Mets News and Morning Links - 1/26/2023

 



Good Morning.  Happy Birthday Andres Torres. Tomas Nido talks to SNY, lots of talk about Francisco Alvarez and Andy Martio talks Shohei Ohtani.

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

Mets Links: 

Joel Sherman NY Post: Mets’ major Francisco Alvarez question comes with complex answers.  "The biggest impediment to Alvarez might not be Naravez and Nido anyway. It might be an age-old issue. Alvarez will play the 2023 season at 21. Since 1937, just seven men 21 or younger have started at least 100 games in an MLB season at catcher...three of the last four to do so are Hall of Famers (Bench, Simmons and Rodriguez), and it has not been done in three decades."

Will Sammon of the athletic also weighed in on the question of Baty and Alvarez making the opening day roster and included this quote from Billy Eppler“When he was catching (Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer) in their rehab assignments last year, that was by design. I trusted both...to provide the feedback on what they thought. One of the things that came out was, this guy cares. He takes it personally if a pitcher is not at their best at a particular game. He feels that sense of responsibility. That’s a great characteristic for a catcher to have...” (subscription required).

Mike Staffanos of Mike's Mets provided his thoughts on Baty and Alvarez  and the Tommy Pham signing in The Road to Sustainability noting "If Escobar is hitting more like he did last September, the Mets might want to get him more ABs than just being the short side of a platoon. It's possible that Baty might play some LF in that scenario, and that would allow both players to play more."

Anthony Rieber Newsday: Ex-Mets David Wright, Jose Reyes will be on Hall of Fame ballot next year.  "The 2024 Baseball Hall of Fame ballot will have a very heavy Mets presence. David Wright and Jose Reyes will be eligible for the first time, Billy Wagner will hope to continue his climb toward Cooperstown, the Carlos Beltran saga will be in its second year, and Bartolo Colon will also make his ballot debut."

SNY.TV: Mets free agency and trade buzz: Andrew Chafin and Zack Britton seem like 'longshots'.

SNY.TV: Mets' Tomas Nido calls Francisco Alvarez 'the real deal,' is excited to catch Justin Verlander. Nido: 'You can tell why they’ve been so successful'

Andy Martino SNY.TV: What the Los Angeles Angels non-sale means for Mets, Yankees chances to land Shohei Ohtani. Both teams talked to the Angels about Ohtani last year and didn’t get anywhere close to a deal.

Mets.com: Here is MLB’s No. 1 prospect at each position. Catcher: Francisco Álvarez, Mets. "There likely isn’t another prospect in baseball with more power than Álvarez, who hit 24 homers as a teenager in A ball in 2021, then 27 more at age 20 at the upper Minor League levels last year before making his MLB debut for the Mets on Sept. 30. The Venezuelan backstop enters 2023 still only 21 years old with a Major League-ready bat, and if he continues to refine his work behind the plate, he has the potential to be a multi-time All-Star."

Metsmerized:

Amazing Avenue:

Mets360: 

Mack's Mets:

Just Mets

The Mets Police

Mets Minors

SportSpyder Mets Links: 

Winter Baseball:

 In the Puerto Rican League:

Indios de Mayaguez 2 Gigantes de Carolina 1 (Box Score)  Ex-Met minor leaguer Rob Whalen (W,1-1) 6.1 innings, no runs, 4 hits, 1 walk, 7 Ks - 2.29 ERA;

Mayaguez wins the Championship Series 4 games - 3.

Sportstalkatl.com: Braves: Ronald Acuña Jr. announces retirement from baseball in Venezuela following an altercation with family in the stands.  After hitting a HR in Tuesday's Game, Acuna gave a rather unique celebration (which we posted yesterday), later in the 7th inning his family was "attacked with glasses of beer and soft drinks". 

For more of yesterday's Winter Ball results, click here.

MLB Links:

MLB.com:

MLB Trade Rumors:

Yahoo Sports:

ESPN:

CBS Sports:

FanGraphs:

Today in Mets History Per Ultimatemets.com: 

Born on this date:

Transactions:

New York Mets signed free agent Kurt Abbott of the Colorado Rockies on January 26, 2000.

New York Mets traded Jaime Cerda to the Kansas City Royals for Shawn Sedlacek on January 26, 2004.

New York Mets traded Ian Bladergroen to the Boston Red Sox for Doug Mientkiewicz on January 26, 2005.

New York Mets signed free agent Jon Switzer of the Boston Red Sox on January 26, 2009.

Also per National Pastime.com:

2002    The Mariners trade David Bell to the Giants for infielder Desi Relaford, acquired earlier this offseason along with Tsuyoshi Shinjo from the Mets for southpaw Shawn Estes. The 29 year-old veteran third baseman became expendable when Seattle obtained Jeff Cirillo from the Rockies last month.

2005    After failing to sign free agent first baseman Carlos Delgado, the Mets quickly fill the void at first base by trading minor league prospect Ian Bladergroen and a player to be named (or cash) to Boston for Gold Glover Doug Mientkiewicz. The Red Sox, who acquired the 30 year-old infielder from the Twins at the non-waiver trade deadline to solidify their defense, will use heavy hitting, light fielding Kevin Millar at first.

2012    The Mets announce that John Franco, the club's all-time leader in saves and games pitched, will be inducted into the team's Hall of Fame. The All-Star closer, who has the second longest tenure in franchise history behind Ed Kranepool, compiled 276 saves of his career 424 saves, the most by any left-handed reliever in baseball history, with New York.

Centerfield Maz:

Want more?  

Don't miss Around the Majors with Mets News - All the latest headlines from every MLB Team, and the Top MLB Headlines Now.  Both update 24 hours a day.



No comments:

Free Agent Tracker

Featured Posts

Mets Videos

Gamedays

Transactions

Mack's Mets

The Mediagoon

SportSpyder Links

SportSpyder Mets Links: