Team USA kicked off its 2023 World Baseball Classic Saturday when it took on Great Britain in the first game of pool C play. While Great Britain got off to a good start early, the United States found a way to take control of the game and pick up an opening 6-2 victory at Chase Field in Phoenix.

Adam Wainwright got the start for the USA and allowed Great Britain to get on the board in the first when Trayce Thompson hit a solo shot to left-center on Wainwright’s fifth pitch of the game.

While Team USA wasted some scoring chances in the first two innings, they found a way to break through in the bottom of the third against former Syracuse Met Vance Worley (2 2/3 innings, 2 runs, 3 hits, 3 walks, 1 K, 32 of 60 pitches for strikes).

After Paul Goldschmidt reached on a throwing error and made it to second on a wild pitch, Nolan Arenado drove in his Cardinals teammate with a double down the left field line. Three batters later, Kyle Tucker drove in Arenado with a base hit to center to give the USA the lead, 2-1.

Team USA takes the lead! #WorldBaseballClassic

(MLB x @TMobile) pic.twitter.com/qhp78nsBk0

— MLB (@MLB) March 12, 2023

One inning later, USA threatened to score more. Mike Trout drew a walk and Goldschmidt was hit by a pitch. Later in the frame, Kyle Schwarber crushed a three-run home run to right center against Ryan Long to increase the lead to 5-1.

#WorldBaseballClassic Schwar💣‼ pic.twitter.com/iBbsrz2wcP

— MLB (@MLB) March 12, 2023

Those runs would be all that Wainwright and the USA pitching staff would need. Wainwright went four innings, allowed one run on five hits, walked one, and struck out four on 49 pitches (36 strikes).

The star of the game for Team USA was Arenado, who went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and a pair of RBIs. The third baseman is one of the few returnees from 2017 when he did not have the best tournament (.161, 1 HR, 3 RBIs, 11 K’s in 31 at-bats), so it’s good to see him get off to a strong start.

Once Wainwright left the game, the bullpen was able to prevent Great Britain from making a comeback. Jason Adam threw a 1-2-3 fifth inning, Kyle Freeland (who got the win) allowed one run on two hits over three innings (23 of 29 pitches for strikes), and David Bednar allowed a hit and struck out two in a scoreless ninth to finish the game.

As for the Mets players, Jeff McNeil got the start at second base and hit ninth in the order. McNeil went 0-for-4 with a ground out in the second, a fly out in the third, a line out in the fifth, and a ground out in the seventh as he was the only starter to not reach base.

Next Game

Team USA is back in action tomorrow night when it takes on Team Mexico (10 p.m ET, FS1). Mexico will be in almost a must-win situation after their 5-4 loss to Colombia in 10 innings. Patrick Sandoval (Angels) will start for Mexico against Nick Martinez (Padres) for USA. Pete Alonso is 0-for-2 against the southpaw with a walk and a strikeout while McNeil is 3-for-3.

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It was no secret that spring training was going to be vital for Brett Baty in terms of proving he should crack the Opening Day roster for the Mets.

He’s off to a strong start.

With the Mets holding an intra-squad game on Friday before the real Grapefruit League action begins on Saturday, Baty had an early opportunity to impress and he did exactly that.

Facing Joey Lucchesi – who is on the comeback trail after Tommy John Surgery – Baty led off the game with a bloop single that went over the head of Francisco Lindor. It demonstrated Baty’s ability to make good, hard contact and put the ball into play at a high-end level.

That wasn’t the highlight of the afternoon for Baty, however.

He would go on to hit a RBI double with a really impressive blast to the left-center wall that split the two outfielders. It drove in DJ Stewart for a run and again highlighted Baty’s hitting abilities. The third baseman would then come around to score on Lorenzo Cedrola‘s single as the blue team got the 3-0 win.

.@Baty_brett finds the gap! pic.twitter.com/b4YE9VJvvd

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

“It was a fly ball that went where we couldn’t catch it,” Mets manager Buck Showalter said. “It was good. It was off a left-handed pitcher. Brett’s good, he’s in a good place.”

Baty is known for his offensive prowess and he showed in a small sample size in 2022 that he can hit in the big leagues, despite some growing pains. He blasted his first home run in his first major league at-bat and he would hit two homers in total in 42 plate appearances before thumb surgery cost him the rest of the 2022 season.

The highly-ranked prospect has then had to deal with constant questions about his role in 2023. He was even involved in possible trade talks with the Miami Marlins interested in the wake of the Carlos Correa saga. After Correa eventually returned to the Minnesota Twins, it then appeared likely that Baty would begin the year back in Triple-A and eventually work his way into a platoon role with veteran Eduardo Escobar at third base.

