Take a look at a few great photos by MMO photographer Ed Delany taken on Monday in Port St. Lucie, FL. Make sure to follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to get a glimpse at the rest of the photos from the day and the rest of spring training!

Steve Cohen

Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

Owner Steve Cohen arrived at spring training at a critical point in his Mets tenure. After committing to a “World Series or bust” when he first bought the team, Cohen and company went about the 2024 offseason differently. Instead of shelling out big contracts, new president of baseball operations David Stearns made smaller, depth-based roster moves.

Harrison Bader

Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

Harrison Bader arrived at camp on the heels of signing a one-year deal with the Mets this past offseason. New manager confirmed Monday that the speedster would start in center field, moving Brandon Nimmo to left field in 2024. In 2023, Bader ranked in the 95th percentile in fielding range (9) and the 91st percentile in arm strength (91.7 mph). He’s been one of the best center fielders in the game for the past few seasons and gives the Mets a defensive weapon in the outfield.

Mike Vasil

Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

Mike Vasil enters camp as one of the Mets’ best pitching prospects. The right-hander was the lone Mets prospect in the 2023 Futures Game and spent the season in Binghamton and Syracuse. He posted a 4.65 ERA through 124 innings of work in the minor leagues and struck out 138 batters. Vasil very well could see time in Queens this season, barring any injury or need for another pitcher in the big league rotation. Learn more about him here.

Pete Alonso & Jeff McNeil

Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

Alonso and Jeff McNeil need to have big years but for very different reasons. The first baseman slugger is entering his walk year, while McNeil looks to return to his batting champion form after a down year. Alonso is fourth on the Mets’ all-time home run leader list, while McNeil was the first batting champion since José Reyes in 2011.

The post Photos From PSL: Steve Cohen Arrives appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Photo by Bronson Harris of the Binghamton Rumble Ponies

Top Prospects

• Jett Williams, INF (No. 45 MLB 2024 Prospect List)
• Drew Gilbert, OF (No. 53 MLB 2024 Prospect List)
• Christian Scott, RHP (No. 99 ESPN’s 2024 Prospect List)
• Kevin Parada, C

Minor League Arms

• Dominic Hamel, RHP
• Mike Vasil, RHP
• Nate Lavender, LHP
• Eric Orze, RHP

Additional Catchers

• Tomás Nido, C
• Hayden Senger, C

These invitations are in addition to the previous players they signed this offseason. They include: C Austin Allen, INF Rylan Bannon, RHP Kyle Crick, INF José Iglesias, OF Taylor Kohlwey, RHP Yacksel Ríos, RHP Cam Robinson, INF Yolmer Sánchez, RHP Chad Smith, RHP Cole Sulser, OF Trayce Thompson and LHP Danny Young.

All players on the 40-man roster are automatically given an invitation to big league camp.

The post Mets Invite Jett Williams, Christian Scott to Major League Camp appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

Pitchers and catchers officially reported to Port St. Lucie for the beginning of Mets spring training, officially kicking off the countdown to the 2023 season.

Among those spotted in uniform were Max Scherzer, who is looking to pitch 200 innings for New York this season after producing a career-best 2.29 ERA in his first season in Queens.

Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

Co-ace Justin Verlander also put on Mets gear for the first time outside of his introductory press conference. The two will bring a combined six Cy Youngs to the front of the Mets rotation.

Kevin Parada, Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

Outside of Verlander and Scherzer, one of the most intriguing names at camp Wednesday was Kevin Parada, one of the Mets 2022 first-round draft picks and one of the organization’s top prospects. Parada will gain valuable experience this spring catching the likes of Verlander and Scherzer while also seeing big-league pitching up close and personal.

Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

Kodai Senga also made his first spring training appearance after being signed in the offseason to a five-year, $75 million contract. Senga is one of the most intriguing players on the Mets this season, and how quickly he can acclimate to MLB will go a long way in determining how good the team’s pitching staff can be.

Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

While Verlander, Scherzer, Senga, José Quintana, and Carlos Carrasco are likely to open the season as the team’s starting rotation, Tylor Megill figures to be another important piece of the team’s pitching staff. Megill and David Peterson will be the first names up when the Mets need an additional starter, and Megill will be looking to bounce back after a 2022 season that was marred by injuries.

Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

In addition to pitchers and catchers, Mets manager Buck Showalter was also in town as he begins his second season with the team. Showalter was named the National League Manager of the Year a season ago after leading the Mets to 101 wins and a postseason birth.

