The New York Mets completed the season sweep of the Subway Series for the first time since 2013 on Wednesday night.

After taking the first two games in Queens in June against their Bronx rivals, the Mets came into Yankee Stadium on Tuesday with all of the odds against them. Despite not getting to New York until 5 a.m., the Mets squeaked out an improbable win behind a huge ninth inning from Jake Diekman on Tuesday night. However, on Wednesday night, the Mets put the final nail in the Yankees’ coffin and left nothing for chance.

With Gerrit Cole on the mound at Yankee Stadium, the Mets’ bats were going to have to come to play in order to complete the season sweep of the Subway Series. But, the Mets hitters were more than up to the task. Tyrone Taylor started the home run party in the third inning with a solo shot, and the barrage carried on from there. Pete Alonso put the Mets ahead with a two-run bomb, Francisco Lindor followed with two long balls of his own, and Mark Vientos put the finishing touch on the Mets’ 12-run night with a solo shot in the eighth. The Mets held the Yankees to just three runs in a 12-3 slaughtering of the Bronx “Bombers.”

The Mets will look to carry their hot bats back over to Queens as they host the Braves in a pivotal four-game set, which will have great implications on the Wild Card picture. Luis Severino (7-3, 3.58 ERA) will battle Chris Sale (13-3, 2.70 ERA) in Game 1 of the series on Thursday night at 7:10 p.m.

Photo by Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Latest Mets News

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza told the media that Christian Scott will not require elbow surgery, per Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. He’s going to go the rest-and-rehab route and will be shut down for the next two weeks. For more information, click here.

José Iglesias jumped on the mic to talk to the ESPN booth about his hit song “OMG” during the Mets’ win against the Yankees on Wednesday night. 

José Iglesias gets on the mic and talks about the story behind his hit song "OMG" 🎙️ pic.twitter.com/Y7LltxqiV5

— ESPN (@espn) July 24, 2024

The Mets signed their picks from the 14th and 16th round on Wednesday. Fourteenth-rounder Tanner Witt signed for $225,000 ($72,500 goes toward the bonus pool) and 16th-rounder Josh Blum signed for $150,000, per Carlos Collazo of Baseball America.

Amazin’s first round pick Carson Benge also signed with the club. Click here for more details on the contract signing. 

Latest MLB News

After leaving just two innings into his first rehab appearance with a sore knee, Mike Trout was not in the Los Angeles Angels Triple-A affiliate Salt Lake Bees lineup on Wednesday night and will be returning to Southern California to be reevaluated. 

The Dodgers signed and activated INF Nick Ahmed, replacing Miguel Rojas who was rettroactively placed on the IL to July 22 with right forearm tightness, per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. The Dodgers also activated RHP Tyler Glasnow.

The Milwaukee Brewers placed former MVP OF Christian Yelich on the 10-day IL with low back inflammation. Yelich will see a spine specialist on Thursday to discuss next steps, including the possibility of season-ending back surgery, per Adam McCalvy of MLB.com.

MLB Network announced their direct-to-consumer offer for fans on Wednesday. Fans can purchase MLB Network through a standalone offer of $5.99 per month and through other avenues as well.

Prince Fielder‘s son, Jadyn Fielder, is joining the Brewers organization as an undrafted free agent, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. The 19-year-old plays second and third base.

Chris Sale, who was supposed to start for the Braves on Wednesday night, will now pitch the first game against the Mets on Thursday, per David O’Brien of The Athletic. Charlie Morton, Spencer Schwellenbach and Reynaldo López, in that order, will start rest of the games against the Mets.

Blue Jays outfielder Kevin Kiermaier told Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, that he will be retiring after the conclusion of the 2024 season. Kiermaier is still playing with the Blue Jays despite the team placing him on waivers and exploring trade options for the 34-year-old Gold Glove center fielder.

MLB will be redirecting money collected from teams that spend over the luxury tax to teams whose TV revenues are hurting, per Evan Drellich of The Athletic. The CBA provision will give teams losing TV money up to $15 million each, with an estimated limit of $75 million in payment league wide. 

Latest on MMO

Mathias Altman-Kurosaki looked into potential Mets trade target A.J. Puk.

Ricky Keeler highlighted Jeff McNeil‘s power surge in the second half.

David Melendi applauded the Mets bullpen brilliance on Tuesday night. 

On This Date in Mets History

2023: The Mets take the second game of a two-game set to split their Subway Series bout with the Yankees. Justin Verlander threw six scoreless innings and Pete Alonso hit two homers in the 9-3 victory.

2015: In his second MLB game, Michael Conforto goes 4-for-4 with a walk, and RBI, and four runs scored in a 15-2 romping of the Dodgers at Citi Field.

2014: Lucas Duda hits a two-run go-ahead home run in the top of the ninth inning off former Mets closer K-Rod, Francisco Rodríguez. Jenry Mejía went on to throw a scoreless bottom of the ninth to lock down the 3-2 win.

1990: Leading 10-3 going into the bottom of the ninth, the Mets give up six runs before John Franco forces a lineout with the tying run on third base to hold on to a 10-9 win.

