Mets Add Trevor May, Ozuna On the Move and Non-Tenders

The New York Mets inked reliever Trevor May to a 2-yr, $15 million dollar deal. This is the first free-agent signing of the Steve Cohen era, and it’s a reasonable deal to get a player with upside. It’s hard to find anybody who doesn’t like this deal.

May had a UCL tear in 2017. Now 30, last season with the Twins, the 6-5, 220-pound hurler struck out 38 batters in 23 1/3 innings. That’s something the Mets desperately need in the backend of their bullpen. Assuming Seth Lugo is still there, he was another strikeout pitcher thanks to a great curveball and now couple that with closer, Edwin Diaz who struck out 50 in 25 innings last season. We shall see if the Mets re-sign, Justin Wilson (a key lefty for them), if they do, they’re set, and that makes Jeurys Familia and Dellin Betances, free to work in different situations, and that gives the team a lot of flexibility.

Marcell Ozuna is a free-agent with a lot of power, and one of the teams interested in him is the San Francisco Giants according to MLB’s Jon Morosi. The Blue Jays are kicking the tires as well, but the team by the bay would be a great fit. Last season, he hit .338 with 18 homers and 56 RBI with just 228 at-bats while with the Atlanta Braves. The Giants were able to score runs and manager, Gabe Kapler, much-maligned in Philadelphia, pushed a lot of the right buttons this season. Ozuna would give them a power bat that they’re lacking. Journeyman, Wilmer Flores led the team in home runs with 12. I think the Giants have identified the right target, now it’s going to be up to Ozuna who is a player in demand.

Player’s salaries aren’t going to be very good this season and Milwaukee Brewers 26-year-old shortstop, Orlando Arcia, reportedly was signed to a one-year deal for $2 million dollars per Bob Nightengale. To avoid being non-tendered, the Brewers gave him a 200,000 pay cut. At 26, he hit five home runs and drove in 20 with a 260 batting average.

Ben Badler of Baseball America says the Pittsburgh Pirates are in line to land a big international free agent; Dominican Outfielder Shalin Polanco. Nobody in the Pirates outfield hit over seven home runs. That’s one of many reasons they were 19-41. If they hope to be better down the road, Polanco could be an answer. At 16, and the fact, he’s already 6-0, over 170 pounds, that sounds like someone the Pirates can develop after years in the minor leagues. He’s got a sweet natural lefty swing. Let’s see how this goes, but it will happen sometime in January since everything was pushed back this year.

Former Phillies third baseman who played for the Kansas City Royals last year, Mikael Franco was non-tendered. Would the Phillies take him back? They have Alec Bohm at first base because Jean Segura moved to third, so it doesn’t seem like a fit. In other Phillies news, they re-signed backup catcher, Andrew Knapp. They still don’t have a starting catcher. J.T. Realmuto is still out there, but there doesn’t seem to be much hope that the Phillies will have deep enough pockets to keep him behind the plate in the City of Brotherly love. Time will tell with this one.

The Braves non-tendered outfield Slugger Adam Duvall. Not sure where he might end up. He’s the modern-day Dave Kingman.