Mets 2016-2017 Offseason News

[MFS62]

Yahoo sports reporting that Juan Legares injured his right shoulder making a diving catch in a winter league game yesterday. No reports yet on how severe it is.

Later

[Lefty Specialist]

X-rays negative, but he flew back to New York so that the Mets doctors can misdiagnose it.

[MFS62]

Lefty Specialist wrote: X-rays negative, but he flew back to New York so that the Mets doctors can misdiagnose it.

That makes me long for when we awarded the BOC.

Later

[Fman99]

Mumblings now that Conforto doesn't want to unfuck his head in winter ball? I don't like the sound of this.

[Frayed Knot]

NY Post: The team announced Monday night an examination of their center fielder at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan revealed a sprained right shoulder. Lagares, the club said, will be ready for the start of spring training.



And, not for nothing, but that Conforto article is a piece o' shit, starting with, although certainly not limited to, the fact that the author immediately leaps to the contents of a single reader comment around which to base the remainder of the article.

[Centerfield]

That's good to hear on Lagares. Maybe he should stop diving. Or at least dive better.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Or save it for games that count at any rate.

[Centerfield]

Frayed Knot wrote: And, not for nothing, but that Conforto article is a piece o' shit, starting with, although certainly not limited to, the fact that the author immediately leaps to the contents of a single reader comment around which to base the remainder of the article.

When I read that, I thought to myself "Come on FK, tell us how you really feel."

Then I read it and I think your commentary is actually understated. What is the level below piece of shit? Because that article is looking up at shit right now.

There are so many factual inaccuracies in there you don't know where to start. But seriously, hey dickhead. Maybe he struggled to hit last year not because of some character flaw, but because hitting in the big leagues is really fucking hard.

He seems to acknowledge that hitting in AAA is easy for Conforto. So I'm not sure what the Dominican League is going to do for him.

[Ceetar]

They should take an MRI of Lagares before the season. I think 'sprained' might be the default state for his shoulder.

[Guest Mets Guy in Michigan]

After seeing the Lagares stufff, I can kind of see Conforto's point about not playing in winter ball. You're playing in very subpar facilities, and you run the risk of being injured. I get that the benefit is you're gaining reps and more experience. But I also see the downside.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Yet Conforto wants to play in the WBC Classic (for Italy).

[Frayed Knot]

That linked article says Conforto is "toying with the idea" of playing for Italy, not that he's already committed to doing so.
But whatever, even if he were to play in the WBC, that would merely be action (and probably just 3 actual games in the case of Italy) in place of regular ST games which he'd be in anyway. Winter League is a whole mini-season of extra games going on at a time when he wouldn't be playing at all.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Nothing earth shattering, just sticking this here for the archives...

Yahoo/NY Post wrote: TAPPED OUT: Don’t expect the New York Mets or New York Yankees to add any more money to their payrolls this offseason. Both teams are reportedly looking to cut payroll, and are currently in holding patterns unless they can sell off expensive veterans. The Yankees’ payroll is already over the 2017 luxury tax limit, and the club is determined to get under the $197 million limit for 2018. The Mets are under the 2017 luxury tax limit, but don’t want to add to their $150 million payroll.

[MFS62]

Ty Kelly will be playing for Israel in the upcoming WBC.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/mets-ty-kelly-join-jewish-players-israel-trip-wbc-article-1.2925501

His mom is Jewish.

Later

[MFS62]

More Mets in the WBC stuff from the SNY website:

Mets 2B T.J. Rivera is the latest player to commit to play for Team Puerto Rico at the World Baseball Classic, according to Jon Morosi of Fox. RHP Seth Lugo has already committed to play for Puerto Rico during the WBC, Morosi reported yesterday. It is not known whether the Mets have given Lugo clearance to participate. Puerto Rico begins Pool play on March 9, with the WBC ending with the championship round from March 20-22.

Later

[Guest Mets Guy in Michigan]

I know they want to get as many countries represented as possible. But it really seems like a stretch to have some of these guys represent these countries.

[HahnSolo]

Can Puerto Rico seriously not come up with 25 guys for the WBC without resorting to playing a guy born and raised in the Bronx?

[Edgy MD]

T.J.'s Bronx is more Puerto Rico than Shreveport, which is where Seth Lugo comes from.

Mets Guy in Michigan wrote: I know they want to get as many countries represented as possible. But it really seems like a stretch to have some of these guys represent these countries.

Of course, the US has played World Cup soccer matches with a serious paucity of starters actually born in the US.

