With the Super Bowl matchup officially set and February (and spring training) knocking on the door, let’s take a look at some of the latest MLB news and notes, including a signing by the New York Mets, ticket news from the San Diego Padres, and a huge “what if” in the American League West battle between the Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners.
New York Mets news: A depth signing to keep an eye on
The Mets have reportedly signed first baseman Dariel Gomez to a minor league deal, adding some depth at the position and potential pop as well.
Gomez led the Northwest League with 26 home runs last season, playing for the High-A team in the Seattle Mariners organization. It was the second season that the 26-year-old Gomez had played at High-A.
His time in the Mariners organization came to an end on November 10 when he elected free agency. Gomez will join the Mets organization looking to not only move up, but also find a way to cut down on his strikeouts (163 in 409 at-bats last season as he slashed .222/.321/.472.
MLB news: Mets, San Diego Padres make news on the ticket front
The Mets are parlaying their offseason activity and excitement in Queens for what could be to come in the 2023 season into a Super Bowl-related ticket promotion.
Something Amazin’ awaits!
— New York Mets (@Mets) January 28, 2023
2️⃣/1️⃣2️⃣/2️⃣3️⃣
Be the first to get access 👉 https://t.co/UweYKixAxZ pic.twitter.com/jH5XSaJ3NV
What does Steve Cohen and crew have planned for the promotion? It will be interesting to see, especially with the cross-promotion on a day that is a pinnacle for another sport.
Meanwhile, the Padres, another team that has made an offseason splash, have announced that they will stop selling season tickets on February 4 after “unprecedented demand” this offseason.
San Diego made it to the NLCS last season and signed Xander Bogaerts, among others, this winter to make a run at the National League West title and the Fall Classic. Combine the new faces with the return of Juan Soto, Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr. (back in April from his PED suspension), and others, and it’s easy to see why there is excitement around Petco Park.
Sales of San Diego Padres season ticket memberships for the upcoming MLB season will be capped for the first time in team history, due to "unprecedented demand". https://t.co/nxP2hagHKa
— FOX 5 San Diego (@fox5sandiego) January 29, 2023
MLB news: A huge “what if” between Seattle Mariners and Houston Astros
According to this USA Today article from MLB insider Bob Nightengale, Houston’s hire of Dana Brown as the team’s general manager and subsequent teaming up with manager Dusty Baker is something that could have happened seven years earlier in Seattle had things gone differently.
Nightengale writes that Brown interviewed for the general manager position with the Mariners in 2015 and said that, if he got the job, he would be hiring Dusty Baker as the team’s manager. However, Seattle hired Jerry Dipoto as the general manager, changing the timeline for both the Mariners and Astros.
History certainly could have been different in the AL West, but Brown and Baker will now finally team up in Houston to see how they can work together to help the Astros repeat as World Series champions.