John From Albany – Mets Breakfast Links 1/12/2020

Here’s the Mets news around the internet this morning.

Mets 360 had how the “Mets prioritize The Bashlor Bunch over Sam Haggerty. But what probably irks most people is the collection of guys listed under RP (Relief Pitcher) depth. All five of those guys have seen time in the majors already and three or four of them have left us wanting more. A whole lot more. Is it really the best use of resources to have five players on the 40-man who fit under the header of RP depth? … If you look at the Mets infielders on the 40-man, there’s not a ton of speed to be found. And if you look at the outfielders, there aren’t a ton of guys to play center there.”  Good points.

The Daily News Deehsa Thosar reported that “Amed Rosario hopes new offseason regimen will put defensive struggles in the past.”  The 24-year-old, having just completed his second full year in the majors, started working with instructor Perry Hill.  Hill has built a system for teaching infield play that Rosario hopes will help turn him into one of the best infielders in the game.  ‘I started working on different defensive points where I can improve my game,” Rosario said. ‘I feel pretty comfortable with it.’”

Also related to this Article, SNY.TV noted: Rosario finished the season with 17 errors, tied for ninth-most in all of baseball. According to Fangraphs, he had -16 Defensive Runs Saved, worst among all National League shortstops.

Metsmerized reported that the Mets Sign right handed relief pitcher Yefry Ramirez to Minor League Deal. “Ramirez, 26, made 13 major league appearances (one start) in 2019 split between the Baltimore Orioles and Pittsburgh Pirates. In that span, the right-hander had a 7.40 ERA, 5.60 FIP, and 1.890 WHIP with 10.0 K/9 as compared to 5.9 BB/9.”  The post also noted that Yefry pitched this last winter in the Dominican league for the Toros Del Este where Phil Regan is the pitching coach. 

Metsmerized also said that the Mets should look to extend Michael Conforto. As Josh Finklestein noted: “Michael Conforto, who is now slated to make $8 million in 2020 and will go to arbitration one more time next offseason before becoming a free agent after the 2021 season. Conforto, 26, is coming off a very strong season in which he hit .257/.363/.494 with 33 home runs and 92 RBI to give himself a superb 126 wRC+.”

Kevin Davidoff in the NY Post discussed the MLB Roadmap to labor peace. “Consider that 25 of The Post’s top 30 free agents, and 9 of the top 10, already have signed by mid-January. Last year on this weekend, we were at 20 of 30 and 5 of 10. Two years ago? Eleven of 30 and 3 of 10.”

Empire Sports Media asked: Should the New York Mets Fire Brodie Van Wagenen? Writer Jack Suhadolnik points out “Van Wagenen is a former agent with many former clients still playing. What happens if it’s revealed that he used his relationships with these players to lure them over to the Mets? The Clippers got in trouble for this with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George over this, what would stop Rob Manfred from following Adam Silver’s lead?”

213 Miles from Shea compared their 2019 projection to the 2019 outcome for TJ Rivera.

We’ve linked to the Mets Fantasy Card Blog in the past, here is a collection of Pete Alonso cards he posted this past November.

FantraxHQ noted 6 relief pitchers with elite closer upside: They note these potential elite closers in the waiting - Andres Munoz, San Diego Padres; Emmanuel Clase, Cleveland Indians; James Karinchak, Cleveland Indians; Nick Anderson, Tampa Bay Rays; Giovanny Gallegos, St. Louis Cardinals; Kevin Ginkel, Arizona Diamondbacks.

NBC Sports Chicago asked if the Cubs could acquire Nolan Arenado, move Kris Bryant to CF?

Call to the Pen noted that Aaron Judge just got a 1142.15% raise. “Last season, Judge made $684,300, so he wasn’t crying poor, but it was much closer to the league minimum than the deal he just got. According to Mark Feinsand, the Yankees and Judge avoided arbitration by agreeing to a 1-year, $8.5M deal.”

The Tribune Review reported that Pirates World Series hero Hal Smith dies at age 89. “With the Pirates trailing 7-6 with two outs in the eighth, Smith hit a three-run shot off of Jim Coates to give the Pirates a 9-7 lead. Dick Groat and Roberto Clemente were on base. The New York Yankees tied the score 9-9 in the top of the ninth, setting up Mazeroski’s legendary walk-off homer in the bottom of the inning.”

No Games last night in the Dominican League and the one game in Puerto Rico was postponed. 

We have not been reporting much on the Mexican Pacific League as no Current Mets are playing there this winter. 

However, ex-Met, Alejandro De Aza, is hitting .290 in 53 games with 4 homers and 15 RBIs.

Also, recently signed minor league free agent, Francisco Rios, who was invited last week to the Mets Spring Training went 1-3 with a 3.71 this winter in the Mexican League, 9 games, 7 starts, 34 innings, 28 hits, 24 walks, 17 Ks, no homers allowed. 

Mack’s Blast From The Past comes from January 2012: Mack talked about the role of Mets ownership. 

UltimateMets has the date in Mets History:

Born on this date:

• Randy Jones (1950)
• Mike Marshall (1960)
• Jorge Velandia (1975)
• Luis Ayala (1978)

Died on this date:

• Mel Stottlemyre (2019)

Transactions:
New York Mets selected Ron Hodges in free agent draft on January 12, 1972.

New York Mets selected Randy Tate in fifth round of free agent draft on January 12, 1972.

Los Angeles Dodgers signed Kevin Elster of the New York Mets as a free agent on January 12, 1993.

New York Yankees signed Tony Clark of the New York Mets as a free agent on January 12, 2004.

San Diego Padres signed Eric Valent of the New York Mets as a free agent on January 12, 2006.

New York Mets signed free agent Tim Redding of the Washington Nationals on January 12, 2009.

Los Angeles Dodgers signed Argenis Reyes of the New York Mets as a free agent on January 12, 2010.

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

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