MLB in scoring but made up a lot of ground over the final eight games (59 runs). Hitting right-handed pitching and converting with runners in scoring position were costly shortcomings, and blame has been shared between the roster construction and coaching.
[roundtable.io] Two Things Diamondbacks Need to Reach Playoffs Again – I know this might not seem like the answer, given that three of the four teams left in the playoffs are small-market teams with small-market payrolls, but Diamondbacks owner Ken Kendrick wants to trim payroll, and that may not be a good idea. I am not saying Arizona should run back its roster or keep bad contracts, but it does not have the luxury of shipping off too many quality players for the sake of saving money. Its farm system is not good enough for that to happen… Arizona has had some quality players recently making their way to the big leagues, such as Ryan Waldschmidt and Tommy Troy, but it does not change the fact that their system is not close to that of the Brewers or the Rays.
[MLB.com] Miz is mortal, but ‘Brewers ball’ bests Dodgers … and other key takeaways from Game 1 – The Brewers won more games than anyone this season by playing their brand of baseball — so don’t expect that to change just because they’re playing the two-time defending champs. While not quite everything went exactly to plan for the Brewers in Game 1 (more on that in a moment), they played their game to perfection. With Dodgers starter Tarik Skubal rolling early, Milwaukee manufactured the crucial go-ahead run in the fifth inning with some impressive small ball. Garrett Mitchell worked a leadoff walk, advanced to second on Cooper Pratt’s sac bunt and scored on rookie Luis Lara’s single up the middle.
[Fox] The Art Of The Out: Pitching And Defense Take Center Stage In Rays-Guardians ALCS – The Rays-Yankees matchup was David vs. Goliath in terms of payroll because New York opened the season with MLB’s third highest at $302.8 million and Tampa Bay ranked 26th at $90.5 million. But the Rays are facing a team now that spent even less. The Guardians were last in the majors at $75.5 million. Both teams emphasize contact at the plate, speed on the bases, strong fundamentals, solid pitching and doing whatever it takes to win. “I do think there’s more similarities than not,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said Sunday. “I feel Cleveland does mirror us or we mirror them. And I say that with the utmost respect to them, the way they develop pitching, the way they think about the game.”
[NPR] Opinion: Can I keep the baseball I caught? – Before we criticize anyone’s ethics, we ought to ask ourselves: what would we do if a baseball fell into our hands at a playoff game? Keep it, or give it to the nearest child? Because I am a father, I’m pretty certain I would give it to a child. But also because I’m a father, I know that within a few days, the ball so tenderly bequeathed might have rolled, abandoned, under a bed, surrounded by lost socks and forgotten Labubus. Also, a foul ball hit by almost any player would be a nice souvenir. But what if it had been a home run struck by, say, Shohei Ohtani? That ball could be as much of an investment as a Picasso!
In sports, ownership means nothing until it means everything. The Arizona Coyotes saw it firsthand when the team was sold and relocated; the Utah Mammoth are constantly reminded of what competent leadership looks like.
The Philadelphia Flyers haven’t been the same team since Ed Snider passed away, going from Stanley Cup caliber to a perennial playoff team to consistently being out of the playoffs. The Detroit Red Wings certainly haven’t been the same team since Mike Ilitch passed away.
The New Jersey Devils face the Ottawa Senators and the Red Wings on back-to-back nights. It’s hard to ignore the value ownership has had on both teams, especially with how they’ve looked in recent years. More importantly, they are a reminder for the Devils, who have a competent leadership group but one that might keep an eye on.
The Subtle Changes In The Senators Under Michael Andlauer
It’s not a coincidence that the Senators became a playoff team shortly after Michael Andlauer took over as owner. Sure, they were rebuilding for a few seasons and preparing for multiple playoff appearances, but they’ve been a better team from the top down, and it’s made the difference in each of the past two seasons.
The Senators were previously owned by Eugene Melnyk. He was regarded as one of the worst owners in hockey, someone who turned Ottawa into the opposite of a destination and a place where players wanted to leave as soon as they hit free agency. The Senators still have that chip on their shoulder, notably after power forward Brady Tkachuk demanded a trade this summer. However, there’s a sense that players are willing to stay and play in the market for Andlauer.
Under Andlauer, they’ve managed to re-sign and extend core players on the roster. More importantly, they have the right people leading the team, from Steve Staios as the general manager to Travis Green as the head coach. Ryan Smith, who owns the Mammoth, once noted that the best owners hire the right people and get out of the way, and Andlauer, to his credit, has done that.
It’s hard to pinpoint what Andlauer does that makes him a great owner, or if he’s a great one at all. After all, going from the bottom of the league to the baseline is a significant improvement. What is different are the small things.
The improvements that have changed the culture and the efforts to turn Ottawa into a destination have gone a long way. They’ve turned the Senators into a well-run team not overnight but over a few seasons, and there’s a good chance this team is competing for a Stanley Cup in a few years. Their hot start despite the loss of a star player speaks volumes about the culture that’s already been built, and that starts with Andlauer.
The Red Wings Haven’t Been The Same Team Since Mike Ilitch Passed Away
In recent weeks, a conversation around the NHL, especially with the Dylan Larkin and Simon Edvinsson drama plus a power vacuum in the front office, has been: “Could you imagine any of this happening under Mike?” The response is a defiant shake of the head.
Larkin, who grew up in Michigan and wanted to be a Red Wing his whole life, is asking for a trade. Edvinsson, who is at a stalemate with his contract negotiations, is skating overseas and prefers a trade. The late Ilitch wouldn’t let things get to this point, and there’s a good chance he’d personally fly to Sweden in an attempt to appease his young defenseman.
