John From Albany – Mets Breakfast Links 12/20/2019

Happy Birthday David Wright – this day in Mets history and Carlos Cortes in action in the winter leagues last night, we will have the details below. 

Lots of discussion about Yoenis Cespedes all over yesterday.

SNY.TV talked to Eduardo Perez about Yoenis Cespedes.  Eduardo talked to Yoenis when Eduardo was interviewing for Mets manager and said “I could hear it in his voice, how hungry he is to go out there and produce again.”

Empire Sports Media had more on this including the audio clip from MLB Network radion where Eduardo Perez talked about Cespedes. 

MLB.com says that a Cespedes trade a possibility for the Mets. “For now, a deal remains unlikely, mostly because of the uncertainty surrounding Céspedes’ health. He recently began hitting, throwing and running at the team’s Spring Training complex in Port St. Lucie, Fla., but Céspedes has not played in a professional game since July 2018.”

MLB Trade Rumors had the Latest on Francisco Lindor rumors. “Jeff McNeil, the Mets’ terrific infielder/outfielder, is someone the Indians ‘repeatedly’ asked about during the teams’ Lindor talks, Tim Healey of Newsday reports. Unsurprisingly, though, the Mets weren’t willing to deal McNeil.”

Mets 360 says that Brodie is keeping things close to the vest. “…for all the bleating and moaning that Van Wagenen needs to do something, we can rest assured that something is being done; we just don’t know what yet.”  If you ask me, that could be good news and bad news given some of the previous moves.

The NY Post had how Seth Lugo was ‘disappointed’ “following the recent additions of Rick Porcello and Michael Wacha, after believing a rotation spot would potentially be his to lose in spring training, but he told The Post on Thursday he’s still approaching the situation as if he’s a starter.”

Metsmerized says that the Mets current bullpen mindset is frustrating. They point to FanGraphs’ bullpen projections that currently have them among baseball’s best units in 2020, “The projection is nice to see, but it almost feels like the front office also saw it, have high hopes for bounce-back years from crucial contributors and are banking on that being enough.” 

Popsci.com says that scientists are one step closer to solving MLB’s home run surge. Their data show that average seam height—which is how far the stitching extends out from the ball’s surface—on an MLB baseball has decreased approximately 0.005 inches since the 2015 All-Star Break, while the average drag coefficient of the balls has decreased in that time by about seven percent.

The Mets Police looks at the rise of Neil Walker.

Reflections on Baseball thinks Beltran’s silence is deafening. “Since the Mets introduced Carlos Beltran as their new manager six weeks ago, he’s curiously appeared publicly only once. Or, maybe it’s not so mysterious… The word that keeps coming back to me is weird. A significant reason why the Mets hired Beltran is his reputation as a stand-up person with good character. Nothing is adding up.” 

Reflection on Baseball also asks if the Mets are doing all they can to add relief help. 

Metsmerized talked about finding the next Drew Pomeranz.

In case you missed it, MLB.com had the top ten Mets defensive plays of the 2010’s.

FanGraphs rated the best rotations in baseball.  The Mets came in third behind the Nationals and the Yankees.  Per Empire Sports Media: “New York Mets (Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, Marcus Stroman, Steven Matz, Rick Porcello.) Projected WAR as a unit: 17.3.” 

Gio Gonzalez signs a three year deal with the White Sox. 

The Dodgers Max Muncy apologizes after complaining about an absurd amount of fan mail.

MLB Trade Rumors had how the Nationals are driving the bidding for Josh Donaldson.

MLB Trade Rumors had how the Players Union will file a grievance on the Yankees plan to withhold Jacob Ellsbury salary. 

Empire Sports Media says that the Yankees are interested in Joe Panik. 

Mack’s Mets blast from the past comes from December 2011: Mack looked at the 2012 draft with an eye on the Mets drafting Carlos Correa.  Had he been available at #12 when the Mets picked, he obviously would have worked out better than Gavin Cecchini who recently became a minor league free agent and is playing this winter in Australia. 

In the Puerto Rican Winter League last night:

Carlos Cortes was 1 for 4 with a walk in last night’s 5-4 11 inning loss (box) for the Indios de Mayaguez. The 2019 St. Lucie Met is now 1 for 8 in three games with a strikeout for a .125 average.

2019 Binghamton Rumble Ponies Joshua Torres, who is currently a minor league free agent, also pitched in that game for the Indios de Mayaguez. Going a third of an inning giving up a hit, a walk and being charged with the blown save.  In 15 games this winter Joshua is 0-1 with 1 save, 15 innings pitched, 15 hits, 9 runs, 8 earned, 2 HR, 6 walks, 17 Ks with a 4.80 ERA.

Former Met Catcher Juan Centeno is also playing in the Puerto Rican League.  Turning 30 last month, Juan went 2 for 5 yesterday and is hitting .322 in 22 games, 73 at-bats.

UltimateMets has this date in Mets History:

Born on this date:

• David Wright (1982)
• Erik Goeddel (1988)

Transactions:

New York Mets traded Jim McAndrew to the San Diego Padres for Steve Simpson on December 20, 1973.

New York Mets traded Juan Samuel to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Mike Marshall and Alejandro Pena on December 20, 1989.

Jeff Musselman granted free agency on December 20, 1990.

New York Mets signed free agent Jeff McKnight of the Baltimore Orioles on December 20, 1991.

New York Mets signed free agent Willie Randolph of the Milwaukee Brewers on December 20, 1991.

New York Mets signed free agent Gary Thurman of the Seattle Mariners on December 20, 1995.

New York Mets traded Robert Person to the Toronto Blue Jays for John Olerud on December 20, 1996.

Baltimore Orioles signed Mike Bordick of the New York Mets as a free agent on December 20, 2000.

New York Mets signed free agent Cliff Floyd of the Boston Red Sox on December 20, 2002.

Atlanta Braves signed Joe DePastino of the New York Mets as a free agent on December 20, 2003.

St. Louis Cardinals signed Brian Daubach of the New York Mets as a free agent on December 20, 2005.

Atlanta Braves signed Chris Woodward of the New York Mets as a free agent on December 20, 2006.

Milwaukee Brewers signed Trot Nixon of the New York Mets as a free agent on December 20, 2008.

Miami Marlins signed Jordany Valdespin of the New York Mets as a free agent on December 20, 2013.

Want more?  Check out https://sportspyder.com/mlb/new-york-mets/news.  

Want something else tracked here each day?  Please leave a comment below.