Minor league players in the Major League Baseball Players’ Association have reached a tentative agreement with the league on its first collective bargaining agreement, according to a report from ESPN’s Jeff Passan. The deal is for five years and includes at least two times the pay at all minor league levels, according to Passan.

While the deal is tentatively agreed to, it still needs to be fully approved by both the union and MLB owners. Passan reports that the deal includes minimum annual pay increases of over $15,000 in Low-A, over $16,000 in High-A and Double-A, and over $18,000 in Triple-A.

Because this is the first CBA for minor leaguers, there are tons of details to sift through. Player leaders have ratified the deal, and it is tentative until the rank-and-file agree, which the union expects. Similarly, MLB owners need to agree after the league office negotiated.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 30, 2023

As part of the agreement, the Domestic Reserve List, which governs the maximum number of players in an organization outside of Latin America, will be reduced from 180 to 165 starting next season, Passan reports. The league had been seeking a reduction of the Domestic Reserve List dating back to last year’s negotiations during the 2022 lockout.

As another wrinkle of the new CBA, players who sign at age 19 or older are now under club reserve for six years, rather than the current seven, according to Evan Drellich of The Athletic. However, the rule will not be retroactively applied.

Drellich reports that the MLBPA vote is currently underway, and is expected to be concluded by midnight Wednesday.

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Daniel Murphy‘s professional baseball career is not over yet. The independent Long Island Ducks announced on Wednesday that they are signing the 37-year-old Murphy to a contract for this season. Murphy last appeared in the majors in 2020 for the Colorado Rockies before announcing his retirement. The three-time All-Star hit .296 for his career to go along with a .341 OBP and a .796 OPS.

Murphy is, of course, most remembered by Mets fans for his dominant 2015 postseason, where he helped propel the Mets to the National League pennant. In the 2015 playoffs, Murphy became the first MLB player to hit a home run in six consecutive postseason games. He made his return to Citi Field last season as a part of Old Timers’ Day.

“This game is part of my soul, and my passion for playing grew as great as ever when I discovered certain things that I believe will enable me to be productive on the field again.” Murphy said. “Competing before the New York fans is an enormous privilege, and I hope that my effort and performance reflect how honored I am to do so.”

Murphy joins a Ducks squad that also features his former teammate Rubén Tejada on the infield and is managed by former Met Wally Backman. Nelson Figueroa is also the team’s pitching coach.

The Ducks play at Fairfield Properties Ballpark in Central Islip and open up their home season on May 2.

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The Cleveland Guardians and All-Star Andrés Giménez have agreed to a contract extension that will lock the second baseman to the Guardians through potentially the 2031 season, according to ESPN‘s Jeff Passan.

The extension, which will start in 2024, is for seven years and $106.5 million. The Guardians have a club option for 2031, as well. As Passan points out, the deal will buy out Giménez’s three arbitration years and potentially five years of free agency. He will make just above the league minimum in 2023.

The 24-year-old Giménez posted a massive 7.4 bWAR season in 2022 with a .297/.371/.466/.837 slash line, 141 OPS+ and elite defense at second base. He earned his first All-Star selection last year, too. The Guardians acquired Giménez from the Mets in January 2021 along with Amed Rosario and prospects Josh Wolf and Isaiah Greene in exchange for Francisco Lindor and Carlos Carrasco. If you ask both teams, they probably feel they won their side of the trade.

In 2024, Giménez can theoretically move to shortstop and provide the team a boost defensively there after Rosario hits free agency. If Giménez maintains solid offensive production and plays Gold Glove-caliber defense at short, this would be an extremely team-friendly contract in a world where top shortstops are earning $300 million contracts.

Giménez was signed by the Mets out of Barquisimeto, Venezuela, in 2015 for $1.2 million. Over the next five years, he developed within the Mets system and debuted in 2021 after becoming one of the team’s top prospects. He showed enough promise playing as a regular in 2020 to become a centerpiece of the team’s trade for Lindor. He struggled his first year in Cleveland, but he showed his full potential a year later, culminating in an extension that will secure him over $100 million.

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Justin Verlander. Photo via Ed Delaney, MMO

The New York Mets took on the Miami Marlins Sunday afternoon in the team’s last game of spring training. At Clover Park in Port St. Lucie, Florida, the Mets tied for the second day in a row as each team scored three runs. The Mets end spring training 10-14 with a few ties. Now, the real baseball starts.

