Frankie Montas struggled yet again on Wednesday, making his place in the Mets’ rotation a point of contention. The newly acquired Montas had a line of 5.0 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 1 BB, 2 K (80 pitches, 47 strikes) in his sixth rehab start since returning from a high grade lat strain. This outing actually lowered his ERA in rehab starts this season to 13.19 as he has given up eight home runs in 18 2/3 innings. Montas must be called up to the big league squad, assuming he’s healthy, but it could be hard to justify any major role given his struggles.

Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Latest Mets News

Atlanta continues to be a house of horrors for the Mets as they were shut out by Chris Sale for 8 2/3 innings while the Braves clinched the series win. The Mets turned mental lapses, defensive errors and a poor start from Paul Blackburn into a 3-0 deficit early on and could never climb back, resulting in their fifth straight loss. Click here for the full game recap.

The Mets will look to salvage the last game of this set as Clay Holmes (7-3, 2.87 ERA) will face Spencer Strider (1-5, 4.35 ERA) at 7:15 p.m. on Thursday night. 

Kiley McDaniel of ESPN released his MLB Mock Draft 2.0 and has the Mets taking LF Devin Taylor from Indiana with their first pick.

Carlos Mendoza told reporters that Brett Baty wasn’t available last night and is not sure if he will need an IL stint.

Latest MLB News

Dodgers owner Mark Walter is buying majority ownership of the Lakers from the Buss family, per Shams Charania of ESPN.

The Tampa Bay Rays are in advanced talks to sell the club to a group led by Jacksonville home builder Patrick Zalupski, per Kurt Badenhausen of Sportico. Parties have signed a letter of intent and the price is roughly $1.7B. Click here for more on the potential purchase.

Former Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina was named Team Puerto Rico’s manager for the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

Franmil Reyes, who is now playing in Japan, is being sued for failing to follow through on his earning stake, per Michael McCann of Sportico. When Reyes was a 21-year-old minor league outfielder, he agreed to a player investment contract where he’d give up 10% of annual earnings in exchange for $302K.

Latest On MMO

Francisco Alvarez continues to struggle.

The Rays are in advanced talks about selling the team.

Tyrone Taylor continues to shine!

On This Date in Mets History

2014: Zack Wheeler throws a three-hit complete game shutout, the first shutout of his career.

2004: Mike Cameron tallies his second walk-off hit in as many days.

1989: Dwight Gooden records his 100th career victory, joining Tom Seaver and Jerry Koosman in the exclusive Mets club.

Born on This Date: Logan Verrett (1990), Devin Mesoraco (1988), Jacob deGrom (1988), Collin McHugh (1987), Claudio Vargas (1978), Doug Mientkiewicz (1974), Bob Gibson (1957), Bob Aspromonte (1938), Larry Miller (1937).

The post Morning Briefing: Frankie Montas’ Rehab Struggles Continue appeared first on Metsmerized.

What a win! The Mets looked lifeless for the first eight innings of the rubber game against the Blue Jays on Wednesday afternoon, going into the ninth with no hits. However, Bowden Francis, who was looking to complete his no-hit bid, was rudely greeted by the potential NL MVP Francisco Lindor. Lindor ripped a fastball into the right field bleachers to tie the game at one apiece. Francisco Alvarez would give the Mets some much needed insurance with a three-run bomb, leading the Mets to a 6-2 win. Click here for the full game recap.

Lindor, who has come up aces seemingly every time the Mets have needed him, continues to do so in a pivotal playoff push. The Mets star shortstop came into this game with only two hits in his last five games, but after his 0-for-3 start, he was ready to turn the game around. Lindor’s ability to contribute with his glove on an everyday basis, plus his continued clutch play at the dish, have put him in a serious race for the National League MVP.

After an exciting win in Canada, the Mets will have an off day in Philadelphia as they prepare to face the Phillies for a three-game weekend set. Jose Quintana (8-9, 4.09 ERA) is lined up to face Aaron Nola (12-7, 3.41 ERA) in the opening game of the series in Philly on Friday.

