Mets News and Breakfast Links 12/11/2019

Winter meeting updates and lots of baseball rumors on this Wednesday morning.

Yankees sign Gerrit Cole to record breaking deal. $324 million.

MLB Trade Rumors looked at the fallout of the Cole signing, the largest deal in league history for a pitcher.

Phillies sign Didi Gregorius, 1 year, $14M.

Brodie laughed when he was asked of the Mets were the Mystery team bidding for Gerrit Cole.  Most Mets fans are laughing so hard they could cry.

SNY.TV says Brodie will stick to their “plan”. 

Reflections on baseball asks if Brodie is AWOL at the meetings. “Brodie Van Wagenen is not exactly bringing home the bacon. There appears to be zero chat in San Diego coming from the Mets – and it’s not because they’re keeping possible signings and trades close to their vest.”

The inaugural all-MLB team was announced yesterday and Pete Alonso was the First Baseman and Jacob deGrom was one of the pitchers on the first team.

The NY Post says the Mets pursuit of Starling Marte could get complicated.  They say “…it’s unclear whether the Mets would be in position to orchestrate a deal for Marte without shedding a contract such as Jed Lowrie’s or Jeurys Familia’s. One method for shedding a contract would be as an attachment in a deal for a desired player, such as J.D. Davis or Dominic Smith.”

SNY.TV says the Mets are open to trading Brandon Nimmo for Marte.

SNY.TV had how Carlos Beltran talked to the Media saying that Edwin Diaz will still be the closer.

Here is video of Carlos at the winter meetings.

The NY Post says that Carlos shut down the sign stealing questions.

The NY Daily News says that the Mets sent Strength and Conditioning coaches to Puerto Rico to work with Edwin Diaz.  “In an excess effort to ensure Diaz does not suffer the same blows in 2020, the Mets sent a group of professionals — like nutritionists, physical therapists and strength and conditioning employees — to Puerto Rico this winter to meticulously work with the Mets closer in different training areas.”

Metsmerized had how Carlos Beltran said Jeurys Familia Has Lost Almost 20 Pounds This Offseason.

Joel Sherman again makes the pitch for the Mets to spend.  He thinks it is a good enough roster that can win with a few enhancements.  He recommends singing players like Rick Porcello, Jason Castro or Martin Maldonado, a Joe Smith or Craig Stammen. 

Deesha Thosar says that “Hensley Meulens hopes to be a calming presence for Carlos Beltran in his first year as manager”. “Meulens said. ‘I think I'll be a calming presence for (Beltran) in terms of slowing things down so he can still make the right decisions.’”

The Mets Police thinks the Main Stream Media has turned on Brodie.

Mets 360 has the Seth Lugo-Robert Gsellman standoff.

Amazing Avenue looked at the History of Mets ownership.

Rising Apple had the top 5 Mets players who got away.  #5 Marco Scutaro (I always liked him as an MLB Met and as minor league Met; Hated to see him go as a Non tender when I am pretty sure he was making the league minimum); #4 Justin Turner (another non-tender!); #3 Kevin Mitchell (The anniversary of his trade to the Padres is today – see below); #2 Jeff Kent (possible Hall Of Famer but was kind of unhappy as a Met); #1 Nolan Ryan (no brainer).  I would also add Amos Otis; Jeff Reardon; Jason Bay – the first time they let him go; and Paul Blair (drafted by the Orioles from the Mets in the early 60’s).  Maybe one day we will add Jarred Kelenic, Justin Dunn, and Anthony Kay to the list.

Speaking of players that got away, The Runner Sports thinks Blake Taylor will surprise the Astros in the bullpen.

MLB lifted the ban on Marijuana for Major League players. As part of the MLB's efforts to crack down on opioid use in and around its league ... it has agreed to stop testing minor leaguers for weed.

The Dominican league started up again last night.  No current Mets saw action.

However, Juan Lagares played centerfield and went 2 for 3 to raise his average to .345 in 22 games.

With Juan in center, Carlos Gomez played in right going 0 for 4 in his third game for Aguilas Cibaenas. Carlos is hitting .200 in those three games.

Mack’s Mets blast from the past comes from December 2011: Mack on Baseball Chapter 1 – Inches.

UltimateMets has this date in Mets History:

Born on this date:

• Jay Bell (1965)
• Derek Bell (1968)

Transactions:

New York Mets traded Felix Mantilla to the Boston Red Sox for Tracy Stallard, Pumpsie Green and Al Moran on December 11, 1962.

New York Mets traded Ted Martinez to the St. Louis Cardinals for Mike Vail and Jack Heidemann on December 11, 1974.

New York Mets released Bob Apodaca on December 11, 1979.

New York Mets traded Frank Taveras to the Montreal Expos for Steve Ratzer on December 11, 1981.

New York Mets traded Doug Flynn and Danny Boitano to the Texas Rangers for Jim Kern on December 11, 1981.

New York Mets traded Kevin Mitchell, Stan Jefferson and Shawn Abner to the San Diego Padres for Kevin McReynolds, Gene Walter and Adam Ging on December 11, 1986.

New York Mets traded Rafael Santana and Victor Garcia to the New York Yankees for Phil Lombardi, Darren Reed and Steve Frey on December 11, 1987.

New York Mets traded Jeff Gardner to the San Diego Padres for Steve Rosenberg on December 11, 1991.

New York Mets traded Bubba Trammell to the San Diego Padres for Donne Wall on December 11, 2000.

New York Mets signed free agent Tsuyoshi Shinjo on December 11, 2000.

New York Mets signed free agent Kevin Appier of the Oakland Athletics on December 11, 2000.

New York Mets signed free agent Steve Trachsel of the Toronto Blue Jays on December 11, 2000.

New York Mets traded Alex Escobar, Jerrod Riggan, Matt Lawton, Billy Traber and Earl Snyder to the Cleveland Indians for Roberto Alomar, Mike Bacsik and Danny Peoples on December 11, 2001.

Los Angeles Angels signed Darren Oliver of the New York Mets as a free agent on December 11, 2006.

New York Mets traded Aaron Heilman, Endy Chavez, Joe Smith, Jason Vargas, Maikel Cleto, Ezequiel Carrera and Mike Carp to the Seattle Mariners for Sean Green, J. J. Putz and Jeremy Reed on December 11, 2008.

Mets drafted Darren O'Day from the Los Angeles Angels on December 11, 2008.

Chicago White Sox signed J. J. Putz of the New York Mets as a free agent on December 11, 2009.

Houston Astros signed Jon Switzer of the New York Mets as a free agent on December 11, 2009.

Mets drafted Sean Gilmartin from the Minnesota Twins on December 11, 2014.

Baltimore Orioles drafted Logan Verrett from the Mets on December 11, 2014.

Arizona Diamondbacks signed Tim Stauffer of the New York Mets as a free agent on December 11, 2015.

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