PORT JEFF, NY – My brother Jacob and I are entrenched in a “Shortest Opening” contest. I just lost. But here are our talking points: Mets Get Soto, Belichick Goes Where? MLB Hot Stove.
Mets Get Soto
It is widely known that the Mets have signed the best hitter in baseball, Juan Soto, who is still just 26 years old. This blockbuster move will not only help the Mets win games but will also transform the long-standing perception of the franchise. During the Jeff Wilpon era, great moments and significant financial commitments were rare. Soto will be joining a team that won 89 games and two games short of the World Series. Key players such as Francisco Lindor, Brandon Nimmo, and Mark Vientos will be part of this team during Soto’s tenure. As a Mets fan, this is a monumental day, and opening day cannot come soon enough.
Belichick Goes Where?
In another coaching stunner, Bill Belichick has joined the college ranks and has become the next head of North Carolina Tar Heels. This move not make much sense for either side. Belichick is perhaps the greatest head coach all time and has nothing left to prove. For UNC, this is a bizarre move in itself as their previous coach, Mack Brown, was 73 years old. With all the challenges of NIL and the transfer portal, this seems like a desperate move for both. It would not be surprising if the Tar Heels are successful for a year two, but the goal for any program is sustained success. In my opinion, this hire does not equal sustained success.
MLB Hot Stove
there are still numerous topics to cover beyond Juan Soto. This week alone, Yankees snagged Braves’ ace Max Fried, the Guardian’s traded former Met Andres Gimenez to the Blue Jays for a few prospects, and the Red Sox secured one of the best young SP in baseball, Garrett Crochet, for a ton of prospects. Many star players remain available, including Alonso, Corbin Burnes, Roki Sasaki. These are just some of the free on the market. Rumors are swirling at the winter meetings, including talks about superstar outfielder Kyle Tucker of the Astros. The Yankees and Cubs have been in contact with the Astros about a deal, with the Yankees reportedly willing to trade Rookie of the Year Luis Gil., from a Yankees’ standpoint the issue with acquiring, much like Soto, is that he would be a rental.