It speaks to the reality that the team has changed since his son, Chris, took over the team. The Red Wings became a powerhouse when he ran them, as close to a dynasty as there was in the 1990s and 2000s. They won four Stanley Cup titles and lived up to the “Hockeytown” name.
It’s worth noting that Ilitch ran the team at a different time. There was no salary cap, and the Red Wings spent heavily on the roster, outspending most, if not all, teams in the league. While it’s hard to gain that edge in today’s game (which explains a decline of the empire under the late Ilitch), owners still find ways to spend big and, conversely, cut corners outside of the cap.
The current Red Wings are cutting corners but also not making the extra push to spend on the team. The free agency classes have been underwhelming, and they’ve been tough negotiators on contract extensions, including the Larkin one a few seasons back. Some of this can be blamed on GM Steve Yzerman, but many owners will either handcuff or push their front offices. Many fans were frustrated with Yzerman yet are starting to view him in a different light, knowing he didn’t have the extra help from the ownership.
The Devils Ownership Situation Won’t Doom Them But Could Set Them Back
Josh Harris and David Blitzer have owned the Devils since 2013. For the most part, they’ve been willing to spend and invest in the team. They knew Sunny Mehta was the right person to take over as the GM this summer and made sure they hired the young, rising-star executive.
Likewise, the Devils don’t handicap their GM or coaches. When they have a chance to make a big move or a significant hire, they usually do, or at least they are in the running for top free agents or coaches.
That said, like the Red Wings, there’s a feeling that the team hasn’t been the same since John McMullen sold the team in the early 2000s. McMullen helped build the Cup-winning teams with the help of Lou Lamoriello running the front office. The Devils are still searching for a team to bring them back to those glory days.
Moreover, the current ownership group doesn’t exclusively own the Devils. They purchased the Washington Commanders in 2023 and have owned the Philadelphia 76ers since 2011. Many NHL teams are wary of their teams taking a backseat when their ownership is also invested in other teams in other leagues. The Pittsburgh Penguins ran into this issue when they were owned by the Fenway Sports Group, and the Buffalo Sabres became a bottom-feeder team, one with a 14-year playoff drought around the same time that Terry Pegula purchased the Buffalo Bills.
It’s not always an issue for NHL teams when the owner is invested in multiple teams. The Colorado Avalanche are owned by Stan Kroenke, who is invested in multiple leagues, yet the Avalanche have remained a top-tier team. It also hasn’t been an issue for the Devils. That said, it’s worth keeping tabs on, especially if the team continues to come up short of expectations.
SAN FRANCISCO – Entering the third week of preseason, Warriors center Kristaps Porziņģis still hasn’t been around the team. But there finally could be some more clarity to this mysterious situation.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr after Monday’s practice said Porziņģis will be at Chase Center on Tuesday as Golden State plays the Los Angeles Lakers in Las Vegas.
“Yeah, he’ll be here tomorrow,” Kerr said. “No update beyond that. But he’ll be in the building meeting with Rick [Celebrini] and the performance staff.”
The Warriors’ regular-season opener against the Lakers in LA is nine days away. Kerr could not say if he’s ruling Porziņģis out for that first game quite yet.
“All that will be determined once we get him back here and have discussions and figure out where he is with all that stuff,” Kerr said.
His absence was a surprise to everyone on the morning of media day before the Warriors departed for training camp in Hawaii. Coaches had seen Porziņģis working out at Chase Center leading up to training camp, but general manager Mike Dunleavy two weeks ago on Sept. 28 announced that Porziņģis is out indefinitely for what’s being described as a “health issue.”
Porziņģis, whom the Warriors acquired from the Atlanta Hawks at last season’s trade deadline for Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield, was expected to be the team’s starting center for the 2026-27 NBA season. Counting on him to remain healthy is a gamble for multiple reasons. He can be penciled into the lineup when healthy, but his availability is never a guarantee.
Since playing 65 games for the Washington Wizards in the 2022-23 season, Porziņģis’ games played have gone down year by year. Porziņģis played 57 games for the Boston Celtics in 2023-24, 52 for them in 2024-25 and then a total of 32 games last season between the Hawks and Warriors. He played in only 17 of a possible 53 games for the Hawks, and then 15 of a possible 27 games for the Warriors after making his team debut – plus both games in the NBA play-in tournament.
The 7-foot-2 center averaged 16.1 points and 5.3 rebounds in 15 regular-season games for the Warriors. Porziņģis then scored 20 points with five rebounds, five assists and two blocked shots in the Warriors’ play-in tournament win over the LA Clippers. He then was held to just 11 points and one rebound in 15 minutes two nights later when the Warriors’ season ended in Phoenix while being hampered by a sore ankle.
Without Porziņģis, the Warriors started Steph Curry, Brandin Podziemski, Yaxel Lendeborg, Draymond Green and Al Horford in their first preseason game. In their second game, though, Gui Santos replaced Horford, and Kerr has used that starting lineup twice in the preseason.
That same starting group is who most likely will open the season against the Lakers at Crypto.comArena.
“Leaning towards it,” Kerr confirmed. “Al could be in there, but given just where he is minutes-wise per game … if a guy’s going to play 20, which is probably about the limit or where we’d like him to average, it’s just a lot easier to bring him off the bench.
“I also like the idea of having Draymond or Al on the court as often as possible to anchor our defense. So yeah, I’m leaning that way.”
Horford, 40, did not play in Saturday’s game because of a left knee contusion he sustained prior to the Warriors beating the Sacramento Kings. He also did not participate in Monday’s scrimmage and won’t travel for Tuesday’s game, which Kerr says already was pre-planned maintenance for the 20-year veteran.
