Wild Card Update

Friday was a nightmare for the Mets, who lost 8-4 in their series opener in Milwaukee. Sean Manaea allowed a first-inning grand slam to Mets villain Rhys Hoskins, and New York couldn’t recover from there. It didn’t help matters that the Braves took care of business against the Royals, shutting them out to move into a tie with the Mets.

The Diamondbacks also lost, falling 5-3 to the Padres, the top Wild Card team in the National League. With Arizona’s loss, the Mets, Braves and Diamondbacks are now all tied for the final two Wild Card spots, with the Mets’ magic number to clinch down to three.

Latest Mets News

In the seventh inning of Friday’s loss, Francisco Alvarez exited the game with an apparent back injury after sliding into third base. He needed to be helped off the field. The Mets announced following his departure that Alvarez left the game due to back spasms.

Following the game, manager Carlos Mendoza said that Alvarez was moving better after his removal from the game, and there’s optimism that his injury won’t keep him out long, if at all.

Mendoza also announced after the game that Jose Quintana will take the mound for the Mets on Saturday.

Lucas Boland-Imagn Images

In a pregame press conference on Friday, David Stearns clarified to the media a couple of rules regarding the potential doubleheader the Mets might have to play on Monday. Stearns spoke on the rules that September doubleheaders do not allow teams to carry an extra player, and if a player is optioned, he must remain in the minor leagues for 10-15 days.

Stearns also spoke on Kodai Senga, who has been throwing and should be facing hitters soon. Stearns said that will happen “whenever he feels ready for it.”

Latest MLB News

Marlins manager Skip Schumaker is leaving the team due to a death in his family. He has likely managed his last game in Miami, as he is not expected back after a disastrous second season.

MLB attendance has increased in consecutive years for the first time since the 2011-12 seasons. Rob Manfred told Sports Business Journal, “It’s an important sign of the strength of our business.”

Per Katie Woo of The Athletic, the Cardinals are preparing to overhaul their player development system, a process that will be led by former Red Sox general manager Chaim Bloom.

Latest on MMO

Jack Markowski writes about how the Mets need J.D. Martinez and Jesse Winker to start producing again on offense.

Michael Mayer details all of the scenarios in which the Mets can make the postseason.

On This Date in Mets History

2008: The Mets played their final game at Shea Stadium, which had been the team’s home since 1964. They played the Marlins in front of a crowd of 56,059 and lost 4-2.

Born On This Date: Danny Mendick (1993), Mike DeJean (1970), Ronn Reynolds (1958).

The post Morning Briefing: Mets Enter Three-Way Tie in Wild Card Race appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

The deadline for teams to agree on a salary for arbitration-eligible players is today and the Mets entered the day with seven players yet to be settled. If the team and player can’t come to an agreement before the Friday deadline, then they will head to an arbiter that will hear discussions from each side and then choose the salary for the 2023 season.

Jeff Passan of ESPN reports the Mets and star slugger Pete Alonso have settled at $14.5 million. It’s the largest number ever for a first baseman in arbitration.

Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports that the Mets and right-handed reliever Drew Smith have agreed on $1.2 million.

Heyman also reported that the Mets settled with Tomas Nido at $1.575M, and Elieser Hernandez at $1.6M. They were reportedly unable to reach a settlement with Jeff McNeil, with McNeil filing at $7.75M and the Mets at only $6.25M.

The Mets officially announced the six players they settled with: Alonso, Jeff Brigham, Luis Guillorme, Hernandez, Nido and Drew Smith, leaving out only McNeil among the seven players listed below.

Here are the seven arbitration-eligible Mets for the 2023 season with their salary estimates from MLB Trade Rumors:

• Pete Alonso: $15.9 million
• Jeff McNeil: $6.2 million
• Tomas Nido: $1.6 million
• Luis Guillorme: $1.5 million
• Drew Smith: $1.2 million
• Elieser Hernandez: $1.8 million
• Jeff Brigham: $800K

The post Arbitration Update: Mets Settle With Six Of Seven Eligible Players appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Carlos Correa. Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

Stop me if you heard this one before. Reportedly, the New York Mets and star infielder Carlos Correa are getting closer to a deal. Per Jim Bowden on MLB Network Radio, it appears we may see a deal sometime soon. The below is a transcript of the audio from the exchange on the radio show:

“I am being told from a friend that is very close to Correa that he will be a New York Met. And that they are finishing up the language right now and this thing is going to get done.”

This aired at around 10:00 A.M. Sunday morning.

It has been a long and tedious 18 days since the reported 12-year and $315-million deal was agreed upon. As has been well documented, a flag was once again raised during Correa’s physical with the Mets concerning his lower leg. This resulting from an injury sustained almost a decade ago. Thus, the long delay in the contract becoming official.

The report from Jim Bowden was not the only Correa related news on Sunday. Bob Nightengale of USA Today published an article with his own update. Here is what he had to say concerning the stalemate:

“He [Correa] will still wind up with the Mets, just on a completely restructured deal that won’t fully guaranteed his original 12-year, $315-million contract, protecting the Mets if his previous surgery causes him to miss significant time.”

Nightengale basically explained the most recent reports of a team reaching out to Correa and the Mets becoming frustrated were both tactics by each side and ultimately a deal will be processed. Regardless, until then, it will always be the hottest topic surrounding the team.

The post Bowden: Carlos Correa Will Be A Met appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

As October comes to an end and the World Series begins, Topps added the book-end to their 2022 flagship product by releasing its 330-card Topps Update Series. Numbered separately from Series’ 1 and 2, Topps Update Series is not an actual Series 3, but a separate product from the flagship release that has the feel of a Series 3 as it is the same size as Series 1 and 2, and it utilizes the same card design.

