The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mets get aggressive with trio of free-agent signings
The New York Mets have bolstered their lineup with three freeagent deals, adding speedy center fielder Starling Marte to go along with Mark Canha and All-Star infielder Eduardo Escobar.
Marte’s four-year contract is worth $78 million. New York, which finished in third place in the NL East behind the division-winning Braves and second-place Phillies, also has agreements in place with Canha, a veteran outfielder who also can play first base, and Escobar, who hit 28 homers this season.
The contracts are pending physicals and haven’t been officially announced.
It’s the first set of big moves by New York since Billy Eppler took over as general manager, promising on his first day to pursue pricey free agents and create a perennial World Series contender.
The spending spree for Mets owner Steve Cohen also comes after he publicly criticized the representation for pitcher Steven Matz, who has agreed to a $44 million, four-year contract with St. Louis.
“I’m not happy this morning. I’ve never seen such unprofessional behavior exhibited by a player’s agent. I guess words and promises don’t matter,” Cohen wrote Wednesday on Twitter.
New York went 77-85 this season, fading to third in the NL East after a strong start.
Marte, 33, played for Miami and Oakland this year, batting .310 with 12 homers, 55 RBIs and a major league-high 47 steals in 120 games.
Marte made his big league debut in 2012 with Pittsburgh. He is a .289 hitter with 126 homers, 46 triples, 502 RBIs and 296 steals in 10 years in the majors.
The 32-year-old Canha hit .231 with 17 homers, 61 RBIs and 12 steals in 141 games with Oakland this year. He spent his first seven big league seasons with the Athletics, batting .244 with 89 homers and 294 RBIs.
The 32-year-old Escobar was a first-time All-Star in 2021, when he batted .253 with 90 RBIs and a .786 OPS for Arizona and Milwaukee.
Mariners acquire All-Star:
Seattle finally landed Adam Frazier on Saturday, acquiring the long-sought All-Star second baseman in a trade with the San Diego Padres. The move cost Seattle two minor leaguers, but it addresses one of the team’s biggest needs: adding a middle infielder to pair with shortstop J.P. Crawford. Seattle is expected to be active this offseason after it went 90-72 this year and fell just short of its first playoff appearance since 2001.
Rays sign Franco to 11-year deal:
Wander Franco and the Tampa Bay Rays have finalized an $182 million, 11-year contract that includes a club option for the 2033 season. The shortstop’s deal, which could be worth up to $223 million if the club option is exercised and incentives are reached, was announced Saturday. Franco made his major league debut June 22 and hit a three-run homer. He batted .288 with 18 doubles, five triples, seven homers and 39 RBIs in 70 games. He finished third in the American League Rookie of the Year voting.