Birthdays: Guillermo Mota (51), Billy Wagner (53)

The post Morning Briefing: Mets Sweep Subway Series For First Time Since 2013 appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Chris Bello

My ballot would be: Carlos Beltrán, Adrián Beltré, Todd Helton, Andruw Jones, Joe Mauer, Francisco Rodríguez, Billy Wagner, and David Wright.

Why Beltrán isn’t in yet is baffling to me. He’s one of the best switch hitters of all time, plus was a gold glove centerfielder. Same goes for Jones. He had 443 homers and is the best defensive centerfielder of all time (yes I said that). There’s an argument to be had for Helton but I believe he deserves to be in.

As for Wagner and Rodríguez, I believe they should be in as well. They’re both over 400 saves and Wagner is among the best relievers in K/9.

David Wright should be self-explanatory. I am biased.

Jorge Eckhardt

For my ballot, I’m going with Carlos Beltrán, Adrián Beltré, Todd Helton, Joe Mauer, and Billy Wagner.

Beltrán: One of the greatest switch hitters ever, a true five-tool player, and one of the best of his era. Beltré: Self-explanatory. It’s Adrian Beltré. Helton: Screw the Coors tax. Helton was elite. 3/4/5 career slash. Clear HoFer. Mauer: One of the best catchers of his era, maybe the best (even though he was only really 50% a catcher). Wagner: Probably the best left-handed reliever ever. Relief pitchers don’t get enough love.

I understand people want all 10 votes to be used, but in my opinion, this is not a very strong ballot. I’m not in favor of voting for someone who isn’t HoF-worthy just because there’s a vote available. For some of the notable people not included, the explanation is either one of two things: 1) Steroids. I wouldn’t personally vote for steroid users. No issue with those who do — either is an acceptable opinion — and this is mine. 2) Violation of the character clause. People might not like it, but it’s a thing. This is about honoring people, not just players. No matter how good of a player someone might have been, if they fail the character clause, they don’t get my hypothetical vote. Maybe some people who fit that criteria have been elected before, but just because a mistake was made in the past doesn’t mean we need to keep making it.

Oh, and, regrettably, no David Wright. He was on the HoF track but played his last 100 (hell, last 50) game season at age 31. Injuries suck. That said I am conflicted. I prefer Hall of Famers who were the best of the best, even if it was for a shorter period of time (ex: Johan Santana should be in the HoF) than those who were just above average for a long time (ex: Mark Buehrle, Bobby Abreu). You can make an argument Wright meets the requirements of the first category. Did all Wright need to do to make the HoF was play 4-6 more years even if he was awful? It’s an interesting question for sure.

If I have to make a decision though, these five get my vote.

James Villani

My votes (in order): Adrían Beltré, Álex Rodriguez, Manny Ramírez, Todd Helton, Joe Maurer, Carlos Beltrán, Billy Wagner, Chase Utley, Andruw Jones, Garry Sheffield

You have 10 votes, why not use them all?

Each player above, when compared to other Hall of Famers at their respective positions, stacks up very well. Whether you look at WAR, Baseball Reference’s JAW metric, etc. As one can see, my ballot is very “value-based.”

As for the touchy performance-enhancer subject; some say that some individuals already in the hall are suspected of using as well. The on-field results are what they are.

Allison Waxman

For my ballot, I’m selecting: Carlos Beltrán, Joe Mauer, David Wright, Billy Wagner, Todd Helton, Gary Sheffield, and Andruw Jones.

For me, this feels like a very biased list, but isn’t that how most people vote for these things? There’s always the age-old debate about how much a scandal can affect one’s chances of getting into Cooperstown. People tend to look the other way for some, but for others, they scrutinize based on the size of the scandal. And don’t even get me started on players whose careers ended far too quickly due to injury (Oh Captain, my Captain).

These players are some of the best of the best at one point in their careers, regardless of how their careers ended. Mauer might be overlooked, but he might also be considered by some as one of the best catchers of the 21st century and recent memory. Wagner is considered the sixth-best reliever according to JAWS and feels like a shoo-in. Like many here, I’m a sucker for David Wright. It’s hard not to imagine what his career would have been like without injury, but it’s something for voters to consider.

Johnluke Chaparro

My votes would go as follows: Carlos Beltrán, Adrian Beltre, Todd Helton, Joe Mauer, Álex Rodríguez, Gary Sheffield, Billy Wagner, David Wright, Andruw Jones, Manny Ramírez

Every single one of those players was at one point considered a superstar of the game. Even though A-Rod and Ramirez are shrouded in controversy, the Hall has elected players with similar pasts, so why not two of the most prolific home run hitters of our time?

Billy Wagner is a personal favorite for mine because of how dominant he was on the mound when needed and factor in his story of how he threw left-handed in the first place is incredible.

David Wright is, as many others stated, is a biased pick but he does have strong enough numbers to be considered seriously.

The post MMO Roundtable: What Would Your Hall Of Fame Ballot Be? appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Francisco Rodríguez did not enter the major leagues discretely. There he was at the end of the 2002 season as the Anaheim Angels were making a run at their first title. He made his big league debut in September 2002, at 20 years old.

Over 10 days, he made five regular-season appearances. Rodríguez faced 21 batters and struck out 13. He stayed unfazed during the postseason, fanning 28 of the 70 batters he faced—including three in the eighth inning of Game 7 as the Angels won the World Series. He had earned the nickname that would be tied to him for the rest of his career and beyond.

