Gwreck

You have a very different read of the situation than I do. Pache and Young are fringe candidates at best and were always extremely unlikely to make the team. The Mets were seemingly ready to go with Tauchman and Benge and no extra infielder (witness Bichette recently playing short to get practice in). With Tauchman hurt, Brujan’s very tentative spot becomes much more secure. If Benge doesn’t make the team for some reason (unlikely at this point) then I’d expect MJ Melendez to be above Pache and Young in the pecking order.

With Tauchman hurt, Vidal Brujan’s chances to make the roster just went up significantly and he’s probably leading Pache and Young for the last bench spot.

To be just a tiny bit of a dark cloud…I think Howie actually had lost a beat or two in recent years. It might be in part because he’s had some recent changes with his partners, but he was leaning a bit too far his self-appointed curmudgeon status, developing a bit of main character syndrome. That all said, this will be a tremendous loss for everyone.

I could see Manaea being used as a piggyback reliever too, particularly with Holmes or McLean. I believe Britton suggested that was a possibility too, given the early season off days and lack of need for a 6th starter.

I think you’re right that it has to be a service time thing. Something along the lines of a first year player who gets XX days = rounded up to a full year of service time (rather than the 172 days typically needed). Maybe that’s 75 or 100, so you’d have really have to hold the player out a long time to delay the FA clock.

I think they’re independent. Tauchman will either be the starter OR he will get a bench spot if Benge makes it.

DiComo reports that Mendoza stated today that Brazoban is confirmed for an opening day roster spot. We’re now down to 3 spots still to be locked down, although Britton and Sammon have both suggested that Tauchman is very likely to make the team under any circumstance. To be determined: 1. Starting RF: Benge or Tauchman 2. Last bench spot: Tauchman, if Benge makes the team. If Benge doesn’t make the team, ??? [Melendez, Brujan, Young, someone else] 3. Last bullpen spot. Kimbrel or a second lefty [Lovelady, Bryan Hudson] Lineup: Alvarez, Polanco, Semien, Bichette, Lindor, Soto, Robert, [Right Field], Baty Bench: Torrens, Vientos, Taylor, [Open Spot] SP: Peralta, Holmes, Senga, McLean, Peterson, Manaea RP: Williams, Weaver, Raley, Garcia, Myers, Brazoban, [Open Spot]

1. Johan Santana 2. Frank Viola 3. Brian Dozier 4. 5. Rick Aguilera 6. 7. Michael Cuddyer 8. 9. Matt Lawton 10. Jerry Koosman further down the list: Carlos Gomez

1. Johan Santana 2. Frank Viola 3. Brian Dozier 4. 5. 6. 7. Michael Cuddyer further down the list: Carlos Gomez

All seriousness, I’m sure this will be worked out eventually, but we all see that clicking the link for New York Mets talk doesn’t actually bring up any Mets threads? As for our quiz: 1. Santana 2. 3.Brian Dozier (do you remember his 7 games as a Met in 2020? I do not). 4. 5. 6. further down the list: Carlos Gomez

Only 10 for Dansby.

Top 6 players by Twins WAR who also played for the Mets…and go. 1. Santana 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

In fairness the Puerto Ricans are Americans too…

41, 31, 5, 15 1. You have to be a hall-of-fame caliber player to have your number retired. It’s supposed to be for the elite only. Koosman, Strawberry, Gooden, Hernandez? All should have their numbers un-retired. Big mistakes all around. Cheapens the honor for who deserves it. 2. You have to be readily associated with the Mets. Mays? Stengel? Laughable. Hodges isn’t laughable…but still no. I’d listen to arguments about Beltran here, but the majority of his best years were with the Mets, and the Mets were his primary team. 3. David Wright. Special exception to the HOF since he played his entire career with the team and is already borderline HOF/would have gotten there but for some fluky injuries/has multiple major team records.

