John From Albany – Mets News and Breakfast Links 1/4/2021

 

Good Morning. Happy Birthday Daryl Boston. Dominic Smith a breakout 2020 star, MLB Season expected to start on time, and in Winter Ball, Robinson Cano another 2 for 4, Mets Minor League Catcher David Rodriguez gets back to .400 and Jaison Vilera gets a win.

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

Mets Links:

NY Post: Mets unknown part of complex Tomoyuki Sugano sweepstakes.

Tomoyuki Sugano’s posting deadline is Thursday at 5pm. Source confirms @Ken_Rosenthal report that the RHP has a four-year offer with three opt-outs from the Yomiuri Giants, though he already has MLB offers in hand worth more money.

— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) January 3, 2021

Mike’s Mets talks about the slow offseason in “Watching Paint Dry.”

Brian Joura Mets360: How the Mets’ 2022 budget influences their 2021 free agent choices. Brian does a very detailed analysis of the Mets payroll and helps explain just why the off season is moving so slow. 

Reflections On Baseball: Steve Cohen Faced With Grappling With The Unique Business Of Baseball.

MLB.com: The 25 biggest breakout stars of 2020. Dominic Smith was #12: “The universal designated hitter allowed the Mets to get both Pete Alonso and Smith in the lineup on a regular basis in 2020, and the latter took advantage of the increased playing time, posting a .316/.377/.616 slash line with 10 homers and 21 doubles over 199 plate appearances. The 25-year-old tied for fifth among qualifiers with a 169 OPS+ -- one point better than Angels superstar Mike Trout and three points higher than AL MVP Award winner José Abreu.”

MLB.com: Here is the best player on each team in '21. For the Mets: Jacob deGrom, RHP.

Metsmerized Online: Should Mets Explore Signing Another Catcher? “Four names that stick out upon looking at the available catchers are Curt Casali, Jason Castro, Tyler Flowers and Alex Avila.”

Metsmerized Online: Mets Should Explore Trade for Javier Baez. “Considering the Chicago Cubs are looking to rebuild and unload their high-profile stars…it’d make plenty of sense for the Mets to explore what it’d cost to acquire ss Javier Baez – who’s set to become a free agent next offseason” 

Rising Apple: Mets most impactful winter addition is already with the team. “Zack Scott is an analytics guru and will allow the team to strengthen an area they behind the times in.”

Heath Bell joined the @MetsRewind podcast this weekend. Here are his thoughts on the transition the @Mets managerial transition from Art Howe to Willie Randolph. Listen to the full interview on ...@iTunes: https://t.co/PoJx7b3RLM@SpotifyUSA: https://t.co/OPZJDu0XaQ pic.twitter.com/6x2mse1S25

— Mets Rewind (@metsrewind) January 4, 2021

Rising Apple: Mets pitcher Sam McWilliams is a huge wild card for the team in 2021. “He has three option years left which means he will still need to prove himself before he gets to eat up any important innings.”

Rising Apple: Six wacky batting stances the fans will never forget.  Includes one of my favorites, Felix Millan.

ICYMI yesterday at Mack’s Mets:

Mack - Weekly Draft News.  

Mack - Scouting Report - RHP - Andrew Woods.

Mack - Scouting Report - RHP - Angel Tiburcio.

Mack - Scouting Report - RHP - Braden Olthoff.

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

MLB Links:

MLB Trade Rumors: 2021 Season Expected To Start On Time. “MLB and the MLBPA have each announced their intentions to stick to the CBA and provide regularly-scheduled kick-offs for spring training and opening day…Owners would prefer to delay the start of the season in order to get more people vaccinated and generally provide a safer playing environment. But they also want to limit the number of games played without fans in attendance. With the CBA in place, however, MLB has little recourse but to start the season on time.”

MLB.com: 13 nasty pitches we want to see more of in '21.

Sources: INF/OF Jeison Martinez left Cuba in the last hours and he's in Dominican Republic seeking to sign with an MLB team in the near future.