The Mets position players will join the rest of the club next Monday, and the Mets will begin their spring training schedule with games against the Astros and Marlins on February 25.

The post Photos from Port St. Lucie: Pitchers and Catchers Arrive at Camp appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Mary Holt-USA TODAY Sports

Good morning, Mets fans!

The Mets’ first home spring training game is Sunday at 1 p.m. on SNY. Gary Cohen, Keith Hernandez and Ron Darling will all be on the broadcast with Steve Gelbs contributing on-field reporting. The boys are back.

Now let’s get into the morning briefing.

Latest Mets News

Dominic Smith, Nick Plummer and Luis Guillorme powered the Mets to a 6-2 win over the Washington Nationals in their first spring training game. The three aforementioned Mets crushed first-inning homers off Josiah Gray en route to an easy first win. Guillorme also played part in a sweet cutoff play that stopped a double from turning into a triple.

Magnum➡️Guillorme➡️Davis

💪💪💪pic.twitter.com/wl9oRh8IY2

— Metsmerized Online (@Metsmerized) March 20, 2022

Buck Showalter described Showalter as a “regular irregular.”

“We don’t have someone who can do what he does,” he said.

The Mets cut Thomas Szapucki from major-league camp today. He’s the second cut, alongside Jordan Yamamoto. They were cut with the expectation they’ll continue to be extended as starters at the minor-league level–something difficult to do in two weeks of major-league spring training games when you’re working on extending guys like Jacob deGrom, Max Scherzer and Chris Bassitt.

Latest MLB News

Jorge Soler, one of the heroes of the 2021 Atlanta Braves World Series team, signed a three-year, $36 million deal with the Miami Marlins. He’ll likely slot in as the team’s designated hitter and part-time outfielder.

Here is some other MLB news in a neat format:

• The Cubs signed pitcher Drew Smyly to a one-year major-league deal
• Phil Gosselin signed a minor-league deal with the Braves
• Ryon Healy, who hasn’t played regularly in the bigs since 2019, signed a minor-league deal with the Rays (which means he’ll hit like 18 homers next season)

Latest on MMO

John Sheridan touches on why Michael Conforto would still be a good option for the Mets despite their free-agent signings.

Mojo Hill looks at what the Mets bullpen may look like on Opening Day.

Brian Wright looks back at some memorable Mets yearbook covers.

On This Date in Mets History

On this day in 1993, the Mets signed Octavio Dotel out of the Dominican Republic. He was then traded six years later, along with Roger Cedeno, for Mike Hampton, who later left for Colorado. The Mets got a compensatory pick out of Hampton leaving. The Mets used that pick on David Wright.

Dotel later pitched for 14 MLB teams in 15 seasons. His longest stay was with the Astros.

Recent Met Brad Hand also turns 32 today. Happy birthday, Mr. Hand.

The post Morning Briefing: Mets Host First Spring Training Game Today appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

The Mets have released an updated spring training schedule for 2022, including fifteen games over eighteen days. Games will begin on April 19, when New York visits Washington at 6:05 pm EST at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, FL.

Clover Park gets its first taste of game action the following day when the Cardinals roll into Port St. Lucie, FL, to take on the Amazins. First pitch is scheduled for 1:10 pm EST.

All eight Mets home games will be televised, SNY says. Six will be on SNY, and two will be on PIX 11. Gary Cohen, Keith Hernandez and Ron Darling will all be in attendance for the first televised game on March 20 versus the Cardinals.

A shortened spring training means the Mets will face just four different opponents before heading to Washington, D.C., to take on the Nationals on April 7. Washington is one of the four spring opponents, including Houston, St. Louis, and Miami, the four geographically closest MLB training sites to Port St. Lucie.

The Mets scheduled six late evening start times, another interesting quirk of the newly released schedule. Typically, spring training games are played in the early afternoons, allowing veterans to get their work in and head home. Leaving us to wonder, when will anyone be able to get a round of golf in?

Tickets for all home Spring Training games go on sale on Monday, March 14 at 10:00 am EST.

The post Mets Release Updated Spring Training Game Schedule appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Ed Delany, MMO

After a month of February where just about nothing happened on the baseball front, there was finally movement at spring training complexes around baseball. Sadly, that movement didn’t come from major-league players as players on teams 40-man rosters are still locked out by MLB owners. Once MLB players, hit camp, it’ll no longer be the offseason, and we’ll stop doing these! But for now…

Mets Studs Arrive in St. Lucie

Francisco Álvarez, Brett Baty, Matthew Allan and other Mets prospects arrived to Port St. Lucie this week at the start of minor league spring training. (Prospects like Ronny Mauricio and Mark Vientos can’t appear at camp until the owners lift the lockout because they are on the major-league 40-man roster.)

