The New York Mets came into the season with big expectations after adding Juan Soto and other top free agents last winter. But the Mets fell flat on their faces down the stretch and completely missed the postseason in favor of the Cincinnati Reds. This winter, the Mets need to add more talent to their roster if they want to get back to the postseason. Mets slugger Pete Alonso is headed to free agency, and the team’s first priority should be re-signing or replacing Alonso. Bleacher Report’s Tim Kelly recently predicted the Mets would sign Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami to a massive five-year, $95 million deal. “Many of the teams we will discuss with Schwarber and Alonso make sense as possible landing spots for Murakami, although he runs the risk of being option B or C for many teams,” Kelly wrote. They’ll need to replace his power production in some manner, and Murakami as a first base/DH option-president of baseball operations David Stearns did personally scout him in Japan in August-makes sense.” The Mets will need to replace Alonso’s power in free agency if he leaves. Murakami is one of the only free agents on the market who could replace Alonso’s power for the Mets. There are questions about his bat-to-ball skills, but his power potential should be enough for the Mets to take a shot on him in free agency, especially if he’s going to sign for less than $100 million.
https://www.newsweek.com/mets-projected-to-sign-slugger-to-blockbuster-5-year-95-million-deal-11059856
Tag Archives: Juan Soto
Cardinals legend Albert Pujols reveals approach to managing Juan Soto-starring Dominican Republic at 2026 WBC
A four-time All-Star and five-time Silver Slugger award winner, Juan Soto is undoubtedly one of the best hitters in the business. Currently batting .265, with 43 home runs and 105 RBIs, the Dominican standout has once again enjoyed an exceptional season.
Looking ahead, Soto is set to represent the Dominican Republic at the 2026 World Baseball Classic, continuing his role as a key figure on the international stage.
Another Dominican superstar who will be involved in the 2026 tournament is Albert Pujols. However, instead of featuring on the field, Pujols will take on a leadership role as the manager of the Dominican Republic baseball team.
In an exclusive interview on the “New York Post Sports” YouTube channel, Pujols spoke about the “honor” of being chosen to lead his country in the competition and his commitment to preparing for the challenge.
“I’m a player’s manager. I have the opportunity to go back this year to the Dominican Republic and to be able to lead them to a championship. They honored me and gave me the opportunity to lead the World Baseball Classic team. So, I’m doing a lot of hard work with that. Now I’m really focused on it,” Pujols shared.
He also discussed his aspirations beyond the Classic, expressing a hope to manage a Major League Baseball team in the future. “Hopefully [after this] I get an opportunity to be a manager in the big leagues. I’m staying busy with the things that I know and that I’m good at, just trying to continue to set an example for others,” Pujols added.
Alongside Juan Soto, several other big league stars are expected to suit up for the Dominican Republic in 2026. Given the wealth of Dominican talent currently active in Major League Baseball, it’s no surprise the country boasts a stacked National Team roster.
On the pitching side, the team can call upon talented arms like Freddy Peralta, Luis Gil, and Emmanuel Clase. The infield will feature big names such as Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Manny Machado, Elly De La Cruz, and Willy Adames. Meanwhile, the outfield is anchored by stars like Fernando Tatis Jr., Teoscar Hernandez, and Julio Rodriguez.
Behind the plate, catchers Yainer Diaz and Gary Sanchez are among the favorites to represent the Dominican Republic.
With such a star-studded lineup and the leadership of Albert Pujols, the Dominican Republic looks poised to make a strong impact at the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/baseball/news-cardinals-legend-albert-pujols-reveals-approach-managing-juan-soto-starring-dominican-republic-2026-wbc