The New York Islanders entered the 2026 NHL Draft with two clear focuses. First, drafting the best player available with the 13th overall pick.
That pick became Malte Gustafsson, whose stock has only risen since draft night. Over the weekend, Gustafsson posted another assist. That was his fourth point in eight games to start his season in the SHL.
Last year, Gustafsson posted three assists in 27 games. In just eight games, he's surpassed that total already.
The next focus for New York was adding some quality depth on the right-side of their defensive prospect pool. In the fourth round, New York drafted collegiate defender Lincoln Kuehne, who is currently at Arizona State.
The Islanders then drafted Vladimir Dravecky in the fifth round, 141st overall.
Dravecky has gone on to become perhaps the single most-exciting Islanders prospect aside from the first-round picks in the system.
First, Dravecky opened eyes at the team's NHL training camp, even earning one preseason game where he quarterbacked the power play.
After such an experience, it might be normal to expect Dravecky to have a slower start back in the OHL with the Guelph Storm.
That has not come close to happening. In Dravecky's first five games back, he posted one goal and four points in five games, a strong start for the defender.
Then came Saturday night against the Owen Sound Attack.
Dravecky torched the competition on every level.
The defender posted two goals and three assists for a jaw-dropping five-point night in a 10-5 blowout victory. Those five points led the team, and his two goals tied for the most on the night.
He scored a buzzer-beating goal at the end of the second period with a snappy wrister:
What a week for Vladimír Dravecký
• Signed his entry-level contract with the #Isles • Had a five-point night (2G, 3A) vs. Owen Sound • Leads all OHL defensemen in scoring with 9 points in 6 games pic.twitter.com/lf5MjCF0pv
Dravecky continues to raise the bar at each and every turn. The Czech defender continues to track as a complete steal for the Islanders on draft night.
Hamilton Hammers Head Coach Jay McKee told everyone on Day 1 of Rookie Camp that Dravecky's going to be a total steal.
"With Vlad being a late pick, for me, it was one of the steals of the draft for sure at that pick," McKee said after Day 1 of Rookie Camp.
Since that day, everything Dravecky's done has just turned the excitement dial further up.
All the Islanders can do is continue to hope he keeps developing and makes his way to the franchise sooner than later.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 30: Philadelphia 76ers managing partner Josh and Marjorie Harris pose for a photo with the mascot after defeating the Boston Celtics 106-93 in Game Six of the First Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena on April 30, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Fifteen years ago, Josh Harris, David Blitzer and Co. bought the Sixers for a reported $280 million. In the ensuing decade-and-a-half, the Sixers’ value has jumped up to an estimated $7.15 billion, according to the latest estimates from Sportico released Friday.
The Sixers currently clock in as the NBA’s ninth-most-valuable franchise, just behind the Brooklyn Nets. They’re nowhere close to the Golden State Warriors ($14.5 billion), New York Knicks ($12.8 billion) or Los Angeles Lakers ($12.5 billion), but they aren’t far off from the Los Angeles Clippers ($8.21 billion), Chicago Bulls ($8.13 billion), Miami Heat ($8.05 billion) or Boston Celtics ($8.0 billion).
Their value may only continue to skyrocket, too.
For one, their estimated valuation jumped by 27 percent just within the past year, which was the fifth-biggest jump in the NBA, per Sportico’s Kurt Badenhausen. If the NBA does expand to Las Vegas and Seattle—and the price of the Vegas franchise and new arena does top $12 billion, as expected—that should help push up every existing team’s valuation as well.
The Sixers also had kind of a big summer, in case you hadn’t heard. Not only did they pry Jaylen Brown away from the Celtics, but they also signed some guy named LeBron James to a two-year, veteran-minimum contract.
According to Badenhausen, 15,000 people “put down deposits on season tickets within the first 72 hours” after the Sixers signed LeBron. The Sixers “limited those to half-season and partial plans to allow more people into the building and also boost the revenue yield,” Badenhausen added. (Of course they did.) He estimated regular-season ticket revenue will increase by 50 percent this season.
They’ve also been active on the business side of the organization, as Badenhauser reported:
“Interest on the sponsorship side has been just as active, with revenue projected to grow at least 50% this season. Last month, the team signed a new jersey patch deal with Bloom Energy that is the second-biggest jersey deal in the NBA after the Warriors, according to two people familiar with the details. The 76ers are not doing any sponsor deals less than three years after signing LeBron. That will provide a bridge ahead of the new arena, which will provide further revenue opportunities.”
Even though HBSE won’t have full control of the new arena, being 50-50 partners instead of long-term tenants should further increase the valuation of the Sixers, much like the Chase Center did for the Warriors. Adding a WNBA team to the portfolio in 2030 won’t hurt, either. Until then, having LeBron on the roster should help business keep booming in the short term.
But you know what would really help? Winning. If the Sixers make good on their potential this season and keep LeBron in the fold in 2027-28, it wouldn’t be surprising if they jumped a few spots on next year’s franchise-valuation list.
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 12: Yoenis Cespedes #52 of the New York Mets celebrates with David Wright #5 after hitting a three run home run against Alex Wood #57 of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the fourth inning during game three of the National League Division Series at Citi Field on October 12, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Mets are, how should I put this, not historically known for their winning ways. The most commonly noted exception to that trend is their success on Opening Day (42-23). But perhaps it’s time we give that same recognition to their performance in the National League Division Series. The Mets have played in five Division Series — 1999, 2000, 2006, 2015, and 2024 — and they have gone a perfect 5-0, advancing to the National League Championship Series each time. Only one other franchise, the Toronto Blue Jays, has an undefeated record in the Division Series round. So with MLB’s 2026 DS having recently wrapped up, let’s count down the best moments from the Mets’ dominant Division Series history.