Álvarez struck the right chord to start the week, saying his goal was to make it to the major leagues this year. He ended the 2021 season–which he played at age 19–with High-A Brooklyn. Setting that lofty of a goal isn’t a bad trait for the young catching prospect to have, but he in all likelihood will spend the year in Double-A and, if he crushes it in Binghamton, Triple-A. His bat isn’t what needs development–it’s making sure he has the full grasp of calling a game from behind the plate.

However, Keith Law on the latest Get Metsmerized podcast mentioned he could see a scenario where he’s a late September callup if his bat is screaming that it’s ready.

Allan, on the other hand, revealed he had another surgery in January to fix a nerve issue in his right elbow, which he got Tommy John surgery on in May. The surgery–an ulnar nerve transposition–apparently is routine for pitchers at some point after they get Tommy John, but this practically ensures he won’t pitch in bulk in 2022. Allan said he’s going to play catch the next couple weeks and work his way back up from there.

As Does Buck Showalter & Staff

Buck Showalter has been buzzing around the Mets’ St. Lucie complex in a golf cart, and he stopped by a media scrum to talk about how he can prepare for the season at spring training without any major league players.

“We’re trying to use our time wisely where it’s a moving target,” Showalter said. “Hopefully, we get a phone call, and we got ready for the moment the players walk through the door. I think the teams that are ready to go when they walk through the door will be ahead of the game, because it’s not if, it’s when and you got to be ready.”

Showalter also said he expects David Wright to come through PSL at some point as a special instructor.

Eric Chavez made his first comments as hitting coach, as well, highlighting that he wants to “simplify things” for some of the players on the team.“We don’t have magic sauce, but we’re going to use as much information as we can and hopefully, players will get what they need to go out there and perform at their best.”

Once they’re at the plate, though, Chavez said, “We want their athletic ability to take over,” and for them not to be overtaken by information received before the game. We’ll see over the season how Chavez handles that balancing act with individual players.

CBA Update

After two months of large gaps between each offer from MLB and the MLBPA, the two sides will start meeting daily for discussions starting as early as Monday.

Once the MLBPA declined MLB’s offer to have a mediator assist the negotiations earlier in the month (the MLBPA said that would just prolong the process and not help when MLB hasn’t been negotiating in good faith), the two sides each got off a handful of proposals that didn’t really go anywhere. The MLBPA is still holding its ground in that the players need a more fair economic share of baseball’s revenue, and MLB hasn’t really budged off its numbers from the previous collective bargaining agreement.

Then, MLB said spring training games wouldn’t start until “at least” March 5–a week after originally scheduled–and that they’d finally come to the bargaining table more frequently.

What’s Next?

Meeting more frequently doesn’t mean a deal is done next week, but it certainly feels better than a week coming between each proposal on the core economics of the game. Look for daily updates from the likes of Evan Drellich, Jeff Passan and Chelsea Janes on CBA talks.

On the actual gameplay side of things? It’ll be a good time to put eyes on the Mets’ minor league players, as they’re the ones with the cameras on them until the MLB players can show up. (You can get familiar with the depths of the team’s minors with Mike Mayer’s prospect rankings and profiles.

The post Mets Offseason Recap: Week 20 appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

How thick is the outfield padding? What are the acoustics like on the scoreboard? Who hired the head of the grounds crew?

The meticulous Buck Showalter pointed out and asked all this during his first tour of the New York Mets spring training facility in Port St. Lucie Florida. Showalter made sure to count the lockers, test the “sponginess” of the turf on the bullpen mounds and make sure the batters eye in center field was tall and wide enough, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post.

With an attention to detail only a sour mother-in-law could muster, Showalter displayed there’s no detail too small.

“We have been given somewhat of a gift that we have a little extra time,” Showalter said. “Billy and I would be with the players now. You can’t do that. What are you going to do, sit around and wait? Or are you trying to do something else? There was a quote I heard in college, ‘What are you doing to try to win today?’ Is it the great relationship you started with the trainer you just met? Or maybe you walk the fields and that helps you make a good decision. There’s little battles you can win along the way. You have a unique opportunity to touch some things because you have time you normally wouldn’t. Use the time wisely.

