New York Mets DVOA, Stats, & MLB Rankings

Free-agent left-handed pitcher Sean Manaea has signed a two-year, $28 million contract with the New York Mets. The deal includes an opt-out after the 2024 season as well. The 31-year-old lefty was solid with the San Francisco Giants last season, finishing with a 4.44 ERA (3.90 FIP), 1.241 WHIP, and 128:42 K/BB over 117 2/3 innings (37 appearances, 10 starts). The Mets will likely use him out of the bullpen and in spot-starting/opener situations. This is a pretty low-risk deal with New York that could end up paying off after Manaea showed significant improvement with his velocity after a down year in 2022 with the Padres.

Free-agent designated hitter J.D. Martinez won't be returning to the Los Angeles Dodgers after they signed two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani, but he still has plenty of suitors. The Los Angeles Angels are a logical fit, but it remains to be seen if Martinez has interest in playing for them. The New York Mets, Detroit Tigers and Toronto Blue Jays are believed to have interest in the veteran slugger, while a reunion with the Arizona Diamondbacks would also make sense. The 36-year-old was great in 2023 with the Dodgers, hitting 33 home runs with an .893 OPS. He's not looking for a long-term deal, so his market figures to include contenders with a need at DH. Martinez is especially attractive to contenders, considering his .294/.386/.588 slash line with a .974 OPS, 10 home runs and 31 RBI in 33 career postseason games.

The New York Mets signed free-agent outfielder Harrison Bader to a one-year deal for approximately $10 million, according to a source. The Mets have been looking for help in the outfield this offseason, and Bader should immediately slot in as their primary center fielder in 2024, which will allow Brandon Nimmo to slide over to a corner-outfield spot. The 29-year-old Bader, a former third-round pick by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2015 out of the University of Florida, has become more of a defense-first player. Bader has been known to be a streak hitter at the plate and finished this past season with a .232/.274/.348 slash line, seven home runs, 40 RBI, 20 stolen bases and 44 runs score in 98 games for the New York Yankees and Cincinnati Reds. He can be a decent source of runs scored and stolen bases for fantasy managers, but he's dealt with his fair share of injuries as well, playing in over 100 games just three times in his seven MLB seasons.

New York Mets outfielder Starling Marte (groin) is hitting second and playing right field on Wednesday in his first winter ball game for the Leones del Escogido in the Dominican Republic. It was another injury-filled year for Marte in 2023, but it's a good sign that he's already playing in games this offseason. The 35-year-old outfielder was a pretty big risk in fantasy leagues in 2023 while coming off double-groin surgery. The two-time All-Star ended up playing in only 86 games while hitting .248 (78-for-315) with only five home runs and 28 RBI, although he did steal 24 bases in 341 plate appearances. Marte could bounce back with better health in 2024, but he'll remain a pretty big injury risk and it remains to be seen how much he'll keep running as he tries to stay on the field late in his career.

New York Mets rookie infielder Ronny Mauricio (knee) underwent surgery to fix a torn ACL in his right knee on Wednesday and is expected to be out anywhere from eight to 12 months. Mauricio suffered the serious injury while playing winter ball in the Dominican Republic. The promising 22-year-old will now be forced to miss most of the 2024 season. He was slated to open spring training competing with Brett Baty and Mark Vientos for the starting role at the hot corner, but that job will now likely go to Baty to start the season. Fantasy managers in single-year leagues can ignore Mauricio in spring drafts, but he should be stashed in dynasty/keeper formats. The Dominican switch-hitter batted .248 (25-for-101) with two home runs, nine RBI and seven stolen bases in his major-league debut in 26 games.