Mets News and Morning Links 2/11/2021

 

Good Morning.  Mets get OF Prospect Khalil Lee in 3 team deal, DFA Ali Sanchez and Corey Oswalt, as Citi Field opens up as a COVID Vaccination site.

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

Mets Links: 

Full trade:#Royals get Andrew Benintendi, $2.8m from BOS#RedSox get Franchy Cordero & 2 PTBNL from KC, Mets No. 26 Josh Winckowski & 1 PTBNL from NYM#Mets get KC No. 8 Khalil Lee

Top 30:
KC: https://t.co/ft1Sf7F2LC
NYM: https://t.co/B5L94BYDVq
BOS: https://t.co/OJatWjMzG6

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) February 11, 2021

The Mets designated catcher Ali Sánchez for assignment to make room on their 40-man roster for Khalil Lee.

Earlier today, the Mets also DFA'd pitcher Corey Oswalt. They'll need to make yet another 40-man move once their Jonathan Villar signing becomes official.

— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) February 11, 2021

Of the Mets' top 30 prospects, per MLB Pipeline, only three are outfielders — and two of those three have yet to play in a game as professionals. The other hasn’t played above rookie ball.

The Mets' trade Wednesday strengthens a farm-system weakness.https://t.co/YDSa5MOilc

— Tim Healey (@timbhealey) February 11, 2021

The Mets' involvement in this three-team deal may be relatively minor, but it fills an immense need in their system. Of the organization's Top 30 prospects, only three are outfielders. And none of those three have seen a single pitch in full-season ball.

Khalil Lee changes that.

— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) February 11, 2021

The #Mets definitely needed upper minors outfield help. The only outfield prospect of real note I expect to start in Double-A or higher is 2019 4th rounder Jake Mangum

Khalil Lee will presumably start in Triple-A in 2021

— Joe DeMayo (@PSLToFlushing) February 11, 2021

New #Mets OF prospect Khalil Lee minor league base hit spray chart is lovely. Sprays the ball all over the field. https://t.co/oqreZZthGq pic.twitter.com/YafXljwgiM

— Daren Willman (@darenw) February 11, 2021

2019 Minor League stolen base leaders:

1. Nick Heath - 60
2. Khalil Lee - 53*
3. Johneshwy Fargas - 50*

*Current #Mets

— Jacob Resnick (@Jacob_Resnick) February 11, 2021

I am not so sure about that. Looking at Khalil Lee's stats: In 2019 he had 470 At Bats, 124 Hits, 154Ks!

Overall in the minors, 371 hits, 485 Ks!

He is young, has great tools but seems very raw. @JohnMackinAde @ernestdove

— John From Albany (@JohnFromAlbany) February 11, 2021

Kahil Lee also hit .196 in PR (12 games) this winter with 16K's and 9 Hits. Johneshwy Fargas hit .349 there. But wait Ex-Met catcher Juan Centeno lead that league with a .356 Avg! Maybe that means something maybe not, but interesting. https://t.co/jhsSRhr2xN

— John From Albany (@JohnFromAlbany) February 11, 2021

Here are Khalil Lee's Stats: 

SNY.TV: Mets' Pete Alonso and Dominic Smith included in latest reveal of MLB Networks' Top 100 players. With players 80-61 revealed on Wednesday, Pete Alonso checked in at No. 66, with teammate Dominic Smith right behind him at No. 67.The slugging duo joins Brandon Nimmo on the list (to this point), as Nimmo came in at No. 89 on Tuesday night.

213 Miles from Shea: Reviewing Baseball America’s 2020 Top 30 Prospects: Ryley Gilliam.

213 Miles from Shea: Reviewing Baseball America’s 2020 Top 30 Prospects: #26 Carlos Cortes.

How would having a lion in left field help Trevor Bauer? It probably won't. But the ticket sales would be through the roof ... https://t.co/aOQ5CFmEu9

— Metstradamus (@Metstradamus) February 10, 2021

MLB ballparks across the country are now being used as COVID-19 vaccination sites: https://t.co/NP4vsqogcM pic.twitter.com/ENF4a2FzCq

— MLB (@MLB) February 11, 2021

Cuomo: NY venues can reopen at 10% capacity https://t.co/NMshX1rpe8 #Mets pic.twitter.com/8GYJS3aglK

— ESPN New York (@ESPNNewYork) February 10, 2021

In a statement, the Mets called Governor Cuomo's arena/venue announcement "an encouraging first step toward us potentially welcoming fans back to Citi Field."

"We look forward to working with government officials to ensure that the return to the ballpark is safe and convenient.”

— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) February 10, 2021

The Mets’ most under-the-radar future starter?

RHP Jose Butto.@MattEddyBA explains why in our updated Mets Top 30 entering 2021:https://t.co/GOHMcuOm9U

(🎥 @MetsFarmReport)

pic.twitter.com/cJxyqq1gmX

— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) February 8, 2021

SportSpyder Mets Links: 

MLB and SportSpyder NL East and MLB Links:

Just randomly thinking about that time a squirrel nutmegged Max Kepler. pic.twitter.com/xFGFgQjOyO

— Cut4 (@Cut4) February 10, 2021

MLB.com:

• 40 future Hall of Famers on MLB rosters in '21
• BOS, KC, NYM deal sends Benny to Royals
• This is why projections are low on Braves
• Red Sox close to signing Sawamura (source)
• 'Anything he wants': When Cards found Yadi
• Jax on cusp of bigs after Air Force journey
• Three generations of Marlins train together
• Here are our biggest prospect misses
• Roundtable: Who will win the AL West?

