New York Mets

New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza revealed that starter Frankie Montas was shut down from throwing for six to eight weeks due to a lat strain.

Montas will receive a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection.

Mendoza also confirmed that the 31-year-old needs a spring training time period to throw after he's shut down.

Montas signed a two-year, $34 million contract with New York as a free agent on Dec. 1.

Montas finished with a 7-11 record across 30 combined starts with the Cincinnati Reds and Milwaukee Brewers in 2024. He posted a 4.84 ERA and 1.367 WHIP, racking up 148 strikeouts and 66 walks in 150.2 innings of work.

Montas appeared in just one game during the 2023 season after undergoing shoulder surgery.

He was expected to serve as rotation depth for a Mets team coming off an impressive 2024 campaign, making a National League Championship Series appearance.

New York's pitching staff was a key reason for the successful year, ranking No. 4 in the National League with an ERA of 3.91 among starters.

The Mets are expected to utilize a six-man rotation in 2025 that includes Sean Manaea, Kodai Senga, Clay Holmes, Griffin Canning and David Peterson. With Montas missing time, Paul Blackburn and Tylor Megill are candidates to secure the final spot

New York is looking to remain an NL contender following the blockbuster acquisition of Juan Soto, signing him to a massive 15-year contract worth $765 million.

The Mets also brought back slugger Pete Alonso on a two-year, $54 million deal in free agency.

As New York navigates through spring training, Montas will miss an extended period of time.

After swapping navy blue and white for his crosstown rival’s blue and orange, Juan Soto doesn’t feel the need to put extra pressure on himself, given the talent-packed roster the New York Mets have assembled.

“I don’t think I have to be The Guy,” Soto said Sunday, per MLB's Anthony DiComo. “I’m not trying to do more than I’ve done in the past. I’m just going to keep (being) the same guy, try to do the same thing I’ve been doing year after year.”

Soto left the New York Yankees in the offseason to sign a 15-year, $765 million contract with the Mets in December, marking the largest contract in professional sports history, as reported by ESPN's Jeff Passan.

As Soto settles in, the Mets have undoubtedly noticed a shift in the organization.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza has recognized Soto’s presence, noting the strong aura he brings to the field—and the additional press.

“There’s a lot more cameras,” Mendoza said, per DiComo. “As soon as he stepped on the field, he was walking toward the cage, you could just feel it. And when he stepped in that batting cage with all the boys who were there … heads turned around. It was like, ‘OK. Here he is.’”

The right fielder, a five-time Silver Slugger and four-time All-Star, finished last season with the Yankees posting a career-best 128 runs and a .288/.419/.569 slash line.

After helping lead the Yankees to a World Series appearance before falling to the Los Angeles Dodgers in five games, Soto now has his sights set on securing his second championship—this time with the Mets.

“I’m really happy to know where I’m going to be for the next 15 years, and I’m more than excited to spend it with this group of guys,” Soto said, per DiComo. “I’ve only heard great things about them. Let’s see how everything goes.”

The Mets will open their season on March 27 with a road matchup against the Houston Astros.

New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez reiterated his belief that the team has a better lineup than the Los Angeles Dodgers entering the 2025 season.

“I think we are better than the Dodgers (lineup),” Alvarez told Jon Heyman of the New York Post.

The 23-year-old previously claimed that the Mets had a superior lineup than the reigning World Series champions on Monday. 

“I think we are the best lineup in baseball,” Alvarez told reporters at the time, via SNY’s Ben Krimmel. 

New York is coming off an impressive 2024 campaign, making its first trip to the National League Championship Series since 2015 due to the heroics of stars Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso. 

Alvarez also contributed, recording 11 home runs and 47 RBIs during the regular season. 

The Mets’ postseason run came to an end in the NLCS after falling to the Dodgers in six games. 

The confidence from Alvarez likely stems from New York’s blockbuster free agency splash, signing superstar outfielder Juan Soto to a massive 15-year contract worth $765 million. 

Soto hit .288 with 41 home runs and 109 RBIs with the New York Yankees in 2024. 

The Mets also brought back Alonso on a two-year, $54 million deal on Feb. 5. The contract contains an opt-out following the 2025 season. 

It’s easy to see why Alvarez has high expectations entering spring training, but it’s still hard to definitively consider the Mets as the top lineup in the majors until the regular season begins. 

