Mets In The News Today (Light News Day)
- The Mets are sniffing around Edward Cabrera again, and yeah, it makes sense. Cabrera is 27, throws hard, misses bats (478 career strikeouts), and he’s controlled through 2028. The problem is also the reason he’s available: walks, inconsistency, and a track record that flashes “front-end starter” one month and “why is the pitch count 72 in the 4th?” the next. If the Mets want upside without paying ace pricing, this is the lane.
- Bullpen rebuild is officially a personality. The Mets are betting big on Devin Williams and Luke Weaver to stabilize late innings post-Díaz. Williams’ underlying indicators still scream “nasty” (elite chase, whiffs, soft contact), even with the 2025 results wobbling. Weaver’s “reliever conversion” looks legit by the quality-of-contact numbers and expected ERA profile. This isn’t nostalgia shopping, it’s a calculated “our models like your pitches more than your ERA” play.
- Quiet detail that matters: the Mets were brutal at stranding runners. They finished 2025 with one of the worst left-on-base rates in baseball. Translation: too many innings that should’ve ended… didn’t. If Williams and Weaver do nothing else, they need to shut the door when the jam hits.
- 2026 lineup math is taking shape around the new infield core. Steamer projections have Marcus Semien and Jorge Polanco penciled in as real run producers. It’s not just “names,” it’s actual output expectations. If Semien hits his median outcome, the Mets just bought themselves a steadier offense without needing a dozen miracle months.
A Trip Around Major League Baseball
- Cody Bellinger’s market is getting loud. The Cubs checked in, the Yankees have reportedly made multiple offers, and the Mets are one of the teams that’s been tied to interest at points this winter. This one feels like it’s headed toward a “somebody blinked and added a sixth year” ending.
- The Blue Jays landed Kazuma Okamoto. Japan’s slugging corner bat is coming over with real expectations, not “bench flyer” vibes. That’s a meaningful addition to the AL East pressure cooker.
- Royals locked up manager Matt Quatraro through 2029. KC is choosing stability and continuity, and they’re not being subtle about it.
- Yankees are working multiple angles at once. Cabrera is on their radar, and they’re still trying to finish Bellinger. It’s the classic big-market move: solve roster problems by stacking solutions on top of each other.
NL East News & Notes
- Mets: Bullpen is the headline (Williams + Weaver) and Cabrera is the type of upside trade that fits this front office’s “buy the indicators” style.
- Braves: Added depth with a minor-league deal for Derek Hill (glove-first outfield insurance). Not sexy, but contenders stockpile competence.
- Phillies: Kicking tires on Bo Bichette is interesting… mostly because their infield isn’t exactly screaming “open spot.” Could be due diligence, could be prelude to a trade shuffle.
- Marlins: Cabrera is the domino everyone’s circling. If Miami actually moves him, it’s going to reshape a chunk of the pitching market.
- Nationals: Their bullpen situation is still a mess, and they’re basically trying to manifest a closer from a pile of arms. Some intriguing internal candidates, but it’s not a comforting list if you’re a Nats fan.
Mets History Today
- 2004: Mets legend Tug McGraw passed away. The man wasn’t just a reliever, he was the heartbeat of “Ya Gotta Believe.”
- 1969: McGraw’s move to the bullpen is part of what unlocked his Mets legacy. Different role, different career.
- 1994: The Mets traded Vince Coleman to Kansas City and reacquired Kevin McReynolds. Very 90s Mets.
- 2008: The Mets acquired Angel Pagan from the Cubs in a trade that turned into real value for New York.
- Birthday nod: Former Mets pitching coach Charlie Hough was born on this date (and yes, knuckleball chaos counts as a pitching philosophy).
Stats You Should Know
- Devin Williams (2025): Surface stats dipped, but the skill signals didn’t fall off a cliff, he still missed bats and suppressed damage in ways that typically age well in relief roles.
- 67 G, 62.0 IP, 4.79 ERA (surface stat)
- 34.7% K rate (still elite bat-missing)
- 9.7% BB rate (not pristine, but not a meltdown either)
- 0.73 HR/9 (kept the ball in the yard)
- 3.11 xERA, 2.68 FIP, 2.95 xFIP (the “you weren’t as bad as your ERA” case)
- Luke Weaver (2025): Expected metrics liked him more than traditional results, and his profile fits the “high-leverage reliever who doesn’t look like one until you stop staring at ERA” archetype.
- 64 G, 64.2 IP, 3.62 ERA
- 10.02 K/9, 2.78 BB/9 (solid K/BB shape)
- 27.5% K rate, 7.6% BB rate (better-than-average control with real swing-and-miss)
- 2.96 xERA (this is the key “expected > results” stat)
- 3.89 FIP, 4.12 xFIP, 73.6% LOB% (ERA isn’t the whole story, but it also wasn’t pure bad luck)
- Mets bullpen (2025): Mid-pack ERA, but the situational performance (stranding runners) was a problem. Fixing late-inning leverage is how you steal 4–6 wins without changing the offense at all.
- 636.0 bullpen IP (big workload)
- 3.93 bullpen ERA (respectable, not dominant)
- 22.8% K rate, 8.5% BB rate (fine, not terrifying)
- 71.1% bullpen LOB% (this is the “situational performance” red flag)
- 3.80 FIP, 4.07 xFIP (good enough baseline to believe improvement is real if leverage execution improves)
- Steamer projections (2026):
- Marcus Semien: projected everyday volume with 22 HR, 10 SB, and roughly 3 WAR value.
- Jorge Polanco: projected 20 HR power in fewer games, still above-average offense by run-creation metrics.
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