John From Albany – Mets News and Breakfast Links 12/7/2020

 

Good Morning.  Happy Birthday Mike Baxter and Pete Alonso. Are the Phillies Open to Trading Zack Wheeler?  The Winter Meetings virtually open this week and LaTroy Hawkins vouches for Jake Odorizzi.

Section Links: Mets Links, MLB Links, Winter Baseball, and This Day in Mets History.

Mets Links:

SNY.TV: Could Mets bring Phillies RHP Zack Wheeler back to Queens via trade?

Buster Olney ESPN.com: Philadelphia Phillies open to trade offers for right-hander Zack Wheeler.

NBC Sports Philadelphia: Phillies owner knocks down Wheeler report: 'There's zero truth to this'.

MLB.com: “If they offered me Babe Ruth, I wouldn’t trade him,” Middleton told ESPN Sunday afternoon in a telephone interview.

Forbes.com: Will Rebuilding Philadelphia Phillies Fill Multiple Needs With A Zack Wheeler Trade? “Wheeler, a righthander who turns 31 in May, has $96.5 million left on his contract. The 6'4" righthander went 4-2 with a 2.92 ERA, making 11 starts during the shortened season, and thrived in Citizens Bank Park..[Bryce] Harper has a no-trade clause but Wheeler, who began his career with the New York Mets in 2013, does not.”

Mets Daddy: Zack Wheeler Might Be Best Pitcher Available.

Metsmerized Online: Mets Should Make a Push to Re-Acquire Zack Wheeler.

Bob Klapisch NJ.com: Hey Steve Cohen, Mets still looking for a GM? Go get Billy Beane (and throw down with Yankees’ Brian Cashman).  Klapisch notes how Beane loves working with Sandy and vice versa and “Beane and Cashman have been friendly rivals for years”. has enjoyed going against Cashman. “As for the GM opening itself, Beane would only say ‘it’s an attractive position’ – for someone else - considering where the Mets could be headed.”

Mike Puma NY Post: Mets target Jake Odorizzi deserves ‘mulligan’ for lost 2020: Twins exec.  Odorizzi, 30, spent most of last season sidelined by injuries, including a batted ball to the chest that forced him to miss a month. In only four appearances for the Twins, spanning 13 ²/₃ innings, he went 0-1 with a 6.59 ERA. “He can take a mulligan for this year because he had some issues right out of the gate, but his first two years with us were real good,” Twins special assistant LaTroy Hawkins, a former Mets reliever, told The Post. “…he doesn’t throw 100 mph, but he has good command, and he understands what he does well and what he needs to be successful.”

Scott Ferguson Mets360 has some good advice on “Spending Steve Cohen’s money”: “Currently the Mets are pursuing James McCann instead of J.T. Realmuto. That’s an example of a smart decision. McCann was a backup catcher early in his career and doesn’t have Realmuto’s injury history. With less injuries and less mileage on his body, McCann, who might cost half as much as Realmuto, makes a lot more sense, from an on the field, team building and financial perspective.”

Call to the Pen: Jacob deGrom making mark on MLB history. “Over his seven years in the majors, deGrom has posted a 70-51 record with a 2.61 ERA and a 1.047 WHiP, striking out 1359 batters with just 284 walks over his 1169.2 innings. Although he will turn 33 years old during the upcoming season, he shows no signs of slowing down.”

Rising Apple: Retaining Steven Matz provides the organization flexibility in 2021.

Mets Junkies: Three Mets who will likely regress in 2021. Steven Matz; Noah Syndergaard, Amed Rosario.

Mets Junkies: Where have we seen this before: Trevor Bauer.  SFlannery look as Bauer’s career projection and compares him to…Max Scherzer. “Both pitchers are massive competitors on the mound with 80-grade intensity. Any skill gap between the two is made smaller with their amount of determination and willpower.”

Rising Apple: Mets free agent target Trevor Bauer is flirting with other teams.

Rising Apple: Mets should continue to upgrade the bullpen after Trevor May signing. Brad Hand, Blake Treinen, and Matt Wisler are mentioned.

Rising Apple: Minor league signing Jose Peraza gets a chance at redemption. “Peraza…the former starting shortstop for the Cincinnati Reds...had a respectable 2018 season offensively, compiling a .288/.326/.416 with 14 home runs…Peraza did not improve on those numbers in 2019, which resulted in him being non-tendered when the 2019 season concluded.”

FanGraphs: Dave Magadan Chased a Batting Title With the Mets.  “Dave Magadan…finished with a .328 average, seven percentage points behind Willie McGee.”