The first score of Sunday’s game came in the third inning. Starling Marte lined a two-out double to left field, Brandon Nimmo – who singled earlier in the inning – came all the around to score from first base. The Mets led 1-0 after three innings.

The Marlins responded right away in the next frame. They got five hits and three runs off Justin Verlander. Verlander, for the second time in the game, was also struck by a comebacker. Each time, he brushed it off and remained in the game. Miami led 3-1 headed to the bottom of the fourth inning.

After a Pete Alonso single, he was moved to third base and brought home via a Mark Canha sacrifice fly. New York trailed 3-2 after four innings.

The Mets were able to the tie the game up in the next inning. Starling Marte hit another two-out double and was brought home the very next at-bat via a Francisco Lindor double.

Justin Verlander‘s day ended after five tumultuous innings. It was a bizarre start that featured the 40-year-old getting struck twice by balls hit right at his lower body. He once again struggled with his command as he walked four and only threw a strike 57.8 percent of the time. All in all, he went five innings and allowed three runs thanks to eight hits. His spring training ERA stands at 3.00.

The Mets’ bullpen behind Verlander was fantastic. Four relievers combined for four hitless innings. Stephen Nogosek two strikeouts), Tommy Hunter (two strikeouts), Dennis Santana, and Grant Hartwig all contributed one inning a piece.

As for the Mets’ bats, the game stayed at three runs a piece as the New York offense mustered eight hits. Marte was the only Met with multiple knocks.

Starling Marte. Photo by Ed Delaney, MMO

Player of the Game: Starling Marte

Marte had himself a very nice day and directly factored into two of the Mets’ three runs. He went 3-for-3 with two doubles. One of which scored a run and due to the other he scored a run himself.

Marte ends spring with a terrific slash line of .344/.361/.535 which is good for a .924 OPS. He certainly looks ready to go.

On Deck

As mentioned above, Sunday’s game was the last game of spring training. Next up, the Mets will open the 2023 regular season in Miami against the Marlins at 4:10 PM ET on Thursday. The projected pitching matchup for the season opener is Max Scherzer versus Sandy Alcántara.

The post Mets End Spring Training With A 3-3 Tie Against Miami appeared first on Metsmerized.

Francisco Lindor. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports

Francisco Lindor created one of the bigger moments of the game in the New York Mets’ 4-4 tie with the St. Louis Cardinals Saturday night. The switch-hitting shortstop hit a two-run home run off Cardinals minor league pitcher Logan Gragg in the bottom of the sixth inning, pulling the Mets back within two. Lindor would finish the game going 1-for-3, taking his average up to .314 in spring training.

The 29-year-old is showing that he is more than prepared for what this year is going to bring, showcasing all of his skills for the Mets and Puerto Rico at the World Baseball Classic. Lindor is slashing .314/.385/.629 with three home runs and eight runs batted in with the Mets. He was just as productive, if not more at the WBC, getting nine hits in 20 at-bats along with playing strong defense throughout the tournament. It is safe to say that Lindor is poised for a big season with the Mets.

Lindor is not only one of the fan favorites on this Mets team, but he also happens to be one the leaders within the clubhouse. Manager Buck Showlater will continue to lean on his shortstop to be one of consistent guys on a team with expectations to win, and win now. With Opening Day just days away, Lindor could not be more prepared for what the 2023 season has to offer.

The post Francisco Lindor Continues His Strong Spring With Home Run appeared first on Metsmerized.

Francisco Lindor. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports

The Mets and Cardinals faced off in the penultimate game of spring training on Saturday night at Clover Park. It was right-handed pitcher Andre Pallante on the mound for the visiting team against right-handed pitcher Tylor Megill for the Mets.

Both the offense and pitching got off to slow starts on Saturday as the Mets and Cardinals ended up in a tie at the end of the night. The biggest offense produced by the Mets was a sixth inning two-run home run by Francisco Lindor that kickstarted a mini comeback for the Mets. But it was a little too late as they were only able to produce two more runs in the game that led to the 4-4 tie that Saturday’s game ended with.

Megill did not get off to a great start on Saturday night. He gave up two quick lead-off singles in the first followed by two one-out walks, the second of which walked in a run to give the Cardinals a quick 1-0 lead over the Mets in the first. Luken Baker then flew out to center field on a sacrifice fly to extend St. Louis’ lead to 2-0 before Megill finally found his way out of the inning.