My main issue with Puerto Rico is that I don't want them playing as a nation against other nations, but instead competing as a US state in the 64-team US Baseball Cup of States Championship Tournament that exists only my head, where it is exceedingly well organized, highly popular, and enjoys the simultaneous and spirited participation of the highest-profile professionals and most ambitious amateurs, despite the fact that the final four are almost always, California, Arizona, Florida, and Puerto Rico.

[nymr83]

Edgy MD wrote: T.J.'s Bronx is more Puerto Rico than Shreveport, which is where Seth Lugo comes from. Mets Guy in Michigan wrote: I know they want to get as many countries represented as possible. But it really seems like a stretch to have some of these guys represent these countries. Of course, the US has played World Cup soccer matches with a serious paucity of starters actually born in the US. My main issue with Puerto Rico is that I don't want them playing as a nation against other nations, but instead competing as a US state in the 64-team US Baseball Cup of States Championship Tournament that exists only my head, where it is exceedingly well organized, highly popular, and enjoys the simultaneous and spirited participation of the highest-profile professionals and most ambitious amateurs, despite the fact that the final four are almost always, California, Arizona, Florida, and Puerto Rico.

Texas isn't ahead of Arizona? by a ton? I needed to stretch the definition of "active" to even field a team for players born in Arizona. the argument probably starts and ends with the pitchers here anyway.

pos	ARZ	TEX
C	Brett Nicholas	Cameron Rupp
1B	Tommy Joseph	James Loney
2B	Ian Kinsler	Kelly Johnson
3B	Eric Sogard	Matt Carpenter
SS	JJ Hardy	Cliff Pennington
LF	Andre Ethier	Jay Bruce
CF	Jason Pridie	Carl Crawford
RF	Kole Calhoun	Hunter Pence
P	Tom Wilhelmsen	Clayton Kershaw

[ashie62]

Seth Lugo will be pitching for Puerto Rico.

[Edgy MD]

Nymr83 wrote: Texas isn't ahead of Arizona? by a ton?

In my imagination, Texas does well, but they're mostly pitchers.

Players can qualify for a certain state team by virtue of birth, high school graduation, college matriculation, or current residency of at least three years (but once you commit to your state, you're committed for life).

This system benefits Arizona because of their great collegiate programs.

The tournament is played in three-game series—the champion has to play 18 games to advance to the Cup—so Kershaw can't win on his own.

[Frayed Knot]

Because nothing says Puerto Rico like the name Seth.
On the other hand, the most popular name among NYC Hispanics this past year? ... Liam.
Go figure.

[Centerfield]

Didn't Mike Piazza play for Italy once? Or did I make that up. It all seems kinda silly.

The rule should be, you take out your passport. Whatever country has issued it is the team you get to represent.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

What a crappy thread this is so far. Yawn!

[Ceetar]

Centerfield wrote: Didn't Mike Piazza play for Italy once? Or did I make that up. It all seems kinda silly. The rule should be, you take out your passport. Whatever country has issued it is the team you get to represent.

managed or coached too.

nah, I like that they make an effort to spread out the talent a bit and make it more than like, 4 teams that are worthwhile.

[nymr83]

if you really went by the "passport rule" it would be the US (which would include PR), Japan, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic and maybe a few ok 2nd tier teams like Canada, Cuba, Mexico... not much of a tournament. they need the fake teams.

[Guest Mets Guy in Michigan]

Frayed Knot wrote: Because nothing says Puerto Rico like the name Seth. On the other hand, the most popular name among NYC Hispanics this past year? ... Liam. Go figure.

Clearly families are hoping to get a spot for their kid on the 2036 Ireland WBC team! Too much competition to get on the Puerto Rican team.

[ashie62]

Joey Votto is not playing for Team Canada, opening a spot for Jason Bay.

[MFS62]

Glad to hear Joey Votto is a Met.

Anyhow, Familia has been activated by a winter ball team:
https://www.sny.tv/mets/news/familia-activated-by-dominican-league-team/212509186

Later

[ashie62]

Matt Weiters?

Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe said the Diamondbacks and Mets can't be counted out for free agent Matt Wieters.
Wieters' primary suitors appear to be the Braves and Nationals. Atlanta makes sense as Wieters played his college ball at nearby Georgia Tech while the Nationals are looking for someone to replace Wilson Ramos behind the plate. The D'backs also have a need at catcher after losing Wellington Castillo to the Orioles in free agency. The Mets don't have as clear a need, though Wieters would certainly be an upgrade on their current backstop Travis d'Arnaud.
Related: Nationals, Diamondbacks, Braves, Mets
Source: Boston GlobeSat, Dec 31, 2016 06:45:00 PM