NY Mets News: Season tickets, Dodgers’ Juan Soto backup plan, minor league signing

Championship Series - Los Angeles Dodgers v New York Mets - Game 5
Championship Series - Los Angeles Dodgers v New York Mets - Game 5 | Sarah Stier/GettyImages

In a masterclass of promotion, New York Mets season tickets go on sale starting hours after the signing of Juan Soto. It couldn’t have turned out better. While the hype is as high as it’ll ever get, fans have more incentive than ever to spend their holiday budget on Mets tickets for 2024.

Mets attendance was a talking point last year. Based on the season expectations, many bowed out from their season ticket plans heading into the year. The disappointment of how 2023 ended, a rise in cost, and not a single offseason addition worth a press conference had fans waiting to see if a September game at Citi Field would be worth their time.

If you’re looking to make a couple of treks over to Citi Field, season tickets go on sale at 10am today.

The Dodgers bowed out of the Juan Soto sweepstakes and signed a former Mets player

Shortly before the Soto fistfight ended, the Los Angeles Dodgers pivoted away and signed former Mets outfielder Michael Conforto. Another notable Scott Boras client who hasn’t cashed in nearly as much in two trips through free agency (excluding the 2022 season when he went unsigned due to an injury), he’s getting $17 million for the 2025 season.

Although past speculation had Conforto as a match for the Mets both in free agency and at least year’s trade deadline, it wasn’t quite the case this time around. Coming off of another year where his slash line numbers were below what he did with the Mets previously (.237/.309/.450 vs. .255/.356/.468), it appears Conforto will be one of those veterans who could bounce around from year to year with a new deal.

Going from the San Francisco Giants to the Dodgers isn’t such a bad situation. The defending champions didn’t get Soto, but seem fully loaded to do something no team has done since the New York Yankees defeated the Mets in the 2000 World Series: repeat.

The Mets added another minor league pitcher yesterday, too

Hopefully you had some champagne left over to celebrate the Soto news because earlier in the day the Mets inked Oliver Ortega to a minor league deal.

An addition on the same scope as Cole Sulser or any other free agent addition David Stearns brought in last offseason who appeared in games sparingly, he’ll join a crop of spring training invitees vying for a spot on the Mets roster or at least some earlier consideration. Unlike others who’ve received an invite to spring training—Genesis Cabrera, Chris Devenski, and Rico Garcia—Ortega carries a remaining minor league option. He’ll be someone the Mets will want to be able to keep around for the revolving bullpen door they’ll no doubt deploy.

Schedule