Los Angeles’ lineup is also filled with former MVPs including Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman. The Dodgers’ overall .781 OPS ranked No. 1 among all MLB teams in 2024 and their 233 home runs were the third-most in baseball. 

The 2024 champions also brought back a key contributor in free agency, re-signing outfielder Teoscar Hernández to a three-year, $66 million deal. 

As the Mets look to move past the Dodgers in the NL postseason picture and contend for a World Series title of their own, Alvarez is confident that they have the best lineup.

The New York Mets reportedly agreed to re-sign first baseman Pete Alonso to a two-year, $54 million deal on Wednesday, keeping a fan favorite in New York.

The Mets are now loaded with star potential at the top of the order, headlined by Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto and Alonso.

And the rest of the potential batting lineup isn't too shabby either:

The Mets, as currently constructed, won't be cheap. Per Spotrac, the team is now looking at a tax payroll of right around $322 million, trailing only the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The luxury tax bill will be a projected $62.5 million, per Spotrac, still well short of the Dodgers' $128.3 million.

New York largely cut payroll in advance of the 2024 season and it seemed like the team was prepared for a soft rebuild. But the Mets exceeded expectations, reaching the NLCS, and the team hasn't wasted any time in splashing major cash to put a contender together ahead of the 2025 campaign.

Alongside the record-setting Soto contract, the team also signed A.J. Minter, Clay Holmes and Frankie Montas and and re-signed Sean Manea, Ryne Stanek and Jesse Winker. The Mets have been busy, and the return of Alonso will be very popular in Queens.

Veteran slugger Pete Alonso and the New York Mets have reportedly agreed to a two-year, $54 million contract that will keep him in Flushing through the 2026 season, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post.

The deal includes a $10 million signing bonus.

Will Sammon of The Athletic provided more details about the contract:

According to Heyman, Alonso chose the two-year deal over an offer of three years for $71 million from the Mets.

The news comes as somewhat of a surprise after the Mets inked Juan Soto to a record-setting $765 million contract earlier in free agency.

Additionally, Alonso had long been linked to a trade out of New York. However, the 30-year-old told reporters after the 2023 campaign that he wanted to spend his entire career with the Mets, so it's no surprise the two sides ultimately struck an agreement.

"I love it here," Alonso said. "I definitely have envisioned myself being a lifelong Met, that's something I've definitely thought about. … I welcome the idea, but I can't predict the future."

Additionally, Will Sammon of The Athletic reported Jan. 10 that Alonso's camp had offered the Mets a three-year contract with opt-outs. The offer was only made available to the Mets, signaling Alonso's desire to remain with the franchise.

Alonso had a down year by his own lofty standards in 2023, slashing .217/.318/.504 with 46 home runs and 118 RBI. That likely contributed to the trade rumors that swirled throughout the campaign and continued to follow him into the 2024 season.

In 2024, Alonso hit .240/.329/.459 with 34 home runs and 88 RBI in 162 games, helping the Mets clinch a playoff berth for just the second time since 2017 and advance to the NLCS for the first time since 2015.

Given Alonso has been mostly consistent throughout his career, the Mets were obviously comfortable bringing him back for 2025 and beyond.

Now that he's remaining with the franchise for the foreseeable future, he'll continue to anchor a lineup that is now headlined by Soto and also includes Francisco Lindor, Brett Baty, Starling Marte and Francisco Álvarez.

Big expectations for the 2025 New York Mets require some adjustments to their traditional road uniforms.

The Mets are adding blue/orange/blue striping to the collar, sleeve and pant trim of their gray uniforms.

It's not a significant change from what the Mets' road uniforms have looked like. They had used blue piping that ran from the neck and down the middle of the jersey, with blue piping down the side of the pants. The sleeves had a blue stripe around them.

This new look will feature both of the Mets' primary colors, instead of focusing so heavily on just the blue.

Per the Ultimate Mets Database, the updated trim style is similar to what the Mets used to use for their road uniforms in 1982.

This marks the second notable uniform update for the Mets going into the 2025 season. The unveiled a new alternate road jersey during Amazin' Day on Jan. 25 that is primarily blue with orange trim.

This brings the Mets up to five different uniform combinations for the upcoming season. They have their traditional home whites and road grays, alternate home uniform with the black jersey, alternate road uniform with the blue jersey and City Connect uniform.

