Now that the Mets have reached an agreement with Yoenis Cespedes to reduce his contract for the 2020 season, as reported by SNY's Andy Martino, what exactly could the team look to do with the extra cap space?

According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, Cespedes' salary for 2020 was cut from $29.5 million to less than $10 million, though he could make back $20 million via performances bonuses.

So the first question is how exactly does the Cespedes situation affect the Mets in terms of the luxury tax? Former MLB GM and current SNY analyst Jim Duquette broke down the situation on Baseball Night in New York. 

The Mets have reached an agreement with Yoenis Cespedes to amend his contract and salary for the 2020 season, reports SNY's Andy Martino, who added that Cespedes is still under contract.

He could go from $29.5 million in 2020 to less than $10 million, according to The Post's Joel Sherman, though he could make as much as $20 million if you include potential bonuses.

The Mets and Cespedes were moving closer to a hearing related to his ranch injury and a potential contract violation, according to Martino, who noted that the settlement enables Cespedes to stay with the team while the Mets pay him a lot less.

Cespedes had been due to receive $29.5 million in 2020 in what is the last year of the four-year, $110 million contract he signed with the Mets after the 2016 season.

The Mets made their one-year deal with Michael Wacha official on Friday, designating Chris Mazza for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster.

"With the addition of Michael to our staff, our rotation will continue to be an area of strength in 2020," Mets GM Brodie Van Wagenen said in a press release. "Adding a fourth All-Star starter with proven success in the postseason gives us a group of starting pitchers with the potential to be among the best in the game."

Wacha -- who got a $3 million base salary and can make an additional $7 million in incentives -- signed the day before Rick Porcello, which means the Mets have six starting pitchers for five spots. And Wacha was told he would be used in the rotation.

"They said they had a spot to start," Wacha said Friday during a conference call when asked what the Mets' pitch to him was. "I'm here to be in that rotation and be out there every fifth day. That's my plan, that's my mindset going into this offseason is preparing for that role. I think it's a great fit."

On Friday, new Phillies manager Joe Girardi spoke with WFAN's Joe Benigno and Evan Roberts and spoke on a number of topics, most notably his time interviewing for the Mets manager position earlier this offseason.

Girardi was among a number of candidates up for the position which ultimately went to Carlos Beltran.

"I thought they were very interested. I interviewed three times, and had a fourth one set up," Girardi said when asked if he really thought the Mets were interested in him. "No, I thought they were very interested. They chose to go a different direction. I'm really happy where I'm at, and I chose to go a different direction. That's how it kind of ended up."

Trade talks between the Mets and Astros about shortstop Carlos Correa were active from November through the end of the Winter Meetings, when they fizzled out, SNY's Andy Martino reported Friday.

Martino said Thursday that while trade talks have died down for now, things could pick back up.

Correa, 24, hit .279/.358/.568 with 21 home runs and 59 RBI in 75 games as rib and back injuries caused him to miss significant time.

Danny Abriano, SNY.tv | Twitter |

The Mets left the Winter Meetings having secured two starting pitchers and after having discussions about potential moves involving Starling Marte, Jed Lowrie, Dominic Smith, and others.

But while GM Brodie Van Wagenen said on Thursday that the Mets can now focus on "wants" instead of "needs," the team still has some needs -- both in terms of players they need to bring in and players they should be looking to move on from.

Here's what should still be on their agenda with about two months to go until spring training begins in Port St. Lucie...

The Mets have interest in trading for Pirates CF Starling Marte. Here's the latest...

Dec. 13, 12:46 PM:

In addition to the Mets and Padres, the Reds have also inquired with the Pirates about a trade for Marte, reports Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

It was an extremely busy Winter Meetings this year out in San Diego and SNY was there to cover it all.

Take a look at the many highlights of this year's Meetings....

John Harper, SNY.tv | Twitter |

The Winter Meetings will never be what they once were, when GMs exchanged trade proposals on cocktail napkins at the bar and even occasionally agreed to a late-night deal without a spreadsheet in sight. 

That said, however, baseball's annual gathering of executives and media this week in San Diego at least came to life again for the first time in a few years, delivering the action everyone wanted to see in the form of mega-million dollar free-agent signings. 

John Harper, SNY.tv | Twitter |

Countering launch-angle hitting with high fastballs has become all but mandatory for pitchers in the big leagues these days, as dictated by analytics departments and pitching coaches. But it doesn't work for everyone. 

