NL East

The New York Mets are adding to their rotation amid a successful offseason so far.

Per The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal, free-agent right-hander Griffin Canning agreed to a one-year, $4.25M contract with the Mets. The deal, which is pending a physical, includes $1 million in potential bonuses.

Canning, a second-round draft pick in the 2017 MLB draft, made his major-league debut for the Los Angeles Angels in 2019. In 2020, he recorded a career-best 3.99 ERA in 11 starts and earned a Gold Glove Award before spending much of the 2021 season in Triple-A.

He missed the entirety of the 2022 season due to a stress fracture in his back and setbacks in his recovery from the injury.

Canning returned to the mound in 2023, recording a 4.32 ERA and 1.24 WHIP across 24 appearances. Last season, he had a 5.19 ERA and 1.40 WHIP, starting 31 games for the Angels.

Following the end of the regular season, the Angels dealt Canning to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for Jorge Soler. In November, the Braves non-tendered Canning, making him a free agent and paving the way for him to sign with New York.

Canning won't be sent to the minor leagues without his consent because of his five years of service and will have the chance to compete for a spot in the rotation.

The Mets have been active in adding pitching this offseason, signing Frankie Montas to a two-year, $34 million deal and inking Clay Holmes to a three-year, $38 million contract. Per MLB.com's Anthony DiComo, New York plans to convert the former Yankees reliever to a starter.

The Mets, who reached the NLCS last season, made a splash this offseason by signing Juan Soto to a historic 15-year, $765 million deal. Now they're looking to bolster the roster further as they attempt to make a World Series run in 2025.

Who says baseball rivalries can't extend to the basketball court?

New York Knicks guard Josh Hart was fired up when the New York Yankees reportedly acquired Cody Bellinger on Tuesday, which drew a response from New York Mets fan and Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell:

ESPN's Jeff Passan reported Tuesday the Yankees landed Bellinger and cash from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for relief pitcher Cody Poteet.

While Bellinger gives the Bronx Bombers a proven bat for their lineup with a resume that includes a National League Rookie of the Year and NL MVP, it still isn't realistic to expect him to replicate the lost production of Juan Soto.

That is because Soto is one of the best players in the entire league and, at just 26 years old, should continue to put up peak production for seasons to come.

That is welcome news for the Mets, who signed the five-time Silver Slugger to a record 15-year, $765 million contract this offseason. It was a franchise-altering move and gave their fans some bragging rights inside the city since Soto decided not to return to the Yankees.

And Mitchell took full advantage of those bragging rights Tuesday.

The New York Mets, having bolstered their outfield with the addition of Juan Soto, could now look to improve their infield by pursuing free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman.

The Mets are one of the MLB clubs with "varying degrees" of interest in Bregman, according to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand.

The New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers and Toronto Blue Jays are also in the mix for the former Houston Astro, Feinsand reported.

Bregman earned his first Gold Glove Award last season after leading AL third basemen with a .972 fielding percentage in 142 games.

He meanwhile slashed .260/.315/.453 with 26 home runs and 75 RBI.

Bregman also has multiple playoff runs on his resume after contributing to the Astros' World Series championship runs in both 2017 and 2022.

The Mets could be in need of an addition to their infield if first baseman Pete Alonso leaves Queens in free agency.

Mets owner Steve Cohen said during Soto's introductory press conference last week that the club remained "engaged" in talks with Alonso. However, USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported on Tuesday that the New York Yankees are also "engaged in talks" with the veteran first baseman.

The Mets could fill in a potential gap at first base by sliding Mark Vientos from third to first base, given that Vientos played both positions at the Triple-A level.

Brett Baty could then theoretically step in for Vientos at third base, although Mike Puma recently reported for the New York Post that the Mets are receiving calls from other teams interested in the 22-year-old.

Should Alonso walk, and the Mets accept a trade offer for Baty, Bregman could help New York shore up their defense at the hot corner as they prepare to load up for a potential title run in 2025.

The Astros have offered Bregman approximately a six-year, $156 million deal to return to Houston in free agency, per MLB.com's Brian McTaggart. Cohen, who has already flexed the franchise's spending abilities with Soto's record contract, could potentially outbid that offer should the Mets decide to target an addition at third base.

Boston Red Sox legend David Ortiz is known for his fun-loving personality, so it's not a surprise that he took the opportunity to jab at the rival New York Yankees.