He had a lot to live up to after but did a terrific job at being a top-flight reliever. From 2004-2008, Rodríguez led the AL in saves three times, capped off by a record-setting 62. During that span, he posted a 2.23 ERA and 200 ERA+, was among the top four in Cy Young Award voting three times and made three All-Star appearances. The Angels were a perennial playoff team with Rodríguez anchoring the bullpen.

The consistently outstanding numbers K-Rod put up made him a valuable asset once he became a free agent. The Mets’ generosity was to Rodríguez’s great benefit, as they signed him to a three-year, $37 million deal.

He did not last the duration. Rodríguez made 165 appearances, saving 83 games to a 3.05 ERA and a 129 ERA+, and was traded to Milwaukee in the middle of the 2011 season (for his first stint with the Brewers).

Looking back, Rodríguez did not live up to the contract. And what occurred away from the mound was more disturbing. In August 2010, he was arrested for assaulting the father of his then-girlfriend in an incident in which he repeatedly punched the man and tore ligaments in his right thumb.

Later, after leaving New York, there were more off-the-field issues. He was arrested again in September 2012—this time for domestic violence and battery against his fiancé.

Rodriguez spent his final seven seasons with four teams at various spots in the bullpen hierarchy. He retired in 2017, but not before earning two more All-Star bids during a second stint with Milwaukee that included 126 saves in a three-year period.

Although he didn’t come close to election on his first try at the Hall of Fame, his 42 votes give him a chance to stay on the ballot. But does Rodríguez deserve to stay and, more so, deserve added consideration?

The Case For

Rodríguez’s 437 saves are the fourth-most all-time (a save was not an official stat until 1969). That’s behind three Hall of Famers: Mariano Rivera (652), Trevor Hoffman (601) and Lee Smith (478). Rodríguez is one of eight pitchers to post at least seven seasons with a sub-3.00 ERA and at least 60 games pitched. He has had a sub-3.00 ERA plus 40 or more saves in a season four times. Only three other pitchers have done that: Rivera (nine), Hoffman (eight), and Craig Kimbrel (five).

JAWS, an advanced metric for measuring a player’s Hall of Fame worthiness, accounts for career and peak performance. Rodríguez ranks 12th among relief pitchers. The top five are all in the Hall of Fame: Rivera, Hoffman, Dennis Eckersley, Hoyt Wilhelm, and Goose Gossage. Rodríguez ranks ahead of the other three inducted relievers: Smith (13th), Rollie Fingers (19th), and Bruce Sutter (23rd).

Compared to the eight in Cooperstown, Rodriguez has the second-best ERA+ at 148. Of note, Billy Wagner has a better number than K-Rod.

The Case Against

Among all others is the lack of relievers in the Hall of Fame. Wagner is waiting for his chance to reach the 75% mark and is someone many feel should’ve already been in. Other bullpen aces like John Franco and Jeff Reardon haven’t come close.

The trajectory for Wagner’s balloting offers hope for modern-day closers in the coming years. But in 2023, Rodríguez barely eclipsed the five-percent barrier needed to be on this ballot, and early indications are that it’s not a guarantee he will continue. Plus, he compares poorly against Wagner’s career statistics.

A better comparison is Joe Nathan, a one-and-done on the ballot. Nathan became a closer in 2003, the season after K-Rod started. They retired one year apart. Rodríguez pitched more innings, had more strikeouts, and had more saves. Nathan’s JAWS is higher, thanks mainly to a higher WAR.

While Rodríguez was elite—at times historic—for over six seasons, the longevity factor is lacking when compared to other Hall of Famers. And on top of that, the black marks on his character have certainly pushed away many voters.

Final Thoughts

The post Hall of Fame Case: Francisco Rodríguez appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Good morning, Mets fans!

Former St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Scott Rolen has entered baseball infamy as he has accumulated enough votes to enter the Baseball Hall of Fame. Rolen enters as the lone ballot Hall of Famer this year and will join Fred McGriff, who was inducted by the Contemporary Baseball Era committee in December.

Several players with Mets connections have missed the 75% cut-off this year, including Jeff Kent, who was in his last year of eligibility. Carlos Beltran, Gary Sheffield and Francisco Rodriguez are among the other notable players with Mets connections to miss the cut. Beltrán and Rodríguez were on the HOF ballots for the first time this year.

Former Mets pitcher R.A. Dickey only received 0.3% of the HOF votes and has been kicked off the ballot for not receiving at least 5%.

Latest Mets News

The Mets have officially announced the signing of outfielder Tommy Pham to a one-year deal. Formerly with the Red Sox and Cincinnati Reds this past season, Pham will facilitate a role as the team’s fourth outfielder and may even see time in the designated hitter spot if needed. To make room for Pham on the 40-man roster, the team designated left-handed Tayler Saucedo for assignment.

We’ve signed Tommy Pham to a one-year deal.