Martinez was in the current Cuba League: 3rd in hits (99), 6th in BA (.365), 4th in runs (68) and he had 26 XBH (15 2B, 4 3B, 7 HR). pic.twitter.com/eSr3aDBrOG

— Francys Romero (@francysromero10) January 3, 2021

Respectfully disagree. The Hall of Fame is more than brick and mortar. It is the highest honor in MLB. It’s OK if a voter wants to bestow that honor on players who cheated. But there’s also nothing wrong with weighing the cheating, and whether the achievements are authentic. https://t.co/jMF2ltpBum

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) January 3, 2021

MLB.com: Preller hopes Padres, Tatis can work out extension.

NL Rookie of the Year @DTrainn_23 takes the #1 spot on our countdown of the top breakout players of 2020!@Brewers | #ThisIsMyCrew pic.twitter.com/AEhWvuGO9Y

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) January 3, 2021

MLB Trade Rumors: Phil Hughes Announces Retirement.

MLB Trade Rumors: Marlins Sign Sandy Leon To Minors Contract.

MLB Trade Rumors: Marlins Designate Stephen Tarpley For Assignment.

Winter Baseball:

In the Dominican Republic:

Toros Del Este 2 Aguilas Cibaenas 1 (Box Score). Robel Garcia 1 for 4, 1 K; Juan Lagares CF 1 for 3, 1 walk. For Los Toros, former Met Raul Valdes 5 scoreless innings, 3 hits, 4 Ks; Jordany Valdespin played for the first time in a few weeks when he pinch hit for the DH Yasiel Puig and singled in his only at-bat.

Gigantes del Cibao 4 Estrellas Orientales 3 (Box Score). Robinson Cano 2 for 4 with a double 4and a K – now 8 for 16 in 4 games.

Here is the full scoreboard from the Dominican Republic.

In Venezuela:

Caribes de Anzoategui 2 Bravos de Margarita 0 (Box Score). For Los Bravos David Rodriguez C 2 for 4 to bring his average back to .400. In one key part of the game, with Los Bravos down 1-0, David grounded out to 2B with 2 outs leaving runners stranded at 1^st and 3^rd. Mets Pitching Prospect Jaison Vilera (W, 2-0) got the win with 2 innings in relief as the starter just went 4.2 innings, 1 hit, 1 K, 2.61 ERA.

Cardenales de Lara 5 Leones del Caracas 3  (Box Score). Wilfredo Tovar 0 for 3, .291 average this Winter.

Full scoreboard from Venezuela.

In Puerto Rico:

Criollos de Caguas 2 RA12 0 (Box Score). Johneshwy Fargas RF, 2 for 3, 1 RBI, 1 K.  Former Met Hector Santiago (W, 1-0 in the playoffs), 5 shutout innings, 2 hits, 2 walks, 6 Ks;  Former Brooklyn Cyclone Joel Huertas (L, 0-1) 5 innings, 4 hits, 1 HR, 2 runs, 1 earned, 3 Ks.

In the Mexican Pacific League:

Caneros de los Mochis featuring Mets Catching Prospect Juan Uriarte has had their season come to a close as they did not make the playoffs.

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:

• Bart Shirley (1940)
• Paul Gibson (1960)
• Daryl Boston (1963)

Died on this date:

• John Milner (2000)

Transactions:

Atlanta Braves signed Bill Pecota of the New York Mets as a free agent on January 4, 1993.

New York Mets signed free agent Mickey Weston on January 4, 1993.

New York Mets traded Jae Seo and Tim Hamulack to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Duaner Sanchez and Steve Schmoll on January 4, 2006.

New York Mets signed free agent Omar Quintanilla of the Baltimore Orioles on January 4, 2013.

January 4, 2006: The New York @Mets traded Jae Seo and Tim Hamulack to the Los Angeles @Dodgers for Duaner Sanchez and Steve Schmoll. #LGM #MetsRewind pic.twitter.com/40a7nqYall

— Mets Rewind (@metsrewind) January 3, 2021

Centerfield Maz: Daryl Boston: Early Nineties Mets Outfielder (1990-1992).  

Centerfield Maz: John Sullivan: New Jersey Born Mets Reserve Catcher (1967).

Breakfast Links One year ago today - 1/4/2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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