However, Baty emerged as the best player in the Mets’ intra-squad game on Friday and, although a very small sample size, he could make the Opening Day roster if he can continue hitting like he did throughout spring training. Baty has a higher ceiling offensively than Escobar at the hot corner, and if he can consistently make hard contact with the ball and make things happen at the plate, it might prove difficult for the front office to send him down.

The only real question mark that remains when it comes to Baty’s game is his defense. It proved to be a tough adjustment in the majors last year and that will be something the front office will be keeping a close eye on throughout spring. But, if Baty, who is in the lineup for the Mets’ Grapefruit League opener against the Houston Astros at 1:05 P.M. on Saturday, can show improvement in the field and be consistent at the plate and hit like he did on Friday, then it is fair to assume he’ll be sticking around in the majors.

The post Player Of The Game: Brett Baty Starts Spring Strong appeared first on Metsmerized.

Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

Mets owner Steve Cohen was in Port St. Lucie for day six of Mets spring training. He spent a few minutes speaking with the media over the railing of the Mets dugout at Clover Park.

Cohen spoke on various topics, including the vibe and goals of the team, team spending and fulfilling promises to the fans, connecting with players and fans, as well as Shohei Ohtani’s anticipated free agency at the end of the season.

Spring Training and Player Engagement:

Cohen spoke on the free agency market during the off-season and expressed his surprise that prices for players had gone up during the offseason. “Listen, it’s a fluid situation. We had some ideas of what we wanted to do, and you always have contingency plans because you never know how it’s going to work out,” stated Cohen.

Cohen said it turned out well considering the price hike for players, stating that many of the free agents were placed.

“I’m really excited about this team,” he said. “I feel an incredible vibe here. I think this is the best vibe I’ve felt since I’ve started thing, being an owner. I’m excited, this is a good-looking team.”

Cohen was asked about building a family atmosphere culture with the team.

“They’re people. And I care about my people,” said Cohen. “I think it’s important to have a personal touch, I think that matters, it shows you care,” he said.

Offseason Spending:

Along with placing a lot of players during the offseason, a good amount of money was spent. Cohen said he had conversations with other owners at the winter meetings and comments were made that he’s playing by the rules and following them.

“In the end, when I measure my success as an owner, obviously you want to win a world series, but I’m also going to measure my success on building a farm system so we can create sustainability year in and year out. That’s really important to me,” noted Cohen.

Cohen noted that the amount of money he spent during the offseason was to fulfill his commitment to the fans. “It wasn’t a short-term commitment,” he stated. “When I do something, I don’t do it halfway. When I’m in, I’m all in. I don’t accept mediocrity well and have high expectations. If that means me investing into this club, then I’m going to do it.”

Expectations and Goals for 2023 and Beyond:

Cohen touched on the 2023 goals for the team. He was asked about if the expectation was nothing less than the world series. His response was how hard it is to get there and that yes, it’s a goal, but there’s ways to get there.

“The only thing you can do is put yourself in position where good things can happen,” said Cohen. Have to make the playoffs, the team has to be healthy, rested, it has to be rearing to go, and you let the chips fall where they may.”

Cohen noted that he’d love to get there, but he can’t control making the World Series. “If you keep making that happen, one day we’ll get there.”

In terms of long-term (three to five year) goals, Cohen noted that it’s important to set goals that are high. “There’s nothing wrong with putting out really stretch goals. You may get there, you may not. But it’s important to set goals that are high and try to achieve them,” said Cohen.

Fan Engagement:

“I’ve always tried to find ways to engage with the fans,” said Cohen. He noted taking selfies, engaging on twitter, his wife giving away tickets in the upper deck as ways they’ve tried to engage with fans. He said it doesn’t take a lot to make your fans feel important. “It’s back to realizing that without the fans, their excitement, and engagement, there’s no Mets. They’re important to us,” he said.

Cohen said he doesn’t view feeling like a “celebrity” as important. “My job is to build a great ballclub and interact with the fans. It’s not about me, it’s about them,” he said.

Shohei Ohtani Upcoming Free Agency:

Cohen was of course asked about Ohtani’s free agency. He said that’s for next year and that he’s focused on this season. “That’s next year. Let’s worry about this year,” he said.

The post Steve Cohen as Spring Training Starts “The Best Vibe I’ve Felt” appeared first on Metsmerized.

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Thursday is an important one across baseball as there are multiple deadlines for player decisions and then at 5:00 p.m. ET the free agency frenzy starts. This is when the offseason really gets started.

Option Deadline

The deadline for teams to decide on team options, mutual options, and the players on their options (and opt-outs) is Thursday. The Mets have two players they have yet to make decisions on after declining their option on Mychal Givens on Wednesday.

