Image Source: Jake Devin
Key Takeaways
- The New York Mets have signed Bo Bichette to a three-year, $126-million deal, potentially removing themselves from the Cody Bellinger sweepstakes.
- The New York Yankees have reportedly offered Bellinger a five-year, $155 million contract with two opt-outs.
- Ryan Weathers is a breakout candidate for the Yankees, with a promising arsenal and potential for huge strikeout numbers.
- The Kyle Tucker deal has set a new standard for short-term, high-average annual value (AAV) deals, with Tucker’s $57 million annual luxury tax hit making him the highest-paid player on an annual basis in MLB history.
Introduction to the Latest MLB Developments
The world of Major League Baseball (MLB) has been abuzz with the latest news and developments, as teams continue to make moves to strengthen their lineups and improve their chances of success. One of the most recent bombshells was the announcement that Kyle Tucker would be heading to Los Angeles, which seemed to set up another potential showdown between the New York Yankees and the New York Mets for a free agent outfielder. However, the Mets have since made their own major move, signing Bo Bichette to a three-year, $126-million deal with two opt-outs, which may have removed them from the Cody Bellinger sweepstakes.
The Yankees’ Pursuit of Cody Bellinger
As reported by Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Yankees have been heavily involved in the pursuit of Cody Bellinger, with a reported offer of five years and $155 million on the table. Additionally, the Yankees are also comfortable offering two opt-outs in the deal, which would be a favorable contract from the player’s perspective. This raises the question of whether Bellinger can expect to extract much more favorable terms than what’s already on offer. As Heyman notes, the Yankees’ offer is already a significant one, and it’s unclear whether other teams will be able to match or exceed it. As he writes, "The Yankees are also comfortable offering not one but two opt-outs in the deal. That would be a pretty favorable contract from the player’s perspective, and it’s worth wondering whether Bellinger can expect to extract much more favorable terms than what’s already out there."
The Mets’ Move and Its Implications
The Mets’ signing of Bo Bichette has significant implications for the team and the league as a whole. As Dayn Perry of CBS Sports notes, the Mets were heavily involved in the Tucker bidding, which would have led one to believe that they could turn their attention to Cody Bellinger. However, with the signing of Bichette, it’s unclear whether the Mets will continue to pursue Bellinger or focus on other targets. As Perry writes, "The Mets were heavily involved in the Tucker bidding, which would lead one to believe that they could turn their attention to Cody Bellinger. But now, the Mets have made their own major move, grabbing Bo Bichette on a three-year, $126-million deal with two opt outs." This move may have removed the Mets from the Bellinger sweepstakes, but it’s also possible that they could still challenge the Yankees for the outfielder’s services.
Ryan Weathers: A Breakout Candidate
In other news, Ryan Weathers is being touted as a breakout candidate for the Yankees. According to David Adler of MLB.com, Weathers’ arsenal last year compares well to that of Jesús Luzardo, Tarik Skubal, and Garrett Crochet, per Statcast. This is a tantalizing group to be associated with, and there’s clear potential for huge strikeout numbers. However, as Adler notes, Weathers’ 8.5 K/9 rate with the Marlins was solid but far from elite, and staying on the field has always been a problem for the lefty. As he writes, "Weathers’ arsenal last year comps well to Jesús Luzardo, Tarik Skubal, and Garrett Crochet, per Statcast, a pretty tantalizing group to be associated with. There’s clear potential for huge strikeout stuff, but the whiffs haven’t all the way come yet for Weathers, his 8.5 K/9 rate with the Marlins solid but far from elite, and staying on the field has always been a problem for the lefty."
The Impact of the Tucker Deal
The Kyle Tucker deal has set a new standard for short-term, high-average annual value (AAV) deals, with Tucker’s $57 million annual luxury tax hit making him the highest-paid player on an annual basis in MLB history. As Jay Jaffe of FanGraphs notes, this deal outstrips Juan Soto’s $51 million number and Shohei Ohtani’s $46 million figure. Jaffe writes, "If you’re coming away from this feeling like this is all a bit much for a player of Tucker’s caliber (read: very, very good, but perhaps not great), then you’d probably be justified, with FanGraphs’ ZiPS projections suggesting about $150 million as an appropriate median offer for Tucker over a four-year term." This deal has significant implications for the league and may set a new benchmark for future contracts. As Jaffe notes, "Tucker’s $57 million annual luxury tax hit (after accounting for deferrals), making him the highest-paid player on an annual basis in MLB history, outstripping Juan Soto’s $51 million number and Shohei Ohtani’s $46 million figure."
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