It most certainly didn't work for Rick Porcello in 2019 when he posted a 5.52 ERA, by far the highest in his career, at least partly because he threw the most four-seam fastballs of any season in his career. 

Can he get back to being more of the sinkerballer who has been a solid-to-above-average starter for much of his 11-year career? 

Day 3 of the Winter Meetings are upon us, and the Mets remain active in trying to bolster their 2020 roster. Here's the latest news today...

Dec. 12, 8:37 PM:

Now that the Mets have brought in some heavily sought pitching depth in Michael Wacha and Rick Porcello, where will they turn their attention next?

The Winter Meetings wrapped up on Thursday in San Diego, but lots of questions remain for the Mets. Among them...

Rounding out the rotation...

Rick Porcello could have signed a multiyear deal, according to people aware of his market.

Doug Williams and Andy Martino close out the 2019 MLB Winter Meetings with an all-new Shea Anything!

The guys look at everything the Mets did and didn't do in San Diego, including the signings of Michael Wacha and Rick Porcello, and the current status quo of the bullpen. Doug and Andy also examine what Brodie Van Wagenen might do next as the off season continues, as the Mets GM continues to survey his options for 2020.

CLICK BELOW TO LISTEN

Mets' Jeff McNeil had a breakout season in 2019, batting .318 with 23 home runs and 75 RBI in 133 games.

Here are his six best moments of the season...

As part of their attempt to trade Jed Lowrie, the Mets have discussed a potential deal with the Rangers that would involve Lowrie and Dominic Smith heading to Texas, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported late Wednesday.

According to Rosenthal, talks between the Mets and Rangers have failed to progress to this point.

Aside from the Rangers, the A's have inquired with the Mets about Lowrie, SNY's Andy Martino reported Wednesday.

The 36-year-old Lowrie, who missed all but nine games in 2019 due to a variety of injuries, is owed $10 million in 2020 when it comes to how payoll is calculated for luxury tax purposes.

he Winter Meetings are in full swing in San Diego, and the Mets still have a lot they need to accomplish if they hope to be one of the top contenders for the NL East title in 2020.

As Brodie Van Wagenen hopes to check off some of the Mets' needs, MetsBlog's Matthew Cerrone dipped into his mailbag...

Joyce Kanopka (via e-mail): I don't understand why the Mets aren't trading Edwin Diaz. What evidence is there that he can ever get back to pitching like he did for the Mariners?

Speaking Thursday morning at the Winter Meetings with the Mets on the verge of finalizing deals with starting pitchers Rick Porcello and Michael Wacha, GM Brodie Van Wagenen strongly suggested that his plan might not include adding any external big league relievers.

Van Wagenen could be speaking in intentionally coy terms. But if not, the Mets would likely be neglecting their main area of need while hoping for bounceback years and other positive developments.

"We can bolster our bullpen by having (Seth) Lugo and (Robert) Gsellman go back to the bullpen along with (Brad) Brach if that's how it shakes out in spring training," Van Wagenen said. "It's a good position to be in. We'll sort of adjust on the fly in terms of what other opportunities come in. We have the ability to do wants now that many of our needs are filled."

The Mets added some starting pitching this offseason, and one of the new arms in their rotation is RHP Rick Porcello. 

Porcello is coming off a down year with the Red Sox after posting a 5.52 ERA over 32 starts. However, he brings 11 years of MLB experience to the table as a very valuable back-end rotation piece. 

So, as Porcello makes his way back to a very familiar place, here are some things you might not have known about the veteran:

Brodie Van Wagenen said Thursday at the Winter Meetings that the Mets have "probably the deepest starting pitching rotation in baseball," noting that the added depth after signing Rick Porcello and Michael Wacha gives the team lots of "flexibility" when it comes to how they prepare for 2020.

As things currently stand, the Mets have Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, Marcus Stroman, Steven Matz, Porcello, and Wacha as rotation options.

They also have the ability to use Seth Lugo or Robert Gsellman in the rotation, with Van Wagenen saying the Mets are "staring at eight potential starting pitchers."

The Mets have interest in signing free agent reliever Dellin Betances. Here's the latest...

Dec. 12, 1:30 PM:

The Dodgers are among the "most aggressive" teams when it comes to Betances, reports Joel Sherman of the New York Post.

Danny Abriano, SNY.tv | Twitter |

In an unexpected move, the Mets have reportedly inked Rick Porcello to a one-year deal worth $10 million. While the signing itself was surprising, the potential ramifications are even more intriguing.