10. Franco freezes Bonds(2000 NLDS, Game 2)
In the 10th inning of a back-and-forth Game 2 at San Francisco, John Franco entered to put out Armando Benítez’s fire. The Mets had led 4-1 entering the bottom of the ninth inning, but Benítez surrendered a three-run, game-tying homer to J.T. Snow with two outs to go. Jay Payton put the Mets back ahead with an RBI single in the top of the 10th, but Benítez then allowed Armando Ríos to reach on a single to begin the bottom of the frame. Franco arrived and got a pair of outs on the ground — one of which erased Ríos via a bad baserunning blunder — to bring Bonds to bat with two outs as the potential tying run or final out. With a full count to the already three-time MVP Award winner, Franco threw a pitch that was beautifully painted on the inside corner (or perhaps just beautifully framed by Mike Piazza behind the plate). Either way, the umpire rung up a disgruntled Bonds, evening the series as it went back to Shea.
9. deGrom’s bakers dozen(2015 NLDS, Game 1)
Jacob deGrom’s first postseason start, much like his first All-Star appearance three months earlier, was an electrifying statement to the rest of the league (and a foreshadowing of the two Cy Young Awards to come). His 13 strikeouts tied a Mets postseason record set by Tom Seaver in Game 1 of the 1973 NLCS against the Reds at Riverfront Stadium. He also became at that point just the ninth pitcher to strike out 13 while allowing no runs in a postseason game (two players, Gerrit Cole and Clayton Kershaw, have joined that list over the past 11 years). While deGrom’s Game 5 start to clinch a series victory was arguably the more impressive display, as he bounced back from a two-run first inning and battled without his “A stuff” to still put up a quality start, his Game 1 performance was a thing of pure majesty.
8. Alfonzo’s grand slam in Arizona(1999 NLDS, Game 1)
The first grand slam in Mets playoff history couldn’t have come at a better moment. Edgardo Alfonzo had already hit a homer in Game 1 of the 1999 NLDS, putting the Mets on the board with a solo shot off Randy Johnson (in the first of the southpaw’s four consecutive Cy Young Award-winning seasons) in the first inning. When Alfonzo came to bat in the ninth inning with the bases loaded and the score tied at 4-4, he went deep again, crushing a ball down the left-field line and into the second deck to give the Mets an 8-4 lead and all but seal their series-opening victory.
7. Jones’ shutout(2000 NLDS, Game 4)
In his first postseason start after eight big league seasons with the Mets, Bobby Jones completely baffled a Giants lineup that finished the regular season with the third-best team OPS (.834) in the Majors. The 30-year-old right-hander allowed just one hit (to future Hall of Famer and former Met Jeff Kent) and two walks, completing the second shutout in Mets playoff history after Jon Matlack twirled one in Game 2 of the 1973 NLCS against the Reds. Jones also notched one of just 34 series-clinching shutouts in playoff history to date. Mike Hampton would join that list eight days later in the NLCS, making the 2000 Mets the only team to have multiple pitchers throw shutouts in series-clinchers.
6. Murphy’s takeover(2015 NLDS, Game 5)
Everyone remembers that Daniel Murphy homered in six straight playoff games, setting an MLB postseason record (while remarkably hitting four of those six against that season’s NL Cy Young Award finalists Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke, and Jake Arrieta). But Murphy’s other heroics in the winner-take-all Game 5 of the NLDS might be more easily overlooked. The Mets eked out a win over the Dodgers by a final of 3-2, and the second baseman was directly responsible for all three runs the Amazins’ scored. In the top of the first, he sent a triple to the warning track in left-center field, scoring Curtis Granderson and putting the Mets up 1-0. In the top of the fourth, with the Mets trailing 2-1, Murphy mustered a leadoff single. When Lucas Duda walked two batters later, Murphy caught the Dodgers’ defense sleeping and advanced to third base, allowing him to score when Travis d’Arnaud hit a sac fly which would have otherwise been a harmless flyout. Then, in the sixth, Murphy took matters into his own hands, tattooing a Greinke fastball down the right-field line for a go-ahead homer. Murphy would go on to win the NLCS MVP Award — but if there was an NLDS MVP Award, he would have won that, too.
5. Lo Duca goes 2-for-1(2006 NLDS, Game 1)
The most memorable — and most bizarre — defensive play in Mets Division Series history set the tone for a three-game sweep against the Dodgers. In the top of the second inning of Game 1 at Shea Stadium, L.A. had runners at first and second with nobody out facing rookie John Maine. The Dodgers’ Russell Martin banked a ball off the right-field fence, setting the runners in motion. Shawn Green and José Valentín combined for a clean relay to get the ball to catcher Paul Lo Duca, who tagged the lead runner (shoutout to Jeff Kent once again) sliding head-first into home plate. Lo Duca looked up to see the verdict from the home-plate umpire John Hirschbeck, who ruled Kent out. But when Lo Duca turned back around toward the diamond, he was suddenly met with the other runner, J.D. Drew, who was attempting to take the Mets by surprise. Instead, Lo Duca managed to get the tag down before Drew’s fingers touched the plate, turning a potential bases-loaded, nobody-out jam — or a potential go-ahead hit — into a double play.
