Morning Briefing: Potential Tom Seaver Statue at Citi?

Good morning, Mets fans!

Today, Zack Wheeler (0-1, 10.13 ERA) will take the hill against Eduardo Rodriguez (1-0, 4.50 ERA) and the Red Sox. Wheeler has not performed well in his two starts this spring, so hopefully, third time’s the charm. He’ll be followed by Tyler Bashlor, Jacob Rhame, Paul Sewald, Ryan O’Rourke, and Arquimedes Caminero. Today’s game can be viewed only be on the Red Sox TV, NESN and radio, WEEI 93.7 at 1:05 p.m.

Yesterday, Noah Syndergaard struggled to keep the ball in the yard, despite striking out eight batters in four innings. Bullpen stalwarts Seth Lugo and Robert Gsellman combined to allow the other six runs (two earned) in their 2.2 innings. On the bright side, Jeff McNeil, Robinson Cano and Andres Gimenez, (MMO’s No.1 prospect) all went deep.

Latest Mets News

Kevin Kernan of The New York Post mentions the Mets’ plans to install a Tom Seaver statue in Citi Field in the coming year.

MetsMerizedOnline’s own Michael Mayer broke the news that Mets minor-league pitcher Trey Cobb will miss the entire 2019 campaign recovering from Tommy John Surgery.

The Mets plan to play Jeff McNeil at third base today for the first time this year. McNeil has only appeared at left field this spring.

David Lennon of Newsday saw Devin Mesoraco taking ground balls at first base yesterday.

Anthony Rieber of Newsday writes that there is mutual interest between the Mets and Michael Conforto regarding an extension.

According to Tim Healey of Newsday, Conforto was elected as the Mets MLBPA representative.

The Mets honored Joan Payson, their co-founder, for International Woman’s Day yesterday.

Rafa Nieves, the Vice-President of the Wasserman agency, tweeted out a video of MMO’s No.3 ranked prospect Ronny Mauricio.

Latest MLB News

Major League Baseball and the independent Atlantic League agreed to implement rule changes that will test out MLB’s proposed pace-of-play initiatives. Some of the changes are the length of the mound to the plate, a three-batter-minimum for every reliever, computerized strike zone, and no shifts.

The Rays renewed 2018 Cy Young award winner Blake Snell for a mere $573,000 dollars.

Dodgers’ skipper Dave Roberts told reporters that Joe Kelly injured his back while standing too long cooking Cajun food. With this injury, I’m shocked he’s not a Mets player.

The Tigers announced that they have acquired backstop Cameron Rupp from the Giants.

The Orioles acquired outfielder Dwight Smith Jr.from the Blue Jays in exchange for international pool money.

Buster Olney of ESPN learned that the Astros made a two-year, $12 million contract to Martin Maldonado earlier in the winter, but he declined.