The Mets went down fairly quiet in the first five innings. Pete Alonso singled in the bottom of the second, Starling Marte singled in the fourth, and Mark Canha singled in the fifth, but they were all left stranded as the Mets were unable to move the runners or produce any runs through five innings.

After a rough start in the first, Megill settled down through the next four innings. He gave up just two more walks between the second and fifth inning. Megill came back out to pitch the sixth, but a lead-off walk was all manager Buck Showalter allowed as he went to his bullpen with one on and no outs. Jimmy Yacabonis came in to pitch the sixth for Megill.

.@Lindor12BC is LOCKED in. 🔒 pic.twitter.com/Q3KerR9wBK

— New York Mets (@Mets) March 26, 2023

Megill finished with three earned runs on two hits while striking out four and walking five in five innings pitched.

Yacabonis also started off on a rough note, allowing a quick RBI double to Justin Toerner that extended the Cardinals’ lead over the Mets to 3-0 in the top of the 6^th. Yacabonis then walked the next two batters he faced to load the bases before striking out Oscar Mercado. But then trouble continued for Yacabonis. Though he got Kramer Robertson to ground out, a run scored to extend the Cardinals’ lead over the Mets to 4-0 before Yacabonis got out of the inning on a strikeout of Juniel Querecuto.

The Mets answered back and got on the board in the bottom of the sixth. Logan Gragg gave up a one-out walk to Marte to put a runner on and then Lindor followed up Marte with a rocket home run to deep right field that scored Marte and made it a 4-2 game in the bottom of the sixth.

Neither team produced any runs in the seventh inning. Masyn Winn led off the top of the seventh with a triple off of Yacabonis, but he was left stranded along with Wade Stauss who was hit by a pitch. Though he allowed two runners, Yacabonis was able to get out of the inning unscathed.

The Mets went down in order in the bottom half of the seventh.

An inning later in the eight inning, the Mets tried to get a rally going. Tim Locastro was hit by a pitch to open the inning. Michael Pérez then doubled, moving Locastro to third. Jonathan Araúz then grounded out to first, but that allowed Locastro to score to make it a 4-3 ballgame in the eighth. Two batters after that, José Peraza doubled to left field and scored Pérez to tie it up 4-4.

The game remained tied through nine innings and the Mets and Cardinals chose not to go into extra innings, ending the game in a 4-4 tie with six hits in the hits column for each team as well to make it a tie in both runs and hits.

Player of the Game

Saturday night’s Metsmerized Player of the Game went to Lindor. He was 1-for-3, with one run scored and two RBI’s on his sixth inning home run off of Gragg. Lindor will be a key driver for this Mets offense in 2023, and the fact he looked sharp at the plate on Saturday will serve as a huge positive heading into Opening Day.

On Deck

Spring training 2023 comes to an end on Sunday as the Mets close out their Grapefruit League campaign against the Miami Marlins at 4:10PM at Clover Park. The two clubs close out the spring together and then will meet again on Thursday on Opening Day 2023 at Loan Depot Park in Miami.

The post Francisco Lindor Homers As Mets Tie With Cardinals appeared first on Metsmerized.

In the WBC, Bubby had two innings, three strikeouts, one hit, and no runs or walks allowed. He sat in the upper 90s on his heater and blended in with the best relievers in the tournament, striking out Rafael Devers, Ketel Marte, and Hernan Perez.

bubbie rankings:

1) my bubbie
2) Bubby Rossman
3) other bubbies pic.twitter.com/AVLJdbzqjl

— Israel Baseball 🇮🇱 (@ILBaseball) March 15, 2023

Bubby completed a one-year minor league contract with the Phillies last season, splitting the season between Double-A and Triple-A, and debuted for the Phils in Toronto as a Covid replacement on July 13. In his lone big league outing he went one inning with a walk, a homerun allowed to Teoscar Hernandez, and a strikeout against Matt Chapman.

The Mets have signed Bubby Rossman to a minor league deal after he recently pitched for Team Israel in the WBC.

Rossman tops out at 99 mph and made his big league debut last year with Phillies.