I too was very surprised by how high Albies (and Hoskins) are on the list [th]Player[/th][th]Homers[/th][td]Bryce Harper[/td][td]40[td]Gincarlo Stanton[/td][td]38[td]Freddie Freeman[/td][td]31[td]Ozzie Albies[/td][td]22[td]Marcel Ozuna[/td][td]21[td]Anthony Rendon*[/td][td]21[td]Kyle Schwarber[/td][td]20[td]Juan Soto[/td][td]19[td]Austin Riley[/td][td]19[td]Paul Goldschmidt[/td][td]18[td]Ronald Acuna Jr.[/td][td]18[td]Rhys Hoskins[/td][td]17[td]Nolan Arenado[/td][td]16[td][/td][td]16[td]Matt Olson[/td][td]15[td]Trea Turner[/td][td]15[td]JT Realmuto[/td][td]14[td]Christian Yelich[/td][td]14[td]Aaron Judge[/td][td]14[/td][td][/td][td]13 *Still listed most places as “active” since he was on a MLB roster in 2025, but didn’t play in a game. Short of the list: Josh Bell, 11 Kris Bryant, 11 Andrew McCutchen, 9 Max Muncy, 9 Wilson Contreras, 4 Bonus answer Lindor is correct. He only played 6 games against the Mets in his 6 years in Cleveland, without any homers. Lindor has 15 more career homers than Alonso (for now).

They had Realmuto on that team too. At the 2016 trade deadline they were 9 games over .500, 4 back in the division and led the Mets by 2.5 for the wild card. Their two trade deadline acquisitions (Fernando Rodney, Andrew Cashner) both performed badly, and then Jose Fernandez killed himself in the boating accident in September. And then the next year, those 4 hitters were even better, but with no upgrades to the pitching the results were no better. [th]Player[/th][th]Homers[/th][td]Bryce Harper[/td][td]40[td]Gincarlo Stanton[/td][td]38[td]Freddie Freeman[/td][td]31[td]Ozzie Albies[/td][td]22[td]Marcel Ozuna[/td][td]21[td]Anthony Rendon*[/td][td]21[td]Kyle Schwarber[/td][td]20[td]Juan Soto[/td][td]19[td]Austin Riley[/td][td]19[td]Paul Goldschmidt[/td][td]18[td]Ronald Acuna Jr.[/td][td]18[td][/td][td]17[td]Nolan Arenado[/td][td]16[td][/td][td]16[td]Matt Olson[/td][td]15[td]Trea Turner[/td][td]15[td]JT Realmuto[/td][td]14[td]Christian Yelich[/td][td]14[td]Aaron Judge[/td][td]14[/td][td][/td][td]13 *Still listed most places as “active” since he was on a MLB roster in 2025, but didn’t play in a game. Short of the list: Josh Bell, 11 Andrew McCutchen, 9 Max Muncy, 9 Wilson Contreras, 4 Bonus answer Lindor is correct. He only played 6 games against the Mets in his 6 years in Cleveland, without any homers. Lindor has 15 more career homers than Alonso (for now).

[th]Player[/th][th]Homers[/th][td]Bryce Harper[/td][td]40[td]Gincarlo Stanton[/td][td]38[td]Freddie Freeman[/td][td]31[td][/td][td]22[td]Marcel Ozuna[/td][td]21[td]Anthony Rendon*[/td][td]21[td]Kyle Schwarber[/td][td]20[td]Juan Soto[/td][td]19[td]Austin Riley[/td][td]19[td]Paul Goldschmidt[/td][td]18[td]Ronald Acuna Jr.[/td][td]18[td][/td][td]17[td]Nolan Arenado[/td][td]16[td][/td][td]16[td]Matt Olson[/td][td]15[td]Trea Turner[/td][td]15[td]JT Realmuto[/td][td]14[td]Christian Yelich[/td][td]14[td]Aaron Judge[/td][td]14[/td][td][/td][td]13 *Still listed most places as “active” since he was on a MLB roster in 2025, but didn’t play in a game. Short of the list: Josh Bell, 11 Andrew McCutchen, 9 Max Muncy, 9 Wilson Contreras, 4 Bonus answer Lindor is correct. He only played 6 games against the Mets in his 6 years in Cleveland, without any homers. Lindor has 15 more career homers than Alonso (for now).

100%. The blitz of retirements over the last few years was a big mistake.

