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2025-26 Offseason thread
#301 · December 16, 2025, 11:53 am
On Kim it is the $20MM that surprised me ... would guess the higher amount served to have him pass on any (if there were any) multi-year suitors but at a much lower AAV. Fangraphs had him signing for 3 years / $45MM ($15MM AAV) but not sure who else other than ATL were in the hunt for a SS ... so that may limited his market.
#302 · December 16, 2025, 12:00 pm
The only match with the Padres for a one for one deal with Vientos seems to me Estrada.
Both at league minimum ... both with 4 years control ... Mets need RP (potential closer) while the Padres need a RHH power bat for 1B/DH. Neither have long track records of filling those roles so maybe equal risk in both succeeding or failing.
If the Padres are not trading Miller, Morgan, Morejon, and Adam returns with Rodriguez in the wings ... Estrada may be a trade chip.
Having posed that ... I think IF there is a trade that includes Vientos .... it will be a multi-player deal going each way.
#303 · December 16, 2025, 12:16 pm
Since I don't see the Padres in the mix for any of the bigger money FA and since they have multiple needs in SP and a 9th/10th hitter ... beginning to worry that some of the "mid-range" better options are getting signed leaving little for Preller to try to sign.
I guess he may not see much difference in the mid/lower end options and plans to wait for player/agent desperation for the lowest contract option ... late January / February.
Alternative, the budget may put him into going the trade route first to upgrade where he can and free up some more money for those mid-range FA.
It was reported that Siedler said the payroll will be about the same as in 2025 ... Roster Resource had them in 2025 at $211MM and have them NOW for 2026 at $201MM ... suggesting all Preller is working with is $10MM and that is nothing in the FA market if you are looking for SP and Offense regulars.
Makes me think dealing Pivetta (as good as he was in 2025) might be needed to clear his $20MM (for FA signings) plus who he might yield in the return.
#304 · December 16, 2025, 7:08 pm
Playing on the rumors that Preller is working on a huge trade, we need pitching, and an additional hitter. Plus Lindor and Soto are not meshing in the Mets clubhouse.
Padres Receive: SS Francisco Lindor, INF Mark Vientos, RHP Jonah Tong (No. 4), RHP Will Watson (No. 11), RHP Jack Wenninger (No. 13).
Mets Receive: SS Xander Bogaerts, RHP Nick Pivetta, RHP Mason Miller, and LHP Yuki Matsui.
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Randy Manese
#305 · December 17, 2025, 7:36 am
The latest reports I've read said that Lindor wasn't being discussed and that the Mets have no intention of trading him. If we dismiss that and go by the initial rumor it was Bogaerts and Miller for Lindor. No way the Mets are giving up the rest of that package for Pivetta and another negative asset in Matsui.
#306 · December 17, 2025, 7:49 am
Vientos is a negative WAR player.
Pass
#307 · December 17, 2025, 8:02 am
Trades chips ebb and flow as time passes ... and options emerge or close ... so nothing should be a definitive ... BUT the latest has both Lindor (Mets) and Miller (Padres) off the board in any deal.
Mets have indicated Vientos is in play but really doubt Tong is available barring a major return ... at 22 with major upside and 6 year control is a keeper. The other two pitchers are just names with no near term value and limited potential.
IF the Padres are committed to Miller as the closer for the next four years and believe Morgan, Rodriguez, and eventually Hawkins will keep the pen elite ... then an Estrada - Vientos deal may fit ... similar control and now at league minimum.
An alternative gambit is Pivetta (saves $20MM) for Vientos ... they use the $20MM with the maybe $10MM on hand to add a couple decent SP ... maybe on creative multi-year deals (lower 2026). Pivetta is walking after 2026 ... Vientos is under control for four years and the Padres have little offense coming near term (plus Laureano is a FA after 2026 and Sheets after 2027). That gambit may help 2026 (not make it worse) but be better for the coming years.
If they did move Pivetta for more payroll space ... I would not rule out a return of King since most the the rumors have teams pushing a "shorter" contact (worried about health) ... King / Padres seem to like each other ... so IF the money is there maybe a creative multi-year deal with a slightly lower 2026 ... an extra year ... player opt outs. Basically a King for Pivetta trade with the Padres gaining Vientos at the cost of a longer commitment for a SP with injury concerns.
#308 · December 17, 2025, 9:59 am
Well the Mets have just signed Luke Weaver, so they may not be as interested in RPs now.
#309 · December 17, 2025, 11:01 am
| December 16, 2025 | San Diego Padres signed free agent C Blake Hunt to a minor league contract. |
Yes, he was the Blake Hunt that was a Padres prospect a few years back but got traded to TB in the Blake Snell deal.
Still considered an elite defensive catcher ... hitting is still a struggle but decent power. Only 27. Assigned to EP. He should provide ... initially ... decent insurance for the #2 catcher for the Padres in case of injury to either Fermin or Campusano. Has not had any time in the ML across various organizations ... so think insurance more that a contender for an opening day #2 catcher.
#310 · December 18, 2025, 8:57 am
There's a report out there that the Padres and Angels have offers out to Song Sung-Moon. It says that both offers are for less than 15m total and he may ultimately decide to stay in Korea. I think his window ends in the next few days.