Always a highly anticipated set throughout the hobby, Topps Update Series has been known for including the rookie card of numerous superstars in the game today, as well as rookie cards for Mets stars such as Matt Harvey, Zack Wheeler, Noah Syndergaard, and Jacob deGrom. This year’s Topps Update Series was already in production when prospects such as Brett Baty, Mark Vents, and Francisco Alvarez made their Major League debuts, so Mets fans and collectors will have to wait until next year to chase their rookie cards. Despite the lack of star rookies in a Mets uniform for Topps Update Series, it does include the first Mets card for Adam Ottavino and the only Mets card for Travis Jankowski.

Although Topps Update Series is far from being the final product to be released in 2022 by Topps, this product features numerous relic cards and autographs from a vast array of Mets luminaries, including current Mets stars Pete Alonso and Jeff McNeil to Mets legends like Dwight Gooden and David Wright.

Much like Topps Series 1 and 2, all cards in the base set have a whopping 14 different parallels, with some parallel’s serial numbered as high as 2022 and as low as 1. The set also continues to include inserts of current and retired players on the classic 1987 Topps design and brings back the 1994 Topps Black Gold design, but with some slight differences.

Below is a checklist of Mets cards in the 2022 Topps Update Series, as well as a look ahead at other baseball card products expected to be released in last two months of 2022.


Base
US1 Max Scherzer
US107 Luis Guillorme
US125 Travis Jankowski
US181 Adam Ottavino
US185 Seth Lugo
US214 Starling Marte
US247 Nick Plummer – rookie card
US288 Jacob deGrom/Max Scherzer – Combo
US305 Chris Bassitt

Short Print Variations
US1 Max Scherzer
US41 Tom Seaver
US144 Mel Ott
US214 Starling Marte

1987 Topps Baseball
87TBU-4 Max Scherzer
87TBU-15 Gary Carter

1987 Topps Baseball Autographs
87ASA-DG Dwight Gooden
87BA-JD Jacob deGrom
87BA-PM Patrick Mazeika

1987 Topps Chrome Silver Packs
T87CU-37 David Wright
T87CU-43 Max Scherzer

1987 Topps Chrome Silver Packs Autographs
T87CA-DW David Wright

2022 MLB All-Star Game
ASG-30 Pete Alonso
ASG-34 Starling Marte

All-Star Autographed Jumbo Patch Cards
ASJA-PA Pete Alonso

All-Star Jumbo Patch Cards
ASJC-JMC Jeff McNeil
ASJC-PA Pete Alonso

All-Star Stitches
ASSC-JMC Jeff McNeil
ASSC-PA Pete Alonso

All-Star Stitches Autographs
ASSA-PA Pete Alonso

All-Star Stitches Dual Autographs
ASDA-AG Pete Alonso/Paul Goldschmidt
ASDA-AGJ Vladimar Guerrero Jr./Pete Alonso

Clear
US1 Max Scherzer
US214 Starling Marte
US247 Nick Plummer
US305 Chris Bassitt

Commemorative Batting Helmet
BH-SMA Starling Marte

Diamond Greats Die-Cuts
DGDC-66 Max Scherzer

Major League Material
MLM-PA Pete Alonso

Legendary Home Field Advantage
LHA-11 Tom Seaver

Own the Game Relics
OTN-BN Brandon Nimmo 1/1
OTN-JMC Jeff McNeil 1/1
OTN-Jd Jacob deGrom 1/1

Special Event Commemorative Patch Cards
SEP-FL Francisco Lindor
SEP-PA Pete Alonso

Special Patch Event Cards Autographs
SEP-PA Pete Alonso

Stars of MLB
SMLB-74 Max Scherzer

Stars of MLB Chrome
SMLBC-74 Max Scherzer

Topps Black Gold
BG-16 Pete Alonso

Topps Black Gold Autographs
BG-16 Pete Alonso

Topps Reverance Auotgraph Patch Cards
TRAP-JMC Jeff McNeil -numbered to 10
TRAP-PA Pete Alonso – numbered to 10
TRAP-TGL Tom Glavine – numbered to 10

Baseball Card Release Calendar (dates are subject to change)
November 18: 2022 Topps Allen & Ginter
November 25: 2022 Donruss Optic
November 25: 2022 Topps Stadium Club
November 30: 2022 Bowman Chrome
December 14: 2022 Bowman Draft
December 14: 2022 Topps Chrome Update
December 14: 2022 Topps Heritage Minors
December 28: 2022 Bowman’s Best
December 30: Topps Heritage High Number

The post 2022 Topps Update Series Now Available appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Photo: Ed Delany, Metsmerized Online

Jacob deGrom said he feels “completely normal” on Saturday as he works his way back from a right shoulder injury.

It was deGrom’s first public appearance in over a month. The ace right-hander hasn’t pitched this season, delaying fans’ anticipation of seeing him and Max Scherzer lead the Mets’ rotation. Scherzer happens to be out as well.

DeGrom said he threw from a distance of 135 feet on Friday as he continues to slowly ramp things up.

“I’m not exactly sure when I’m supposed to touch the mound, but so far everything’s felt good,” he said.

DeGrom underwent an MRI on April 1 which shut down his throwing schedule for four weeks. The Mets provided an update on May 17, announcing that there was evidence of healing in his scapula. It’s been seemingly nothing but positive progression as he looks to return and make an impact on a Mets team that has the second-best record in the National League even without him.

“It’s gonna be like, do we push it? Do we not?” deGrom said. “That’ll be the discussion over the next few days, and when we get on the mound, what is the safest way to go about this?”

DeGrom missed the last three months of last season with elbow inflammation and turns 34 years old in June. While the rotation has certainly taken a hit this year, deGrom and Scherzer could find themselves back in the fold at some point during the summer.

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