It sure is. They didn’t do that with Pete Alonso, and if they had, there wouldn’t have been a contract issue with him after 2024. There is also now a prospect promotion incentive, so if Benge has a full year of service time as a rookie, and either wins the Rookie of the Year, or is top 3 in voting for MVP or Cy Young at any time before hitting arbitration eligibility, the Mets would get a bonus draft pick after the first round. However: a team can only get one prospect promotion incentive pick per year. And McLean is as likely as anyone to be on the roster the whole year and win ROY.

[th]Player[/th][th]Homers[/th][td]Bryce Harper[/td][td]40[td]Gincarlo Stanton[/td][td]38[td]Freddie Freeman[/td][td]31[td][/td][td]22[td]Marcel Ozuna[/td][td]21[td]Anthony Rendon*[/td][td]21[td]Kyle Schwarber[/td][td]20[td]Juan Soto[/td][td]19[td]Austin Riley[/td][td]19[td]Paul Goldschmidt[/td][td]18[td]Ronald Acuna Jr.[/td][td]18[td][/td][td]17[td][/td][td]16[td][/td][td]16[td]Matt Olson[/td][td]15[td]Trea Turner[/td][td]15[td]JT Realmuto[/td][td]14[td]Christian Yelich[/td][td]14[td]Aaron Judge[/td][td]14[/td][td][/td][td]13 *Still listed most places as “active” since he was on a MLB roster in 2025, but didn’t play in a game. Short of the list: Josh Bell, 11 Andrew McCutchen, 9 Max Muncy, 9 Wilson Contreras, 4 Bonus answer Lindor is correct. He only played 6 games against the Mets in his 6 years in Cleveland, without any homers. Lindor has 15 more career homers than Alonso (for now).

Felt like we were flagging on the last one and those last few answers there are impossible. Although if Steve Reed is there, you never know.

[th]Player[/th][th]Homers[/th][td]Bryce Harper[/td][td]40[td]Gincarlo Stanton[/td][td]38[td]Freddie Freeman[/td][td]31[td][/td][td]22[td]Marcel Ozuna[/td][td]21[td]Anthony Rendon*[/td][td]21[td]Kyle Schwarber[/td][td]20[td]Juan Soto[/td][td]19[td]Austin Riley[/td][td]19[td]Paul Goldschmidt[/td][td]18[td]Ronald Acuna Jr.[/td][td]18[td][/td][td]17[td][/td][td]16[td][/td][td]16[td]Matt Olson[/td][td]15[td]Trea Turner[/td][td]15[td]JT Realmuto[/td][td]14[td][/td][td]14[td]Aaron Judge[/td][td]14[/td][td][/td][td]13 *Still listed most places as “active” since he was on a MLB roster in 2025, but didn’t play in a game. Short of the list: Josh Bell, 11 Andrew McCutchen, 9 Max Muncy, 9 Wilson Contreras, 4 Bonus answer Lindor is correct. He only played 6 games against the Mets in his 6 years in Cleveland, without any homers. Lindor has 15 more career homers than Alonso (for now).

*

[th]Player[/th][th]Homers[/th][td]Bryce Harper[/td][td]40[td]Gincarlo Stanton[/td][td]38[td]Freddie Freeman[/td][td]31[td][/td][td]22[td]Marcel Ozuna[/td][td]21[td][/td][td]21[td]Kyle Schwarber[/td][td]20[td]Juan Soto[/td][td]19[td]Austin Riley[/td][td]19[td]Paul Goldschmidt[/td][td]18[td]Ronald Acuna Jr.[/td][td]18[td][/td][td]17[td][/td][td]16[td][/td][td]16[td]Matt Olson[/td][td]15[td][/td][td]15[td]JT Realmuto[/td][td]14[td][/td][td]14[td][/td][td]14[td][/td][td]13 Short of the list: Josh Bell, 11 Andrew McCutchen, 9 Max Muncy, 9 Wilson Contreras, 4 Not the bonus answer Trout has 6 homers against the Mets Alonso has 0 but is not the correct answer

Only 9 for Muncy.