Showalter toured the facility with general manager Billy Eppler and the Mets’ head of Florida operations Paul Taglieri.

On the tour he observed rehabbing minor league players not on the 40-man roster and got his first taste of balls popping in gloves, the annual signal that baseball is almost here.

Eppler and Showalter were at the facility for less than two days. According to Sherman, Showalter plans to return next week and stay there as the lockout continues. The Mets will then bring in around 50 players not on the 40-man roster for an instructional camp before minor league came begins in March.

Mar 26, 2021; Port St. Lucie, Florida, USA; A general view in the 6th inning of the spring training game between the New York Mets and the Washington Nationals at Clover Park. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

It will be Showalter and Eppler’s first time seeing members of the Metropolitans in person. Eppler has an additional laundry list of people and places he wants to meet and go.

“There are 225 employees in baseball operations and I haven’t met every one of them yet,” Eppler said. “I haven’t been to our academy in the Dominican Republic. I would like to go there. I’d like to integrate into our amateur scouting meetings quickly because we are going to have a lot of draft picks [five before the third round]. I am going to have more attention in that area while continuing to have Zooms with Buck and staff about spring training scenarios and dates and number of personnel and how we are going to do meetings. We have all of the infrastructure of processes. That is where we are spending time right now.”

The MLB lockout is no closer to ending today than it was on Dec. 1 when it began. Showalter has plenty of time to look at each blade of grass in and around Clover Field.

Among his suggested ideas are moving the Clover Field bullpen to behind the left center field wall, adding feet markers to all the outfield walls on training fields, and hopefully a field with the exact dimensions of Citi Field. The ladder idea down the road.

“Everything has to be about how does this get us closer to being the last team standing,” Showalter said.

Last season at spring training the Mets practiced celebrating for a World Series win. Showalter believes in practicing on what you play on. If so, baseball’s largest stage will be in Port St. Lucie hopefully this spring.

The post Buck Showalter Gets First Taste of Mets Spring Training Facilities appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

According to Tim Healey of Newsday, Mets infielder/outfielder, Jeff McNeil has been scratched from today’s lineup due to a “scrape” on his left wrist, which he suffered as a result of diving for a ball in Monday’s Grapefruit game.

McNeil is the fourth Met to appear on the injury list in the past week with Jed Lowrie‘s knee issue, Brandon Nimmo‘s shoulder soreness, and most recently Todd Frazier, who strained his oblique. Despite this news, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com noted that this ailment sounds very minor and should only keep him out a couple of days.

With injuries to both third basemen in Lowrie and Frazier, there has been speculation that the team could give McNeil more reps in the infield. Mets Manager, Mickey Callaway ultimately diffused this talk by saying the plan is to get him comfortable in the outfield, where they anticipate him playing regularly during the season. McNeil also commented on his position status by saying he’s getting around 80% outfield reps and 20% infield.

Mets minor league outfielder, Rymer Liriano will now be inserted into the lineup in right field, which will slide Rajai Davis over to left in place of McNeil, says Matt Ehalt of The Record.

Should this scrape become a lingering issue, it could threaten the club’s plan to develop McNeil in the outfield this spring. Luckily the initial expectation is that the soon to be 27-year-old will only miss a game or two, but we shall see.

The post McNeil Scratched From Lineup With Scrape on Wrist appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

According to Mike Puma of the New York Post, Brandon Nimmo has resumed full baseball activities, but will miss the first few exhibition games. However, he expects to play this week.

Original post: Feb. 22, 2:20 p.m.

According to Matt Ehalt of Northjersey.com, Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo will reportedly not play in the “first few” games of the Grapefruit League due to the fact that he is dealing with right shoulder soreness.

As Ehalt notes, Nimmo says all tests came back “clean” on the shoulder and is not concerned, claiming it is a result of doing too much recently before he arrived at camp. “It was a little bit too soon too fast. I overworked it a little bit. Like a week before I got down here. Just a little bit too soon. Just a little bit overworked which they said wouldn’t really expect anything less from you,” said Nimmo.

At the moment, it seems that Nimmo is experiencing nothing more than fatigue, but he is the second Met to get an injury looked at in as many days. Jed Lowrie received an MRI on his left knee yesterday that came back showing no “significant” damage.

While both of these injuries are not expected to serious as of now, the Mets will be playing it safe so these do not become lingering issues throughout the regular season.

Nimmo is coming off a breakout year in his first full season in the big leagues, posting a stat line of .263/.404/.483 with a wRC+ of 149.  The club is counting on him to play an important role once again and anticipate using him out the leadoff spot in the lineup this season.

