Mets Sign Utility Infielder Jonathan Villar to a one-year deal

Mets infielder Jonathan Villar (Credits to MetsMerizedOnline.com) The New York Mets signed utility infielder Jonathan Villar to a one-year deal worth $3.55 million plus incentives today. Villar will help create depth on the Mets bench in a super utility role and can play multiple postions. He has played second base, third base, shortstop as well as some time in left field and center field. Villar struggled in a shortended-pandemic season in 2020 hiting only .220. However in 2019, he had a much better season with 24 home runs and 40 stolen bases. It's a low risk move on a one-year deal that could pay off if Villar hits like he did in 2019 and steals bases. Villar brings speed and power off the bench which is hard to find and can play all over the field.

Mets Sign Centerifielder Albert Almora Jr

Mets CF Albet Almora Jr (Credits to MetsMerizedOnline.com) alml The New York Mets signed centerfielder Albert Almora Jr to a deal pending a physical. Almora will most likely be a right-handed option in centerfield against lefty pitching as opposed to an every day player. He struggled last year hitting only .167, but has a .271 lifetime average and a .707 OPS. Almora will be a nice 4th-5th outfielder and late inning defensive replacement.

Mets Acquire RHP Jordan Yamamoto from Miami Marlins

Mets RHP Jordan Yamamoto (Credits to MetsMerizedOnline.com) The New York Mets acquired RHP Jordan Yamamoto from the Miami Marlins for minor league infiedler Federico Polanco. The Mets designated infielder Robel Garcia for assignment in a corresponding roster move. Yamamoto was traded to the Marlins at the beginning of the 2018 season as part of the Christian Yelich trade. He made his MLB debut with the Marlins in the following season and had a 4.46 ERA in 15 games. Yommamoto appeared in only four games last year in a shortened 2020 season and had an ERA of 18.26. He was desiginated for assignment by the Marlins last week. He is known for his curveball and also has a decent fastball as well.

Mets Trade Steven Matz to Toronto Blue Jays

Mets LHP Steven Matz (Credits to MetsMerizedOnline.com) The New York Mets traded LHP Steven Matz to the Toronto Blue Jays for three pitchers RHP Josh Winckowski, RHP Sean Reid-Foley and RHP Yennsy Diaz. Winckowski was the Blue Jays 15th round pick in 2016 and had a 2.69 ERA, 108 strikeouts, 43 walks and 1.20 WHIP in 24 appearances (23 starts) in 127.1 innings between Advanced-A Dunedin and Single-A Lansing in 2019. Reid-Foley had a 1.35 ERA in six Major League appearances last season and a 4.40 ERA since 2018. Diaz had a 3.84 ERA over 96 minor appearances in 481 innings.

Mets Sign LHP Aaron Loup to one-year deal

Mets LHP Aaron Loup (Credits to MetsMerizedOnline.com) The New York Mets signed LHP reliever Aaron Loup to a one-year deal today. Loup had a 2.52 ERA with 22 strikeouts in 25 innings with the Tampa Bay Rays last year. He has done well against left-handed hitters and held them to a .621 OPS in over 600 plate appearances.

Mets Name Zack Scott As Acting GM

Mets Acting GM Zack Scott (Credits to MetsMerizedOnline.com) The New York Mets announced today that they have named assistant General Manager Zack Scott as acting GM after General Manager Jared Porter was fired. Scott was hired as the Mets senior vice president and assistant GM on December 23th. He spent the previous 17 seasons in the Boston Red Sox organization and eventually worked his way up to the job of assistant GM and was in charge of analytics, baseball systems and advance and professional scouting in 2018.

Mets GM Jared Porter Fired

Mets GM Jared Porter (Credits to MetsMerizedOnline.com) New Mets ownwr Steve Cohen announced on Twitter this morning that General Manager Jared Porter has been fired for sending explicit photos to a foreign female journalist in 2016. Porter was hired by the Mets on December 13th and his tentune lasted only 37 days. Last night, Mina Kimes and Jeff Passan from ESPN broke the story and found that he sent more than 60 text messages to the journalist and two inappropriate photos. The reporter is no longer in the industry and chose to remain anonymous and spoke with ESPN sporadically and their first encounter in 2017 and decided to come forward in the last few days because she felt unsafe in her own country. Right now, Porter's replacement has not been named yet, but it seems like assistant GM Zach Scott who worked with Porter and under Theo Epstein who was hired on December 23 would make sense as the new GM.