4. Céspedes flips his bat to the heavens(2015 NLDS, Game 3)
Mets fans didn’t really need any extra motivation to go all-out in the first-ever playoff game at Citi Field, but after Chase Utley’s hard slide into Rubén Tejada during Game 2 of the 2015 NLDS…well, they got that extra motivation and then some. The Citi crowd was waiting for a moment to explode from the first pitch, and it got several fantastic opportunities. Curtis Granderson hit a bases-clearing, go-ahead double in the second. Matt Harvey got out of a big jam in the third by striking out Carl Crawford. Travis d’Arnaud hit a two-run homer to make it a 6-3 Mets lead in the third. But none of those moments could match the sheer euphoria caused by the sight of Yoenis Céspedes’ mammoth three-run shot rocketing into the second-deck in left field. Suddenly, the Mets were winning 10-3, the Dodgers’ formidable pitching staff was scrambling, and Cespedes’ bat was flying over home plate like an outbound red-eye from LaGuardia. Playoff baseball had officially arrived at Citi Field.
3. Benny and the Mets and the walk-off HR(2000 NLDS, Game 3)
The fan-favorite Benny Agbayani delivered his signature moment in Game 3 of the 2000 NLDS to put the Mets ahead in both a gridlocked game and a hotly-contested series against the Giants. After Edgardo Alfonzo evened the score at 2-2 with an RBI double in the bottom of the eighth inning, neither side was able to break through until the bottom of the 13th, when Agabyani got hold of a fastball from southpaw Aaron Fultz and sent it into the left-field stands at Shea Stadium. It is one of just eight walk-off homers in playoff history to be hit in the 13th inning or later.
2. Pratt’s all (1999 NLDS, Game 4)
Todd Pratt had hit just three home runs in 71 games during the 1999 regular season, making him one of the more unlikely power threats in a stacked Mets lineup. But he proved the hero during Game 4 of the NLDS on a Saturday afternoon at Shea Stadium, with the Mets and second-year D-backs tied at 3-3 with one out in the bottom of the 10th inning. After Arizona right-hander Matt Mantei bounced a first-pitch breaking ball, the Mets’ backup catcher got a fastball over the plate and elevated it to center field. Five-time Gold Glove Award winner Steve Finely gave the ball a chase and leapt at the wall, but he couldn’t stop it from soaring over the fence and sending the Mets to the NLCS. It was the first series-clinching homer by a National League player since Bill Mazeroski’s in the 1960 World Series. There have only been three series-clinching homers in DS history, and Pratt’s was the first (before David Ortiz for the Red Sox in 2004 and Chris Burke for the Astros in 2005). Plus, the 1999 Mets would have gone on to become the only NL team in history to record multiple walk-off homers in the same postseason if Robin Ventura’s “grand-slam single” in the NLCS went down as a home run in the record books.
1. Lindor gives Citi its moment(2024 NLDS, Game 4)
The end of the Mets’ 2024 season featured one Hollywood moment after another, but Lindor’s go-ahead grand slam stands apart because it was in front of a Citi Field crowd that had waited through…a lot. They had waited 18 years (since September of 2006) to celebrate a clinch in Queens, whether for a postseason berth or series. They had waited through a four-city road hoping for the chance to experience postseason baseball in-person, watching as the Mets somehow clinched a playoff spot in Atlanta thanks to Lindor’s ninth-inning homer and even more miraculously advanced past Milwaukee thanks to Pete Alonso’s ninth-inning homer. They had also waited all night for the Mets to get on the board. When Lindor came to bat to the sound of The Temptations’ “My Girl” with the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the sixth, New York was 2-for-11 (2 singles) with RISP, still trailing 1-0. Even with a bad back, Lindor had carried the 2024 Mets to the precipice of this magical moment. It was only right that he then be the one to deliver it. As Lindor crushed a middle-middle fastball from the Phillies’ Carlos Estévez over the right-center-field wall, that Citi crowd got to erupt after five innings, four series, and 18 years of waiting.
It’s no secret that left field has been a black hole for the San Diego Padres. In the last three seasons, 12 players have manned the left side of the outfield. That includes two starters in Jurickson Profar (2024) and Ramón Laureano (2025-26). Behind them are depth pieces like Nick Castellanos, Gavin Sheets and Samad Taylor alongside names you’d be hard-pressed to remember like Oscar Gonzales or Tirso Ornelas.
At the end of the day, San Diego has an abundance of pressing needs in order to balance out their roster. If the Padres’ new ownership is serious about bringing this city a World Series, they need to put their money where their mouth is. That would include signing a legitimate left fielder. Who are the best options?
The Power/Speed Threat
Randy Arozarena is, without a doubt, the top left fielder free agent on the market in this upcoming 2026-27 class. It’s easy to tell why. For six consecutive seasons, Arozarena has hit 20 home runs and stolen 20 bases. He’s the first player since Barry Bonds to display that level of elite power and speed. That might sound crazy, but it’s not. Bonds tops the list of consecutive 20/20 seasons with nine. Behind him are Bobby Abreu and Bobby Bonds with seven. Arozarena is tied for fourth with Willie Mays with six.
He certainly would come with an expensive price tag, though the impending lockout and CBA negotiations could muddy that up a little bit. The bigger question is if San Diego is comfortable taking a hit on batting average and defense. From 2023-25, Arozarena never batted higher than .254. He batted .219 in ‘24. But the left fielder turned that around this past season, batting .281 and bringing his strikeouts down from 191 (’25) to 145.
Defense is the biggest issue. Arozarena has a passable glove in left field. Especially with the elite defensive duo of Jackson Merrill and Fernando Tatis Jr. already present, it wouldn’t be the biggest problem. However, Arozarena is tied for 101st out of 102 left fielders in Fielding Run Value with -7 FRV. Out of 35 qualified fielders, Arozarena ranks 28th in Outs Above Average (-5 OAA).