Photo by Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Wild Card Update 

With their win over Toronto and the Braves losing in Washington on Wednesday night, the Mets are now a full game up on Atlanta for the third and final Wild Card spot.

The Diamondbacks thrashed the Rangers by a score of 14-4, keeping their lead over the Mets at two games. The Padres lost to the Mariners, 5-2, so Arizona leapfrogged a half-game ahead of them for the first Wild Card spot.

Latest Mets News

With some key matchups coming up, the Mets are manipulating their pitching staff in order to have Luis Severino, David Peterson and Sean Manaea lined up to face the Braves in the penultimate series of the season, per Tim Britton of The Athletic.

The Mets wore first responder hats on Wednesday to honor all of the lives lost and effected by 9/11. 

Honoring and remembering the heroes 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/4sjw0QXDmi

— New York Mets (@Mets) September 11, 2024

With his game-tying home run on Wednesday, Lindor became the fourth player this season to break a no-hit bid with a home run in the ninth inning or later, per Sarah Langs of MLB.com. This is the first time this has ever happened four times or more in a season on record.

Latest MLB News

Dave Roberts told reporters that former Mets and current Dodgers LHP Anthony Banda fractured his pitching hand by punching a “solid object” after another frustrating outing, per David Vassegh of SportsNetLA. Banda has struggled as of late, allowing seven runs and 10 hits in his last four outings, and is now on the IL with slim hope that he will be able to return this season. 

The Atlanta Braves placed starting pitcher Reynaldo López on the 15-day IL with right shoulder inflammation, per Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. This move effectively ends Lopez’s breakout regular season, where he had posted a 2.03 ERA in 128 2/3 IP.

Tampa Bay Rays RHP Edwin Uceta was given a three-game suspension and fined for intentionally throwing at Nick Castellanos of the Phillies on Tuesday night, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today. Rays manager Kevin Cash was suspended for Wednesday night’s game as well.

Current Red Sox and former Mariners, Yankees, and Dodgers southpaw starting pitcher James Paxton plans to retire at the end of the 2024 season, per Rob Bradford of Baseball Isn’t Boring. Paxton, who has spent 11 years in the big leagues, was placed on the 60-day IL last month and would likely only return if the Red Sox made the postseason. 

Pirates general manager Ben Cherington told reporters that current manager Derek Shelton is “the right person to manage this team in 2025,” confirming Shelton’s return to the club next season, per Kevin Gorman of Tribune-Review Sports. The Pirates were in the Wild Card race prior to August, where they went 8-19, subsequently falling out of the postseason race.

White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf, who rarely speaks publicly, told the media that “solutions won’t happen overnight” in the midst of Chicago’s historically bad season, per Jesse Rogers of ABC 7.

Latest on MMO

Brandon Nimmo gives his thoughts on being moved down in the lineup.

The Mets’ offense could use a September wake-up call!

A Canadian comeback brought the Mets back into the final Wild Card spot.

On This Date in Mets History

2021: Francisco Lindor hits three home runs and drives in five runs in a Mets win over the Yankees. With this performance, Lindor became the first player to hit three home runs in a Subway Series bout.

2019: The Mets set a franchise record by hitting six home runs in a home game. Juan Lagares homered twice while Todd Frazier, Tomás Nido, Robinson Canó and Michael Conforto all hit long balls in a 11-1 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

2009: The Mets complete a roaring comeback against the Phillies by scoring six runs in the last three innings at Citizens Bank Park. David Wright led the charge with two home runs, the second giving the Mets the lead with two outs in the ninth inning.

1984: Dwight Gooden breaks Herb Score‘s rookie strikeout record by throwing his 246th strikeout of the season. Gooden finished his rookie season with 276 strikeouts.

Born On This Date: Luis Castillo (1975), Tito Navarro (1970), Keith Hughes (1963), Mario Ramirez (1957), Mickey Lolich (1940).

The post Morning Briefing: Francisco Lindor’s MVP Bid Continues appeared first on Metsmerized.

