NEW YORK, NY — It was a gigantic weekend for baseball in New York, with both the Yankees and Mets bidding for the services of Dominican superstar Juan Soto. A bidding war that reached north of $760 million…
Yes, the Mets won the drawn-out Juan Soto free agency sweepstakes, ($765 million over 15 years) and while Mets fans are ecstatic at landing a probable Hall of Famer, the truth is World Series championships are won by pitching. Mets general manager David Stearns knows the Mets are lacking in that regard.
Mets general manager David Stearns stated how the Mets will remain active in spending following the signing of Juan Soto – Image Credit: George Napolitano/Latino Sports
Stearns is not a fan of signing pitchers to long-term contracts, and instead prefers signing veteran pitchers who may have underperformed in recent seasons, to short-term deals where they can prove themselves in Flushing. That worked out as well as could be hoped for by Stearns last year when two of his acquisitions, Sean Manaea and Luis Severino, turned in superb years, and were key reasons why the Mets reached the National League Championship Series.
Severino pitched well enough to have the Athletics sign him to a three-year contract which will pay him $67 million. That was the biggest contract in A’s history, and frankly, it is a head scratcher. The Athletics, under owner John Fisher, are notorious cheapskates. They also do not figure to be playoff contenders anytime soon. It is possible Fisher is hoping to move Severino at the 2025 trade deadline for inexpensive, young prospects. That is a big gamble on his part.
In 2024, Luis Severino pitched to a 3.91 ERA across 31 outings with 161 strikeouts – Image Credit: George Napolitano/Latino Sports
It will be interesting to see if money will bring happiness for Severino. After spending his entire career in New York pitching for the Yankees and Mets, he will relocate to sleepy Sacramento where he will play for a bad team playing in a minor league ballpark as the A’s are in limbo since leaving Oakland but are still years away from moving to their desired home, Las Vegas.
Stearns was not going to re-sign Severino at the A’s price, so pivoted by offering a two-year, $34 million contract to journeyman starter Frankie Montas. Stearns may be pressing his luck at the starters craps table with Montas. His earned run average tends to run close to five which is unexceptional.
Frankie Montas signed a two-year deal with the Mets following a 2024 campaign where he pitched for the Reds and Brewers – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
He bombed with the Yankees in 2022 when he was acquired by general manager Brian Cashman at the trade deadline. One must wonder if Montas can cut it pitching in the nation’s biggest market.
On Friday, the Mets signed Clay Holmes, who is best known for being a Yankees relief pitcher. The buzz is Stearns wants to take Holmes out of the bullpen and place him in the starting rotation. Stearns hopes Holmes can make the adjustment the way Seth Lugo did.
The Mets will attempt to convert Clay Holmes into a starter in 2025 – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
Interestingly, the Mets could have easily re-signed Seth Lugo when he became a free agent after the 2022 season. Lugo always wanted to be a starter, but he told me he would be willing to remain a reliever. Mets general manager at the time, Billy Eppler, refused to meet with Lugo’s agent and he left for the Padres. It is one reason Eppler is not missed by the Cit Field faithful.
Glendon Rusch becomes pitching coach for Glacier Ridge Rangers
Former Mets pitcher Glendon Rusch posted on social media that he will be the pitching coach of a Montana team in the Pioneer League, the Glacier Ridge Rangers. He will be reunited with his former Mets battery mate, Todd Pratt, who will be the manager. If a mediocrity like Frankie Montas could command $17 million per season, Glendon Rusch, who had pinpoint control; never got hurt, and never needed a pitch clock because he liked to work quickly, would easily be getting $20 million per year.
Jim Duquette on SNY’s Baseball Night in New York with Sal Licata
Former Mets general manager Jim Duquette, who is now an air personality on SiriusXM and SNY, was asked by SNY “Baseball Night in New York” host Sal Licata Friday evening if he was getting up in the middle of the night to check his phone to see whether Juna Soto had signed with a team yet. “Well, Sal, I do get up in the middle of the night, but it is primarily to go the bathroom!” Duquette humorously and candidly replied. Jim, you are speaking for a lot of us.