Consistency is Key
This one might cost even more than Arozarena, but it would be incredible to see. Seiya Suzuki is fresh off a 7.2 WAR season in his walk year with the Chicago Cubs. His home run total (26) went down from 2025 (32), but his OPS increased by 37 points due to increased plate discipline and bat-to-ball ability. He’d slot incredibly well into San Diego’s lineup, and be an incredible presence in left field.
It’s true, Suzuki is mostly a right fielder. But his glove should still translate well. He revamped his defense in 2026, posting +5 OAA and +8 FRV. If that trend continues, Suzuki could round out one of the most elite defensive outfields in baseball alongside Merrill and Tatis. However, the 32-year old is expected to command a long-term deal that could prove too much for San Diego.
A Surprising Trade Possibility
Ronald Acuña Jr. has been one of MLB’s brightest stars over the better part of the last decade. Unfortunate injuries have derailed an otherwise immaculate career. The superstar outfielder for the Atlanta Braves has a club option for 2027 that Atlanta seemed all but certain to exercise. However, the 29-year old went 2-for-15 in the playoffs and was a big factor in the Braves’ elimination in the NLDS.
It’s been speculated that Atlanta could make Acuña available via trade after picking up his club option. That being said, it seems unlikely that the Padres have the prospect capital to get the deal done. San Diego’s farm system is heavily depleted and the club would be much better off seeking a new outfielder via free agency.
Other Options
The Friars will have contributors Dustin Harris and Samad Taylor likely returning to the club. The two formed an incredible contact/speed platoon down the stretch for San Diego. There’s certainly questions persisting of whether that success can continue. The two seem best fit to come off of the bench for the Padres, with both being incredible pinch-hitting or pinch-running opportunities.
However, with San Diego prioritizing signing reliable starting pitching this offseason, it’s possible that they’re willing to continue with their duo of Harris and Taylor in order to invest more into the pitching staff. Hopefully, the Padres will spend on a solid starter to supplant the duo in left. Otherwise, it’s hard to imagine where else a big bat might fit in the lineup math.
ST PETERSBURG, FL - OCTOBER 22: Carl Crawford #13 of the Tampa Bay Rays looks on during batting practice prior to game one of the 2008 MLB World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies on October 22, 2008 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) | Getty Images
A Tampa Bay Rays Hall of Famer will be one hand throw out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the first game of the 2026 American League Championship Series.
Carl Crawford, a 4-time All-Star and winner of a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger award, will throw out the first pitch as the Rays play their first ALCS game at Tropicana Field since 2008. Carl Crawford was actually on the field the last time the Rays played in the ALCS at the Trop, playing in left field when Akinori Iwamura stepped on second base and the late great fellow Rays Hall of Famer Dave Wills declared that “this improbable season has another chapter to it. The Rays are going to the World Series!”
Tampa Bay originally selected Crawford in the 2nd round of the 1999 draft and he quickly became one of the team’s top prospects. In the early years of the Rays franchise, they were extremely aggressive with minor league advancement so despite being selected out of high school, the Rays pushed Crawford to the Majors by the 2002 season and he was their Opening Day left fielder in 2003. On Opening Day that season, Crawford launched a walk-off homerun against the Boston Red Sox kickstarting a new era in Tampa Bay.
Over the next several years, Crawford would infuriate opposing pitchers due to his blazing speed. From 2004 to 2006, Crawford led the league in triples. During a five year stretch from 2003 to 2007, Crawford led the American League in stolen bases. During a game in 2009, Crawford tied a Major League record when he collected six stolen bases in a single game, a feat that has not been accomplished since.
Crawford currently ranks 2nd on the Rays all-time fWAR leaderboard while also having set the franchise record for hits, singles, triples, and stolen bases.
Following his foray into free agency after the 2010 season, Crawford would play with the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers before being released in 2016 and effectively retiring following the season.
Overall, Crawford hit .290/.330/.435 with 136 HR, registering a 104 wRC+ and stealing 480 bases over 1,716 games played for his career.
In 2023, Crawford became the third person inducted into the Rays Hall of Fame as part of its inaugural class
The talent. The work ethic. They just don’t make them like CC.
Our final Rays Hall of Fame class of ’23 inductee couldn’t be anyone but this absolute legend. pic.twitter.com/TtUqJn7laC
Milwaukee, WI - October 10, 2026: Rookie Josue DePaula lines up at shortstop for infield drills as the LA Dodgers conduct an off day workout before game one of the National League Championship Series against the Brewers at American Family Field, Milwaukee, WI on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Kyle Tucker was that runner in scoring position after a two-out walk off Milwaukee closer Trevor Megill. Josue De Paula followed with a walk off his own, doing so in five pitches. It was the second game in a row with a pinch-hit walk for the 21-year-old De Paula, who kept alive the winning rally in Game 4 of the NLDS against the Braves on Wednesday.
De Paula batted for Kiké Hernández against a right-handed pitcher in each of his last two pinch-hit appearances.
“He’s got a good heartbeat, looks over the ball really well. I’ve got no hesitation running him out there. I just felt with Megill he’s just a really good pitcher, especially tough on right-handers,” manager Dave Roberts said after the game. “What way gave us the best chance to get Mookie up to bat, and that’s the decision I made, and I felt good about it.”
Tarik Skubal needed 26 pitches to get through the fifth inning, in which the Brewers scored the go-ahead and ultimately winning run. Garrett Mitchell walked to open the frame, was bunted to second base, and scored on a single by Luis Lara.