Welcome to the squad, @TphamLV! pic.twitter.com/oNvsL8jzLZ

— New York Mets (@Mets) January 24, 2023

The New York Post‘s Andrew Marchand is reporting the Mets may have found the next sidekick to legendary radio announcer Howie Rose. Long Island native and voice for the Single-A Brooklyn Cyclones Keith Raad has emerged as the favorite to be hired for the position as he apparently “wowed” his interview with Audacy, the parent company of WCBS Radio, and Rose himself. The role could one day lead to being the main radio voice of the Mets with Rose cutting down on radio time this past season.

Latest MLB News

Chicago White Sox pitcher Mike Clevinger is under investigation by MLB following allegations of domestic violence involving the mother of his 10-month-old daughter and child abuse, according to The Athletic‘s Britt Ghiroli and Katie Strang. The report says the mother of Clevinger’s child had been in contact with MLB officials since June about physical, verbal and emotional abuse towards her and their 10-month-old child.

After the Los Angeles Angels’ ownership decided to take the team off the market, the Miami Marlins ownership has reiterated the team is not for sale. In a statement to the LA Times, Bruce Sherman said, “The Miami Marlins are not for sale, have not been for sale under my ownership, and will not be for sale in my lifetime. It is irresponsible to report otherwise. It is and will continue to be a privilege to own this great organization. I look forward to seeing our loyal fans at Opening Day on March 30th.”

Kansas City Royals infielder Adalberto Mondesi is being traded to the Red Sox, per Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. The Royals will receive Josh Taylor in exchange, while Boston will also receive a player to be named later. The move comes with Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story having elbow surgery that will sideline him for most of the 2023 season.

Former Marlins and Baltimore Orioles first baseman Jesus Aguilar and the Oakland Athletics are in agreement on a contract, pending physical, according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle and Robert Murray of Fansided. The deal will give Aguilar an average of about $3 million.

The New York Yankees and catching coach Tanner Swanson agreed to a new deal to keep the coach in the Bronx, according to Brendan Kuty of The Athletic. The deal is for three years with a team option for a fourth year. Yankees catchers ranked as some of the best defensively in MLB last season and much of that is attributed to Swanson’s coaching.

Pitcher Jordan Yamamoto has signed a minor league deal with the Dodgers, according to MMO‘s Michael Mayer. Yamamoto had a 6.00 ERA across three different levels in the Mets minor league system in 2022.

Latest on MMO

Rich Sparago talks about possible locations for MLB expansion teams.

On This Date in Mets History

2006: Angel Pagan is purchased by the Chicago Cubs from the New York Mets.

2010: “Melody Queen of Shea Stadium” organist Jane Jarvis passes away at 94.

The post Morning Briefing: Several Former Mets Fall Short of Hall of Fame appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

There are times when it’s tough to be a Mets fan. Perhaps you remember when the Mets held a commanding seven-game lead with 17 games to play in 2007, and then collapsed to their rival from down the Turnpike.

Or perhaps you recall 2008, when the Amazin’s held a 3.5 game lead in September with only 17 games to play, before becoming the first team ever to blow a 3.5-game lead in consecutive Septembers. Those heartbreaking collapses only heightened the disdain Mets fans held for those Phillies teams that featured Chase Utley and Ryan Howard.

However a few years later, there was one series that was particularly special for Mets fans, in the midst of an otherwise uneventful season. During a three game-set against the Philadelphia Phillies, the 2010 Mets got revenge and made history in the process.

For just the second time since the franchise’s inception, the Mets swept a series by pitching three-straight shutouts. The first time this took place was in 1969, when Jerry Koosman, Tom Seaver and Gary Gentry blanked the Phillies in Philadelphia down the stretch.

After years of struggling against their division rivals, the Mets vindication against the Phillies began on May 25. In just his second start with the Mets, R.A. Dickey led a whitewashing of the Phils at Citi Field. Dickey threw six scoreless innings, while the Mets scored eight runs to even their record for the season at 23 – 23.  The victory was Dickey’s first win for the Mets.

Omar Minaya’s reclamation project would finish that season 11 – 9 with a 2.84 ERA. Two years later, Dickey would win the Cy Young Award, going 20 – 6 with a 2.73 ERA, leading the league in innings pitched (233.2), complete games (5), shut outs (3), and strikeouts (230). He was then traded the following off season to the Blue Jays with Josh Thole and Mike Nickeas in exchange for John Buck, Travis d’Arnaud, Noah Syndergaard, and minor leaguer Wuilmer Becerra.

In the second game of the series, rookie sensation Hisanori Takahashi started for the Mets and blanked Philadelphia for six innings, striking out six without issuing a single walk. Takahashi served Mets manager Jerry Manuel as a swing man in 2010, finishing 10 – 6 with a 3.61 ERA and eight saves. The Mets won the game 5 – 0, behind the three RBIs provided by catcher Rod Barajas, and Jose Reyes‘ home run and two RBIs.

In the series finale, the Mets finished their sweep, behind the starting pitching efforts of Mike Pelfry, who pitched seven shutout innings to improve his record to 7 – 1 to start the season.  Pelfrey had the best year of his career in 2010, finishing 15 – 10 with a 3.66 ERA. Francisco Rodriguez pitched the ninth inning for the Mets to record his ninth save of the season and push the Mets to two games above .500.

