John From Albany – Mets Breakfast Links 1/28/2020

The Mets sign former Draft Pick Rob Whalen to a minor league deal and they pass up an opportunity to get Starling Marte.

Per SNY.TV: Pitcher Robert Whalen announced on his social media Monday that he is returning to the Mets. The Mets originally selected the righty in the 12th round of the 2012 MLB Draft, but in July 2015, he was traded in a package deal to the Atlanta Braves. The deal landed the Mets veteran infielders Kelly Johnson and Juan Uribe.

Mack talked about Rob in his FWIW column this past Sunday: “Folks, this was another poorly handled prospect that is young enough (25) to be given one more chance, at least at the AA or AAA level.”  Thanks to Mack, he got it.

Per MLB Trade Rumors the Arizona Diamondbacks Acquire Starling Marte. “The Snakes announced on Monday that they’ve acquired outfielder Starling Marte from the Pirates. High-upside youngsters Liover Peguero and Brennan Malone are going back in return, along with $250K in international spending money moving to Pittsburgh. The Pirates will also reportedly pay down $1.5MM of Marte’s remaining obligations.

Andy Martino of SNY.TV explained why the Mets didn’t trade for Starling Marte: “But the Mets made a really aggressive push for Marte right after the new year. They were willing to offer some prospect talent, and perhaps some major-league talent, but those conversations ended pretty quickly because they came away thinking the Pirates wanted a couple of top prospects or Brandon Nimmo or a Dom Smith.  In addition to Nimmo, the Pirates floated the Mets' No. 1 overall prospect -- SS Ronny Mauricio -- during the discussions. Martino reported Monday after news of the trade surfaced that the Pirates' asking price for the Mets was ‘unreasonable.’”

Per Mike Puma of the NY Post: “The Mets backed off, according to sources at the time, because they didn’t believe they would be receiving equal value for Nimmo, a first-year arbitration eligible player who will earn $2.18 million this season. The 31-year-old Marte will earn $11.5 million this season. His contract also contains a club option for 2021 worth $12.5 million.”

Baseball Prospectus listed their top 101 2020 prospects.  Three Mets made the list: #48 - Ronny Mauricio, SS; #88 - Francisco Alvarez, C; #90 - Andrés Giménez, SS.  Here are their overall top 7: #1 - Wander Franco, SS, Tampa Bay Rays; #2 - Jo Adell, OF, Los Angeles Angels; #3 - Gavin Lux, SS/2B, Los Angeles Dodgers; #4 - Adley Rutschman, C, Baltimore Orioles; #5 - MacKenzie Gore, LHP, San Diego Padres; #6 - Luis Robert, OF, Chicago White Sox; #7 - Jarred Kelenic, OF, Seattle Mariners.

Mets.com had starting rotation predictions for all 30 MLB Teams.   For the Mets it is: 1) Jacob deGrom; 2) Noah Syndergaard; 3) Marcus Stroman; 4) Rick Porcello; 5) Steven Matz.

Amazing Avenue continued their Top 25 Mets Prospect countdown with #4: Brett Baty.

Greg Prince of Faith and Fear and Flushing said the Mets Fan Fest was an "Inside the park home run." 

Tim Boyle of Rising Apple thinks the Mets should add more depth to the minor leagues. 

NBC Sports Washington had “Scott Boras vehemently disputes the Jose Altuve buzzer-cheating rumors”. ”There is nothing to any form of electronic dynamic," Boras said. "The Commissioner's office studied it. Everyone knows it."

Washington Nationals site, District On deck , looked at howthe Nationals would fare against the Mets in 2020.  They predict the Nationals will win the 2020 season series 10-9.  The Mets won the 2019 season series against the Nats 12-7, including 8 of the last 10.  They feel in 2020 “The biggest difference maker might be newly acquired relief pitcher Will Harris. Harris will help a Nationals bullpen that had the worst bullpen ERA in the majors last year and also struggled to preserve leads.”

Per Yahoo Sports: RedSox exec starts GoFundMe for family of baseball coach killed in Kobe Bryant crash.

Per MLB Trade Rumors:

Reds Sign Nick Castellanos.

Brewers Sign Shelby Miller To Minor League Deal.

The Nationals have signed right-handed reliever Kevin Quackenbush to a minor league contract.

Cubs Reportedly Interested In Scooter Gennett.

Winter Ball:

Last night in the Dominican Republic, the Final Series continued with Phil Regan’s Toros Del Este beating the Tigres del Licey 8-0 (box).  The Toros Del Este now leads the 9 game series 4-3. 

It was a scoreless game until the bottom of the seventh when the Toros broke out with an 8 run inning featuring 3 home runs including a two run homer from Jordany Valdespin.

Raul Valdes started for the Toros, went 5.1 shutout innings giving up 4 hits, 2 walks, 3 Ks.

Tim Peterson was the first pitcher to relieve Raul and retired the only batter he faced, Jorge Bonifacio, on a pop-up to first baseman Peter O’Brien.

Jordany Valdespin played right field and went 1 for 3, with the above mentioned two run homer, a walk and a HBP.  He also hit into two double plays. 

Per Baseball Reference.com: The top two teams from the round robin go on to a nine-game championship series to determine the league's champion. The league champion then goes on to the Caribbean Series.

Historical Links:

Mack’s Blast From the Past comes from January 28, 2011: Mack looked at players in the upcoming 2011 June Draft: Alex Silver, Anthony Rendon, Danny Muno, Zack MacPhee, Dwight Smith, and Nolan Fontana.

UltimateMets has the date in Mets History:

Born on this date:

• Tsuyoshi Shinjo (1972)

Transactions:
New York Mets selected Ken Singleton in first round (third pick overall) of free agent draft on January 28, 1967.

New York Mets signed free agent Benny Ayala on January 28, 1971.

Tampa Bay Devil Rays signed Tom Martin of the New York Mets as a free agent on January 28, 2002.

New York Mets signed free agent Todd Zeile of the Montreal Expos on January 28, 2004.

New York Mets signed free agent Mike Matthews on January 28, 2005.

Houston Astros signed David Newhan of the New York Mets as a free agent on January 28, 2008.

New York Mets signed free agent Val Pascucci on January 28, 2010.

St. Louis Cardinals signed Ronny Cedeno of the New York Mets as a free agent on January 28, 2013.

Also per National Pastime.com:

2009

Aaron Heilman is traded for the second time this offseason when the Mariners swap the 30 year-old right-hander to the Cubs for utility infielder Ronny Cedeno and southpaw Garrett Olson. Seven weeks ago, the Mets dealt the much-maligned reliever to Seattle as part of a three-team trade that included the Indians.

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