Since the Mets now have an excess of starting pitchers and 42 players for 40 spots (and are brushing up against the luxury tax), more moves have to be coming. So what happens now?

Are the Mets going to trade a starting pitcher?

With Porcello and Michael Wacha on board, the Mets seemingly have six starting pitchers for five slots. 

While the Mets and Dodgers have spoken with the Brewers about a potential trade for Josh Hader, the Yankees have been the most "active pursuer," reports Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

Rosenthal adds that "in some cases," Milwaukee has asked for a package in return that included at least one top prospect, but that teams are reluctant to part with that level prospect for Hader.

SNY's Andy Martino reported on Dec. 2 that the Mets were one of many teams interested in trading for Hader, but that it was not yet clear if the Brewers would deal him.

Martino added that the price for the Mets would be high -- in the J.D. Davis, Dominic Smith, Jeff McNeil category. 

The Mets have agreed to a one-year deal with free agent RHP Rick Porcello, reports Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. The deal is pending a physical, according to Rosenthal.

According to Jon Heyman of MLB Network, the deal will be worth $10 million.

When the Mets signed Michael Wacha on Wednesday, the thought was that it would end their pursuit of Porcello. Clearly, that thought was wrong.

As the Mets build their roster at the 2019 MLB Winter Meetings in San Diego, the pieces of the puzzle for the 2020 season have started to come together.

While the Mets weigh their options with moves such as last Thursday's Jake Marisnick trade and Wednesday's Michael Wacha agreement, RHP Noah Syndergaard is among the cornerstone pieces GM Brodie Van Wagenen believes to be pivotal for the team's success next year.

Discussing the Mets' rotation and bullpen in Wednesday's 1-on-1 interview with SNY's Steve Gelbs, Van Wagenen pointed to Syndergaard as one of the most important arms on the roster.

For the second straight season, the Nationals have lost one of their biggest offensive stars via free agency.

According to multiple reports, third baseman Anthony Rendon is heading to the Los Angeles Angels on a seven-year deal worth $245 million. That contract is identical to the one agreed to by Stephen Strasburg to keep him in DC.

Rendon, 29, has gotten better with each of his seven seasons with the Nationals. A career .290 hitter, Rendon made his first All-Star team in 2019. He also finished third in MVP voting behind Cody Bellinger and Christian Yelich, ending his season slashing .319/.412/.598 with 34 home runs and 126 RBI.

John Harper, SNY.tv | Twitter |

Is there a chance the Mets could pull off a trade with the Astros for shortstop Carlos Correa?

They'd have to get awfully creative, put it that way.

At the Winter Meetings in San Diego, SNY's Andy Martino reported Wednesday that the teams have had "dialogue" about such a possibility, which comes on the heels of The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal reporting Tuesday that the Astros have entertained the possibility of trading Correa as a way of dealing with their current -- and future -- payroll crunch.

Anthony McCarron, SNY.tv | Twitter |

In the wake of baseball's winter pitching splurge, a popular social media hot take around the Mets goes something like this: Jacob deGrom is a bargain, even at $27.5 million per year! 

Yes, the Mets are getting their money's worth out of the five-year, $137.5 million extension they gave their ace before last season, especially since he won a second consecutive National League Cy Young Award in 2019. 

Building pitching depth was priority number one for the Mets during the Winter Meetings, as stated repeatedly by general manager Brodie Van Wagenen.

On Wednesday, the team helped build that depth by agreeing on a deal with veteran Michael Wacha, who Van Wagenen has hinted will figure to be the team's fifth starter behind Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, Marcus Stroman, and Steven Matz.

Wacha is a 28-year-old right-hander, originally from Iowa City, Iowa, though he played his high school ball in Texarkana, Texas. He was selected by the Cardinals in the first round of the 2012 draft out of Texas A&M.

The Mets have talked with two MLB teams about trading Jed Lowrie.

The Oakland Athletics and Texas Rangers have inquired with the Mets about the utility INF, SNY's Andy Martino reported Wednesday.

Lowrie, 35, was an All-Star in 2018 with the A's, who Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle first noted are interested in another reunion.

The Mets made a move with the Astros last week. Could New York do so again with one of Houston's top players?

After the Mets traded for CF Jake Marisnick last Thursday, they "have had dialogue" with the Astros regarding SS Carlos Correa, SNY's Andy Martino reported Wednesday.