When former Yankees outfielder Juan Soto posted a photo on Instagram celebrating his signing with the New York Mets, Ortiz commented, "The....... Yankees lose" with a few laughing emojis:

Ortiz recently revealed that he spoke to Soto on behalf of the Red Sox during his free agency before he chose to sign with the Mets on a historic 15-year, $765 million contract that can exceed $800 million.

"We wanted him in Boston," Ortiz said during an appearance on the Baseball Isn't Boring podcast. "Unfortunately, it didn't work out"

As part of his pitch to Soto, Ortiz said, "If he signs with this organization, which is an amazing organization, he can balance the clubhouse in a way that I did. He's gonna have Coach Papi in his corner."

However, like the Yankees, the Red Sox also lost out on the chance to add the 26-year-old. The Yankees offered him a 16-year deal worth $760 million. The Mets made Soto the highest-paid player in professional sports history, which was understandably an offer that was hard to turn down.

"It's great," Ortiz said of Soto's deal. "It's well deserved, what he got, and we're gonna continue cheering for him. He's a great kid. You guys are gonna enjoy Soto for a while here."

Despite failing to retain Soto, the Yankees pivoted with a few solid moves by signing starting pitcher Max Fried and acquiring closer Devin Williams from the Milwaukee Brewers.

The teams will continue competing for the top free agents remaining on the market as they try to retool for the playoff race in 2025.

As if getting $765 million from Steve Cohen wasn't enough, Juan Soto is eating great courtesy of the New York Mets owner after the four-time All-Star signed his record-breaking contract with the club.

Per TMZ Sports, Soto and his family were treated to a steak dinner at Benjamin Prime in New York City by Cohen on the same day his deal became official.

TMZ noted Soto's meal consisted of a ribeye steak with a mozzarella and tomato salad, plus a themed cake for dessert.

Per Benjamin Prime's official website, the steakhouse was founded in 2006 and specializes in offering "the quintessential New York dining experience that business executives, locals and celebrities have come to know and love."

The menu on the website doesn't list prices for the meals, but OpenTable.com noted a three-course Christmas menu available on Dec. 24-25 will run $115 per person.

The Mets gave Soto a 15-year, $765 million contract in free agency. It is the richest deal in North American pro sports history by total value, surpassing the $700 million contract Shohei Ohtani got from the Los Angeles Dodgers last offseason.

During his introductory press conference at Citi Field on Thursday, Soto said his goal is to try helping the Mets "grow a dynasty" that includes winning multiple World Series titles.

Soto is joining the Mets after a spectacular 2024 season with the New York Yankees. He finished third in AL MVP voting after hitting .288/.419/.569 with 41 homers in 157 games during the regular season.

During the Yankees' run to the World Series, Soto posted a .327/.469/.633 slash line with four homers in 14 games.

The New York Mets are still in contact with free-agent slugger Pete Alonso regarding a return to the organization, according to team owner Steve Cohen.

"We think he's a great Met and we're still engaged," Cohen said on Thursday, per Newsday's Tim Healey. "We hope he stays as a Met. ... He's entitled to go out, test his market and see what it is. Hopefully we'll get there."

New York appears to be turning its attention towards re-signing the first baseman after handing superstar Juan Soto a massive 15-year, $765 million contract on Sunday.

Mets general manager David Stearns also confirmed that Soto's contract wouldn't prevent a reunion with Alonso in free agency.

"I think our ownership has consistently demonstrated that there's going to be resources when we need them," Stearns told reporters on Monday. "There is the ability for us to make baseball moves when we think that they're there to improve the team and we're going to continue to pursue a wide variety of areas to continue to improve our team."

Alonso has consistently displayed his power at the plate throughout his Mets tenure, racking up 226 home runs since he made his debut with the team in 2019.

He's coming off a tumultuous 2024 season, as he hit just .232 with runners in scoring position and posted a career-low .788 OPS. Alonso also racked up 34 homers and 31 doubles.

He looked much closer to his former self in the postseason, hitting four home runs and 10 RBIs during New York's National League Championship Series run to go along with a .273/.431/.568 slash line.

The Mets certainly won't be the only ones attempting to sign him, though. Mike Puma of the New York Post reported on Wednesday that Alonso has already started meeting with several teams as he navigates through his free agency.

The Athletic's Jim Bowden projected the four-time All-Star to eventually land a seven-year, $189 million contract.

New York appears to be content with Alonso testing his market as a free agent, but Cohen confirmed that the front office is still working to bring him back to the Mets.

Newly signed New York Mets star outfielder Juan Soto had some high praise for his new team during his introductory press conference on Thursday.

When asked about why he chose to join the Mets after spending the 2024 season with the New York Yankees, Soto pointed to the team's potential to develop into a perennial contender.

