Mets News: Juan Soto rumors, free agent additions, 40-man roster decisions

It’s dry in the Northeast and for the most part, New York Mets news has been pretty quiet. We’re at the stage of the MLB hot stove where manufactured speculation leads the way. Things should start to pick up soon with all eyes on Juan Soto.

New York Yankees broadcaster and radio host Michael Kay spoke about Soto on his show Monday, making a bold declaration that, if factual, can only make us excited. According to a source of Kay’s, Steve Cohen is willing to go $50 million more than the highest offer Soto receives from anyone else.

An extra $50 million more than anyone else seals the deal with Soto. With that kind of cash he could have paid for the entire budget for Tom Hanks’ recent box office dud, ‘Here.” It’s a good thing the title gives away where the film is because based on the reviews, I do not want to be wherever ‘Here’ is.

The Mets are actively adding to the roster in multiple capacities

A pair of players were signed yesterday by the Mets. David Stearns has been busy ahead of Tuesday’s deadline for final 40-man roster decisions. Rafael Ortega is back on a minor league deal. A member of the 2023 Mets who helped them finish off the year by going 25 for 114, he’s coming off a year spent mostly in the minor leagues. He did get 17 plate appearances for the Chicago White Sox. The results weren’t great with only one hit.

Far more intriguing was the split contract they signed Justin Hagenman to. These types of deals have been commonplace for Stearns and have their benefits. A difference in salary for a player if they make the MLB roster or not, the extra incentive for Hagenman wasn’t quite the rumored $50 million extra Cohen has promised to Soto.

The Mets have done things in the past like this deal. Last year, Austin Adams signed to a split contract but was traded to the Oakland Athletics during spring training. Somewhat related as well was the Sam McWilliams signing from a few years ago. He was given a MLB contract despite never appearing in a major league game. This rings true for Hagenman as well. He has yet to make it above Triple-A where he has a 4.45 ERA.

We’ll learn more about the Mets roster by the end of today

Tuesday features a lot of big deadlines. One has already been crossed off. Sean Manaea, who just got married, is turning down the qualifying offer. No surprise here.

Other roster decisions need to be made. Most fascinating relates to who the Mets feel they need to protect from the Rule 5 Draft. Notable pitching prospects Dom Hamel and Mike Vasil are both eligible if not placed on the 40-man roster. The same is true for Luke Ritter who wasn’t selected last year. Would a second straight productive campaign change someone’s opinion of him? Over the weekend, I tried to offer the Mets some help on where their heads should be when it comes to the 40-man roster.

The ball on the offseason should get rolling soon. The MLB Winter Meetings aren’t for three more weeks. This won’t get in the way of big, medium, and small moves from happening first.