“The leadoff walk just can’t happen,” Skubal said. “It gives them the opportunity to create something, and ultimately that’s all they needed today.”
The result: the teams remain evenly matched according to wRC-based comparisons vs. RHP when they are able to allocate more plate appearances to starters. However, the gulf between the two lineups vs. LHP grows substantially, leaving the Brewers further behind.
The Dodgers faced two left-handers in Game 1. DL Hall induced an inning-ending double play to his only batter face to escape an inherited jam in the fifth inning. Aaron Ashby allowed one walk in his two scoreless innings.
“I guess the only solace is you got them in the game, you got to take a look. We just know that if there’s any chance for them to win the game, we’re going to see those guys,” Roberts said Sunday night, talking about the Brewers usual high-leverage relievers, left- and right-handed. “Hopefully in a long series it could prove to be beneficial the more times we see them.”
“This year’s version will go seven games, and it will be a showcase of baseball at its optimal level,” wrote Alden González, “A shining example of the varying ways teams can compete for championships, regardless of payrolls.”
QUEBEC CITY, CANADA - OCTOBER 3: Collin Murray-Boyles #30 of the Toronto Raptors drives to the basket during the game against the Miami Heat on October 3, 2026 at the Videotron Centre in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The thing about exceeding expectations in professional sports is that it either buys time or raises expectations. Under normal circumstances, Collin Murray-Boyles’ rookie season purchased an entire season of leniency and patience. Met with confusion and indifference on his draft night, Murray-Boyles blocked out the noise and responded with one of the more tantalizing rookie campaigns in Toronto Raptors history.
But for Murray-Boyles’ sophomore season, the Raptors find themselves dealing with an extraordinary circumstance in the form of Kawhi Leonard’s return.
With Leonard turning 35 this past June (and having signed a two-year extension that keeps him in a Raptors jersey until 2029), Murray-Boyles (21 years old) might be required to expedite at least part of his offensive development.
If Murray-Boyles doesn’t make significant progression this year, the Scottie Barnes-era Raptors can still push into uncharted territory, but a noticeable leap raises the team’s ceiling to Eastern Conference (and maybe even the NBA Finals).
After two pre-season contests, Murray-Boyles is averaging 9.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 block in 20.5 minutes. He’s also shooting 38.8 per cent from the field (0/2 from three) and 62.5 per cent from the free-throw line.
Here are a few thoughts about the small sample size we have at our disposal:
Off-ball is still a strength
0:00 – Some of Murray-Boyles’ best offensive moments last season came off-ball, particularly when Head Coach Darko Rajakovic got him moving downhill. He’s a big body that consistently sets effective screens, and this often forces defences to respect the chaos with a switch, subsequently resulting in meaningful mismatches. It’s easy to see how this would look with Barnes in Kyle Anderson’s spot, Immanuel Quickley instead of Jamal Shead, and Ja’Kobe Walter and Leonard as the spot-up shooters
0:09 – We’ve seen how effective Barnes is in the DHO anchor role. Murray-Boyles is just as savvy in this position, especially with his processing speed. The key to enhancing this action will be discussed later!
0:22 – Regardless of who he’s playing with (Jakob Poeltl, Barnes, or Anderson), Murray-Boyles will continue to thrive as an offensive-rebounder from the dunker’s spot
0:32 – Speaking of the dunker spot, how many times did we see this beautiful floater during the playoff series against the Cleveland Cavaliers? With Barnes, Leonard and Barrett applying rim pressure, expect Murray-Boyles to continue to thrive here
On-ball needs more reps
0:00 – I think Raptors fans would like to see more of this from Murray-Boyles, especially during pre-season and contests against weaker opponents. We’ve seen him try this move from the left block before. He’s left-handed, so it makes sense he’s comfortable going away from potential help defenders.
0:10 – Regarding the DHO anchor role in the earlier video, this is the aspect of that action that Murray-Boyles can improve. It’s not a catch-and-shoot three, nor is it an off-the-dribble jumper, but having this type of range as a counter if defences take away the pass or drive would be monumental.
0:19 – This is a pseudo-face-up type of sequence, which we occasionally see from Murray-Boyles. It’s no surprise that even when he tries a finesse move, he ends up relying on his physicality. This will be one of the more fun aspects of Murray-Boyles’ development
0:29 – The obvious highlight is the pass, but that’s a known variable in Murray-Boyles’ game. It’s cool watching him attack the defence off the bounce, particularly with his right hand. The spin in traffic is also a welcome sight.
Pushing for more
It’s normal for Murray-Boyles to look unnatural or uncomfortable with the ball in his hands. However, there’s no doubt in my mind that once he unlocks those layers of his game (whatever that might look like), we’ll all look back and say, ‘Of course that happened.“
It begins with Murray-Boyles occasionally moving away from that short corner or dunker spot area, and instead spotting up in the corner. He averaged less than one three-point attempt per game in his rookie season.
Barnes has noticeably been forcing reps during pre-season, and for good reason; he’ll be relied on in the post-season to create his own shots. Even if Murray-Boyles won’t be called on to consistently generate his own offence, the same philosophy should apply to him too. The Raptors need to raise their ceiling with Leonard in town and Murray-Boyles can lead that movement.
David Stearns and the Mets' front office will have a lot on their plate this offseason as they look to turn the club from a massively disappointing 74-88 team into a playoff contender.
There are plenty examples of quick turnarounds recently, including the 2026 White Sox (60-102 in 2025 to 84-78 and in the playoffs), 2023 Rangers (68-94 in 2022 to 90-72 and World Series champs), and 2013 Red Sox (69-93 in 2012 to 97-65 and World Series champs).
