Tagged: Major League Baseball
Mets And Yoenis Cespedes Agree To Deal
It is being reported by FOX Sports baseball insider Ken Rosenthal that the New York Mets have come to terms on a deal with free agent outfielder Yoenis Cespedes. The deal is reportedly going to be the biggest free agent deal in Mets history.The reported specifics detail Cespedes receiving a four-year $110 million deal. The deal will pan out to an average of $27.5 million dollars a year for the 31-year old slugger. While the amount isn’t as nearly as surprising, the length of the contract certainly is. It was being widely reported that Cespedes was looking for a five-year contract on the open market and teams such as the San Francisco Giants and Washington Nationals were lurking in the background. Cespedes will receive full no-trade protection and is only behind Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera in terms of annual average salary for a position player in MLB history. Cespedes will however hold the top annual average salary ever for any outfielder with this deal.
It is a big get for Sandy Alderson and company as they look to return to the World Series after last year’s Wild Card round elimination. The Mets have not had an impactful bat in their lineup since Carlos Beltran, and Cespedes has proven to be that and more over his season and a half with the team. He has fully embraced New York and New York has fully embraced him. In 189 games played for the Mets since coming over during the 2015 MLB Trade Deadline Cespedes has hit .282 with 48 home runs and 130 RBI’s.
Now that this deal has been completed, the Mets can focus their attention in other directions in regards to improving the roster. Jay Bruce is highly likely to be traded after this signing and it will be interesting to see what the Mets will want in return. There had already been speculation earlier this month that both the Blue Jays and Mets were talking about a deal involving the 29-year old outfielder. The hot stove is getting hotter with the Winter Meetings around the corner, and the Mets for the first time in quite some time dug deep in their pockets to get their guy.
Neil Walker Accepts Qualifying Offer
Coming down to the 5 p.m. deadline, second baseman Neil Walker has accepted the Mets one-year $17.2 million qualifying offer. Walker posted on Twitter on Monday afternoon: “Happy to say I’m back in Orange and Blue for 2017!! Let’s go Mets!”
While Yoenis Cespedes obviously declined the Mets qualifying offer, there had been recent speculation stating that Walker was contemplating accepting the offer, which he indeed now has done. The 31-year old second baseman was having one of the best seasons of his career before his season was cut short in August due to a herniated disk in his back. Walker was hitting .282 with 23 home runs and 55 RBIs in 113 games played for the Mets this season.
This move puts $17.2 million on the Mets books for the 2017 season, and also entrenches Walker as the Mets starting second baseman for next season. Expectations will be high for Walker after the performance he displayed last season, and it is not unreasonable to believe he replicates that season as he is again playing for another contract. The big question with Walker will be health. We will have to see how Walker’s back holds up throughout the duration of the season after undergoing a lumbar microdiscectomy in September. The Mets haven’t had the best of luck in dealing with back injuries recently, so we will all hold out hope that Walker’s 2017 rebound from surgery will be a much more seamless transition.
Mets Wild Card Postseason Roster
The Mets released their Wild Card Postseason Roster for tonight’s game. The roster can be seen below. A couple of notable names left off the roster include first baseman Lucas Duda and starting pitcher Seth Lugo.
Pitchers (9)
Jerry Blevins
Bartolo Colon
Josh Edgin
Jeurys Familia
Robert Gsellman
Addison Reed
Hansel Robles
Fernando Salas
Noah Syndergaard (Starting Pitcher)
Catchers (3)
Travis d’Arnaud
Kevin Plawecki
Rene Rivera
Infielders (7)
Asdrubal Cabrera
Eric Campbell
Kelly Johnson
Ty Kelly
James Loney
Jose Reyes
T.J. Rivera
Outfielders (6)
Jay Bruce
Yoenis Cespedes
Michael Conforto
Alejandro De Aza
Curtis Granderson
Juan Lagares
Lineups: New York Mets vs. Philadelphia Phillies 3:05 pm et.
New York Mets (87-74):
1. Curtis Granderson (L) CF
2. Asdrubal Cabrera (S) SS
3. Jay Bruce (L) RF
4. Lucas Duda (L) 1B
5. Kelly Johnson (L) 2B
6. Michael Conforto (L) LF
7. Eric Campbell (R) 3B
8. Kevin Plawecki (R) C
9. Gabriel Ynoa (R) P
SP: Gabriel Ynoa RHP (1-0, 7.90 ERA)
Philadelphia Phillies (70-91):
1. Cesar Hernandez (S) 2B
2. Jimmy Paredes (S) LF
3. Odubel Herrera (L) CF
4. Maikel Franco (R) 3B
5. Ryan Howard (L) 1B
6. Cameron Rupp (R) C
7. Andres Blanco (S) SS
8. Aaron Altherr (R) RF
9. Jerad Eickhoff (R) P
SP: Jerad Eickhoff RHP (11-14, 3.72 ERA)
Today’s game can be seen on SNY.