Baseball Hall of Fame Veterans Committee vote Dave Parker and Dick Allen into Cooperstown
Dave Parker and Dick Allen are heading to Cooperstown – Image Credit: MLB
In the better late than never category, the Baseball Hall of Fame Veterans Committee got it right in selecting Pirates outfielder Dave Parker, and the late Phillies slugging first baseman Dick Allen (who was known as Richie Allen when I was growing up) for induction into that Cooperstown museum.
A Special Weekend at St. John’s honoring Lou Carnesecca
Kudos to St. John’s University men’s basketball coach Rick Pitino for honoring the late Lou Carnesecca by wearing a Louie-like loud sweater Saturday when the Red Storm cruised by the Kansas State Wildcats. The home crowd gave Pitino a standing ovation.
BYU QB Jake Retzlaff signs NIL deal with Manischewitz
Manischewitz has signed Brigham Young University quarterback Jake Retzlaff to be a spokesperson.
NIL has changed the complexion of College Football – Image Credit: AP
Aside from being an anomaly at the Mormon college, Retzlaff is a terrific player and is being scouted by NFL teams. It is to be seen whether Retzlaff’s likeness will appear on boxes of Manischewitz Hanukkah latkes or Passover matzo.
Red Lobster partners with ESPN for Collegiate Band Competition?
Red Lobster has signed on to be the title sponsor of ESPN’s collegiate band competition. While it is laudable that the Worldwide Leader in Sports is honoring college marching bands, it does seem to be a weird use of funds by Red Lobster which has closed many of its restaurants after filing for bankruptcy.
New York Red Bulls fall to LA Galaxy in MLS Cup Championship
Three days after the New York City Football Club broke ground on their new Flushing home, Ethiad Park, their cross-river rivals who knocked them out of the Major League Soccer playoffs, the New York Red Bulls, were defeated by a score of 2-1 in the MLS championship game by the LA Galaxy, long one of the league’s powerhouses.
The New York Red Bulls fell short in the 2024 MLS Cup Championship to LA Galaxy – Image Credit: Etienne Laurent/AP
Apple TV Plus, which has the broadcast rights to the lion’s share of MLS games, showed the game live on big screens in Times Square with the blessing of Fox Sports which had the rights to the big game. It was not worth standing in the cold for Red Bulls fans given the result. The Red Bulls have still not won the big trophy in their thirty-year existence.
James Cramer gives his input on the 2024 Philadelphia Eagles
CNBC “Mad Money” host James Cramer is an enthusiastic fan of his hometown Philadelphia sports teams. I ran into Cramer recently and we discussed the Philadelphia Eagles’ chances of winning the Super Bowl. “I am worried about the Detroit Lions. They don’t appear to have any weaknesses,” he told me.
Fanatics Fest set to return in New York from June 20-22 of 2025
Fanatics Fest, the sports and pop culture festival based on the New York Comic Con which debuted this past August, will return to the Javits Center from June 20-22.
Gervonta “Tank” Davis shows up late to Boxing Press Conference
Someone needs to get boxer Gervonta ‘Tank” Davis a watch with an alarm. The WBA lightweight champion has a bad reputation for being tardy to his press conferences.
Gervonta Davis meets with the press at the Barclays Center – Image Credit: Nabila Parnella/Latino Sports
Last Tuesday, Davis outdid himself by showing up four hours late to his Tuesday presser at Barclays Center to promote his March 1 bout with Lamont Roach at the Brooklyn arena. The fight will be shown live on Prime Video.
WNBC news anchor Chuck Scarborough plans to retire after 50 year run
This month represents the end of an era for some media notables. WNBC news anchor Chuck Scarborough is calling it a career after an amazing fifty-year run at Channel 4. Likewise, Michael Kay has announced he is giving up his afternoon drivetime show on ESPN New York (WEPN 880 AM). It is rumored he will do a two-hour show from 1 to 3 PM on the station, but that has not been confirmed. Finally, NBC vice chairperson and Hollis native Bonnie Hammer will be retiring from her position at the end of the year. Hammer published a best-selling book this fall, “15 Lies Women Are Told at Work” (Simon & Schuster).
You can read more of Lloyd Carroll’s columns posted weekly on The Queens Chronicle.
