Good morning, Mets fans!

After Monday’s report by The Athletic regarding Mickey Callaway‘s alleged inappropriate conduct over the last half decade, the Los Angeles Angels — his current employer — have suspended the pitching coach while an investigation is being completed.

In a statement released by the team, the Angels said they would follow that course of action after Callaway denied wrongdoing. ESPN‘s Alden Gonzalez says Callaway can’t get fired without an investigation if he denied any wrongdoing. Gonzalez added that MLB and the Angels hope to complete the investigation “in short order.”

Let’s get into the morning briefing.

Latest Mets News

Michael Conforto said he and the Mets haven’t had any contact over the last couple months about an extension. He says he expects the talks to happen, though, but he doesn’t want them to become a “distraction” during the season.

Jacob Resnick shared a video of Franklyn Kilomé throwing a bullpen with Pedro Martinez looking along in the Domincan Republic. Kilomé posted the video to Instagram, saying he was pitching in front of “the real giant.”

Francisco Lindor was ranked the No. 4 shortstop in all of baseball, according to a ranking by MLB Network.

Latest MLB News

First and foremost: Jeff Passan wrote a story about the incredible journey of Drew Robinson, a current San Francisco Giant who survived a suicide attempt last year. Warning: there are aspects of mental health struggles and vivid descriptions of a suicide attempt in the story. There is also an E:60 piece and podcast dedicated to Passan’s story about Robinson.

Andrelton Simmons revealed he opted out of the last week of the season in 2020 because he was battling depression and suicidal thoughts, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register writes in an article.

Simmons, who is now with the Minnesota Twins, said that the season during the pandemic “was tough for me mentally to where the thought of suicide crossed my mind” and speaking to a therapist helped him “let go of those thoughts.”

Ken Rosenthal says the Tampa Bay Rays will reunite with pitcher Chris Archer, who they traded to the Pirates in the fleecing for Tyler Glasnow and Austin Meadows. Jeff Passan says the deal is for one year and $6.5 million.

Nelson Cruz, who is now 40 years old, agreed to a one-year deal with Twins, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN.

The Miami Marlins are shifting their radio broadcast team away from two play-by-play announcers, writes the Miami Herald‘s Barry Jackson. The radio team to a format with a play-by-play guy along with a “natural analyst,” which resembles more of a television broadcast.

Sean Doolittle signed a deal with the Cincinnati Reds, according to The Athletic‘s C. Trent Rosecrans.

The Toronto Sun‘s Rob Longley says veteran Francisco Liriano signed a deal with the Toronto Blue Jays. Liriano opted out of the 2020 season after being released by the Phillies in July.

Jon Morosi says the Rays will bring former MLB’er Denard Span into their front office in a “Special Assistant, Baseball Operations” role.

Morosi also reported reliever Kyle Barraclough signed a minor-league deal with an invite to MLB camp with the New York Yankees.

Latest on MMO

Rich Sparago wrote about the anniversary of the Johan Santana trade and looked at Santana’s career with the team.

Ryan Finkelstein helps Mets fans get to know the newly acquired Jordan Yamamoto.

With the 40-man roster now full, Michael Logan wonders which Met could be designated for assignment next, pending another addition to the squad.

Speaking of new additions, Matt Musico weighs which route the Mets should take to finish their offseason.

On This Date in Mets History

Before we get to some things some of us may not want to celebrate, let’s celebrate the anniversary of the Mets signing Ed Hearn, the backup catcher for the 1986 World Series champions.

Also, happy 35th birthday to Lucas Duda–one of the better Mets first basemen in franchise history and the starter for the 2015 World Series team.

But now for the less-than-ideal trip down memory lane.

On this date in 2011, former owners Fred Wilpon and Saul Katz were named in a lawsuit against Bernie Madoff, whose $64 billion Ponzo scheme affected hundreds of thousands of investors. The lawsuit set off years of legal and financial tie-ups for the Mets. A New York Times article at the time said the suit:

says the owners, Fred Wilpon and Saul Katz, their families and their businesses “made so much easy money from Madoff for so long” that despite the many warnings — from within their own inner circle, and by other investors and financial institutions — they “chose to simply look the other way.”

Ultimately, the Wilpon and Katz were ordered to pay “up to $162 million” to the victims of Madoff’s fraud, but it’s been reported victims received less than $100 million in payments.

Also on this date in 2009, the Mets signed the much-maligned Óliver Pérez to a three-year extension worth $36 million. This is after spending a volatile two and a half season with the Mets after they traded for him in the 2006 season.

Peréz would spend an injury-riddled two more years with the team after signing the contract, pitching to a 3-9 record, 6.64 FIP, and 59 ERA+. The Mets released him with one year and $12 million left on his contract before the 2011 season.

After his warranted departure, Ollie took a year off, then went on to find success as a relief pitcher. Since being released by the Mets, Peréz has pitched to a 3.20 FIP, 120 ERA+ and 10.8 K/9 over eight seasons with five teams. In that span, he’s appeared in 485 games with zero starts.

Believe it or not, the 39-year-old might actually be a decent addition to the back end of the Mets’ bullpen, which is lacking lefty depth. Wounds have healed, right?