Mets News and Morning Links 3/18/2022

 

Good Morning.  Happy Birthday Brooklyn Cyclones Pitcher Matt Cleveland. Jacob deGrom K's Lindor, Alonso and McNeil in Live BP, Buck pipes in crowd noise for drills and Alvarez, Mauricio and Baty land on MLB.com's Top 100 Prospect list.

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

Mets Links: 

Mets.com: Notes: deGrom flummoxes teammates in BP.

Jake strikes out Francisco Lindor on three pitches in the first at-bat of his live BP session. pic.twitter.com/zOxMMcOjEs

— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) March 17, 2022

Perspective from Pete Alonso on what it's like to face Jacob deGrom in live BP. pic.twitter.com/Ez9qqdZsf2

— SNY (@SNYtv) March 17, 2022

Jeff McNeil fouls off a Jake pitch:

"I touched it!" 🤣 pic.twitter.com/Y70ireB62E

— SNY (@SNYtv) March 17, 2022

SNY on YouTube: Jacob deGrom electric during BP against Pete Alonso & Francisco Lindor.

For more sights and sounds from yesterday's Mets Spring Training, click here.

NY Post: Buck Showalter brings big crowd noise into Mets camp. "In an attempt to acclimate his team to game conditions, the Mets manager employed piped-in crowd noise during a pop-up drill on Clover Park’s main field. It’s a tactic Showalter used in previous spring camps in Sarasota, Fla., while managing the Orioles."

Mets.com: Nimmo's faster than ever. But will that make him the CF starter?

SNY.TV: Mets offered Michael Conforto $100 million contract last spring. "Conforto is one of the biggest names still available on free agent market."

SNY.TV: Mets might need to add more offensive punch to keep up with Braves and Dodgers. "Mets should be all over a potential reunion with Michael Conforto." 

NY Post: Mets closer Edwin Diaz facing crucial Year 4. "The right-hander’s electric arsenal suggests he can be an All-Star closer every year. Will the Mets finally see that kind of pitcher over a full season?...'I have improved my last two years here,' Diaz said Thursday. 'My first year wasn’t kind of good. But the last two years were really good so I am ready for the season.'”

Joel Sherman NY Post: Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman signing shows how much further Mets have to go.

Mets Daddy: "Robinson Cano Is Back, Now What?"

Mike's Mets: Changing Perceptions.

Brian Joura Mets360: Mets 2022 projections: Chris Bassitt. Brain predicts - "3.52 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 8.83 K/9, 2.38 BB/9, 0.97 HR/9" (Subscription required).

MLB Trade Rumors: Mets Sign Tzu-Wei Lin To Minor League Contract. "Lin appeared briefly in the majors with the Red Sox in each season from 2017-20. Over that stretch, he appeared in 101 games and tallied 218 plate appearances, hitting .223/.298/.316 with a home run and two stolen bases...He has basically never hit for any power but he’s posted strong contact numbers throughout his time in the minors and was regarded as a solid defensive infielder during his time as a prospect."

Metsmerized.com: Mets Sign Outfielder Travis Jankowski to Minor League Deal. "Jankowski, 30, played in 76 games for the Phillies in 2021 and his 0.4 WAR was his highest since the 2018 season. The left-handed hitter slashed .252/.364/.361 with six doubles, two triples, one home run, and five stolen bases..."

Amazing Avenue: "Jankowski’s bat is not what he is known for, however. A good baserunner, Jankowski stole 30 bases in 2016, when he appeared in 131 games for the Padres."

Faith and Fear in Flushing: Hi and Mighty Glad to See You. "Hi again, Chasen Shreve — and you, too, Matt Reynolds and Johneshwy Fargas."

#Mets have signed the following players to minor league contracts:

RHP Tim Adleman
LHP Chasen Shreve
INF Tzu-Wei Lin
OF Travis Jankowski
OF Johneshwy Fargas

— MiLB-Transactions (@tombaseball29) March 17, 2022

Mets probables for their first four Grapefruit League games:

Saturday, @ WAS: Josh Walker
Sunday, vs. STL: David Peterson
Monday, @ MIA: Max Scherzer
Tuesday, vs. HOU: Jacob deGrom

— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) March 17, 2022

On Baseball Night in New York, @C_Bass419 joins @gappleSNY to discuss his reaction to being traded to the Mets, following Jacob deGrom & Max Scherzer in the rotation and more! pic.twitter.com/xoXZ8dA4rw

— SNY (@SNYtv) March 18, 2022

On Baseball Night in New York, @Britt_Ghiroli talks about Buck Showalter's first Spring Training with the Mets, and what Buck usually does at the beginning of Spring Training and how this year is differenthttps://t.co/HAfy012HcB

▶ @Cadillac pic.twitter.com/d3wOqVDIA6

— SNY (@SNYtv) March 18, 2022

Mack's Mets:

• Remember1969: Who Won? Deals of History 1975-1976
• Tom Brennan - Observations About Mets' Players Who Debuted in 2021 and in a Few Other Recent Years

Mets Minors:

• Mets Top Prospects for 2022: No. 5 Mark Vientos
• Mets Minor League Signing Round-Up: Chasen Shreve Returns
• Court Rules Minor Leaguers are MLB Employees Owed Back Pay

SportSpyder Mets Links: 

MLB and SportSpyder NL East and MLB Links:

Some of yesterday's Spring Training Highlights:

The first homer of Spring Training belongs to Bobby Dalbec! pic.twitter.com/ZGlBh3atmw

— MLB (@MLB) March 17, 2022

It runs in the family.

