Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Good morning, Mets fans!

Team Japan has released its roster for the 2023 World Baseball Classic and it includes major leaguers such as Shohei Ohtani, Yu Darvish, Seiya Suzuki, Lars Nootbaar, amongst others. One notable absence is newly signed Mets pitcher Kodai Senga. Instead of joining Team Japan, Senga prefers to get acclimated to his new team facility in Port St. Lucie and with the Mets, but there is a possibility that Senga can join Team Japan if they reach the semifinals of the tournament.

Now onto the morning briefing!

Latest Mets News

We’re one day closer to spring training, as the Mets equipment truck is being packed up and being sent off to Port St. Lucie, Florida on January 30 at noon.

Using the statistic OAA or Outs Above Average, Tangotiger Blogs determines that Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor has been the best fielder in baseball from 2016 to 2022. Lindor posted a +118 OAA, which prevented 89 runs from being scored, the best in baseball in this category.

In the updated top 100 of MLB Pipeline’s list of prospects, the New York Mets have four, which include: catcher Francisco Álvarez at No. 3, infielder Brett Baty at No. 21, catcher Kevin Parada at 36 and outfielder Alex Ramirez at 96.

Latest MLB News

When discussing if they follow what other teams do, Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos noted that “We follow. We monitor. So when Carlos Correa ends up a Minnesota Twin, I am pumped.”

The Houston Astros announced that they have hired Braves vice president of scouting Dana Brown to become the team’s new general manager. Brown spent four seasons with the Atlanta Braves as well as working with the Toronto Blue Jays and the Washington Nationals/Montreal Expos. Brown oversaw prospects such as Michael Harris, Spencer Strider, Vaughn Grissom, Ian Desmond, Stephen Strasburg, Ryan Zimmerman and numerous others.

Jeff Passan of ESPN reports that the Baltimore Orioles have acquired left-hander Cole Irvin from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for infield prospect Darell Hernaiz.

The Chicago White Sox announce that they have picked up the multi-year option for lead play-by-play man Jason Benetti. The White Sox also announced a multiyear extension with analyst and former major league pitcher, Steve Stone.

Pitcher Robert Stock retweets that he’s sick of being called a “former” major league pitcher and has reached an agreement with the Milwaukee Brewers on a minor league deal with an invite to major league spring training.

David O’Brien of The Athletic tweets a link from NextTV that indicates the regional sports networks of Bally Sports will face massive belt-tightening within as the parent company prepares to file for bankruptcy. It is stated that most teams will be affected by this move, including the St. Louis Cardinals, who is lined up to take one of the hardest blows from this action.

Latest on MMO

So You Think You Know the Mets: What the Hall?

Mets’ Ideal Lineup Analytics: Strengths Or Handedness?

MMO Roundtable: Grading The Mets Offseason

On This Date in Mets History

Birthdays: Angel Berroa (45)