The post Nimmo Resumes Full Baseball Activities appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Picture courtesy of @Mets.

Good morning Mets Fans! Yesterday Alex Rodriguez and a snake made an appearance in Port St. Lucie hanging around Mets players and officials yesterday, but unfortunately so did the injury bug.

Mets new All-Star infielder, Jed Lowrie, whom they signed to a two-year deal worth $20 million this offseason, is dealing with left knee soreness and will go for an MRI says Manager, Mickey Callaway. While it is initially unknown how serious this injury is, the team is not concerned that this will be something long-term, says Matt Ehalt of Northjersey.com.

Regardless, they are going to play it safe with Lowrie in order to be sure he is ready for the regular season at the end of next month and the club has targeted 40 at-bats for him this spring.

Ehalt also noted that Lowrie mentioned he started to feel pain in the back of his knee once he began “speeding things up.” At the moment, it is too early to panic, as we can only hope these precautionary measures pay off and this injury does not wind up becoming a lingering issue for Lowrie and the Mets.

Now let’s take a look below at what else went on surrounding the team, along with the rest of the league yesterday!

Latest Mets News

A-Rod shows up to Mets Camp for a “Walk and Talk” ESPN interview with GM, Brodie Van Wagenen, writes Matthew Cerrone of SNY.

Noah Syndergaard says he is counting on himself in free agency and also comments on the Machado deal, as Tim Britton of The Athletic writes.

Jacob DeGrom addressed Luis Severino‘s criticism of his contract situation.

Peter Alonso faced off against Syndergaard yesterday and afterwards commented on the Mets pitching staff, along with going up against DeGrom early on in camp, as well, tweets Ehalt.

Callaway praises Michael Conforto‘s offensive game, anointing him as “one of the best left-handed hitters in baseball.”

Mets new closer, Edwin Diaz says he’s happy to be here and “ready to go.”

The Mets manager also calls Robinson Cano a “baseball genius” in an interview with Gary Apple of SNY.

Former team employee, Jennifer Wolf has taken a life skills position with the Cleveland Indians, says Jacob Resnick of MMO.

Latest MLB News 

Buster Onley of ESPN and Scott Miller of Bleacher Report discuss how the market will be effected in the aftermath of the Machado deal, along with what it means for Bryce Harper.

Miller also wrote about, Seattle Mariners infielder, Dee Gordon, who recently opened up about his Mom losing her life to domestic violence when he was a kid.

Yankees shortstop, Troy Tulowitzki spoke on the similar double heel procedure he had done that Mets outfielder, Yoenis Cespedes recently received “it’s not easy to come back from,” per David Lennon of Newsday.

White Sox are officially OUT on Harper says Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports.

According to Jon Heyman of Fancred, Harper has allegedly turned down multiple $300 million offers, Washington Nationals are still involved.

As Heyman also noted, once Harper makes his decision, the Phillies will reportedly shift their focus to signing either Dallas Keuchel or Craig Kimbrel, regardless of whether they land the superstar or not.

The Cleveland Indians added reliever, Tyler Clippard on a minor league deal, per Heyman.

According to Rosenthal, the Detroit Tigers have signed versatile utility man, Josh Harrison to a one-year deal.

White Sox GM, Rick Hahn was asked about extending first basemen, Jose Abreu in season, per Scott Merkin of MLB.com.

Cincinnatti Reds star second basemen, Scooter Gennett is “unhappy“ with lack of extension talks.

NL East News

Phillies outfielder, Odubel Herrera reportedly re-aggravated a hamstring injury today, which he suffered a few weeks ago in work outs, says Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports.

Washington Nationals third basemen, Anthony Rendon is not putting a deadline on discussions of a long term deal.

Latest at MMO

Josh Finklestein examined Jason Vargas‘ second spring training with the team.

Christopher Soto looks at MMO’s No. 4 ranked prospect, Mark Vientos.

Mike the Roto Cop interviews Mets new pitcher, Zack Jones.

Finklestein also proclaimed, J.D Davis as his player to watch this season.

Wednesday’s photos from camp provided by site photographer, Ed Delany.

On This Day In Mets History 

1998: Mets signed free agent outfielder, Joe Orsulak.

2002: Acquired Kane Davis via trade from the Colorado Rockies in exchange for Corey Brittan.

The post Morning Briefing: Mets Dealing With First Injury of Camp appeared first on Metsmerized Online.