4.11 ERA, 83 Ks (42 walks) in the minors last season.

pic.twitter.com/Bj6TULG94F

— Mike Mayer (@mikemayer22) March 18, 2023

Bubby has made many stops on his baseball journey, starting as a two-way player at DII Cal State Dominguez Hills. He was drafted by the Dodgers back in 2014, released in 2016, made several independent league stops from 2017-2021, played in the Arizona Fall League in 2019 following a stint in a strange independent winter league, and spent time the Australian Baseball League this winter, collecting a championship ring with the Adelaide Giants. Back in 2019 he hit 99.3 mph at Driveline Baseball in Seattle, WA to set the facility’s velocity record, but didn’t find his way back to affiliated baseball until 2022, nearly six years after his release from the Dodgers.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BrOJPwiAaUH/

In the Phillies’ minor league system last season, Rossman boasted a 27.4 K% and a 13.9 BB%. While the walk rate was high, he still had an xERA over 10% above league average last season and 5% above league average in AAA alone. He averaged 95.7 mph (T99.1) with 17.7″ VB (80th percentile for 4-seam fastballs) on his heater and 86.6 mph (T91.2) with 3.4″ VB and -4″ HB on his slider. He also threw his change up 24% of the time but looked to be primarily FB/SL in the WBC.

He has one of the most unique paths to the MLB of anybody in recent memory and it looks like his days of independent baseball are in the rearview mirror. He should start for the Mets in Syracuse and compete for a bullpen depth role as they scramble to fill innings following the injury to Edwin Diaz. He isn’t a replacement for Sugar yet but between Rossman, Bryce Montes de Oca, and Grant Hartwig, the Mets have several high-velocity options in the ranks to add depth and Vegas odds say at least one will contribute in a meaningful way this season.

The post Team Israel’s Bubby Rossman Signs with Mets appeared first on Metsmerized.

Good morning, Mets fans!

Per Marc Craig of The Athletic, Edwin Díaz returned home to Port St. Lucie on Saturday after having surgery on Thursday. He was greeted by a trainer, nutritionist and a personal chef, courtesy of Steve Cohen and the Mets. According to a phone call between Cohen and Díaz, Cohen told him, “We’re going to do everything we can to get you better and take care of you.”

This is just one of the latest efforts Cohen is trying to implement to connect with players. “It’s important to have a personal touch. I think that matters, it shows you care,” he said earlier this spring.

The United States defeated Venezuela on Saturday night 9-7 to advance to the semifinal round against Cuba on Sunday.

Meanwhile, just a little ways up north in West Palm Beach, the Mets defeated the Astros 2-0. The Mets were led by seven scoreless innings from ace Max Scherzer, who struck out eight. Mets pitching combined for 13 strikeouts on Saturday against Houston.

WBC Scores

USA 9, Venezuela 7

• Pete Alonso: 1-for-1
• Adam Ottavino: 1 IP, 0 ER, 2 K

Latest Mets News

According to Jack Curry of the YES Network, former Met Todd Frazier is joining YES Network to do studio work. Frazier played for the Mets and five other teams in his 11-year career.

Prior to their game on Saturday against the Astros, the Mets made a number of roster cuts:

• Outfielders Abraham Almonte and Jaylin Davis were reassigned to minor league camp.
• Infielder Ronny Mauricio was optioned to Triple-A.
• Left-handed pitcher Joey Lucchesi was optioned to Triple-A.

During their game against the Astros, the Mets made a few more roster cuts as well:

• Right-handed pitcher William Woods was reassigned to minor league camp.
• Catcher Hayden Senger was reassigned to minor league camp.
• Outfielder Lorenzo Cedrola was assigned to minor league camp.

Per Mike Puma of the New York Post, the Mets have a scheduled team-bonding event on Sunday after their home game against the St. Louis Cardinals. The event: a crawfish boil organized by Max Scherzer.

Latest MLB News

 Jose Altuve left Saturday night’s World Baseball Classic game between the United States and Venezuela with an apparent hand injury. According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the initial concern with Altuve is a broken right thumb. No reports have been confirmed and the Astros are expected to provide more information on Sunday.

Latest on MMO

Dilip Sridhar discusses how the Mets can replace the injured Edwin Diaz.

Mathias Altman-Kurosaki talks about the important role Luis Guillorme will play for the Mets throughout the 2023 season.

Andrew Steele-Davis recaps Carlos Carrasco’s strong outing from Friday, March 17 and discusses the importance of that outing for Carrasco and the Mets.

Andrew Steele-Davis talks about the latest on Brandon Nimmo and his status of being week-to-week with a low grade sprain of his right knee and ankle.

Andrew Steele-Davis recaps some of the roster moves made by the Mets, including Ronny Mauricio being optioned to Triple-A.

