Mets sign Kingman to 1-year, $20.5m extension, avoiding arbitration. However, as David "Bear" Stearns couldn't say anything about a long-term deal beyond (essentially) "Pete's great. We'd love to keep him. I don't comment on negotiations.", this probably increases the chance that he's walking at season's end, which I
really can't believe Uncle Stevie is about to allow. Sigh.
The Mets have also signed LHP Sean Manaea to a two-year deal, at $14 mn per. Manaea (32 in April) struggled a bit for the San Francisco Blind Squirrels last season, being used mostly in relief, but did post a 2.25 ERA in 4 September starts. He was passable with the Pads in 2022, and actually good pitching alongside Chris Bassitt on the Last Real Oakland A's team, back in 2021.
The Mets also claimed 26 y/o Max Kranick on waivers from Pittsburgh. Kranick, 26, had the Kran kicked out of him in a 2021 cameo and then suffered an injury in 2022, but he did recover enough to have 7 effective openings as an opener with AAA Indianapolis last year. Of course, he has never had the depth to be a ML starter and the Bucs never tried him in relief, but why nitpick?
Cooper Hummel was DFA'd to make room.