With a struggling bullpen and an influx of moves on the horizon, the Mets DFA’d both RHP Adrian Houser and RHP Shintaro Fujinami on July 26. While Fujinami cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday, Houser was released by the club on Wednesday, per Will Sammon of The Athletic. The Mets also released RHP Ty Adcock. 

Houser, who was acquired along with Tyrone Taylor from the Brewers in the offseason, had his ups and downs throughout his short Mets tenure. The veteran started in the Mets’ rotation, where he struggled severely, having his ERA balloon up to 8.37 at its highest. The Mets then moved him to the bullpen, where he thrived for a short period, but he came back down to Earth recently, and his subpar performance made him expendable. Houser posted a 5.84 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 1-5 record in his 69 1/3 innings and 23 games with the Mets.

At Citi Field on Wednesday, the Mets finished their homestand and series against the Minnesota Twins in disappointing fashion. While a Mark Vientos home run gave the Mets an early 2-1 lead in the second inning, it would all go downhill from there. Luis Severino had one of his worst outings in Queens, only lasting three innings while giving up six runs on six hits, leading to an 8-3 Mets loss. However, the Mets leave Citi Field with the series win and a 4-3 record during their homestand. Click here for a full game recap. 

The Mets are now going on a West Coast trip. Their first stop will be in Anaheim, where they will take on the Los Angeles Angels for three games. They will have Thursday off and be back in action on Friday night when Paul Blackburn will make his Mets debut on the mound. 

Photo by David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Latest Mets News

Baseball America ranked all 89 prospects dealt at the trade deadline. Here is where the pieces the Mets parted with landed: RHP Tyler Stuart (35), RHP Kade Morris (41), RHP Paul Gervase (75), OF Rhylan Thomas (82) and INF Wilfredo Lara (86).

The Mets optioned newly acquired right-handed relief pitcher Tyler Zuber to Triple-A Syracuse prior to Wednesday’s game. They also optioned LHP Matt Gage to Syracuse and activated former Marlin RHP Huascar Brazobán.

Two new promotions were added to the Mets’ schedule for their mid-August homestand. On Saturday, August 17, against the Marlins, the first 15,000 fans will receive an “OMG” T-shirt, and fans can get an “OMG” foam finger through a special ticket offer for the game on Tuesday, August 20th, against the Orioles.

The Mets’ newest starter, Paul Blackburn, will make his first start for the Amazin’s on Friday against the Angels. Tylor Megill, slated to start that game, has been put in the bullpen. He went two innings while giving up one run on three hits during his first appearance out of the ‘pen on Wednesday against the Twins. Click here to learn about Blackburn.

Reed Garrett looked “really good” in his live session on Wednesday, per Joe Pantorno of amNewYork. Garrett, who hit 97 mph in his live session, will be making a rehab appearance on Saturday for the Syracuse Mets. 

Sean Reid-Foley was on point during his rehab appearance for Double-A Binghamton, getting all three batters he faced to strike out swinging. 

Brandon Nimmo left Wednesday’s loss to the Minnesota Twins after fouling a ball off his foot in the sixth inning. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters after the game that X-rays were negative and Nimmo should be good to go for Friday. Click here for more on Nimmo’s injury.

The Mets signed 18 of their 20 draft picks in the 2024 MLB Draft. The only players the Mets did not sign were ninth-rounder RHP Jaxon Jelkin and 20th-rounder SS Adam Haight.

Latest MLB News

The Houston Astros DFA’d former Mets pitcher Rafael Montero, per Chandler Rome of The Athletic. The flame-throwing right-hander was in year two of his three-year, $34.5 million deal.

St. Louis Cardinals veteran RHP Lance Lynn was placed on the 15-day IL with right knee inflammation. Lynn has a 4.06 ERA and 1.36 WHIP in 106 1/3 innings of work this season.

Jackson Holliday‘s first career home run was a grand slam, which he rocketed deep into right field, onto Eutaw Street.

JACKSON HOLLIDAY!

