MLB rumors: San Diego Padres and New York Mets already thinking 2024 and beyond?

Let’s take a look at a couple of MLB rumors that are out there regarding the New York Mets and San Diego Padres, two teams that have underwhelmed in the 2023 campaign.

New York Mets: What happens to Buck Showalter in 2024?

In a recent article for USA Today, MLB insider Bob Nightengale reminded readers that Mets manager Buck Showalter still has one year left on his three-year, $11.25 million deal to be the skipper in Queens. It’s been a series of highs and lows for the Mets under Showalter, with the team reaching 101 wins last season and him earning National League Manager of the Year before faltering this season and becoming a shocking seller at the MLB trade deadline.

With owner Steve Cohen promising to build “a formidable team” next season after Max Scherzer detailed how GM Billy Eppler told him the vision was for contending in 2025 or 2026, the question remains about Showalter’s future in Queens. Will he want to oversee a team that may not be contending next season and one that could simply be a bridge to better times ahead (times that he may not be a part of)? Will the Mets go in a different direction after this season and bring in a manager that will be a part of this next phase of Mets baseball?

The offseason will once again be very interesting to watch in Queens.

MLB rumors: San Diego Padres close to offering Juan Soto an extension?

For all of the talk that the Padres might also be sellers at the MLB trade deadline, San Diego turned into a buyer, keeping players like Blake Snell, Juan Soto and Josh Hader. Now the question becomes which of these players are a part of the Friars’ future.

After being traded from Washington to San Diego at last year’s trade deadline, Soto still has one year of team control left before he becomes a free agent. However, the Padres may be looking to make a long-term commitment to the 24-year-old outfielder.

Our own Robert Murray, however, isn’t so sure that a contract extension is anywhere near for Soto.

“Soto turned down $440 million from the Washington Nationals last year, a clear indicator that he and his agent, Scott Boras, want to establish his value on the free-agent market,” Murray said. “That’s how Boras operates with all of his players, and it’s unimaginable that he would change course with Soto. I don’t know if the report about the Padres planning to make an extension offer is right – it initially didn’t pass the smell test – but Soto will almost certainly test free agency in the winter of 2024.”