Good morning, Mets fans! Tom Seaver would have been 81 years old today.
A Manhattan judge on Friday granted a temporary restraining order to the United States Tennis Association, which accuses the city in a lawsuit of violating the terms of a lease agreement so it can help Steve Cohen with a plan to build a casino on parking lots next to Citi Field.
The USTA owns and runs the tennis complex that annually hosts the U.S. Open. It says that its lease with the city gives it priority for parking during the U.S. Open on the Citi Field lots, which are owned by the city and leased to the Mets. Metropolitan Park was not named in the suit.
An agreement between the city and Metropolitan Park was expected to be signed Monday, but the judge ordered the city not to agree to any deal until the city makes sure it is complying with the USTA’s rights.
Cohen and Hard Rock International’s proposed $8 billion development plan includes a casino, hotel, live music venue, parking garages, food hall and green space improvements. Construction could begin in January if the state grants it a gambling license in a hearing set for next month.
Latest Mets News
The Arizona Fall League season concluded on Friday so let’s take a look at how the Mets prospects fared.
C-OF-1B Chris Suero hit .283/.353/.567 with five homers, 14 RBIs and eight steals in eight tries in 15 games. He tied for second in home runs in AFL play and was 10th in slugging percentage (.567). Suero, 21, is the No. 15 Mets prospect on MLB Pipeline.
Outfielder Nick Morabito (No. 16 Mets prospect on MLB Pipeline) hit .362/.450/.464 with one home run, eight RBIs and 16 steals in 19 attempts in 17 games. The 22-year-old was third in the AFL in steals and ninth in batting average. Morabito and Suero both finished the season at Double-A Binghamton.
The Mets had five pitchers in the AFL who all pitched less than 10 innings. RHP Bryce Jenkins, 24, led the way in innings pitched with 8 1/3 and gave up seven earned runs.
Latest MLB News
The first major free agent signing reportedly went down Sunday night. Per Jeff Passan of ESPN, the Seattle Mariners are finalizing a five-year contract with Josh Naylor. He was a deadline pickup by Seattle this year before becoming a free agent. James Villani has more on this news.
Michael Rothstein of ESPN has a detailed overview of the trial resulting from the wrongful death lawsuit the family of Tyler Skaggs filed against the Los Angeles Angels. The trial is entering its sixth week.
Members of a congressional committee that oversees sports sent a letter to MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred seeking more information about the betting scandal involving Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz.
Enrique Hernández had elbow surgery for an injury he played with through the Dodgers’ title run. He will not play in the World Baseball Classic for Puerto Rico.
Latest on MMO
Dom Barone reviews the encouraging first pro season of outfielder Carson Benge, who the Mets selected in the first round of the 2024 draft.
The Mets’ top four minor-league affiliates went a combined 316-231 for the second-best mark in MLB. James Villani has more details, including a table showing the win-loss records of the affiliates for all 30 teams.
James Villani profiles free agent Ryan O’Hearn, who he thinks is worth checking in on, especially if Pete Alonso doesn’t re-sign.
On This Date in Mets History
2016: The Braves signed free agent Bartolo Colon, ending his three-year run with the Mets. He went 44-34 with a 3.90 ERA, tossed 190-plus innings each season, made the 2016 All-Star team and hit his only career home run. (He’s also been known to quote tweet MMO.)
Born on This Date: Seth Lugo (1989), Val Pascucci (1978), Jim Mann (1974), Eli Marrero (1973), Tom Seaver (1944).
