Not really a surprise, but Sandy Alderson acknowledged that both Lucas Duda and Ike Davis are both going to be on the Opening Day roster.
He declined to comment on who would be the first baseman, but most likely they will both share time at first base and also designated hitter. The competition will continue into the season and Josh Satin will still get most of the playing time against lefthanded pitchers.
The Mets had until Wednesday at 2 p.m. to unconditionally release Davis or Duda and owe just one-quarter of their 2014 salary, but never considered the possibility.
Joel Sherman of the NY Post spoke to Asst. GM John Ricco who told him that the Mets didn’t cut either of them for the same reason they did not simply trade one for the most appetizing of what they viewed as unappetizing trade proposals — they have seen enough power from Davis and Duda that they do not want to surrender them, see them flourish elsewhere and have nothing to show for it.
“We have our eyes wide open. We liked both guys and think if either went to the right AL team in the right park in particular they would do very well.”
“But it is not fear holding us back, really. Sandy [Alderson, GM] has been around the block. This is not about us being haunted, it is about doing the right thing.”
So, for now, the Mets believe doing the right thing is occupying two of 25 roster spots with similar players who both can’t play at the same time.
“If it gets to the point it is counterproductive, maybe we will make a decision on it,” Ricco explained. “It will evolve.”
Evolve it will, and hopefully in a good way at this point.
Do any of you have any regrets about how this situation was handled going back to the very beginning when both were called non core players by the GM as the season was winding down, and each of them were shopped aggressively and unfortunately publicly as well.
How do you think this ultimately plays out?