The three-game sweep was the high-water mark for the Mets in 2010. They went on to finish 79 – 83, in fourth place, 18 games behind the Phillies. Minaya and Manuel both got fired after the season and were replaced by Sandy Alderson, and Terry Collins. That duo would ultimately help lead the Mets to the 2015 World Series.

The post Amazin’ Memories: Mets Blank Phillies in Series of Shutouts appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

J.J. Putz had a solid 12-year MLB career as a right-handed relief pitcher. Like most relievers he experienced up-and-down years, but when he was at his peak in 2007, he was one of the best relievers in baseball.

The Seattle Mariners, Chicago White Sox and Arizona Diamondbacks all received some production from the Trenton, MI native, but the New York Mets received arguably his worst season and paid a price for their mistake.

Putz’s Rise In The Evergreen State

Putz was drafted three times before signing on with a major league organization. He was drafted by the White Sox in the third round of the 1995 MLB Draft, by the Minnesota Twins in the 17th round of the 1998 MLB Draft and by the Mariners in the sixth round of the 1999 MLB Draft.

For Putz, age was a factor in not signing with the White Sox in 1995.

“The ’95 one was kind of easy: I just didn’t think I was really ready to be kind of on my own, own,” Putz told Mathew Brownstein in an MMO interview from March 2020. “When you go to school you’re kind of on your own, but you have parental figures around especially playing a sport in college. I didn’t think I was ready to be on my own at that age.”

Putz also shared that health was a factor in not signing three years later with the Twins.

“When I got drafted by the Twins I was coming off a knee surgery and I wasn’t really 100 percent, so I didn’t want to start pro ball not 100 percent,” said Putz. “That was kind of another no-brainer just to go back and play my senior year.”

Putz returned for his senior year of college at the University of Michigan and later signed with the Mariners after being drafted in June 1999. He then started his professional career at the age of 22 with the short-season Single-A Everett AquaSox of the Northwest League.

Putz spent parts of five seasons in the minors from 1999 to 2003. During that time he was primarily a starter. However, the Mariners converted him to a reliever in 2003 while he was in Triple-A which led to an eventual MLB call-up on August 11, 2003.

“It ended up being a great move, that season is the year the Mariners’ starters didn’t miss a start so I probably would have not got called up,” said Putz. “I had some success out of the bullpen in Triple-A that year and got called up and never really looked back.”

He only ended up pitching in three major league games in 2003, but spent the majority of his 2004 campaign with the major league club. In 2005, Putz stepped up his pitching even more and in 2006 established himself as one of the top relievers in baseball.

The 2006 season was when Putz became the Mariners’ closer. He took over for southpaw Eddie Guardado, who was traded to the Cincinnati Reds on July 6, 2006 after closing out games for Seattle since 2004. Guardado had a big influence on Putz in his successful transition to closer.

“I was very fortunate to have guys like Eddie around, Shigetoshi Hasegawa, Jeff Nelson, Arthur Rhodes, etc.,” said Putz. “They kind of taught me the ropes in the bullpen and definitely a guy like Eddie, who had closer experience, obviously was a guy I would lean heavily on from the mental part of it.”

In 2006, Putz set career-highs in appearances (72), innings pitched (78 1/3), strikeouts (104), saves (36), ERA (2.30), WHIP (0.919), FIP (1.73), bWAR (2.8) and fWAR (3.4).

Putz proved he was not a one-year wonder as he dominated again in 2007. He made 68 appearances, pitched 71 2/3 innings, struck out 82 batters and posted career-highs in saves (40), ERA (1.38), WHIP (0.698) and bWAR (4.0). The 30-year-old finished 13th in the American League MVP voting, was recognized as an All-Star and won the Rolaids Relief Man Award.

Putz’s 2008 season was affected by rib cage and elbow injuries, and his overall production while healthy was more similar to his 2005 campaign rather than his 2006 or 2007 campaigns. He was still considered one of the top relievers in baseball by many, including the Mets who proved that at the end of the year with a statement trade.

The 12-Player Trade

On December 11, 2008, the Mets acquired Putz in a 12-player, three-team trade with the Mariners and Cleveland Indians. In addition to Putz, the Mets also received OF Jeremy Reed and RHP Sean Green from Seattle.

The Indians received RHP Joe Smith from the Mets and INF Luis Valbuena from the Mariners, while they sent OF Franklin Gutierrez to the Mariners.

In addition to sending Smith to the Indians, the Mets sent 1B Mike Carp, OF Ezequiel Carrera, OF Endy Chavez, RHP Maikel Cleto, RHP Aaron Heilman and LHP Jason Vargas to the Mariners.

The Mets needed to address their bullpen heading into 2009 and general manager Omar Minaya did that by signing RHP Francisco Rodriguez on December 9, 2008 and trading for Putz two days later.

Putz’s Time In New York

However, the Putz trade did not turn out well for Minaya and the Mets. Putz developed a bone spur in the summer of 2008 that the Mets knew about. While it was deemed that he did not need surgery after the 2008 season, Putz’s elbow worsened in May 2009 and he needed surgery in June.

The Aftermath Of The Trade

The Mets let Putz walk in free agency after one poor and injury-filled season in Queens. While the move made sense at the time considering how his 2009 campaign turned out, the White Sox ended up with a quality reliever at a low price when they signed Putz to a one-year, $3 million contract on December 11, 2009.