His first big league homer is a grand slam! pic.twitter.com/UhYSrT2MiQ

— MLB (@MLB) July 31, 2024

Baltimore Orioles third baseman Jordan Westburg fractured his hand after getting hit by a pitch in the fifth inning of Wednesday’s game, per Steve Melewski of MASN Sports. The club hopes he can return by the end of the season.

Former Mets catcher James McCann played in Wednesday’s Orioles game with multiple nasal fractures after taking a 95 mph fastball to the face on Monday. McCann sported a new mask to do so.

Latest on MMO

See what MMO writers graded the Mets’ trade deadline.

The Mets activated their newest reliever, Huascar Brazobán.

More on the news of Nimmo fighting off an injury scare.

The Mets signed 18 of their 20 draft picks.

On This Date in Mets History

2015: Lucas Duda drives in all three Mets runs as his two home runs and eighth-inning go-ahead RBI double power the Mets past the Nationals. This win puts the Mets one game back of the Washington Nationals for first place in the NL East. 

2010: 1986 World Series champions Darryl Strawberry, Dwight “Doc” Gooden, Davey Johnson, and Frank Cashen are inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame.

1999: Pitcher Pat Mahomes gives the Mets a 13th-inning lead with a two-out base hit and gets the save in the bottom of the frame to beat the Cubs in Wrigley. 

1989: Kevin McReynolds finishes off the fifth cycle in Mets history with his ninth-inning triple.

Birthdays: Brian Bohanon (56), Gregg Jefferies (57)

The post Morning Briefing: Mets Release Adrian Houser appeared first on Metsmerized.

The Mets suffered a crushing loss on Wednesday night as a bang-bang play at the plate in the bottom of the ninth was the final blow for the Amazins. Pete Alonso‘s hand bounced up before the plate, allowing the tag to be placed before he scored and subsequently ending the game. However, an even bigger story is how the Mets’ offense has continued to struggle over the past week. 

During the Mets’ winning stretch in the middle of April, it seemed as though everything was clicking; Brett Baty was hitting his stride, Francisco Alvarez was getting timely hits, and the Mets’ offense minus J.D. Martinez was grooving. Now, losing four of their last six games, the Mets’ offense has hit a blockade. Being blanked last night, and not having many opportunities until the ninth inning, the Mets need a breakout game desperately.

This homestand hasn’t been kind to the Mets, and this series with the Cubs especially has been frustrating from a hitting standpoint, only mustering up five runs in three games. However, the Mets’ offense will look to get back on track as they face Cubs’ Ben Brown with Adrian Houser on the bump for New York for a 1:10 p.m. start at Citi Field.

Starling Marte. Photo by Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Latest Mets News

Francisco Lindor left last night’s game in the third inning due to flu-like symptoms. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said there is a virus going around the clubhouse and caught up to Lindor.

The Mets want the fans input on what the club’s new service dog should be named! The options are Doc (for Doc Gooden), Buddy (for Bud Harrelson), and Mookie (for Mookie Wilson).

Ji-Man Choi declined his opt-out with the Mets and will stay with the organization, per Will Sammon of The Athletic.

The Mets traded Zack Short, who was recently DFA’d, to the Boston Red Sox for cash considerations.

Pete Alonso wins Mets hitter of the month. Click here for the other April awards.

Latest MLB News

The MLBPA announced the launch of a new mental health and wellness program for major and minor league players and their families.

After a masterful bee-keeping performance at Chase Field, Matt Hilton signed a deal with Topps. Both base cards and signed editions will be available for the public to purchase.

After being released from his minor league deal with the Tampa Bay Rays, Dominic Smith signed a deal with the Boston Red Sox and was added to the major league roster prior to Wednesday night’s game.

The MLB issued suspensions for the Brewers-Rays brawl this past weekend. For the Brewers, Abner Uribe, Freddy Peralta, and Pat Murphy are suspended for six, five and two games respectively. For the Rays, José Siri is suspended for three games. 

