Good morning, Mets fans!
Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported Monday that rival executives view the Mets as the “clear-cut favorites” for Juan Soto. Nightengale added that the belief is that nobody will outbid Steve Cohen, and the Yankees have a price point they don’t want to exceed.
“We’re going to find out. It’s either yes or no. There’s no in-between and time will tell,” Cohen said to reporters.
Late Monday night, Randy Miller of NJ.com reported that Soto officially has five offers. The Mets are joined by the crosstown Yankees, the Dodgers, the Red Sox and the Blue Jays. Jon Morosi of MLB Network later confirmed the report. No further details have been reported about the details of the contracts offered.
Read Monday’s initial report on the Mets being the favorites here.
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Former Mets prospect Jeremiah Jackson signed a minor league contract with the Orioles. Jackson was acquired from the Angels in exchange for Dominic Leone at the 2023 trade deadline. Viewed as a top-30 prospect in the organization entering 2024, Jackson clubbed 19 homers but batted just .205/.245/.373 over 482 plate appearances for Double-A Binghamton.
The Angels have agreed to terms with lefty Yusei Kikuchi on a three-year contract worth $63 million. A former All-Star, Kikuchi posted a 4.05 ERA/3.46 FIP with a career-high 206 strikeouts over 175 2/3 innings split between the Blue Jays and Astros. He also received a fifth-place Cy Young vote.
Former Mets catcher Robinson Chirinos will serve as the Orioles’ bench coach in 2025 for his first coaching position. Chirinos also played for Baltimore in 2022. Chirinos joins former Mets minor leaguer Cody Asche and former Mets minor league coach Tommy Joseph on the Baltimore coaching staff.
Major League Baseball announced a pair of changes to the Rays’ schedule, moving their series against the Angels and Twins in April to Tampa. The Rays’ series against the Angels in Anaheim will now be played from August 4-6 and the series in Minnesota will be played from July 4-6.
Jordan Baron profiles first baseman Josh Bell as a free agent.
Sean Kenny grades Ryne Stanek‘s 2024 season.
Allison Waxman and Mathias Altman-Kurosaki debate whether the Mets should target Blake Snell or Corbin Burnes in an MMO Crossfire.
Born On This Date: Richie Hebner (1947), Brian Schneider (1976), Josh Smoker (1988).
The post Morning Briefing: Juan Soto Has Offers From Mets, Four Other Teams appeared first on Metsmerized Online.
