Good morning, Mets fans!

On Thursday, the MLBPA and MLB met for the first time since December to discuss terms for a new collective bargaining agreement. According to multiple reports, the offer made from the owners to the players was not well received and both sides exited the meeting still far apart on terms. John Flanigan has more on this story.

Now onto the morning briefing!

Latest Mets News

Keith Hernandez, via the New York Mets Twitter account, expressed gratitude and thanks to the fans for the well wishes and kind words on the news that his number will be retired by the organization. On Tuesday, the team announced that Hernandez will have his number immortalized with other Mets greats on Saturday, July 9th, 2022 versus the Miami Marlins.

Jacob Resnick reports that the Mets are also expected to sign Dominican OF Jeffry Rosa to a big contract on International Signing Day. Rosa stands at 6 foot 1 and listed at 155 pounds and hails from the same baseball academy that produced Juan Soto and his younger brother, Elian.

Michael Mayer tweets that Baseball America reports former Mets pitcher Corey Oswalt has inked a minor league deal with the San Francisco Giants. Oswalt pitched the better part of four seasons with the Mets, netting 4 wins and 5 losses and a 5.89 ERA.

Baseball America reports that the Mets have signed reliever Alex Claudio to a minor league deal. Michael Mayer goes into more detail on this signing.

The Kansas City Royals announced they have signed pitcher Arodys Vizcaino to a minor league deal. Vizcaino pitched for the Triple-A Syracuse Mets during the 2021 season.

Mojo Hill reports that former Mets farmhand Matt Pobereyko has signed a minor league deal with the Chicago White Sox.

Latest MLB News

Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic interviews Seiya Suzuki, who discusses his rise playing in Japan, as well as looking for a new challenge in playing Major League Baseball.

Eno Sarris of The Athletic goes into detail on the possible contract values of the remaining major league free agents relative to projected cost and production on field.

Sam Dykstra of MLB Pipeline reports that the Atlantic League will go back to the traditional 6o feet 6 inch pitching rubber as well as allowing umpires to call balls and strikes for the upcoming 2022 season. Previously, the Atlantic League tested moving the rubber 61 feet, 6 inches along with “robot umps” calling balls and strikes. Both leagues began a partnership beginning in September 2020, in which part of the agreement states that MLB can test possible game and rule changes for the majors during Atlantic League games.

Former Met infielder Gavin Cecchini and Milwaukee Brewers infielder Jace Peterson visited Barbe High School in Lake Charles, Louisiana to speak with the students and share tips and insight about baseball. Both players hail from Lake Charles as well as Cecchini being a Barbe High School Alum. Cecchini was drafted 12th overall in the first round of the 2012 MLB Draft by the Mets.

Latest on MMO

Rich Sparago takes a moment to reflect on Keith Hernandez as a fan.

Matt Musico discusses the importance of what a good season can mean for Brandon Nimmo.

Doug M goes into detail on what the 2022 Mets draft could look like in June.

On This Date in Mets History

1998: The Mets and Japanese pitcher Masato Yoshii agree to a deal. Coming from the Yakult Swallows, Yoshii went 18 and 16 in 58 starts with a 4.17 ERA for Mets as well as being the starter for the first game of the 1999 NLCS against Arizona. He was the first Met to take the mound for a playoff game in eleven years and pitched to 4 ER over 5.1 innings all while taking the no-decision.

Birthdays: Aaron Altherr (31), Mike Pelfrey (38), Ross Jones (62)

Let’s go Mets!