Resiliency Is Why The Mets Are Postseason Bound
What an incredible run it has been the past two seasons for the New York Mets. Last season this team behind strong starting pitching went on to shock the world and make it all the way to the World Series. This season the Mets had an even more remarkable run to October, as they fought their way through every possible injury imaginable to have a seat at the table to defend their National League crown. I have never seen a team in all of my years watching the Mets as resilient as this season’s team. Names such as Robert Gsellman, Seth Lugo, James Loney, T.J. Rivera, among others have replicated the production of who they were replacing in the starting lineup or starting rotation this season. This is only the second time in franchise history they have made the playoffs in back to back seasons, and Manager Terry Collins should be commended for the job he has done in keeping this team together through all the adversity they faced this season.
You can’t help but also be happy for our very own homegrown third baseman Jose Reyes, who is getting another shot at the postseason for the first time since 2006. Since the Mets acquired Reyes, he has changed the dynamic of this team with his presence at the top of the lineup, as well with the leadership and energy he has brought along with him. Many people left Reyes out to dry including his former team the Colorado Rockies after his off the field incident, but I have never seen an athlete in that unimaginable position handle his situation with such class. His acquisition has been one of the reasons the Mets will be playing Wednesday night.
Jay Bruce has also gotten red-hot at the right time for the Mets. We have seen him carry the Cincinnati Reds before, and his recent revival will be huge if the Mets want to make a deep run. Bruce has homered four times in his last seven games while driving in eight, and hitting .478 during that stretch. This is the Jay Bruce we all thought we were getting when we acquired him at the Trade Deadline, and there is no underestimating the impact he can provide with Yoenis Cespedes in the middle of the lineup.
The Mets will send Noah Syndergaard to the mound Wednesday night at Citi Field to face either the San Francisco Giants or St. Louis Cardinals. The Mets will certainly be scoreboard watching this afternoon to determine if they will be facing Madison Bumgarner or Carlos Martinez on the mound. Regardless of who they face, you always want to be playing your best baseball at the end of the season and the Mets are certainly doing that. Since August 20 the Mets have the best winning percentage (.692) in baseball while posting a 27-12 record. The Mets 43 road victories this season are also the most since 2011, which proves this team can go on the road and win if they need to. The Mets have also won at least one postseason series in each of the last four years they have qualified for the playoffs (2015, 2006, 2000 and 1999), which bodes well for their postseason history.
We can no longer look the other way at this team’s will to win. The Mets will have plenty of postseason experience behind them after last season’s run, and they believe they have unfinished business to take care of. It’s been an us against the world mentality all season since Opening Night in Kansas City and the Mets will have another chance on the big stage to get the job done. Our journey begins Wednesday night and we know this season’s theme has been all 25 men hands on deck. This team has won collectively as a team in the regular season utilizing every player on the roster, and that theme will look to continue Wednesday night. Let’s go Mets and lets go out there and shock the world!
Mets Can Clinch Today!
With last night’s 5-1 defeat of the Philadelphia Phillies, the New York Mets have put themselves in prime position to clinch a Wild Card birth with a victory this afternoon. That is something we couldn’t imagine thinking about back in August when we were in a complete tailspin. It’s amazing what a complete reversal this team has made with contributions from their regulars and some unlikely players such as Seth Lugo, Robert Gsellman, and T.J. Rivera.
The Mets current magic number to clinch is one, however the Mets can also clinch a Wild Card birth with a St. Louis Cardinals loss this afternoon as well. The Mets are guaranteed at least a tiebreaker play-in game no matter what happens the next two days, with last night’s victory. Which basically means we are guaranteed game number 163.
Let’s hope the Mets handle their own business this afternoon and seal this thing so we can pop champagne this afternoon! Let’s Go Mets!!
Lineups: Philadelphia Phillies vs. New York Mets 1:05 pm et.