"The Mets are a great organization, what they have done for the past couple years. They have shown all of the ability to keep winning, to keep growing a team to try to grow a dynasty, [which] is one of the most important things for me," Soto told reporters.

Meanwhile, the superstar opened some eyes with an apparent shot at his former team when asked if his contract makes New York a "Mets town."

"It's been a Mets town for a long time," Soto told reporters. "I think we just gotta bring it to the top. Championships are gonna tell you if it's a Yankees or a Mets town at the end of the day."

Soto, who is now the highest-paid player in professional sports history after signing a 15-year, $765 million contract that can exceed $800 million with escalators, added that he was impressed with how the Mets were committed to creating a comfortable environment for his family.

"They always talk about family, they always talk about 'stick together' and stuff like that, that's one of the things that opened my eyes," he said.

Soto also said he's been impressed with the Mets lineup while competing against them for the past few years. He had high praise for the team's leadoff hitter Francisco Lindor, who finished second in the voting for National League MVP after his stellar 2024 campaign.

"What I see from these guys, they are hard workers, they grind every day and they're showing up every day," he said. "My impression of the lineup is it's really nice, I think we have one of the best leadoff hitters in the game."

After the Mets' surprising run to the NLCS this season, adding Soto to the mix should make them instant contenders for a World Series title in 2025 and beyond.

On the day his historic 15-year, $765 million contract became official, additional details of Juan Soto's deal with the New York Mets have been made available.

Per Jon Heyman of the New York Post, Soto can earn up to an extra $1 million in a season if he wins multiple MVP awards; he will get access to a luxury suite and four premium seats at Mets home games; and he will get to keep the No. 22 that he has worn throughout his MLB career.

Mets owner Steve Cohen giving Soto access to a suite at Citi Field had been known, as it was touted as a difference from the offer he received from the New York Yankees.

Heyman reported on Monday the Yankees, whose last offer to Soto was $760 million over 16 years, "wouldn't budge" on giving Soto a suite because it would set a historical precedent since Aaron Judge and Derek Jeter had to pay for one at Yankee Stadium.

There's no indication that the suite is the reason Soto picked the Mets offer, but when the deals he was contemplating were that close, the smallest detail in the contract could make the difference.

The Mets did frontload Soto's deal to pay him nearly $122 million in 2025 between his base salary and signing bonus.

In keeping the No. 22, Soto apparently got a deal done with Mets third baseman Brett Baty to use the number. He also had to buy out the remaining allotment of Baty No. 22 merchandise, per a rule in the MLB collective bargaining agreement.

The deal includes a unique opt-out in which Soto could become a free agent after the 2029 season, but the Mets can negate the opt-out by increasing his annual salary by $4 million to bring the total value of the deal to $805 million.

It's a similar clause that Gerrit Cole had in his contract with the Yankees. He had the ability to opt out after the 2024 season, but the Yankees could negate it by agreeing to add one year and $36 million to his deal.

Cole initially used his opt out before changing his mind to remain under contract through 2028.

It would seem unlikely that Soto is going to opt out because he would be leaving 10 years and up to $500 million on the table, but he will only be 31 at the time he has to decide. Depending on where he's at in his career and where the market for top-tier hitters is at by that point, it might be in his best financial interest to test free agency again.

But that's all to be determined in the future. Mets fans can merely sit back and relax knowing they have arguably the best hitter in MLB on their roster for at least the next five seasons.

The New York Mets signed superstar free agent Juan Soto to a massive 15-year, $765 million deal that doesn't include any deferred money, a decision that—for better or perhaps for worse—will define the organization for years to come.

"This is a seminal moment in franchise history," team owners Steve and Alex Cohen said in a statement. "Juan Soto is a generational talent. He is not only bringing staggering historical statistics with him but also a championship pedigree. Our Amazin' fan base is very excited to welcome Juan to Queens. Congratulations, Juan."

The plucky Mets reached the NL Championship Series this past season in what was expected to be something of a retooling campaign following the disappointments of 2023 and the trades that sent away Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander. The eventual champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers, ended the run.

But the Mets clearly saw an opportunity to build on that season, adding Soto to pair with Francisco Lindor and the rest of the team's core. Longtime franchise staple Pete Alonso may not stick around in the process, with his own free agency ongoing. But the Mets will gladly take a perennial MVP candidate over a player in Alonso who hasn't posted an OPS above .900 since his rookie campaign.

Soto, meanwhile, has eclipsed the mark in six of his eight seasons, including last year.