John From Albany – Mets News and Breakfast Links 1/3/2021

 

Good Morning. Sugano arrives in America to weigh offers, Robinson Cano continues to hit in Winter Ball while Mets Minor League Catcher David Rodriguez dips below .400

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

Mets Links:

SNY.TV: Mets target Tomoyuki Sugano reportedly lands in America to weigh final offers.

Tim Ryder Metsmerized Online: Tomoyuki Sugano Indecisive On Jump to MLB Due to COVID-19.

Joel Sherman NY Post: Steve Cohen free-agency anger is premature. “Cohen is unlikely to bid against himself for the top of the market without a clear sign he must… wanting to boost the farm system as an indicator the Mets will sign (at most) one from Springer, Bauer and LeMahieu…the compensation would be lost draft picks… Cohen shuns the remaining Big Three because, as opposed to art or this team, he does not think they will appreciate well with age. In that case, bet on him pivoting to something like signing Jackie Bradley Jr., Liam Hendriks, Jake Odorizzi and Sugano to meet his promise of a big-market payroll of $190 million-ish.”

Bob Raisman NY Daily News: The ice-cold hot stove is just one symptom of MLB’s serious problems. “How can any owner budget for the future, including player payrolls, when the suits don’t know how much revenue they will generate this season? TV baseball sources said “several teams” lost over $100 million in 2020. There is no guarantee those losses will subside in 2021. There’s a better chance the losses will grow…And if they somehow are able to sell tickets, if health officials allow them to play to 25% capacity, how many fans have any disposable income to spend on tickets?”

NY Daily News: Carlos Delgado on his charitable work in Puerto Rico, Carlos Beltran’s baseball future and the overuse of analytics in the game. On Carlos Beltran: “'good baseball man' who deserves a second chance to manage in the Big Leagues’”…on Analytic and Kids…”’I think we need to go back to the basics. Let kids play, have fun. You learn the game the right way, you’re going to enjoy it. And when you enjoy it, you’re going to be better.’”

Scott Ferguson Mets360: George Springer and the new Mets. “Without George Springer…the centerfield situation is still very much up in the air, with everyone agreeing that Brandon Nimmo isn’t the answer there moving forward, but is the current starter. Other options exist on both the trade market and in free agency, but they are a significant step down from Springer.”

Rising Apple: Five most valuable minor league deals this offseason.  #1 Jerry Blevins; #2: José Peraza; #3: Jerad Eickhoff; #4: Mallex Smith; #5: Arodys Vizcaíno.

Rising Apple: Will signing Trevor Bauer get in the way of other extensions?

ICYMI yesterday at Mack’s Mets:

Reese Kaplan -- A Happier Mets New Year in 2021.

Tom Brennan – How Does OF Drew Ferguson Comp out vs. Michael Taylor and Jake Marisnick?

Mack’s Scouting Report - RHP - Antonio Knowles.

Mack’s Scouting Report - RHP - Austin Smith.

For the full list of Mack’s Draft reports click here.

MLB Links:

Mike’s Mets looks at the Padres moves, baseball markets of a similar size in “Embracing the Pressure”.

NY Post: Red Sox hiring Bianca Smith as first Black female pro baseball coach. “The Red Sox are hiring Smith as a minor league coach, according to the Boston Globe. MLB confirmed to the Globe that Smith will be the first black woman ever to coach baseball at the professional level.”

AP Sports: Yu kidding? Darvish learned via Twitter of trade to Padres.

MLB.com: 10 teams with unfinished Hot Stove business. Mets did not make this list.

MLB.com: Look for these 7 stars to bounce back in '21. Christian Yelich, Nolan Arenado and Francisco Lindor are included.

MLB Trade Rumors: Dodgers Interested In DJ LeMahieu.

MLB Trade Rumors: Latest On Masahiro Tanaka. “Tanaka has made some recent comments about his future, most recently a tweet earlier today stating that he and his representatives haven’t put any sort of limit on what teams Tanaka might be considering playing for in 2021 and beyond.”

Masahiro Tanaka shoots down a recent report that suggested he was only considering the Yankees or returning to Japan for next season pic.twitter.com/0E5h0XNY7n

— Mets Fix (@MetsFix) January 2, 2021

MLB Trade Rumors: Five Teams Showing Interest In Alex Colome. Twins, Nationals, Red Sox, Astros, and White Sox are the teams mentioned. 

MLB Trade Rumors: Haruki Nishikawa Not Expected To Sign With MLB Team This Offseason.

MLB Trade Rumors: Marlins Seeking Corner Outfield Help.

Winter Baseball:

In the Dominican Republic:

Toros Del Este 9 Aguilas Cibaenas 1 (Box Score). Robel Garcia 0 for 1, 2 walks; Pedro Payano, a scoreless inning.

Gigantes del Cibao 1 Estrellas Orientales 0 (Box Score). Robinson Cano 2 for 4 – now 6 for 12 in 3 games with 2 HRs.

Here is the full scoreboard from the Dominican Republic.

In Venezuela:

Cardenales de Lara 6 Bravos de Margarita 4 Tiburones de La Guaira 7 (Box Score). For Los Bravos David Rodriguez LF 0 for 3 with an error.  His average dropped below .400 to .396

Tigres de Aragua 9 Leones del Caracas 5  (Box Score). Wilfredo Tovar 2 for 5 with a run scored, .300 average this Winter.

Full scoreboard from Venezuela.

In Puerto Rico:

Criollos de Caguas 5 RA 12 1 (Box Score). Johneshwy Fargas RF, 1 for 4, run scored. Joshua Torres 1 scoreless inning with 1 K.

In the Mexican Pacific League:

Caneros de los Mochis featuring Mets Catching Prospect  Juan Uriarte were not in action.

For the complete Winter League Stats for the current Mets, Mets minor leaguers, and Ex-Mets, click here.

Today in Mets History Per Ultimatemets.com:

Born on this date:

• John Sullivan (1941)
• Jim Dwyer (1950)
• Luis Rivera (1964)
• Mark Dewey (1965)
• Jender De Jesus (1998)
• Christofer Dominguez (2000)

Transactions:
New York Mets released Bobby Bonilla on January 3, 2000.

Houston Astros signed Jim Mann of the New York Mets as a free agent on January 3, 2001.

Texas Rangers signed John Thomson of the New York Mets as a free agent on January 3, 2003.

New York Yankees signed Pedro Feliciano of the New York Mets as a free agent on January 3, 2011.

New York Mets signed free agent Taylor Buchholz of the Toronto Blue Jays on January 3, 2011.

New York Mets signed free agent Chris Capuano of the Milwaukee Braves on January 3, 2011.

Centerfield Maz; 1988 N.L. Eastern Champion Mets Pitcher: David Cone (1987-1992 / 2003).

Breakfast Links One year ago today - 1/3/2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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