So New York's task, while difficult, is not as daunting as it may seem.
What will help is that the Mets, who went 39-38 from June 30 through the end of the season after a disastrous start derailed their playoff hopes, should have a very strong returning core that includes Juan Soto, Francisco Lindor, Bo Bichette (who seems likely to opt in to his contract for 2027), and young building blocks Carson Benge, Nolan McLean, A.J. Ewing, and Christian Scott.
As the Mets start moving and shaking, they -- and the other 29 teams -- will likely be facing a truncated calendar due to the expected lockout that is set to begin on Dec. 1.
With the offseason kicking into high gear five days after the World Series ends, things will open up any time between Nov. 1 and Nov. 5.
Here's what the Mets' top priorities should be...
5. Target players who want the New York market
In his end-of-season news conference, Stearns was asked if some players struggle to play in New York.
"I think the answer is yes," he said. "I think this is a unique place to play, and it's different here. I've lived it as a fan and as an executive. When you win here, it is the greatest thing in the world. As a fan and as an executive, there is nothing like coming to this ballpark in a playoff atmosphere and experiencing that. It's equally extreme when things aren't going well, and I do think certain players struggle with that. And I'm cognizant of that."
Following an offseason where the Mets let proven New York performer Pete Alonso walk in free agency, Bichette struggled badly over the first few months of the 2026 season and Freddy Peralta performed well below expectations.
Jun 9, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets pitcher Freddy Peralta (51) delivers a pitch during the third inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Citi Field. / Vincent Carchietta - Imagn Images
This isn't to say that Bichette failed early and Peralta never found it at all simply because of the pressure of New York. But it was certainly a factor.
Not that it wasn't a consideration before, but targeting players who want to play in (and can handle) the highly pressurized New York market should be even more of a priority now.
4. Explore trade scenarios
Soon after New York's trade deadline sell-off in August, Stearns wasn't shy when suggesting that some of the prospects the team acquired could be flipped in the short-term in order to help fill other holes.
While the Mets' farm system isn't quite as deep as it was a year ago, due in part to Benge, McLean, and Ewing no longer being prospects, they still possess a number of top 100-ish players who could theoretically help headline a deal for an impact player.
There hasn't been much buzz yet regarding which players other teams might make available this offseason, but Tampa Bay Rays ace Drew Rasmussen ($20 million team option for 2027 in his last year before free agency) and some of the Mariners' starting pitchers (given their glut of rotation options) could be available.
As far as who the Mets could deal in a search for impact talent, it's conceivable that they would be open to parting with one of their infield prospects -- given their depth in that area.
If Bichette opts in as expected, the Mets will be covered on the left side of the infield, all three outfield spots, and catcher. Second base is to-be-determined, but top prospects Jefferson Rojas and Mitch Voit are among the in-house options if things continue to go sideways with Marcus Semien. Brett Baty could also find himself at second.
That would leave first base and/or designated hitter as the main avenue to improve the offense.
Mar 15, 2025; Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan; Hanshin Tigers right fielder Teruaki Sato (8) gestures during the fifth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Tokyo Dome. / Darren Yamashita - Imagn Images
Jared Young became New York's primary first baseman in 2026 and did relatively well, posting a .759 OPS. But he does not hit for much power (just nine home runs in 103 games this past season) and struggles against left-handed pitching.
While Young could be part of a platoon at first base with a to-be-determined right-handed hitter, the Mets should be aiming higher. Specifically, they should be seeking a full-time first baseman who can profile in the middle of the lineup.
That player might not exist on the MLB free agent market, but star Japanese slugger Teruaki Sato is expected to be posted. If the Mets aren't sold on Sato as an answer at first base, it might leave the trade market as their best option when it comes to addressing the position.
2. Don't be driven by bounce backs and what-ifs
Heading into 2026, the Mets were banking on too much uncertainty.
They were hoping for bounce backs from Senga, Sean Manaea, David Peterson, and Mark Vientos, as well as relative health from Jorge Polanco and Luis Robert Jr. -- two players who had checkered injury pasts.
Nearly all of that blew up in New York's face, helping to create the "uncapped downside scenario" Stearns referenced after the season.
Heading into 2027, there has to be a much smaller reliance on bounce backs and what-ifs. That means jumping in the deeper end of free agency for players who should be more reliable.
It also means Polanco should be viewed as a non-entity until/unless he's healthy and performing, Semien should be replaced at second base if his struggles continue, and Manaea should be looked at as one of many rotation options instead of a key cog.
New York Mets second baseman Marcus Semien (10) hits a RBI single during the second inning against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field. / Matt Marton-Imagn Images
It can be argued that the Mets left their rotation one legitimate starting pitcher short each of the last two seasons.
In 2025, things began to crumble because of a lack of rotation options, resulting in Chris Devenski, Justin Hagenman, Blade Tidwell, and a small village of openers starting games. Beyond that, Jonah Tong was called up before he was ready because the team had basically run out of arms.
In 2026, the rotation was a huge issue again due to the early struggles of Senga and Peterson, Manaea being relegated to the bullpen because of his own difficulties and velocity issues, and a freak injury to Clay Holmes that the team had no answer for.
This time around, the rotation needs to be properly fortified, which should mean adding two new members to the starting five (or starting six).
McLean and Scott are locks, but things are uncertain beyond that. Zac Thornton is an option, Manaea could be an answer at the back end, and Tong has been tasked with pitching so well that he forces himself into the conversation.
Champion batsman Steve Smith is in doubt for the second Test of the prized series against South Africa after he was struck in the head with a venomous delivery by South African speedster Anrich Nortje in Durban on Monday
