According to sources, the Mets had been in talks with star young catcher Francisco Alvarez on a long-term contract extension, but the talks were halted after Alvarez’s agent, Limas, headed by Bad Bunny, was disqualified.
Talks were just beginning, and both sides were far from reaching an agreement. (The Mets are in the 110% tax bracket, making it difficult to extend pre-arbitration players’ contracts.) Alvarez declined to discuss the matter, but said Limas, who is currently in a legal battle with the union over its existence and is not legally authorized to represent players, remains his agent.
Jackie Bradley Jr., who worked with former Mets player Alex Ochoa to mold Juan Soto into a quality outfielder, was a surprise signing for the Mets as a potential offensive addition (1.200 OPS with the Long Island Ducks), and while that wasn’t necessarily part of the motivation, JBJ is close to Soto.
The Mets have a deeper lineup than most teams, but they are still looking to strengthen their outfield, preferably with a left-handed hitter.
Jesse Winker, who was never a fan favorite at Citi Field, may also be available.
The Mets’ most pressing need remains the bullpen, with left-handed pitching appearing to be a must.
