Morning Briefing: Four Players Get Call to the Hall

Good morning Mets fans! Four players earned their calls to the Baseball Hall of Fame yesterday. Mariano Rivera, Roy Halladay, Edgar Martinez, and Mike Mussina were selected to baseball’s most prestigious honor.

Latest Mets News

Kevin Kernan of the New York Post writes about Dwight Gooden’s relationship with Mel Stottlemyre, his former pitching coach. Stottlemyre, who formed a strong relationship with the former Mets ace, died February 13.

BetOnline.ag, which have Major League Baseball lines on win totals for 2019, have the Mets listed at 84 ½.

Zach Buchanan of the Athletic writes that the Arizona Diamondbacks plan to give former Met Wilmer Flores their everyday second baseman job. Flores, who owns a career .262/.303/.424 slash line, signed a 1-year contract with a club option with the Diamondbacks after being non-tendered by the Mets.

The Columbia Fireflies, the Mets South Atlantic League affiliate, have announced their coaching staff for 2019. Pedro Lopez returns as manager for his second season with the club.

Latest MLB News

The Oakland Athletics claimed right-handed pitcher Parker Bridwell off waivers from the Angels. Bridwell pitched to a 3.64 ERA in 20 starts and one relief appearance with the Angels in 2017, but he struggled with injury and ineffectiveness in 2018.

Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports that Adam Beard has joined the Chicago Cubs to serve as their Director of High Performance. Beard is leaving the Cleveland Browns organization where he held the same role.

James B. Nelson, Rick Barrett and Paul Gores of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel write Miller Park, the current home of the Milwaukee Brewers, will have a new name in 2021 when American Family Insurance becomes the naming rights partner for the stadium.

Baseball Reference posts the changes from the 2018 Hall of Fame Ballot to the 2019 edition, noting that former MVP Larry Walker was added to 20.5 percent of ballots, reaching 54.6 percent of the total vote. Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens improved 2.7 and 2.2 percent, respectively.

Latest NL East News

Brandy Halladay, the wife of former pitcher Roy Halladay, released a statement through the Phillies after her late husband was selected to enter the Baseball Hall of Fame. “[Roy’s] goal was to be successful every single day of his 16-year career,” Halladay wrote. “Tonight’s announcement is the end result of that effort.”

Latest on MMO and MMN

Michael Mayer writes that Mets second baseman Robinson Cano is playing for the Estrellas de Oriente in the Dominican Winter League finals.

John Sheridan profiles Carlos Cortes, who the site has ranked as the No. 25 prospect in the Mets system. The second baseman out of The University of South Carolina was the Mets third-round pick last season.

Rich Coutinho posts his latest episode of the Talking Mets podcast. He invites right fielder Brandon Nimmo on the show.

Sheridan writes a profile about Dodgers outfielder Joc Pederson, a potential trade target for the Mets.

Yehuda Schwartz interviews Mets farmhand Joe Zanghi. The right-handed reliever signed with the Mets in March 2016, and last season he pitched to a 3.39 ERA over 61 innings across three levels in the Mets system.