Correa, 24, slashed .279/.358/.568 with 21 home runs and 59 RBI in 75 games. He missed most of his 2019 season due to injury, between a fractured rib that cost him 50 games and late-August back discomfort.

On Wednesday afternoon, Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen once again met with members of the media as the MLB Winter Meetings roll on in San Diego.

Van Wagenen had plenty to talk about on Wednesday. including the Mets' reported addition of veteran Michael Wacha.

Here are four takeaways from Van Wagenen's availability:

On Michael Wacha

On Wednesday, SNY's Andy Martino confirmed the Mets are working hard to finalize a one-year contract with the veteran starter Wacha.

Heading into the Winter Meetings, free agent reliever Blake Treinen seemed to make a lot of sense for the New York Mets, a team in need of building bullpen depth.

Now it appears that Treinen is off the market.

ESPN's Jeff Passan has reported that Treinen and the Dodgers are in agreement on a one-year deal worth $10 million. Passan added that Treinen had multiple offers within that same price range.

The Mets are 'working hard' to finalize a one-year deal with free agent Michael Wacha, SNY's Andy Martino confirmed.

Wacha's deal will be worth $3 million guaranteed, with an additional $7 million in potential incentives, reports Joel Sherman of the New York Post.

Wacha, 28, had a 4.76 ERA (5.61 FIP) and 1.56 WHIP in 126.2 IP in 2019 for the Cardinals as he struggled with injuries and inconsistency.

.. 

John Harper, SNY.tv | Twitter |

The long-awaited scientific findings on the 2019 baseball were released on Wednesday, and the conclusions likely aren't going to satisfy pitchers throughout the majors who were convinced MLB intentionally juiced the ball to fly farther and produce more home runs.

Yet at least there is reason to believe Noah Syndergaard wasn't crazy when he kept complaining that he couldn't throw his slider as effectively in the past -- due to a decrease in the height of the seams on some of the balls that apparently contributed to the record-breaking number of home runs.

And maybe there is now even more reason to believe the Mets should gamble on signing free-agent reliever Blake Treinen, whose fall from dominance with the A's last season was due largely to the ineffectiveness of his sinker -- thought to be at least partly related to lower seams on the ball.

The Mets could be looking to move Dom Smith during MLB's Winter Meetings.

New York is "actively talking to teams" about the 24-year-old 1B/LF, SNY's Andy Martino reported Wednesday.

Smith slashed .282/.355/.525 with 11 home runs and 25 RBI in 89 games throughout the 2019 season.

Yu Darvish knows a good hitter when he sees one.

The seven-year veteran RHP has faced some of MLB's best since arriving from Japan in 2012, ranging between the AL with the Texas Rangers (2012-17) and the NL with the Los Angeles Dodgers (2017) and Chicago Cubs (2018-present).

Coming into his third season with the Cubs in 2020, Darvish shared five of his toughest opposing hitters from the 2019 season. J.D. Davis made the cut, evidently leaving Darvish impressed after facing the Mets LF/3B in two games of a breakout year.

Although he didn't pitch in 2019, Bartolo Colon is not giving up on his desire to pitch again in the majors, reports Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com.

Sanchez shared a video of Colon throwing off a mound in the Dominican Republic while wearing Mets shorts and a t-shirt.

Click below to see...

The Winter Meetings are in full swing in San Diego, and the Mets still have a lot they need to accomplish if they hope to be one of the top contenders for the NL East title in 2020.

As Brodie Van Wagenen hopes to check off some of the Mets' needs, MetsBlog's Matthew Cerrone dipped into his mailbag...

Vincent Palma (via e-mail): If the Pirates have interest in Brandon Nimmo, it seems like there should be a lot of options to make a deal with them. Who do you think is Van Wagenen's target?

Danny Abriano, SNY.tv | Twitter |

As talks between the Mets and Pirates about a potential trade for Starling Marte have intensified, SNY's Andy Martino has reported that the Mets are "open" to dealing Brandon Nimmo to Pittsburgh.

Marte is a very good player, but so is Nimmo. And the Mets should be open to trading for Marte only if it means not including Nimmo in the deal (with one caveat). Here's why...

It would negatively impact the Mets' outfield defense

Brodie Van Wagenen has made improving the team's defense one of his main goals this offseason, and he did that when he acquired Jake Marisnick. But Marisnick profiles as a part-time player.

Mets fans, time to circle some Spring Training dates on your calendar, as the team released its schedule to kick off the new year. 

