Morning Briefing: Gerrit Cole Opts Into Remainder of Contract With Yankees

Good morning, Mets fans!

Gerrit Cole decided to opt into the remaining four years and $144 million of his contract with the Yankees. Brian Cashman said both parties wanted Cole to remain with the Yankees, but the team wasn’t comfortable adding the fifth year to the end of the deal. Cashman added that the team has not held any extension talks with Cole.

Latest Mets News

Thirteen players received the $21.06 million qualifying offer ahead of Monday’s deadline. The Mets tendered the offers to three players – Pete Alonso, Sean Manaea, and Luis Severino. On the pitching side, Corbin Burnes, Nick Martinez, Nick Pivetta, and Max Fried received the offer, while Christian Walker, Willy Adames, Alex Bregman, Anthony Santander, and Teoscar Hernández round out the group of position players. Those who received a qualifying offer have until November 19 at 4 p.m. EST to accept or decline. You can keep track of all free-agent transactions on MLB Trade Rumors‘ free-agent tracker.

David Stearns announced Monday that the Mets will bring back their entire coaching staff for the 2025 season. This will be the second year in Flushing for all of the team’s coaches except Jeremy Hefner and Eric Chavez. Stearns acknowledged that the team has financial flexibility and emphasized that he’s on the lookout for starting pitching help.

The Mets claimed right-hander Kevin Herget off waivers from the Brewers and infielder Luis De Los Santos from the Blue Jays. Herget, a native of Teaneck, NJ, pitched to a 2.27 ERA with 59 strikeouts in 47 2/3 innings for Triple-A Nashville in 2024 and allowed two earned runs in 11 1/3 innings at the big league level. De Los Santos, meanwhile, went just 5-for-29 in the majors this year but posted an .861 OPS across 167 minor-league plate appearances.

Additionally, the Mets outrighted DJ Stewart, Matt Gage, and Joey Lucchesi to Triple-A Syracuse. Stewart and Lucchesi have elected free agency. The team also reinstated Ronny Mauricio, Christian Scott, Sean Reid-Foley, and Paul Blackburn from the 60-day injured list, and declined their team option on Phil Maton.

Major League Baseball revealed the finalists for this year’s Silver Slugger Awards, and Pete Alonso and Francisco Lindor are among the nominees. Surprisingly, Mark Vientos is not a finalist at third base, losing out to Alec Bohm, Matt Chapman, and Manny Machado.

Latest MLB News

Brewers senior vice president and general manager Matt Arnold has been named the 2024 MLB Executive of the Year. Arnold led the Brewers to their third NL Central title in four years despite the team trading away former Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes.

The Braves have declined their club option on Travis d’Arnaud, making him a free agent. The former All-Star batted .238/.302/.436 with 15 homers in 341 plate appearances in 2024. Atlanta also announced that righty Joe Jiménez underwent surgery to repair cartilage damage in his left knee. He is expected to miss between eight and 12 months.

In more Braves news, the team has hired former Giants general manager Pete Putila to oversee the team’s international scouting department. Putila was relieved of his duties following the firing of Farhan Zaidi.

With the team relocating to West Sacramento, the Oakland A’s will now just go by “The Athletics.” The A’s will play their home games in 2025 at Sutter Health Park.

The National Baseball Hall of Fame revealed this year’s Classic Baseball Era committee ballot featuring Dick Allen, Ken Boyer, John Donaldson, Steve Garvey, Vic Harris, Tommy John, Dave Parker, and Luis Tiant. Results will be revealed on December 8 at 7:30 PM.

The Astros acquired outfielder Taylor Trammell from the Yankees in exchange for cash considerations. Once considered a top prospect, Trammell received just seven big league at-bats in 2024, but he posted an .869 OPS with 18 homers in 407 MiLB plate appearances.

Latest on MMO

Johnluke Chaparro profiles Juan Soto as a free agent.

Kai Chang grades Harrison Bader‘s performance in 2024.

On This Date in Mets History

2015: Matt Harvey is named the NL Comeback Player of the Year. In his first season back from Tommy John surgery, Harvey posted a 2.71 ERA with 188 strikeouts in 189 1/3 innings, then posted a 3.04 ERA over 26 2/3 innings in the playoffs.

Born On This Date: Jim Bethke (1946), Mike Bishop (1958), José Santiago (1974).

The post Morning Briefing: Gerrit Cole Opts Into Remainder of Contract With Yankees appeared first on Metsmerized Online.