John From Albany – Mets Breakfast Links 2/1/2020

As we had yesterday on Mack’s Mets: the Mets signed Matt Adams to a minor league deal. 

Per SNY.TV on the move: “Though Adams' deal is a minor league one and he can be sent to Triple-A Syracuse to start the season, it's a bit of an eyebrow-raising signing given the presence of Dominic Smith on the Mets' 40-man roster… Meanwhile, MLB Network's Jon Heyman has reported that there currently no active trade talks regarding Smith.”

Metstradamus had his own unique take: “At first glance, the addition of the lumbering lefty would portend a Dominic Smith trade. But with the extra roster spot this season and a 13 pitcher cap, there’s more incentive to hold on to Dom Smith than ever with the DH a strong possibility to come to the N.L. in 2021…As for Adams, he’ll look good in a Syracuse uniform until Alonso gets exposed to the Coronavirus when the Mets medical staff runs out of funding for surgical masks.”

Reflections on Baseball thinks that “dumping Jed Lowrie will cost Dominic Smith or Brandon Nimmo.”

Brian Joura of Mets 360.com says: Mets look to mimic SP health they enjoyed under Mickey Callaway. Brian looked at all the starts the Mets main starting pitchers had under Callaway and came up with this:  “…that’s 154 starts in 2019 and 136 in 2018. The year before Callaway took over as manager, the top five starters on the Mets combined for 107 starts. If at the conclusion of the 2017 season, someone suggested that Matz and Wheeler would combine for 120 starts over the next two years – that person would have been ridiculed. In the previous two seasons, that duo combined for 52 starts.”

Bob W. commented reported on yesterday’s Breakfast Links that Curtis Granderson has announced his retirement.  Per MLB Trade Rumors: “When Granderson signed with the Mets in 2014, he was coming off of an injury-marred season. At 33 years of age, his four-year, $60MM contract came with some obvious risks. But Granderson turned in four rather productive seasons under the deal, including a star-level 2015 effort (131 wRC+, 5.3 fWAR), and easily justified the financial outlay…but was at his best in the 2015 World Series (3 home runs, 1.060 OPS in 25 plate appearances).”  And don’t forget this catch in the 2016 Wild Card game.  The only player to hit over 90 homers for both the Mets and the Yankees.

Tim Ryder of Metsmerized.com looked at an ESPN+ article that rated the Mets as the third best lineup in MLB. “(Atlanta, seventh; Nationals, 11th; Phillies, 16th)…A full season of on-base machine Brandon Nimmo back in the mix, along with the ongoing development of the rest of this young Mets core — Michael Conforto, Amed Rosario, Pete Alonso, Jeff McNeil, J.D. Davis, Dominic Smith, Luis Guillorme, wow, I could actually keep going; exciting times — gives this team a foundation to lean on.”

213 Miles from Shea continued to look at the 2019 Mets Prospects versus outcomes with #25 Drew Smith.

Metsmerized online looked at one of their Top 30 Mets Prospects with No. 20, C, Ali Sanchez.

Amazing Avenue looked at Mets Prospects outside their top 25. Very extensive list.  I think they hit just about everybody but Tim Tebow.

Empire Sports Media asks if the Mets could sign Mookie Betts via free agency next off-season. “It is an unlikely scenario for him (Mookie Betts) to join the Mets, since they already have a mammoth contract for several more years: Robinson Cano will earn $24 million each of the next four seasons. Jacob deGrom is also on the books for a $23 million salary in 2020, then he will earn $33.5 million in 2021 and 2022 and $30.5 in 2023, with a 2024 club option for $32.5 million.

Tim Boyle of Rising Apple says: All we need from Rick Porcello is a chance to win.

SNY.TV talks about how the trade market for Kris Bryant and Nolan Arenado could affect the Mets and the NL East.

Rising Apple had three predictions for Amed Rosario: 200 Hits, make the All-Star team, steal 30 bases.