Here's how it all breaks down: 

CLICK BELOW TO SEE THE DATES

The Mets continue to be linked to Pirates outfielder Starling Marte.

According to SNY Insider Andy Martino, the team is still in on the 31-year-old, and they would likely need to trade a major league outfielder in any deal for him.

Brodie Van Wagenen admitted that the team currently has a surplus of outfielders, with Michael Conforto, Brandon Nimmo, JD Davis, Yoenis Cespedes, Jake Marisnick, and even Dom Smith, who can play both left field and first base.

The first day of Winter Meetings have come and gone in San Diego, and the Mets are still looking to do some business. Here are the latest rumors for today...

Dec. 10, 10:41 PM:

According to SNY Insider Andy Martino, the team is still in on Starling Marte, and they would likely need to trade a major league outfielder in any deal for him.

New Mets manager Carlos Beltran made an appearance at the Winter Meetings in San Diego Tuesday evening and discussed the upcoming season for his new ball club and what he's done in the first month since being named manager.

"It's been a lot of work trying to catch up with all the information, all the details, trying to reach out to all the players," Beltran said in his opening statement. "But it's been fun, it's been a learning experience, there is no doubt that, you know, being in the job a lot of times from the outside you think that being a manager is something that happens from one day to another, but really it takes time to catch up with all the information. The good thing is that I have a good group of guys around me that are being supportive and they've been guiding me through the process."

The Mets made additional changes to their coaching staff aside from Beltran this offseason, adding the likes of Hensley Meulens as their bench coach and Jeremy Hefner as the new pitching coach. 

Beltran noted that 'It was a team effort" in picking and finalizing this new coaching staff.

For the second straight day during the MLB Winter Meetings in San Diego, Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen met with the media.

Tuesday's topics included how the team will respond to other moves being made within the division, players have specific nutrition plans, and how the team may use their 26th spot on the active roster.

Here are four takeaways from Tuesday's availability:

Two Mets were named to the inaugural All-MLB First Team on Tuesday afternoon, with Pete Alonso taking the first baseman slot and Jacob deGrom grabbing one of the four spots available for starting pitchers.

Alonso was named the NL Rookie of the Year after setting the MLB rookie record for home runs in a season with 53--that effort was also good enough to lead the league in home runs in 2019.

The rookie held slashes of .260/.358/.583 for the season and was named to the NL All-Star team.

During the course of the day, I often text and talk with a variety of MLB insiders to better understand what is happening in the hot stove.

The following are insights, ideas and notes gathered from recent conversations with team sources, rival executives, reporters, front office assistants and talent evaluators...

Adding to the bullpen...

My hunch is the Mets will sign at least one relief pitcher before the end of the Winter Meetings.

The Mets think "they have ability" to add pitching help this offseason, which could mean a free agent reliever such as Dellin Betances, perhaps another reliever in addition to a Betances-type, and a back of the rotation starting pitcher, reports SNY's Andy Martino.

Martino adds that Betances currently has multiyear and one-year opportunities.

Brodie Van Wagenen spent much of his media availability on Monday night at the Winter Meetings talking about the potential of adding depth to the roster, and was coy when it came to exactly what the Mets could or would allocate to each area of need.

The Winter Meetings are in full swing in San Diego, and the Mets still have a lot they need to accomplish if they hope to be one of the top contenders for the NL East title in 2020.

As Brodie Van Wagenen prepares to wheel and deal, MetsBlog's Matthew Cerrone dipped into his mailbag...

1) Gorman (via Twitter): Seeing a lot of people including top prospect Andres Gimenez in trade scenarios. Is it because he's blocked by Amed Rosario? Who has more trade value, Rosario or Gimenez? Is Gimenez good enough to consider using Rosario to acquire a superstar?

If the people you are referring to are our fellow fans, I wouldn't worry about it because being an Armchair GM is what we are supposed to do this time of year. It's part of the fun.

The general sense after the Mets traded for center fielder Jake Marisnick was that it would end any potential pursuit of Pirates center fielder Starling Marte. Maybe not.

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported Monday that part of the reason why the Mets swung the deal for Marisnick when they did was because of a fear that they would be unable to land Marte. And Rosenthal suggested that Marte could still be in play.

Jon Heyman of the MLB Network reported Tuesday that the Mets have not ruled out Marte and that they would meet with the Pirates at the Winter Meetings, adding that the Pirates are seeking a "young, controllable" catcher.