MLB Trade Rumors:

• Royals Acquire Andrew Benintendi In 3-Team Deal
• Dodgers Reach 2-Year Arbitration Deal With Walker Buehler
• Mets Designate Ali Sanchez
• Blue Jays Claim Joel Payamps
• Mets Designate Corey Oswalt
• FA Pitching Notes: Robertson, Kintzler, Marlins, Shoemaker, Parker

Yahoo Sports:

• Benintendi sent to Royals in 3-team deal with Mets
• Walker Buehler, Dodgers agree on contract to avoid arbitration
• A's Matt Chapman, Matt Olson 10th-best pair in MLB.com WAR projections
• Red Sox trade Benintendi to Royals in three-team deal
• Get to know Khalil Lee, the speedy outfielder acquired by the Mets in Wednesday’s trade
• Cubs, Jed Hoyer face more questions than answers ahead of ‘fun’ spring
• The Red Sox chose to move on from Andrew Benintendi, but we're left to wonder
• Mets acquire OF prospect Khalil Lee as part of three-team trade with Royals, Red Sox
• Mets' Pete Alonso and Dominic Smith included in latest reveal of MLB Networks' Top 100 players
• Yankees' Gio Urshela, Gleyber Torres make 80-61 cut of MLB Network's Top 100 Right Now countdown

ESPN:

• Were Red Sox right to move Benintendi now in three-way deal with Royals, Mets?
• Way-too-early 2021 MLB starting rotation rankings
• Way-too-early 2021 MLB starting lineup rankings

FOX Sports:

• Cardinals obtain hard-throwing prospect Quezada from Phillies
• Rangers sign free agent RHP Mike Foltynewicz to Major League contract for 2021 season
• MLB to bring back runner on second in extras, seven-inning doubleheaders in 2021

CBS Sports:

• Red Sox, Mets, Royals complete three-team trade involving Andrew Benintendi
• Four MLB players who could request a trade, including Mike Trout and a forgotten Yankees player
• MLB rumors: Yankees yet to offer Brett Gardner a deal; Mets eyeing starters after missing out on Trevor Bauer

SportsSpyder:

Today in Mets History Per Ultimatemets.com: 

Born on this date:

• Tom Veryzer (1953)
• Steve Springer (1961)
• Brian Daubach (1972)

Transactions:
New York Mets traded Stan Hough and Randy Rogers to the Houston Astros for Bruce Bochy on February 11, 1981.

New York Mets signed free agent Jay Bell on February 11, 2003.

New York Mets signed free agent Ricky Bottalico on February 11, 2004.

New York Mets signed free agent Tony Armas of the Pittsburgh Pirates on February 11, 2008.

New York Mets signed free agent Hisanori Takahashi on February 11, 2010.

New York Mets signed free agent Mike Jacobs on February 11, 2010.

Pittsburgh Pirates signed Eric O'Flaherty of the New York Mets as a free agent on February 11, 2016.

National Pastime.com had this date in Mets history:

1962

Before the start of spring training, Don Zimmer and right-hander Bob Miller, both who reside in the St. Pete area, become the first players to don a Mets jersey when they model the club's away uniform tops for a photoshoot at Huggins Field. The expansion team's inaugural third baseman, who will be traded to the Reds in May for southpaw Bob Miller, poses with his nine year-old son Tommy on his shoulders.

1987

After turning down the Mets' $800,000 one-year offer and being granted free agency by the team, World Series MVP Ray Knight signs a two-year deal with the Orioles for $600,000. The 34 year-old third baseman, who won the 1986 NL Comeback Player of the Year Award, will play one season in Baltimore before being traded to the Tigers for Mark Thurmond.

 

2005

The Mets announce their former slugging All-Star Darryl Strawberry, will rejoin the team as an outfield instructor during spring training. The often-troubled Rookie of the Year will also join former 1986 World Champion teammates Gary Carter, Lenny Dykstra, Howard Johnson, and Tim Teufel at Shea Stadium on Feb. 27 when single-game tickets go on sale.

Baseball Reference.com:

2006: Rickey Henderson is back in the major leagues, this time as an instructor for the New York Mets.

2010: The Mets round out their squad as spring training is about to get under way, signing veteran Japanese lefthander Hisanori Takahashi, 1B Mike Jacobs and C Shawn Riggans to minor league contracts. Takahashi, unrelated to Ken Takahashi who pitched for New York last year, was 10-6 with a 2.94 ERA with the Yomiuri Giants in 2009; he joins Ryota Igarashi, who was signed earlier this off-season, on the Mets' pitching staff.

February 11, 1962: @Mets Don Zimmer and Bob Miller become the first players in a team jersey when they model for a photo shoot at Huggins Field. Zimmer posed with his 9yo son Tommy. #MetsRewind #LGM pic.twitter.com/915si0twqx

— @MetsRewind (@metsrewind) February 11, 2021

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