Putz had a bounceback 2010 season in which he pitched to the tune of a 2.83 ERA, 1.037 WHIP and 2.52 FIP in 60 appearances. He also had 65 strikeouts in 54 innings.

The one season with Chicago was not a fluke either. Putz later agreed to a two-year, $10 million deal with the Diamondbacks on December 6, 2010. He went on to have a great three-year stretch with the Diamondbacks from 2011-13, highlighted by a 2011 season in which he saved a career-high 45 games.

The Mets’ trade for Putz was handled poorly from beginning to end.

In terms of value received, Putz struggled and neither Green nor Reed provided additional value in his absence. Green ended up giving the Mets a total -0.2 bWAR and -0.3 fWAR from 2009-10, while Reed gave the Mets -0.7 bWAR and -0.7 fWAR in 2009.

In terms of value traded away, the Mets did not exactly lose a player that would come back to haunt them in the same way that many before and after have done. However, Vargas did end up having a few solid seasons in the not-too-distant future with the Mariners from 2010-12 and some later with the Los Angeles Angels (2013) and Kansas City Royals (2014, 2017).

Also the Mets lost out on Smith who was already a solid reliever in Queens, and has stayed consistent throughout his 13 MLB seasons and counting. In those 13 seasons, he has never had a year where his bWAR was negative nor where his ERA was higher than 3.83.

Furthermore, had the Mets approached Putz’s injury differently, better scenarios could have ensued. They knew about the injury and could have went a different route to address their bullpen in the offseason. If they still thought it was worth it, they could have at least monitored it better.

According to Putz in a January 2010 interview with Comcast SportsNet, the Mets did not examine his bone spur until he got to spring training in February and he pitched in discomfort in both April and May.

“When the trade went down last year, I never really had a physical with the Mets,” said Putz. “I had the bone spur [in the right elbow]. It was discovered the previous year in Seattle, and it never got checked out by any other doctors until I got to spring training, and the spring training physical is kind of a formality. It was bugging me all through April, and in May I got an injection. It just got to the point where I couldn’t pitch. I couldn’t throw strikes, my velocity was way down.”

Different actions by the Mets before and during the season may have helped Putz possibly pitch more and possibly pitch better. At the least it could have led to a better relationship between Putz and the team for a deal to be worked out for 2010 when Putz returned to his usual self.

In the end, the Putz trade was another transaction in Mets history that did not work out in the team’s favor, nor in the player’s favor.

The post Amazin’ Mistakes: Mets Whiff On J.J. Putz Deal appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Photo Credit: Tim Williams/Pirates Prospects

Daniel Zamora knew early on in his young baseball career that the best path towards making it professionally would be as a pitcher. He laughs when he remembers his days as a hitter, noting that he left much to be desired in the batter’s box.

For Zamora, the decision to focus solely on pitching turned out to be the right choice in his career.

The 24-year-old (25 in mid-April) left-handed pitcher is one of the newest members of the New York Mets organization this winter, having been traded from the Pittsburgh Pirates – along with cash – for fan favorite and fellow lefty reliever Josh Smoker.

For the Mets, adding an intriguing lefty to their organization who has multiple years of control left and could prove to be a potential LOOGY down the line was not a bad return for the 29-year-old Smoker.

Zamora attended local Stony Brook University on Long Island, pitching two seasons with the team while missing the 2014 season due to a torn labrum. With the injury, Zamora wasn’t even sure he would get drafted, though he was originally selected in the 27th-round of the 2012 Draft by the Toronto Blue Jays before committing to Stony Brook.

Zamora returned in 2015 and appeared in 15 games (13 starts), going 7-3 with a 3.00 ERA, leading the team in innings pitched (81) and strikeouts (80). The Pittsburgh Pirates selected Zamora in the 40th round, making him just the 23rd player to be drafted out of Stony Brook at the time.

He was assigned to the Short-Season A West Virginia Black Bears in 2015, where he appeared in 14 games out of the pen. In 20.1 innings, Zamora posted a 2.66 ERA with 25 strikeouts to just four walks. His 6.25 SO/BB ratio was third-best on the team that season.

In 2016, Zamora spent his season in the South Atlantic League with the West Virginia Power, where he continued to showcase high strikeout totals (10.4 strikeouts-per-nine), however, saw a rise in his BB percentage from 4.7 in 2015 to 9.2 percent in 2016.

This past year, Zamora posted his best overall season between Bradenton (Advanced A) and Altoona (Double-A). Over 39 games, Zamora posted a career-best 1.76 ERA. He spent nearly the entire season with Bradenton (minus the three innings late in the season with Altoona), posting a career-best 57 percent ground ball rate, a decrease in his BB percentage from 2016 to 7.6 percent, and was utilized for multiple innings in 17 out of his 37 games in the Florida State League.

Zamora had his all-around best season against left-handed hitters in 2017, posting a combined line of .232/.284/.261 with 25 strikeouts to just four walks in 75 plate appearances. Those numbers are appealing for a team in need of adding another left-hander to the pen, although, Zamora is likely slated to begin the season with Double-A Binghamton.

For now, Zamora is intent on establishing himself in the Mets’ organization and building off a strong season in 2017, hopeful to open some eyes this spring.