Orioles RHP Grayson Rodriguez was placed on the 15-day IL, retroactive to April 30th, with right shoulder inflammation. 

Latest on MMO

DJ Stewart continues to rake when it matters most.

Read up on Mets pitching prospect Blade Tidwell.

Check out who MMO handed out the Mets’ monthly superlatives to!

On This Date in Mets History

2022: The Mets DFA Robinson Canó after playing in 168 games spanning three seasons; he also missed 162 games in 2021 due to a PED suspension. 

2021: After trailing 4-2 to the Phillies in the eighth inning, the Mets put together a six-run inning to take the lead. The Mets would hold on to win after a Rhys Hoskins home run was called back due to replay.

1995: Edgardo Alfonzo records the first hit of his major league career.

Birthdays: Jonathan Villar (33), Erasmo Ramírez (34), Joe Crawford (54)

The post Morning Briefing: Mets’ Offensive Woes Continue appeared first on Metsmerized.

Jose Buttó showcased his prowess on the mound, pitching six strong innings with 91 pitches and nine strikeouts, largely relying on his effective changeup. Supported by Adam Ottavino, Brooks Raley, and Edwin Díaz, the Mets’ bullpen limited the Royals to just three hits and kept them scoreless with runners in scoring position. Although Vinnie Pasquantino homered for Kansas City in the ninth inning, it wasn’t enough to alter the outcome. Diaz’s save would be his first home save of the season, and his first save at Citi Field since 2022.

Jose Buttó. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

On the offensive side, Cole Ragans and the Royals bullpen contained the Mets for most of the game. In the fourth inning, Starling Marte tried to score on a fly ball, but left fielder MJ Melendez threw him out at the plate. Catcher Salvador Perez was injured in a collision with Marte and was forced to leave the game.

Despite a promising opportunity in the seventh inning, the Mets couldn’t capitalize. Singles by pinch hitter Brett Baty and lead-off hitter Brandon Nimmo in the seventh inning as well as a walk to Marte loaded the bases for Francisco Lindor, who had not driven in a runner in scoring position yet this season. That trend continued as he fouled out to Royals first baseman Pasquantino near the Mets dugout, keeping the game tied at zero.

However, they broke through in the eighth inning against Royals reliever Chris Stratton. Pete Alonso‘s lead-off walk led to him being moved over with a bunt by Tyrone Taylor. This bunt set the stage for Jeff McNeil and Brett Baty to load the bases with two outs.

Harrison Bader then delivered a crucial infield hit, driving in the Mets’ first run with a well-placed swinging bunt to third base, followed by Brandon Nimmo drawing a bases-loaded walk for the second run. Before this, the Mets had struggled with runners in scoring position until that pivotal moment in the eighth inning.

Statistic of the Game: 14 Strikeouts

The Mets pitching staff of Jose Buttó, Adam Ottavino, Brooks Raley, and Edwin Díaz combined for a total of 14 strikeouts against the Royals on Dwight Gooden day, echoing performances Doc had on the mound during his time as a Met.

Player of the Game: Jose Buttó

In his second start of the season, Jose Buttó shined on the mound as he pitched six strong innings, striking out nine through 91 pitches. A fitting performance on the day the Mets honored Dwight Gooden.

On Deck

Adrian Houser (0-1, 5.40 ERA) will look to rebound at home tomorrow night, as the Mets welcome the Pittsburgh Pirates and Martin Perez (1-0, 1.89 ERA) to Citi Field for a three-game series. First pitch is at 7:10 pm and the game will be broadcast on SNY and WCBS-AM 880.

The post On Doc’s Day, Mets Pitching Dominates In 2-1 Series Finale Win appeared first on Metsmerized.

There is a direct correlation between the Tom Seaver trade in June 1977 and the moment when Shea Stadium, by every measure, went dark. Keith Hernandez and Darryl Strawberry supplied attitude and power when they arrived in 1983. But it was “Dr. K”—at age 19—who brought the electricity back.

Dwight Gooden.

On Sunday, Gooden will be center stage again as he deservedly gets his No. 16 retired at Citi Field.