• RHP Carlos Carrasco – $14 million team option with $3 million buyout
• RHP John Curtiss – $775K club option

Carrasco at essentially $11 million for the 2023 season is a good deal despite his age (35) and struggles down the stretch. He finished with a 3.97 ERA and 3.53 FIP in 152 innings this season. The Mets already have starters Jacob deGrom, Chris Bassitt, and Taijuan Walker scheduled to hit the open market on Thursday night.

The 29-year-old Curtiss was signed by the Mets this year knowing he was going to miss the entire 2022 season after he underwent Tommy John surgery in September of 2021. Assuming his rehab has gone fine, picking up his cheap option would be a no-brainer. The right-handed reliever had a 3.45 ERA in 41 games in 2021 before the injury.

Qualifying Offer Deadline 

The deadline to give a player the $19.65 million qualifying offer is also 5:00 p.m. ET tonight with a group of stars expected to get it and that includes multiple Mets.

• RHP Jacob deGrom – no-brainer here for the Mets and for Jacob to decline
• OF Brandon Nimmo – same thing here
• RHP Chris Bassitt – more of the same expected with Bassitt
• RHP Taijuan Walker – little tougher decision, but could make sense for a team in need of starting pitching

All the of deGrom, Nimmo, and Bassitt will get the QO and decline it. Meaning if they sign elsewhere the Mets would get a compensation pick after the fourth round of the 2023 draft. The $19.65 million salary for the QO is probably a little more than Walker gets on the open market, but he could decline in hopes of a longer deal.

Any player that receives the qualifying offer then has 10 days to make their decision.

Let Free Agency Begin! 

Players can sign with new teams starting at 5:00 p.m. ET tonight with lots of marquee players on the market including OF Aaron Judge, SS Carlos Correa, SS Xander Bogaerts, SS Trea Turner, SS Dansby Swanson, LHP Carlos Rodon, C Willson Contreras, Nimmo, and deGrom to name a few.

It’s been well documented that the Mets have a stockpile of free agents this season and most of them played a role in their 101-win season this year. The current list is up to 12 players for the Mets before they make decisions on Carrasco and Curtiss.

The Mets did get a jump on the market by signing star closer Edwin Díaz to a five-year deal.

The post QO, Options Deadline Today; Free Agency Starts at 5 PM ET appeared first on Metsmerized.

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Sources have told MMO the Mets will make a strong push to sign star closer Edwin Díaz before free agency kicks off five days after the conclusion of the World Series. Mets owner Steve Cohen realizes the value that Díaz has on the field as well as the excitement he brings to Citi Field with his “Narco” entrance and wants baseball’s best closer to stay in New York.

While the Mets have a ton of important free agents that include center fielder Brandon Nimmo, potentially a large chunk of their rotation with Jacob deGrom expected to opt-out, and most of their bullpen, early indications are the Mets will make getting Díaz locked up before he hits the open market a priority.

Díaz, 28, was the best reliever in baseball in 2022, when he posted a 1.31 ERA, 0.90 FIP, 0.84 WHIP, and struck out 118 of the 235 batters he faced. His 50.2 strikeout percentage was the third-highest all-time and became the second fastest player (51.2 IP) to 100 strikeouts in a season. He also allowed only 34 hits and walked 18 in 62 innings. His 1.31 ERA is the second lowest in Mets history and his 118 strikeouts rank second in franchise history for reliever as well.

Díaz did all of that while working not only as a traditional closer, but also pitching in high-leverage spots earlier than the ninth inning. He also, at times, went more than three outs when needed. He earned the National League Reliever of the Month award three straight times for June, July, and August, becoming the first pitcher to do so.

The right-hander came to the Mets in a trade with the Seattle Mariners back in 2018 alongside veteran second baseman Robinson Canó for prospects Jarred Kelenic, Justin Dunn, Gerson Bautista and veterans Jay Bruce and Anthony Swarzak.

Díaz had a nightmarish first season with the Mets in 2019 when he posted a 5.59 ERA as the closer, however, the right-hander 2.27 ERA and 227 strikeouts in 150 innings since. I believe it’s safe to say he’s found his comfort zone as it became must-see TV across baseball this season when Díaz entered Citi Field to “Narco” including the time Timmy Trumpet played it live in a win against the Dodgers.

Outside of Díaz, it’s going to be a weak closer market that will mostly consist of older arms like Kenley Jansen (35), Craig Kimbrel (34), and David Robertson (37). If Díaz hits free agency, there will certainly be a bidding war for the games best closer with multiple teams from the NL East likely involved. It’s possible that the 28-year-old Díaz becomes the first reliever in major league history to get a $100 million contract.

Locking up Díaz before free agency would be a great start to a crucial offseason for Mets’ GM Billy Eppler.

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