Yoelqui Céspedes, Yoenis's younger half-brother, with a Spring Training 💣 for the @WhiteSox. pic.twitter.com/op5E7cn342

— MLB (@MLB) March 17, 2022

Here is yesterday's Spring Training Scoreboard.

Thoughts on @MLBNow's top 10 third basemen??? #Top10RightNow pic.twitter.com/aQkJMMH2zI

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) March 18, 2022

MLB.com:

• NEW: 2022 Top 100 Prospects list unveiled - Mets Players that made the list - #10 Francisco Álvarez; #27 Brett Baty; #78 Ronny Mauricio.

The future is bright.

Presenting @MLBPipeline's Top 10 Prospects of 2022. https://t.co/8njOeGzyiA pic.twitter.com/wtJx6b3zEO

— MLB (@MLB) March 18, 2022

• Roundtable: How the No. 1 prospect was determined
• Here are each team's prospects on Top 100 list
• Who is Bobby Witt Jr.?
• Vlad Jr.: 'Now you guys are going to see the movie'
• New club in the mix for Correa?
• Braves, Padres 'in talks' with World Series MVP (report)
• How high is the ceiling for the 2022 Dodgers?
• Red Sox a fit for free-agent shortstop?

MLB Trade Rumors:

• Padres Showing Interest In Luke Voit
• Rangers To Sign Garrett Richards
• Guardians, Ian Gibaut Agree To Minor League Deal
• Dodgers To Sign Danny Duffy
• AL Central Notes: Twins, Royals, Greinke, Rosario,
• MLB, MLBPA Discussing Reinstating Extra Innings Ghost Runner Rule
• Braves, Padres In Talks With Jorge Soler
• Tigers Notes: Manaea, Montas, Greinke, Torkelson, Greene
• Angels Sign César Valdez To Minor League Deal
• Dodgers Re-Sign Jimmy Nelson
• Angels To Sign Ryan Tepera
• Trevor Bauer’s Administrative Leave Extended Through April 16
• Cubs To Sign Mychal Givens
• Twins Discussing Minor League Deal With Chi Chi Gonzalez

Yahoo Sports:

• COVID is still a problem for some players
• Alex Dickerson joins long list of former Giants now with Braves
• Do the Yankees have what it takes to be a championship contender? | SportsNite
• Dodgers re-signing left-handed pitcher Danny Duffy
• Anthony Rizzo talks returning to Yankees, co-existing with Luke Voit, dealing with vaccine mandates | Yankees News Conference
• Hernández: Freddie Freeman signing could power Dodgers into baseball's legendary realm
• Mets offered Michael Conforto $100 million contract last spring
• Cubs' Justin Steele looms larger in starting rotation mix
• Juan Soto helped recruit Nelson Cruz, who fills multiple roles for Nationals
• Detroit Tigers right-hander Chase Anderson thinks he can 'win a spot' in starting rotation

ESPN:

• Why Freddie Freeman in a Dodgers uniform marks a loss for baseball
• Free-agency grades: With Freeman on board, can anyone stop the Dodgers?
• Free-agency grades: Kris Bryant got paid! But can the Rockies actually win?

CBS Sports:

• MLB rumors: Phillies, Marlins in on Nick Castellanos; Cubs add infielder Jonathan Villar
• Three questions for Dodgers after Freddie Freeman signing, including futures of Kenley Jansen and Trevor Bauer
• MLB places Trevor Bauer on administrative leave through April 16 as league contemplates possible suspension

SportsSpyder:

Today in Mets History Per Ultimatemets.com: 

Born on this date:

• Matt Cleveland (1998)

Transactions:
New York Mets traded Jesse Orosco to the St. Louis Cardinals for Joe McEwing on March 18, 2000.

New York Mets released Luis Castillo on March 18, 2011.

Per National Pastime.com:

2000

After reacquiring Jesse Orosco from the Orioles in December, the Mets send the veteran left-hander to the Cardinals for utility player Joe McEwing. In 1978, the eventual four-decade hurler (1979-2003) was the player to be named later in the trade when New York dealt veteran southpaw Jerry Koosman to Minnesota.

2011

The Mets make a symbolic, but expensive, roster move when they release their second baseman, Luis Castillo. The embattled 35 year-old infielder, who will be best remembered by New York fans for the dropped popup in a 2009 Subway Series game at Yankee Stadium and his inability to stay healthy, is still owed the remaining $6 million on the four-year, $25 million contract he signed before the 2008 season.

One Year ago Carlos Carrascotore his hamstring: 

Carlos Carrasco has a hamstring tear and is expected to miss 6-8 weeks, but the pitching depth the Mets added in the offseason should help offset the loss.

(@martinonyc) pic.twitter.com/n22h7vM8Nv

— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) March 19, 2021

3/18/2011 The Mets release Luis Castillo. Castillo was traded to the Mets in 2007 for two minor leaguers and played 365 games in New York. During this time, he slashed .274/.366/.324. pic.twitter.com/PUBYqbpZiI

— This Day in Mets History (@NYMhistory) March 18, 2022

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