Alexis Farinacci recaps the Mets’ 2-0 win over the Astros on Saturday night that featured seven scoreless innings and eight strikeouts by Max Scherzer.

On This Date in Mets History

1996: Bill Pulsipher suffered a season-ending strained tendon in his left elbow.

1996: Paul Wilson suffered a partially torn medial collateral ligament in his pitching elbow.

Birthdays: Jose Butto (25), Tim Corcoran (70), Dan Rose (76), Richie Ashburn (96)

The post Morning Briefing: Steve Cohen Supporting Edwin Díaz With ‘Personal Touch’ appeared first on Metsmerized.

Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

Brandon Nimmo is week-to-week with a low-grade sprain to his right ankle and knee, New York Mets general manager Billy Eppler has announced.

Eppler added that “everything looked structurally sound” in the MRIs that were taken on Saturday.

Billy Eppler announces that Brandon Nimmo has low-grade sprains in both his ankle and knee and is considered week-to-week: pic.twitter.com/Nb8nXtgMmS

— SNY (@SNYtv) March 18, 2023

It is worth mentioning that, at this stage at least, the Mets haven’t put a firm timetable on Nimmo’s return, but it appears very unlikely that he will be available for Opening Day.

Nimmo was forced to leave Friday’s win against the Miami Marlins following an awkward slide into second base. If you watch the below video, it appeared as though Nimmo’s cleats got stuck into the ground and he jammed his right knee as he attempted to reach second. The veteran was in a lot of pain and, after being seen to on the field, he eventually limped off and struggled to put any weight on that right knee.

Brandon Nimmo limps off the field after an awkward slide into second base: pic.twitter.com/2tiyghvC1o

— SNY (@SNYtv) March 17, 2023

The Mets announced at the time that he had left the game and would undergo imaging on Saturday. Nimmo was replaced by Tim Locastro in the game.

Nimmo had been ramping up in spring training and was gearing up for an important 2023 season. The long-time Met signed an eight-year, $162-million contract with the franchise earlier in the offseason, a deal that will likely keep the outfielder in Queens for the remainder of his career.

The 29-year-old was a vital driver for the offense in 2022, establishing himself as a key leadoff hitter on his way to slashing .274/.367/.433 with 16 home runs and 64 RBIs. Nimmo entered free agency as the second best outfielder available, behind Aaron Judge, and attracted interest elsewhere before ultimately deciding to commit his long-term future to the Mets.

Nimmo had only begun his spring training campaign last weekend. He was hitting .143/.400/.429 over seven at-bats in the Grapefruit League.

The fact that Nimmo is only week-to-week will come as a massive relief to the entire Mets organization. The team likely lost star closer Edwin Díaz for the entire 2023 season following a freak injury at the World Baseball Classic on Wednesday. Couple that with the likes of Brooks Raley, Abraham Almonte, and Bryce Montes de Oca going down hurt, then the last thing the Mets needed was one of their best hitters also being placed on the shelf.

Thankfully, it seems that Nimmo has avoided the worst-case scenario and, while he may not be available for Opening Day, a week-to-week timeline won’t impact the New York Mets too much as they look to compete for a World Series in 2023.

The post Brandon Nimmo Week-To-Week With Low Grade Sprain appeared first on Metsmerized.

Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

During tonight’s game against the Miami Marlins, Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo was forced to leave after an awkward slide into second base. The Mets say he left the game with right ankle soreness and will undergo imaging on Saturday.

He was weight-bearing on his leg after jamming it into second base. He was replaced by Tim Locastro.

Brandon Nimmo limps off the field after an awkward slide into second base: pic.twitter.com/2tiyghvC1o

— SNY (@SNYtv) March 17, 2023

Over the winter, Nimmo signed an eight-year, 162 million-dollar contract to keep him in the orange-and-blue. Last year, Nimmo posted a .274/.367/.433 slash-line with 16 home runs and 64 RBIs, which was worth 5.4 fWAR. He started his Grapefruit season last weekend and has hit .143/.400/.429 over seven at-bats.

Nimmo joins the lengthy list of Mets who have been hit by the injury bug this spring. Two days ago, Edwin Diaz suffered a season-ending injury while celebrating Puerto Rico’s win against the WBC. Sam Coonrod, Brooks Raley, Abraham Almonte, and Bryce Montes de Oca,  are among the players that also have been slowed by injuries, so far.

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