I had the privilege of speaking with Zamora in early February, where we spoke of his introduction to baseball, time at Stony Brook University, and his first reactions to hearing he was traded to the Mets.

MMO: Who were some of your favorite players growing up?

Daniel: I grew up an Angels fan, I’m from Los Angeles. I always liked Francisco Rodriguez, and when I was a kid I loved Chuck Finley and Troy Percival. I was a huge Angels fan, so all of my favorite players as a kid were all Angels.

MMO: Did you play any other positions growing up?

Daniel: Yeah, I’ve been a P.O. (pitcher only) since I ended Little League. I’m not very good at hitting. [Laughs.]

MMO: Who introduced you to the game of baseball?

Daniel: My parents. We would just go outside and play wiffle ball. My mom and dad would take me to this high school behind my house that had a park. We’d just go hit baseballs and throw around and hang out. That was just what we did when I was a kid; we’d go to the park and play all day.

MMO: Being from California, can you talk a bit about how you ended up attending Stony Brook University on Long Island?

Daniel: My high school pitching coach was actually friends with the pitching coach at Stony Brook. They kind of connected, and I got a good vibe from Coach [Mike] Marron; he’s at Old Dominion now. We just connected really well, and I liked what they had, and that’s why I ended up going to Stony Brook.

MMO: During your time at Stony Brook, were you able to visit Manhattan much, and get a taste of New York life?

Daniel: I didn’t explore much, I’ve been there a couple of times. But never got to truly explore and do the tourist things of it.

MMO: Prior to you being selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 40th-round of the 2015 MLB Draft, were you aware of any team’s interest in you?

Daniel: I honestly had no clue. I had labrum surgery after my freshman year [of college]. So I didn’t know if I was going to get drafted; I was just happy to get the opportunity to play professional baseball and take advantage of all the opportunities I’ve gotten because of it.

MMO: For fans that might not know a lot about you, can you give a brief scouting report on yourself?

Daniel: I primarily throw a fastball and slider, and I have a changeup. My strength, I guess, is I have a couple of pitches I can mix and throw whenever I want. I just have a lot of confidence in what I do, so that just helps me go a long way.

MMO: Your numbers against left-handed hitters this year were the best of your career so far. Were there any adjustments you made in order to have such success this season?

Daniel: I just made a couple of adjustments to what I was doing before. My fastball command wasn’t very good my first two years in pro ball, so last year I got my fastball command and I was able to locate my fastball a lot better. That just gave me a lot more confidence to kind of take-off and get better results and just progress as a baseball player.

MMO: Can you talk a little about what the Pirates’ pitching philosophy was while you were in their organization?

Daniel: Most of it was a mental thing. With the Pirates, we had to be very aggressive. Every pitcher has to establish their fastball, but it really just comes down to being able to compete and just show up every day. That’s what the Pirates were all about, just being able to compete and show up every day and bring your best game.

MMO: What were your initial reactions when you heard you were traded to the Mets, and how did you find out the news?

Daniel: I was really thrown off, actually. I got a call from Larry Broadway (Senior Director, Minor League Operations), and I was like, ‘Oh, he’s never called me before.’ So I got a call and I was like, ‘What’s going on?’

I found out, and I was really thrown off at first, but I’m really excited and it’s an awesome opportunity. I’m really excited to be part of the Mets organization now.

MMO: Has the team given you any indication of where you might begin the season in 2018?

Daniel: I think that’s something to be determined in spring training. I haven’t really talked too much about their plan with me; I think they’re going to introduce me to their philosophy and go from there.

MMO: Have you had the chance to speak with anyone in the Mets organization?

Daniel: Not entirely. Just for a couple of minutes, just welcoming me to the organization and telling me I’ve been traded and they’re happy to have me. But outside of that, not much.

MMO: What are some things you hope to improve upon in 2018?

Daniel: To command all my pitches. I created a good base last year with what I was doing, and I’m going to try and continue to take off on that, and just try to get better and develop as a baseball player.

MMO: Thank you for your time today, Daniel. All the best in 2018!

Daniel: Thank you very much.

Follow Daniel Zamora on Twitter, @Daniel_Zamora32

The post MMO Exclusive: Left-Handed Reliever, Daniel Zamora appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Former-Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez agreed to a minor-league deal with the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies that includes an invitation to Spring Training last night.

The right-hander was one of the best relievers at one point and in 2008 recorded an MLB single-season record 62 saves with the Los Angeles Angels. He also had a 2.24 ERA, 67 strikeouts, and 3.22 FIP in 68.1 innings pitched that season.

Following that season, the Mets signed K-Rod to a three-year deal worth $37 million.

While he was still effective as a closer, notching 83 saves in the two-and-a-half years he spent with the team, he had some off-the field-issues that ended up tainting his tenure with the team and prompted Alderson to essentially dump him prior to the 2011 MLB trade deadline.

Those off-the-field issues were highlighted by an incident in 2010 in which he was forced to get surgery on his right thumb and miss the last two months of the season after beating up the father of his girlfriend at the time. You can read more about that in this article by NBC Sports.

After his tenure with the Mets was completed, K-Rod went on to pitch Milwaukee Brewers (twice), Baltimore Orioles, and Detroit Tigers.

