The first base battle between Ike Davis and Lucas Duda has yet to get underway in Grapefruit League games, but both players seem to be nearing a return to the lineup.
Yesterday, they both got at-bats in minor-league camp, with Duda (hamstring) going 3-for-4 with a homer, double and a walk, and Davis (calf)was 1-for-4 with two walks. But neither has been cleared to run or play defense.
When asked yow do they pick a first baseman for the season opener if neither gets enough at-bats in spring training, Terry Collins responded, “I don’t know. But we’re running out of days, I can tell you that.”
If neither is ready, Josh Satin could be the Opening Day first baseman or the Mets could move Daniel Murphy to first base.
A source told Adam Rubin of ESPN New York that Sandy Alderson has started to approach teams with whom he had talks during the winter to see if there is any existing trade interest in Ike Davis.
The Pittsburgh Pirates and Baltimore Orioles are among the teams that showed offseason interest in Davis.
If it was difficult to trade Ike Davis when he had at least an ounce of value, why would any team want him now? Unless the cost is a dozen doughnuts?
I could see the Mets cutting him and saving the $3.5 million at this point… Actually, it will cost them $600K so they save $2.9 million if you want to get technical…
I bet the odds of that happening are really good.