The incredible start of his career gave reason to believe he was on the fast track to the Hall of Fame. His story has been told as a cautionary tale—one in which outside influences and internal demons stunted his astonishing talents and prevented him from achieving even greater accomplishments. But with passage of time, a better understanding of mental health and human frailties, plus his admittance to past personal faults, Gooden’s legacy is as a Mets legend.

He would go on to win 157 times and record 1,875 strikeouts over his 11 seasons. Those statistics, along with WHIP and ERA figures that are ranked in the top 10 of the franchise leaderboard, place Gooden alongside Seaver and Jacob deGrom on the short list of greatest Mets arms.

It would have been impossible for Gooden to match this level no matter what the circumstances. Bright spots were mixed with dark days. He missed the World Series parade and started the following season in drug rehabilitation. Similar off-the-field issues would haunt him for the duration of his Mets tenure.

The post The Phenomenon of Dr. K appeared first on Metsmerized.

Per Mike Puma of the New York Post, Jose Buttó is expected to start Sunday for the Mets against the Royals. Buttó started the year in Triple-A after a strong 2023 season and spring training, but he has recorded one start for the major league team during a doubleheader earlier in the season. He went six innings, allowing one run on three hits, and it appears the Mets are putting their faith in him, especially with the decision to designate Julio Teheran for assignment.

José Butto. Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

Latest Mets News

The Mets (6-7) defeated the Royals (9-5) 6-1 on Friday night. Luis Severino went five innings, allowing one run on one hit. The Mets also received multi-hit games from Pete Alonso, Brett Baty, Jeff McNeil, and Harrison Bader as the offense finally looks like it’s hit its stride.

Tim Britton of The Athletic wrote a story on Dwight Gooden and just how good of a pitcher he was, ahead of his number retirement with the Mets this Sunday.

According to the transaction log, the Mets traded for catcher Joe Hudson, with cash going back to the Cubs. Hudson was assigned to Double-A Binghamton. The 32-year-old had a .767 OPS with the Braves’ Triple-A affiliate in 2023.

Latest MLB News

Ippei Mizuhara, Shohei Ohtani‘s former interpreter, surrendered to law enforcement early Friday morning. He appeared in court with shackles around his ankles and was released on $25,000 bond with numerous conditions including being unable to leave the central district of California without permission, being unable to contact Ohtani, and enrolling in a gambling addiction program.

Per Sam Dykstra of MLB Pipeline, steals and stolen base success rate are both up across all minor league levels through the early portion of the season. Teams are averaging 1.40 steals per game, up from 1.19 in 2023. Additionally, teams are swiping bags at an 82.2% success rate, up from 77.2% a season ago.

Rimas Sports, the sports agency started by Bad Bunny, is facing discipline from the MLB Players Association for reportedly offering improper benefits to players. Will Arroyo, who represented Francisco Alvarez, had his MLBPA certification revoked. When asked about this, Álvarez declined to comment.

Per Robert Murray of FanSided, pitcher (and former Mets prospect) Simeon Woods Richardson is joining the Twins as the 27th man for their doubleheader Saturday and will likely start the second game.

The White Sox made a few roster moves on Friday, including transferring Yoán Moncada to the 60-day injured list, designating Bryan Shaw for assignment, and optioning Oscar Colás to Triple-A.

Rockies closer Daniel Bard went through a setback during rehab and will require right flexor tendon surgery. He will miss the entire 2024 season.

Rays infielder Brandon Lowe was put on the injured list with an oblique injury. Through the first 14 games of the season, he has a .578 OPS.

Tejay Antone underwent UCL flexor tendon repair on Friday.. Though it’s not a reconstruction, he’s still expected to miss the rest of the season.

Latest on MMO

Michael Famulari breaks down the Mets’ offensive breakthrough during their series in Atlanta.

Sean Kenny recaps the day the Mets’ minor league affiliates had on Thursday, highlighted by Dominic Hamel striking out 10 batters in five innings.

