DBacks0622 164853 — 6/22/2010 — New York Yankees Alex Rodriguez (right) gets a pat on the shoulder from Derek Jeter (cq) after hitting a 2-run home run off Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Dan Haren (cq) during the 1st inning at Chase Field in Phoenix, AZ. (Photo by Rob Schumacher, The Arizona Republic)
Good Morning, Mets fans! Happy Friday! Thanks for starting off your weekend here with us at Metsmerized. Here’s what you need to know:
Latest Mets News
On Thursday, the Mets announced their 15 non-roster Spring Training invites.
Jeff McNeil told Laura Albanese of Newsday that he is “feeling good,” and that he is back to his normal off-season routine after surgery in early October to repair a broken ulna.
Latest MLB News
Here’s a bizarre one for you: According to Brendon Kuty of NJ.com, a former Yankees prospect- who had never made it past High-A ball and boasted a career batting average of .244- has decided to sue the Yanks for a whopping $34M. Garrison Lassiter, the aforementioned prospect, claims in his suit that former Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter was to blame for his disappointing career- and that the organization simultaneously “protected” Jeter’s career whilst sabotaging Lassiter’s.
Speaking of the Yankees, the team is said to be close to signing veteran catcher Chris Iannetta to a minor league deal, reports Sweeny Murti of WFAN Sports Radio. Iannetta, who has played the majority of his career with teams such as Colorado and Anaheim, turns 37 this year.
Keith Law’s latest for The Athletic details exactly how players are evaluated in person, as he believes that there are still a number of qualities and skills that can only be gathered with one’s own eyes.
And one to make you smile: According to Corey Brock of The Athletic, Seattle Mariners prospect Austin Shenton donated $5,500 to the Max Higbee Center in Bellingham, Washington- a recreational facility that offers weekly and year-round programs for adults and teens with developmental disabilities- as a way of recognizing all the center has done, namely for his own brother, Ian.
Jeff Passan of ESPN reports that pitching prospect Matt Liberatore has been traded from the Tampa Bay Rays to the St. Louis Cardinals. Tampa Bay is expected to receive major league-level chips in return.
Latest NL East News
The Washington Nationals need to add another high-impact bat if they don’t want to see Juan Soto walk every time he comes to the plate, says Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.
Latest on MMO
Joe D has one question for you: do you really know the Mets’ 2000 World Series roster?
Michelle Ioannou asks her fellow Metsmerized writers to share what baseball (and the Mets) means to them.
On the latest episode of the Simply Amazin’ podcast, our very own Tim Ryder is accompanied by FanGraphs’ senior writer and author of The Cooperstown Casebook, Jay Jaffe. Together, they discuss some of this year’s Hall of Fame candidates, as well as some of their thoughts on our Metsies.
Michael Wacha‘s 2019 performance can certainly provide some insight into how 2020 might bode for the righthander, says Matt Musico.
John Sheridan notes that, despite Brodie Van Wagenen’s previously stated desire to upgrade, the Mets have yet to address the backup catching position.
This Day in Mets History
2006: Mets’ first-round draft pick, six-foot-seven pitcher Mike Pelfrey, signs a four-year, $5.25M deal. Marked with high expectations, “Big Pelf” often proved inconsistent throughout his tenure with the Mets, until eventually parting ways with New York in favor of Minnesota at the conclusion of the 2012 season.
Birthdays: Kevin Baez turns 53, Jim Lindeman turns 58, Mario Diaz turns 58, and Kelvin Torve turns 60
