Morning Briefing: MLB, Union Revisiting Expanded Playoff Talks

Good Morning, Mets fans!

It’s been a long and winding journey but we have officially reached opening day as the Yankees will take on the Nationals in Washington D.C. to kickoff the 2020 regular season.

This also means we are only one sleep away from seeing Mets baseball!

Let’s take a look at some of the news and notes from around the league on Wednesday.

Latest Mets News

Marcus Stroman (muscle tear in calf) and Robert Gsellman (triceps tightness) have both been placed on the injured list, per Tim Healey of Newsday.

Luis Rojas says Stroman is week-to-week.

Jacob deGrom, Steven Matz, andRick Porcello will start the Mets opening series, per Rojas.

The Mets have brought back Juan Lagares on a minor league deal, who was in camp on Wednesday as Jake Marisnick continues to nurse a tight hamstring, tweet from DiComo.

According to DiComo, the Mets also signed infielder Brian Dozier to a minor league deal.

The team has released Melky Cabrera and Gordon Beckham, per club announcement.

Hitting coach Chili Davis is still mulling whether he is going to join the team or not this season due to underlying health risks he is facing, per team reporters.

Jed Lowrie saw doctor David Alchek and will now seek a second opinion on his knee per Mike Puma of The New York Post.

Edwin Diaz told DiComo that he believes he has earned the closer role after his performance in spring training 2.0.

The New York Post’s Mike Puma speculates that Stroman could be replaced by David Peterson or Corey Oswalt.

Yoenis Cespedes talks World Series run in 2020, story by Justin Toscano of The Record.

David Wright joined The New York Post’s “Amazin but True,” Mets podcast episode, which drops today. Follow the link if you want to listen to what the captain had to say.

Latest MLB News

According to MLB Insider Jon Heyman, the MLB and union have restarted talks about expanded playoff teams this season. Agreement would have to be made prior to first pitch of regular season.

If the league agrees to the 16-team playoff format, Buster Olney of ESPN believes the first round could become a best-of-three series.

30-man opening day rosters are due by 11 AM central time today, tweet by MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy.

It came out yesterday that Mookie Betts and the Dodgers were in deep talks regarding an extension, first reported by Lou Merloni of WEEI.

ESPN’s Jeff Passan later reported that the deal is official and Betts will sign for 12 years $365 million added on to his one-year $27 million in 2020.

As Jim Bowden pointed out, Betts is expected to become the 6th player in baseball history to receive $300 million guaranteed.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health announced they will not allow the Toronto Blue Jays to play their home games at PNC park this year. (Tweet from ESPN’s Marly Rivera).

Baseball is offering social justice patches to players for their jerseys on opening day, per ESPN.

Umpire Angel Hernandez claims an MLB League Executive made disturbing racial comments to him and also slams Joe Torre in his discrimination case, writes Daniel Kaplan of The Athletic.

According to Roch Kubatko of The MASN Network, non-roster camp invite Tommy Milone will start on opening day for the Orioles.