Christian De Block previews the Mets’ series with the Royals.

On This Date in Mets History

1962: The Mets played their first ever home game at the Polo Grounds on this day 62 years ago. The Mets played the Pirates and fell by a score of 4-3.

1967: Tom Seaver made his major league debut for the Mets on this day 57 years ago. He pitched against the Pirates and threw for 5 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on six hits and four walks. He also struck out eight.

Birthdays: Ricardo Rincón (54), John Stephenson (83)

The post Morning Briefing: José Buttó To Start for Mets Sunday appeared first on Metsmerized.

A beloved face made an appearance for the preseason, with David Wright making the trip down to Port St. Lucie, Florida, for spring training. 

Wright revealed to the media that president of baseball operations David Stearns made the call to ask if Wright was interested in working for the team part-time. The captain made it clear his priorities are elsewhere. 

“I said, ‘Well, if you are asking about Daddy time [and] my five-year-old’s softball team, my seven-year-old girl’s soccer team, I can talk about that. I’m not sure how much help I’m going to be on the baseball ops side,” Wright said. 

Wright discussed his Hall of Fame chances as well. This year, his first on the ballot, he earned 6.2% of the votes, just above the threshold to stay on for next year’s voting. 

“Up until a couple of months ago, I never even thought about it, because that is not the reason I played baseball,” he said. “When I wore this uniform on a daily basis — yes, we did it for a living and were compensated handsomely for doing it — I enjoyed it.”

Wright added that getting enough votes to remain on the ballot was an honor in itself. 

Latest Mets News

The Mets announced Dwight Gooden and Darryl Strawberry bobblehead promotions. 

Francisco Alvarez said he hasn’t been approached with any conversations about an extension, per Will Sammon of the Athletic. 

Francisco Lindor discussed a number of topics on “The Show” with Jon Heyman and Joel Sherman. 

Latest MLB News

MLB expansion is likely, per ESPN’s Jeff Passan. Read Metsmerized’s article on his report. 

The Tampa Bay Rays announced the signing of Yu Chang to a minor league contract. 

Pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu is signing a record contract with the Hanwha Eagles of the KBO, per Jeeho Yoo of Yonhap News Agency.

The Boston Red Sox announced the signing of Liam Hendriks to a two-year contract. 

The Tampa Bay Rays and Amed Rosario agreed to a one-year, $1.5 million contract, per Passan. 

Latest On MMO 

Patrick Glynn discusses the competitive battle for the Mets’ designated hitter spot. 

Tyler Antonelle evaluates the state of the shortstop position for the Mets.

Elliot Teichman gives a non-roster invitee preview of Austin Adams.

This Day in Mets History

1974: Reigning Cy Young winner Tom Seaver signs a one-year contract worth $172,000, making him the highest-paid pitcher. 

Born on this Date: Joe Foy (1943)

The post Morning Briefing: David Wright Arrives at Mets Camp appeared first on Metsmerized.

On Wednesday, the New York Mets held a live Zoom call with Mets legends Darryl Strawberry and Dwight Gooden as they announced the dates of their jersey number retirements. Doc’s number will be retired on Sunday, April 14, and Darryl’s number will be raised later in the season on Saturday, June 1. 

But aside from setting the date for the festivities, the iconic duo were receiving questions and they both gave some poignant answers as they reminisced on their time in Queens. One of those coming from Darryl as he said, “My heart and soul bleeds blue and orange. Always have. Always will.” Along with that, Darryl also commented on the Mets’ current situation with Pete Alonso, “I ended up personally with a belly full of regrets from leaving, because there is nothing like playing in New York.”

To hear more about what Doc and Darryl had to say about their special day, click here!

Latest Mets News

Mets prospects Jett Williams, Ronny Mauricio, and Drew Gilbert cracked Baseball America‘s top 100 prospects list. Click here to see where they landed on the list!

MLB released the first workout dates for all 30 major league clubs; the Mets will have their first pitcher and catchers workout on Wednesday, February 14 and first full squad workout on Monday, February 19. For more information on the release, click here!

