By Eddie Castro

If you are still a big kid at heart such as me, you can’t help yourselves but get excited we are a few weeks away from Christmas. If you are a baseball fan, you’re even more excited knowing the Major League Baseball Winter Meetings kick off this Sunday in Orlando, Florida. These meetings usually provide baseball fans with some of the most exciting moments in free agency as teams convene for what should be a very busy period of signings of free agents, trades, rule 5 draft discussions and other business.

These meetings usually define what your favorite baseball team will probably look like for the upcoming season and perhaps beyond. For both the Yankees and Mets, they’re hoping to get more than just some fun in the Orlando sun. They will look to create some magic.

For the New York Mets, they will look to improve their team from a disastrous 2025 campaign that resulted in the team missing the playoffs even with the championship aspirations. The team needs include starting pitching, bullpen help and out field help as well. The Mets have made a few moves ahead of the Winter Meetings trading outfielder Brandon Nimmo to the Texas Rangers in exchange for shortstop Marcus Semien.

Although offensively Semien’s numbers have dropped in recent years, a change of scenery could benefit the 35-year-old veteran who is expected to play second base, creating a strong infield alongside shortstop Francisco Lindor. On Monday night, the team was able to lure closer Devin Williams away from the Yankees, signing him to a 3-year/$51 million contract.

The signing doesn’t necessarily mean the end for fellow closer Edwin Diaz. Reports indicate that Williams is “open” to a setup role with the team. Diaz (who has been with the Mets since 2019) opted out of his current deal with the team making him a free agent and is reportedly seeking a contract similar to the one he previously signed with the team back in 2019 which was a 5-year/$102 million deal.

Negotiations are currently at a stalemate as the Mets are hoping for a shorter contract such as a three-year deal. As far as starting pitching, the team hopes to strike a deal for a top-tier arm but knows it will ideally have to include some of their top-tier players out of their farm system. The Mets are also one of many teams interested in signing Cody Bellinger.

For the New York Yankees, in the past during these meetings, they have provided Yankees fans with a wonderful gift under the Christmas tree with pass deals including signing Aaron Judge, Gerrit Cole, trading for Juan Soto two Years ago and of course signing Ace pitcher Max Fried last year. The flipside of that for Yankees fans is, it’s not what you have done back then, but what you have done for me lately.

There have been many rumors floating around as far as who the Yankees have inquired about, but nothing has come to fruition at this time. The Yankees are looking to take the next step in returning to the World Series after a disappointing postseason exit in the divisional round against the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Yankees priority appears to be trying to re-sign Cody Bellinger. Reports indicate there is a “gap” in negotiations. It should be noted that Bellinger’s agent is Scott Boras who with many of his clients seeks the longest deals. The Yankees want Bellinger back badly. He had a great first year with the team last year and his left-handed bat in the lineup is an advantage for him with the short porch in right field at Yankee Stadium.

Free agent Kyle Tucker has also been linked to the Yankees, but the way the Yankees have been trying to seal a deal with Bellinger, a Tucker signing almost seems like a backup plan for a player that could be considered at least a top 20 player in all of baseball. The team will also look to upgrade the bullpen, especially now losing Williams to the Mets.

Yankee fans can also look for the team to take a deep dive in the starting pitching market. The team has shown interest in Japanese pitching star Tatsuya Imai. Reports are that the Yankees are “very interested” in Imai and intend to pursue the top international pitcher on the market “aggressively”. As of last week, the Yankees and Miami Marlins have had discussions regarding a trade that will send 2022 Cy-Young award winner Sandy Alcantara to the Yankees.

They’re many scenarios for the Mets and Yankees that could fold during the four days of the Winter Meetings. New York baseball is on the cusp of being really really good this year. The question is who will they be able to sign and perhaps acquire in any sort of trades? Hopefully for both teams, they will be able to sign a game-changing player and add more smiles to both Yankee and Met fans.

Sports Notes: On Thanksgiving Day, the Our Time Press family lost one of our own. As publisher/media star and producer of Sports Talk With Eddie Pojanee Fleury or as we knew her “PJ” along with her sister Frantzia tragically lost their lives. We at Sports Talk and Our Time Press offer our condolences to her family and friends.