New York Mets (86-74):
1. Jose Reyes (S) 3B
2. Asdrubal Cabrera (S) SS
3. Yoenis Cespedes (R) LF
4. Curtis Granderson (L) CF
5. Jay Bruce (L) RF
6. T.J. Rivera (R) 2B
7. James Loney (L) 1B
8. Travis d’Arnaud (R) C
9. Bartolo Colon (R) P
SP: Bartolo Colon RHP (14-8, 3.42 ERA)
Philadelphia Phillies (70-90):
1. Cesar Hernandez (S) 2B
2. Andres Blanco (S) SS
3. Odubel Herrera (L) CF
4. Maikel Franco (R) 3B
5. Ryan Howard (L) 1B
6. Cameron Rupp (R) C
7. Jimmy Paredes (S) LF
8. Aaron Altherr (R) RF
9. Phil Klein (R) P
SP: Phil Klein RHP (0-1, 8.22 ERA)
Today’s game can be seen on FOX.
Lineups: New York Mets vs. Miami Marlins 7:10 pm et.
New York Mets (83-74):
1. Jose Reyes (S) 3B
2. Asdrubal Cabrera (S) SS
3. Yoenis Cespedes (R) LF
4. Curtis Granderson (L) CF
5. Jay Bruce (L) RF
6. T.J. Rivera (R) 2B
7. Lucas Duda (L) 1B
8. Rene Rivera (R) C
9. Noah Syndergaard (L) P
SP: Noah Syndergaard RHP (13-9, 2.63 ERA)
Miami Marlins (78-78):
1. Dee Gordon (L) 2B
2. Marcell Ozuna (R) LF
3. Martin Prado (R) 3B
4. Christian Yelich (L) CF
5. Giancarlo Stanton (R) RF
6. Justin Bour (L) 1B
7. J.T. Realmuto (R) C
8. Adeiny Hechavarria (R) SS
9. Tom Koehler (R) P
SP: Tom Koehler RHP (9-12, 4.02 ERA)
Tonight’s game can be seen on SNY.
Last Night Was Bigger Than Baseball
I’ll forgive you if you don’t remember the score of last night’s game, as despite the Mets being in the middle of a postseason race, last night was much bigger than the game of baseball. I’ll admit I did not pay much attention to the score after Dee Gordon’s lead-off home run. It was almost the first time as a Mets fan in my life that I did not mind if they won or lost because there was a bigger picture in play. You could not help but get emotional watching the pregame ceremony tribute to the late Jose Fernandez, or shed a tear watching Gordon’s lead-off home run. Even the Mets were choked up by last night’s events as catcher Travis d’Arnaud admitted to shedding a tear during Gordon’s inspiring home run.
The Mets were in one of the toughest situations any opposing team could be in and they handled it with as much class as possible. Dee Gordon even praised the Mets after the game as a “first class organization” for the way they handled last night’s game. Our team is currently in the thick of a Wild Card race with their own agenda, but humanity took over last night and it was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen on a baseball field.
Jose Fernandez tragic death has resonated with everyone associated with the game of baseball as he was one of the biggest star’s on and off the field in the world of sports. It’s going to be a tough final week for the Marlins and an even tougher offseason for the organization in trying to pick up the pieces of what occurred. However last night, I was proud to be a Mets fan win or lose because of the humanity, emotion, and class they displayed in one of the most, if not the most tragic event in baseball history.
The Mets and Marlins have two games remaining in this series and it certainly will still be tough on everyone involved to play. But Jose Fernandez played the game the right way with intensity and would expect nothing less from both teams. The Mets were fortunate to have the Cardinals get pummeled last night, and hopefully our team can get back on track as a Wild Card birth hangs in the balance. It still will not be any easier, but hopefully last night both teams found some sort of peace with being on the field and playing the game they love. With five games remaining the Mets will somehow have to put their foot on the gas beginning tonight if they want to return to October.
Lineups: New York Mets vs. Miami Marlins 7:10 pm et.
New York Mets (83-73):
1. Jose Reyes (S) 3B
2. Asdrubal Cabrera (S) SS
3. Yoenis Cespedes (R) LF
4. Curtis Granderson (L) CF
5. T.J. Rivera (R) 2B
6. Jay Bruce (L) RF
7. Travis d’Arnaud (R) C
8. Eric Campbell (R) 1B
9. Bartolo Colon (R) P
SP: Bartolo Colon RHP (14-7, 3.12 ERA)
Miami Marlins (77-78):
1. Dee Gordon (L) 2B
2. Marcell Ozuna (R) LF
3. Martin Prado (R) 3B
4. Christian Yelich (L) CF
5. Giancarlo Stanton (R) RF
6. Justin Bour (L) 1B
7. J.T. Realmuto (R) C
8. Adeiny Hechavarria (R) SS
9. Adam Conley (L) P
SP: Adam Conley LHP (8-6, 3.94 ERA)
Tonight’s game can be seen on SNY and MLB Network.
Above The Mendoza 