More baseball featuring Mets prospects gets underway in the next 2 weeks in the land down under. Talking infielder Manny Rodriguez in this clip from latest Sports Report heard exclusively on @sportanarium https://t.co/TFlHYwdHcU

— Ernest Dove (@ernestdove) December 7, 2020

Mets' reliever @IamTrevorMay talks about the modernization of bullpens and says he's prepared for whenever he's asked to pitch.
pic.twitter.com/GCXVPtzhUQ

— Metsmerized (@Metsmerized) December 5, 2020

ICYMI Yesterday at Mack’s Mets:

Mack - Weekly Draft Notes.

Mack - Scouting Report - SS - Cody Morissette.

Mack - Scouting Report - LHP - Caden Vire.

Mack - Scouting Report - OF - Andrew Martinez.

MLB Links:

CBS Sports: MLB Winter Meetings: 12 questions about virtual version of hot stove's most notable week.  These include – “Any chance they sort out the DH situation?” “Will the Cohen-era Mets make their first big acquisition?” “Will Scott Boras hold court as usual?” And…“Will this mark the end of the Winter Meetings as we know it? – With MLB increasingly prioritizing cost-cutting, the Winter Meetings could become another casualty of that approach. Call it a strong maybe.”

The Score: 5 predictions for the winter meetings. “The Mets Steal the show; Blue Jays come away empty-handed; Braves re-sign slugger Ozuna; Teams combine to spend $250M in contracts; Marlins think big, make surprising signing.”

The Score: Who to watch at MLB's winter meetings. Scott Boras; Trevor Bauer, Rachel Luba; Springer, Realmuto, LeMahieu; Ken Rosenthal, Jeff Passan; Ross Atkins, Steve Cohen, Kim Ng; Rob Manfred, Tony Clark.

Ken Davidoff NY Post: What MLB faces with 2021 season talks set to start. “…Owners and players intend to restart discussions concerning the makeup of next season…MLB Players Association wanted to hold its annual executive board meeting and choose its new executive subcommittee members…before diving too deep into the details. That process occurred last week…”

CBS Sports: MLB Rule 5 Draft 2020: 17 names to know, including former top-five pick, pair of Yankees prospects.

MLB.com: 10 names to watch ahead of the Rule 5 Draft. No Mets on either list. 

MLB.com: 1 player on each club primed for big rebound. For the Mets – “Amed Rosario, SS: He looked on the cusp of becoming an upper-tier shortstop after 2019, but all the offensive gains he’d made fell away last year (76 OPS+). And Rosario didn’t steal a base after recording 50 through his first three seasons.”

MLB.com: Free agents who could leave for a key rival. This includes “Mets sign C J.T. Realmuto away from Phillies.”

MLB.com: These are the finalists for the All-MLB Team.  Jacob deGrom and Michael Conforto are the only Mets.

MLB.com: How Billy Wagner went from righty to lefty. A natural right-hander made a career throwing 100 mph with his left. “…he broke his arm playing football with a neighbor and once again while climbing some monkey bars…The middle-schooler began throwing anything he could find with his left hand -- baseballs, footballs or even just rocks.”

MLB Trade Rumors: Angels To Sign Jake Faria To Minor-League Contract.

MLB Trade Rumors: INF. Ryon Healy Signs With KBO’s Hanwha Eagles.

“Old Days”Brooklyn Dodger Mgr.Charlie Dressen and Jackie Robinson check out the “Goings On”before a 1952 game at Ebbets Field.#Dodgers #Brooklyn #MLB #1950s pic.twitter.com/DGfysG36yT

— Tom's Old Days (@sigg20) December 7, 2020

Winter Baseball:

In the Dominican Republic:

Aguilas Cibaenas 3 Tigres del Licey 0 (Box Score). For Aguilas Robel Garcia played 2B and went 1 for 4, 1 K, .196 Batting Average this winter.  Juan Lagares 2 for 4, 1 K, .289 Avg.;   Hansel Robles threw an scoreless inning for Los Tigres, 1 hit, 1 K.

Here is the full Dominican Republic Scoreboard.

No Games Scheduled Yesterday in Venezuela.

In the Mexican Pacific League:

Tomateros de Culiacan 7 Los Caneros de Los Mochis 1 (Box Score). Mets Minor League Catcher Juan Uriarte did not play. 

Here is the full Mexican Pacific League Scoreboard from yesterday.