Alfredo Franceschi of El Emergente wrote an article highlighting Mets vice president of baseball operations, Eduardo Brizuela. The article mentions how Brizuela is at the highest level of any Venezuelan in Major League Baseball and highlights his unique journey to this point. 

Latest MLB News

Right-handed pitcher Yariel Rodríguez and the Toronto Blue Jays came to an agreement on a four-year, $32 million deal, per Francys Romero of MLB.com. For more information on Rodríguez and the deal click here!

The New York Yankees officially announced the signing of starting pitcher and former Met Marcus Stroman to a two-year deal with a conditional player option for 2026. In a corresponding move, they designated former Guardians outfielder Oscar Gonzalez for assignment. 

Austin Voth and the Seattle Mariners came to an agreement on a one-year, $1.25 million deal, per Robert Murray of Fan Sided. 

The Kansas City Royals announced that they signed veteran catcher Sandy Léon to a minor league contract with an invitation to big league spring training. 

Free-agent utility man Josh VanMeter signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. 

The Cincinnati Reds signed LHP Tyler Gilbert to a minor league contract with an invite to major league camp. 

The Los Angeles Dodgers signed RHP Jesse Hahn to a minor league deal with an invite to big league spring training, per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. They also signed southpaw Stephen Gonsalves to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training per JP Hoornstra of DodgersNation.com.

An article by Derrick Goold of STL Today highlighted Amazon’s agreement to purchase a minority stake in Diamond Sports Group, which owns Bally Sports. This deal provides DSG a framework to rise out of bankruptcy and will keep TV operations at status quo for the time being for many major league clubs. 

Latest on MMO

Take a look at the highest international free agent bonuses in Mets team history!

Check out which Mets prospects cracked Baseball America’s top 100 prospects list.

Baseball is around the corner! Read up on when Mets pitchers and catchers report!

The post Morning Briefing: Strawberry’s ‘Heart and Soul Bleeds Blue and Orange’ appeared first on Metsmerized.

What are David Stearns’ expectations for 2024?

The Mets’ president of baseball operations said he expects the team to be competing for a playoff spot in an interview with Andy Martino of SNY. 

“We should be competing for a playoff spot, we should be competing for a team that has the ability to make the playoffs,” Stearns said. “That’s certainly our expectation for our team. I believe we’ll be able to meet that expectation and we should have exciting baseball in September and October for our fans to be proud of.” 

Stearns opened up about his first offseason, the signing of Sean Manaea, the potential addition of a full-time designated hitter and the temptation of making big splashes. 

Latest Mets News 

The Mets announced the trade of outfielder Cooper Hummel, who was claimed off waivers on Dec. 1 to the San Francisco Giants for cash considerations. 

Dwight Gooden and Darryl Strawberry will be on Zoom at 1 p.m. to talk about their jersey retirement ceremonies.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza discussed a number of topics in an interview with Andy Martino. 

The Mets announced the signings of Yolmer Sanchez and Austin Allen to minor league contracts. Read more about the deals here.

Latest MLB News

The Kiwoom Heroes of the KBO will post all-Star Kim Hye-Seong following the 2024 season, the team announced. 

The Houston Astros announced Kendall Graveman will miss the 2024 season after right shoulder surgery last week. 

The Washington Nationals announced Sean Doolittle has been hired as a pitching strategist. 

Latest on MMO 

Patrick Glynn writes about the five Mets prospects in Baseball Prospectus’ Top 101 prospect list. 

Allison Waxman previews the upcoming Mets Madness series pitting the 2006 and 2019 Mets. 

Mojo Hill writes about Omar Minaya’s legacy and the Mets’ Dominican Baseball Academy graduation. 

On This Date in Mets History

2011: Longtime Mets killer Willie Harris decided to bring his exciting glove to Queens. He hit .246 and played in 126 games in his lone season with the Mets, concluding his career after a stint with the White Sox the following season. 

Birthdays: Dario Alvarez (35), Don Zimmer (93)

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