Mets Baseball Cards like they ought to be had Mets Hall of Fame cards for Ron Darling, Edgardo Alfonzo, Jon Matlack and Al Jackson.

From a couple of days ago 12up.com said “Pirates Payroll is an Abomination and MLB Must Step In. According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Pirates' payroll is now currently sitting at $43.265 million. The MLB needs to hold the Pirates accountable for their lack of spending and force them to make moves. Tanking is a part of sports, and Pittsburgh is seemingly always in a rebuild.”

ClutchPoints.com had 5 players they think will disappoint in 2020: Christian Vazquez, Catcher, Boston Red Sox; Kyle Schwarber, Left Fielder, Chicago Cubs; Francisco Lindor, SS, Indians; Corey Seager, Shortstop, Los Angeles Dodgers; and Zack Wheeler, Starting Pitcher, Philadelphia Phillies.

Per Yahoo Sports: Former White Sox employees charged in alleged ticket fraud scheme that cost team $1M.

Also Per Yahoo Sports: New Astros manager Dusty Baker: “Cheating won't happen on my watch.”

Per NBC Sports: Brandon Crawford was shocked Giants were able to sign last year’s AL Gold Glove winner, Yolmer Sanchez. “While Sanchez took home the top defensive award last season, he isn't a lock to be the Giants' everyday second baseman. There's a reason he's on a minor league deal. Sanchez hit just two homers and had a lowly .638 OPS for the Chicago White Sox in 2019.”

The Sporting News.com has some ideas to try and jazz up the all-star game: “Let’s break the nine-inning game into three-inning segments and pit the divisions against each other.; Instead of the Home Run Derby: “Let’s set up six targets (big nets, essentially) around the field, four in the outfield — one down each line, one in each power alley — and two in the infield, one on the left side and one on the right side. Each player gets three swings at each target, and the player who gets the most baseballs in the nets wins. No tournament format, just 18 swings per player.” 

Per Prensa Latina: A federal court in Miami sentenced Tomas Velez, from Cuba, to four years and nine months in prison for operating a clandestine network that trafficked baseball players from Cuba to the United States… A hard investigation conducted by the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement determined that the accused belonged to a criminal organization -of at least five persons- that moved Cuban baseball players through Mexico, to enter U.S. territory so they can play in Major League Baseball (MLB).

Ken Griffey Jr.’s Son Announces College Football Commitment. Tevin Griffey, a three-star corner recruit, announced his commitment to Florida A&M.

Think Blue.com celebrated Jackie Robinson’s 101^st Birthday by looking back at the 1953 Brooklyn Dodgers.

Giants Consider Re-Signing Former Player Hunter Pence.

Per MLB Trade Rumors:

The Pirates signed infielder JT Riddle to a Major League contract.

The Cubs have agreed to a minor league contract with infielder Corban Joseph.

The Phillies claimed right-hander Reggie McClain off waivers from the Mariners and designated fellow righty Trevor Kelley for assignment.

The Giants agreed to minor league deal with veteran reliever Nick Vincent.

Red Sox To Interview Diamondbacks Bench Coach, Luis Urueta, For Managerial Vacancy.

Pirates Sign Derek Holland.

The Rockies have brought left-handed reliever Zac Rosscup back to the organization on a minor league contract.

The Orioles claimed righty Travis Lakins off waivers from the Cubs. Infielder/outfielder Stevie Wilkerson was designated for assignment.

The Brewers signed veteran infielder Andres Blanco to a minor league contract.

Winter Ball:

The Caribbean series starts today with three games scheduled.  We will have the results tomorrow.  The six teams in the series are Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Mexico, Panama and Colombia.  Cuba was unable to attend due to Visa problems. 

Mack’s Blast From the Past comes from February 1, 2012:  Mack talked about Fred Wilpon’s quote regarding David Wright: "A Really Good Kid. A Very Good Player. Not a Superstar."

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