terry collins spring

Good morning everyone. The New York Mets are back as they officially opened up camp at their Spring Training Complex at Tradition Field in Port St. Lucie, Florida. So far it appears the players are showing up all sharing one mindset, and that is to get back to the World Series. Perhaps that attitude starts at the top.

On Sunday, general manager Sandy Alderson told the New York Post’s Steve Serby, “I think we’ve got the potential to be better than we were last year and comparable to what we were in 2015. We’ve got starting pitchers coming back, we’ve got position players coming back, we’ve got some young players with room to grow. … I just think the potential is there to be very good.”

LATEST METS NEWS

Noah Syndergaard has reportedly bulked up this offseason, adding about 17 pounds of muscle. The flame throwing 24-year-old believes he will be able to throw even harder with his new physique. Read more from columnist Mike Puma in the NY Post and new Mets beat writer Abbey Mastracco over on NJ.com.

Jerry Blevins is quite happy with his new deal that will pay him $5.5 million this season. The team also has an option for 2018 at a salary of $7 million with a buyout for $1 million. The lefty reliever spoke of his free agency journey after reporting to PSL on Sunday. Read more from columnist Marc Carig in Newsday and Kristie Ackert in the NY Daily News.

Columnist Bob Klapisch in the Record reminds us of the 25th anniversary of a disastrous 1992 season. A season that saw so much promise go up in smoke in a near instant. A team that ended up being coined the worst team money can buy is always a reminder that championships are not won on paper.

NL EAST RUMBLINGS

The Atlanta Braves continue to make noise this offseason, as they acquired second baseman Brandon Phillips from Cincinnati. The Reds will receive left-handed pitcher Andrew McKirahan and right-hander Carlos Portuondo in return.

The Chicago White Sox were closing in on a deal that would have sent closer David Robertson to the Washington Nationals last week, according to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale. However a Nationals official said “the two sides have hit a stalemate and no trade is imminent.”  The White Sox continue to feel “optimistic” that a trade will be finalized. The big holdup is reportedly the $25 million still owed to Robertson over the next two seasons.

Jeffrey Loria, owner of the Miami Marlins is reported to have a deal to sell the team to Joshua Kushner, brother of Jared Kushner, who is married to Ivanka Trump. A day earlier, Forbes reported that Loria had a “handshake agreement” to sell the team for $1.6 billion to an unnamed New York City real estate developer.

RECENTLY ON MMO

Tommy Rothman spoke exclusively with baseball analyst for ESPN, Keith Law, regarding the Mets minor league system, a review of the team’s up and coming prospects, and an outlook on the season ahead.

Mets first base prospect, Peter Alonso, talked with Mathew Brownstein in an exclusive interview with MMO as they discussed being drafted and an eye opening first season in Brooklyn.

Although the names are mainly the same, Joe D, advises us as to why these are not the same old Mets. He predicts that this roster is going to surprise a lot of people on their way to a 90+ win season.

Over at MetsMinors.net, relief prospect Paul Sewald is featured as they continue to roll out their Top 100 Mets Prospects. In his minor league career Sewald has a 2.20 ERA, a 1.03 WHIP and he struck out 10.7 per nine over five seasons.

TODAY IN METS HISTORY

Back in 2003, the New York Mets would sign a pitcher by the name of David Cone to a minor league contract. The former Mets star pitcher was 40 years old and coming out of retirement with hopes of earning the fifth spot in the rotation. He would go on to pitch to a 1-3 record that season while compiling an ERA of 6.50, before calling it a career for good.

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