He even regained his closer role from 2014-2016 as he had 126 saves during that time span.

However, he lost that job in 2017 in Detroit and was released by the team after recording a 2-5 record, 7.82 ERA, and 1.658 WHIP while blowing six of his 13 saves attempts to start the season.

He appeared to have also lost the ability to miss bats as he recorded only 23 strikeouts in 25.1 innings.

Jon Heyman of the FanRag Sports Network spoke to Rodriguez recently, in which the 36-year old reliever said that he believes he has re-found his velocity and is ready to go out this season and prove that he can be a dependable reliever again.

He has a strong resume, on the field, to suggest he might be able to have some value to the Phillies this season. For his career, Rodriguez has accumulated 437 saves along with a 2.86 ERA, 1,142 strikeouts, 1.155 WHIP, and 3.31 FIP.

The post K-Rod on the Comeback Trail in Philly appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Although many hoped that the trade of Christian Yelich and the signing of Lorenzo Cain would heat up the Hot Stove, that wishing amounted to naught as Saturday was another boring day on the free-agent front.

Latest on the Mets

Ken Davidoff of The NY Post lambasted Mets ownership in his most recent piece.

Callie Quinn’s prom tweet has finally reached 500k retweets! When the Mets promised her a chance to take prom pictures at Citi Field if she was retweeted 500k times, she stepped up the challenge and recruited celebrities and Mets players alike to help achieve her goal.

Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports breaks down the incentives in Jose Reyes‘s new deal.

John Harper of NY Daily Sports argues that the Mets should spend on Lance Lynn this offseason.

Latest in the MLB

Heyman reports that the Philadelphia Phillies have signed former-Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez to a minor-league deal with an invite to camp.

The Orioles plan to move Manny Machado to shortstop this season. Machado has been rumored to prefer a relocation back to his natural position.

Heyman lists the potential suitors for free-agent outfielder Melky Cabrera.

Heyman also believes that San Francisco Giants could be contenders for Bryce Harper next offseason.

Pirates pitcher Nik Turley became the third pitcher in the past two days to receive a suspension for taking PEDs.

Latest on the NL East

Today, the Braves revealed their new mascot, Blooper.

Latest on MMO

Mathew Brownstein released his interview with Mets pitcher Josh Smoker. Note: This interview occurred before Smoker was designated for assignment yesterday.

John Sheridan describes how Justin Dunn‘s stock has plummeted.

In a recent Fan Shot, Rob Walsh argues that the Mets should acquire J.T. Realmuto.

Rob Piersall writes about the changes in Juan Lagares‘s new swing.

Piersall also wonders which player would have the grandest impact on the Mets: 3B Todd Frazier or SP Alex Cobb.

This Date In Mets History

The Mets selected Ken Singleton in January’s amateur draft in 1967.

Tsuyoshi Shinjo turns 46 today.

The post Morning Briefing: Mets Set to Host Prom Pictures as Hot Stove Goes Cold appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

According to Shi Davidi of Sportsnet, the Toronto Blue Jays and third baseman Josh Donaldson have avoided arbitration by agreeing on a record deal of $23 million for 2018.

Donaldson, 32, will become a free agent after the 2018 season and though the Toronto Blue Jays are unlikely to contend they haven’t showed much interest in trading him.

The right-handed hitting Donaldson hit .270/.385/.559, 144 OPS+ with 21 doubles, 33 home runs and 78 RBI in 113 games for the Jays in 2017. He did spend time on the DL early in the season with a right calf strain.

Donaldson won the American League MVP in 2015 when he hit .297/.371/.568 with 41 doubles, 41 home runs and a league leading 123 RBI. He hasn’t been able to repeat his fantastic defensive season of 2014 when he had 20 DRS but was still a strong defender in 2017 with 3 DRS at third. He also played four games at shortstop.

The Rockies and outfielder Charlie Blackmon also avoided arbitration on Friday, they agreed to a $14 million salary for the 2018 season. The 31-year-old is coming off a monster season that saw him post a career-high 6 WAR, 142 OPS+, 137 runs, 14 triples, .331 BA and 387 total bases. He finished fifth in NL MVP voting while being an All-Star and winning a Silver Slugger.

Like Donaldson, Blackmon will be part of the incredible free agent class next offseason.

More MLB News and Notes

The Arizona Diamondbacks remain engaged in talks with the Baltimore Orioles over third baseman Manny Machada according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

Rosenthal also reports that the Washington Nationals see Greg Holland as too big of a risk to give a multi-year deal. They currently have a bullpen led by Ryan Madson, Sean Doolittle and Brandon Kintzler.

The Brewers continue to show interest in center fielder Lorenzo Cain and would have to trade an outfielder like Domingo Santana or Brett Phillips to make room.

Andrew McCutchen remains a top target for the San Francisco Giants as they look to bolster their outfielder and add some pop. Mike Puma of the NY Post reported the Mets are no longer pursuing Cutch.

Former Met Francisco Rodriguez wants to pitch in 2018 and will throw for scouts to try to garner interest per Jon Heyman of Fan Rag.

The post MLB Roundup: Donaldson, Jays Agree to Arbitration Record $23 Million appeared first on Metsmerized Online.