Brewers assign six to Australian Baseball League (includes five to Bandits; partnership was announced a short while back) pic.twitter.com/YVDvV9K6Zw

— Will Sammon (@WillSammon) December 5, 2020

Today in Mets History Per Ultimatemets.com:

Born on this date:

• Don Cardwell (1935)
• Mike Baxter (1984)
• Pete Alonso (1994)

Transactions:
New York Mets sold Chris Cannizzaro to the New York Yankees on December 7, 1966.

New York Mets purchased Tim Foli from the San Francisco Giants on December 7, 1977.

New York Mets traded Walt Terrell to the Detroit Tigers for Howard Johnson on December 7, 1984.

New York Mets traded Doug Sisk to the Baltimore Orioles for Blaine Beatty and Greg Talamantez on December 7, 1987.

Minnesota Twins signed Don Schulze of the New York Mets as a free agent on December 7, 1987.

New York Mets traded Wally Backman and Mike Santiago to the Minnesota Twins for Toby Nivens, Steve Gasser and Jeff Bumgarner on December 7, 1988.

Cleveland Indians signed Keith Hernandez of the New York Mets as a free agent on December 7, 1989.

Mets drafted Mike Draper from the New York Yankees on December 7, 1992.

New York Mets signed free agent Chris Jones of the Colorado Rockies on December 7, 1994.

Seattle Mariners signed John Olerud of the New York Mets as a free agent on December 7, 1999.

New York Mets traded Robin Ventura to the New York Yankees for David Justice on December 7, 2001.

New York Mets signed free agent D. J. Carrasco of the Arizona Diamondbacks on December 7, 2010.

New York Mets traded Mike Antonini to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Chin-lung Hu on December 7, 2010.

New York Mets signed free agent Ronny Paulino of the Florida Marlins on December 7, 2010.

Florida Marlins signed Jose Reyes of the New York Mets as a free agent on December 7, 2011.

New York Mets signed free agent LHP Tim Byrdak to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training on December 7, 2012.

Centerfield Maz: Pete Alonso: 2019 NL Rookie of the Year & HR Leader (2019-2020).

National Pastime.com:

1984	The Mets send right-handed starter Walt Terrell to the Tigers in exchange for infielder Howard Johnson. New York's new third baseman will spend nine years with the club and will return to the organization to become a minor league manager and big-league coach.
1988	Nolan Ryan becomes the first major leaguer to play for all four original expansion teams when he signs as a free agent with the Rangers, who played their first 11 seasons as the new Senators in Washington, D.C. The right-hander broke in with the Mets (1966, 1968-71) went to the Angels in a trade (1972-79), before signing with the Astros (1980-1988), a team initially known as the Colt .45s.

 

1988	The Mets deal Wally Backman along with prospect Mike Santiago to the Twins for minor leaguers Jeff Bumgarner, Steve Gasser, and Toby Nivens. The trade leaves second base open for Gregg Jefferies, but the highly touted rookie infielder will falter, hitting a meager .258 next season.
1999	The Mariners sign Mets' free-agent first baseman John Olerud to a $20-million, three-year deal. The former Washington State University All-American will garner a Gold Glove in each of his three seasons in Seattle, and he will play a pivotal role in the team's historic 116-46 campaign in 2001, compiling a .401 on-base percentage.

 

2001

In a rare deal between the crosstown rivals, the Yankees trade outfielder/DH David Justice (.241, 18, 51) to the Mets for third baseman Robin Ventura (.237, 21, 61). The teams had exchanged players only six times in forty years with the last time being in 1992 when the Mets dealt Frank Tanana for Kenny Greer, a minor league pitcher.

2011

Tim McCarver is named the recipient of the Ford C. Frick Award, becoming only the second television analyst, along with Tony Kubek, to win the award for broadcasting excellence. The former catcher and longtime broadcaster has provided local analysis for the Mets, Yankees, and Phillies as well as appearing on the national stage doing the Game of the Week and postseason telecasts for NBC, CBS, and FOX.

 

2011	At the Winter Meetings, Jose Reyes is introduced as the Marlins' new shortstop. The 28 year-old switch-hitting infielder, the NL's batting champ, signed a six-year, $106 million contract to play with Miami after the cash-strapped Mets showed little interest in retaining their homegrown All-Star.

 

Baseball Reference:

2010: Signings today include the Mets reaching agreement with P D.J. Carrasco and C Ronny Paulino. Paulino still has 8 games remaining on 50-game suspension for PED use which he began to serve as a member of the Marlins at the end of last season.

Breakfast Links One year ago today - 12/7/2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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