All of these new looks are contributing to what might be the most-anticipated Mets season in franchise history. They are coming an appearance in the NLCS after going 65-40 in 105 regular-season games starting on June 1.

The Mets followed that up by signing Juan Soto to a 15-year, $765 million contract in free agency that made him the highest-paid player in MLB history.

Soto and the Mets will get the opportunity to show off their new road gray uniform early in the season. Their first six games are on the road, starting with a three-game series against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park from March 27-29.

The New York Mets had discussions with closer Kenley Jansen's camp in free agency, according to Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic.

Per Rosenthal and Sammon, Jansen's goal of reaching 500 career saves to go along with his likely price tag "muddied the match."

New York ended up bringing back right-handed reliever Ryne Stanek on a one-year contract on Wednesday.

After agreeing to terms with Stanek, the Mets "appear unlikely" to add another bullpen option (via Rosenthal and Sammon).

According to SNY's Andy Martino, Stanek's deal with New York is worth between $4 million and $5 million. The 33-year-old suited up in 17 games with the Mets in 2024.

Jansen spent the 2024 season with the Boston Red Sox, appearing in 54 games. He compiled a 3.29 ERA and 1.061 WHIP, striking out 62 batters and allowing 20 walks in 54.2 innings of work.

His potential contract almost certainly would have been higher than Stanek's reported deal, and his desire to reach the 500-save milestone would have presented an issue for a Mets team that already has Edwin Díaz.

Jansen has 447 saves under his belt and would likely need multiple seasons to reach 500, barring an exceptional first year with his new team.

For New York, Díaz has been a crucial piece of its bullpen and he's coming off a 2024 campaign in which he ended the year strong. Over his final 15 regular-season appearances, he recorded a 1.69 ERA and racked up 30 strikeouts compared to just five walks.

Martino noted that Stanek's deal also allowed the Mets to "keep a bit of wiggle room" as they remain engaged with slugger Pete Alonso surrounding a potential return in free agency.

New York reportedly made an attempt to sign Jansen, but multiple factors caused the front office to pivot to Stanek instead.

As Pete Alonso continues his wait to find a home for the 2025 season and beyond, the New York Mets may find themselves strongly in the mix amid recent rumors about the Toronto Blue Jays looking at the four-time All-Star.

Per SNY's Andy Martino, the Mets' final offer to Alonso was for $70 million for three years that contained some deferred money:

"The final Mets offer that Alonso turned down—that's gonna be tough for him to beat with the Blue Jays. That could've been a real win probably in what the ultimate dollar figure would've looked like for Alonso. Given what the Blue Jays gave [Anthony] Santander—it was in the 60s after the deferred money—they're probably not gonna get as good an offer from Toronto as they've already gotten from the Mets, and turned down from the Mets."

Joel Sherman and Dan Martin first reported on Jan. 16 the Mets' made a "last-ditch effort" to sign Alonso, but they pivoted away from him when that offer was rejected. The team announced the following day they signed Jesse Winker to a one-year, $8 million contract.

There's still the ability for the Mets to shuffle their lineup if they were able to coax Alonso back to Queens on a team-friendly deal. Mark Vientos is likely set to start the season at first base, with Brett Baty at third. Vientos could shift back to the hot corner for Alonso to play first.

Mets owner Steve Cohen didn't sound optimistic about a reunion with Alonso when speaking to fans at the team's fanfest event on Saturday.

The Blue Jays have been trying to entice Alonso to make Canada his home. Robert Murray of FanSided noted on Jan. 23 they were still showing interest in the 30-year-old slugger.

Murray's report came out after Toronto officially signed Anthony Santander, so there seems to be some money still floating around for the organization to use.

Alonso's market has been very limited, at least publicly, so far this offseason. He seems almost certain at this point to end up with a shorter-term contract than he was expecting in November.

Some of the lukewarm response to Alonso as a free agent is understandable. He's likely to end up as a DH-only player sooner than later given his defensive issues at first base. His on-base percentage has been sub-.330 in each of the past two seasons.

One thing Alonso does that makes him extremely valuable is his ability to hit for power. He has hit at least 34 homers in five of his first six seasons. The only time he didn't was in 2020 when he finished with 16 in the season that was shortened to 60 games due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The only player with more homers since 2019 than Alonso's 226 is Aaron Judge (232).