Mets News and Morning Links 1/14/2021

 

Good Morning. Born Today Dave Marshall.  Happy Birthday Mike Pelfrey. Carlos Carrasco talks to the press, James McCann a top 10 MLB catcher, and a very good Jeff McNeil projection.

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

Mets Links:

NY Post: Carlos Carrasco says ‘great’ Mets can make it to World Series.

NY Post: Citi Field to host 24/7 COVID-19 vaccination center.

SNY.TV: MLB Network ranks Mets’ James McCann as Top 10 catcher in baseball.

SNY.TV: Mets' Sandy Alderson explains decision to sign James McCann allowed Mets to deal for Francisco Lindor. 'By signing James McCann we got a very good player and we maintained some flexibility'.

Joel Sherman NY Post: Mets can flex muscles in different way if they want Corey Kluber. “Corey Kluber has a workout scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Cressey Sports Performance in Palm Beach Garden, Fla. About 20 teams, including the Mets, are expected to have a representative in attendance” Joel recommends “What if the Mets offered $5 million with a chance to make $13 million if Kluber returned fully to being Kluber.”

SNY.TV: Former MLB reliever Carter Capps to join Mets as minor league pitching coach/coordinator.

The Score: Report: Mets want to sign Hand for 1 year, but he seeks 2-year pact.

MLB.com: LeMahieu, Mets: mutual interest but 'tricky fit'.

MLB.com: Here is each team's top int'l prospect. For the Mets - Ronny Mauricio, “SS (No. 1/MLB No. 57); Mauricio has continued to add strength to his ultra-athletic, 6-foot-3, 166-pound frame since signing with the Mets for $2.1 million in July 2017. Scouts believe that physical development will eventually translate to consistent game power for the 19-year-old shortstop -- a switch-hitter who produced a .268/.307/.357 line with 29 extra-base hits over 116 games with Class A Columbia during his 2019 full-season debut.”

Brian Joura Mets360: Mets 2021 projections: Jeff McNeil. 593 PA, .322/.384/.569, 23 HR, 95 RBIs. 

Last Word On Baseball: New York Mets Offseason Brings Organizational Depth. Matthew Rothman talks about the additions of Jacob Barnes, Trevor Hildenberger, Stephen Tarpley, Robel Garcia and Brandon Drury.

MLB Links:

Andy Martino SNY.TV: Behind-the-scenes 'game of chicken' has MLB barreling toward spring training despite pandemic. Says one exec: 'Looks like we’re actually about to drive off the cliff together' “Spring training and the regular season are truly on track to proceed as planned, in part because no one is optimistic that owners and players can negotiate an alternative.”

Yahoo.com: Report: MLB won't mandate vaccination or COVID-19 test for fans attending games in 2021.

MLB.com: These teams will win the next 10 World Series. In 2026: Mets over Yankees.

MLB.com: 5 teams with most to gain from big move. Angels, Blue Jays, Cardinals, Nationals, Twins.

MLB Trade Rumors: Does Trevor Bauer Have A Case For Gerrit Cole’s AAV?

MLB Trade Rumors: Red Sox Discussing Andrew Benintendi In Trade Talks.

MLB Trade Rumors: Tigers, Michael Fulmer Avoid Arbitration.

MLB.com: Price throws, posts update: 'Never felt better'.

USA Today: Washington Nationals announce plans for sportsbook, wagering inside ballpark.

Winter Baseball:

No games played yesterday in Puerto Rico and Venezuela yesterday.  The playoffs get underway today in Venezuela.

In the Dominican Republic:

Gigantes del Cibao 6 Aguilas Cibaenas 2 (Box Score). Robel Garcia 2B 1 for 4, 2 Ks; Juan Lagares CF 2 for 4 with a double, run scored, and an RBI. Former Met Dario Alvarez 1.1 innings pitched, no runs, no hits, no walks, 2 Ks.

In the Mexican Pacific League the Semifinals got under way. 

One of possible interest to Mets Fans: Tomateros de Culiacan 10 Yaquis de Obregon 7 (Box Score). Sebastian Elizalde who the Mets signed as a Minor League free agent last year and who had 11 HRs and 45 RBIS in 46 regular season games this winter continued to hit well going 2 for 4 with a HR, 2 RBIs, 2 runs scored, and a K.  Also Ex-Met Carlos Torres 2/3^rd inning, no runs, no hits. 

In Australia, still no more games currently scheduled for the Sydney Blue Sox due to COVID -19 Travel restrictions in that country.  The team features 4 minor league Mets, Carlos Cortes, Manny Rodriquez, Andrew Mitchell, and Adam Oller.  The regular was set to end next week.

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:

• Dave Marshall (1943)
• Ross Jones (1960)
• Mike Pelfrey (1984)
• Aaron Altherr (1991)

Died on this date:

• Johnny Murphy (1970)
• Don Cardwell (2008)

Transactions:

New York Mets selected Terry McDaniel in sixth round of free agent draft on January 14, 1986.

New York Mets traded Masato Yoshii to the Colorado Rockies for Bobby Jones and Lariel Gonzalez on January 14, 2000.

Centerfield Maz: Kevin Mitchell: 1986 World Champion Mets Utility Player (1984-1986).

Centerfield Maz: Former N.L. Cy Young Winner & Early Eighties Mets Pitcher: Randy Jones (1981-1982).

National Pastime.com:

1970

After seeing his upstart team win the World Series three months ago, Mets general manager Johnny Murphy dies after suffering a massive heart attack. The 61-year-old baseball executive, a talented reliever for the Yankees in the 1930s and early '40s, will be succeeded by Bob Scheffing, the team's special assignment scout.

Baseball Refernece:

• 1970 - Johnny Murphy, the New York Mets general manager who saw his team rise from the National League cellar to the World Championship, dies of a heart attack at age 61. Murphy was a top relief pitcher for the New York Yankees in the 1930s and early 1940s.

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