Edgy MD

Notably absent from this list is Trey McGough, who was signed a few weeks ago to a very unusual two-year minor-league free-agent contract.

Worth noting that Melendez comes with a minor-league option year remaining. He is probably behind Jared Young, at least at the start of camp.

Back in November, when the Rays could no longer stash Lavender on the 60-Day Injured List, they were forced to use a full roster spot on him or DFA him. They chose the latter, but were forced to offer him back to the Mets first, and the Mets said Hell Yeah!

The Mets inexplicably waited until everybody was showing up to announce their Non-Roster Invitees. Many are known, of course, as their invites came during their offseason signings, but the internal folks were a mystery. Anytinks, congratulations to the following: PITCHING GUYS Adbert Alzolay Mike Baumann Nick Burdi Daniel Duarte Carl Edwards, Jr. Kevin Herget Joe Jacques (L) Craig Kimbrel Ryan Lambert Nate Lavender (L) Anderson Severino (L) Robert Stock Matt Turner (L) Brandon Waddell (L) Jack Wenninger CATCHING DUDES Austin Barnes Kevin Parada Chris Suero INFIELDING PROFESSIONALS Christian Arroyo Ryan Clifford Jackson Cluff Grae Kessinger Jacob Reimer Jose Rojas OUTFIELDING FELLOWS Ji-Hwan Bae Carson Benge A.J. Ewing Christian Pache Jose Ramos

So torn up were we by unloving thoughts that we failed to provide a memorial thread for young bearded lefthander Richard Lovelady, claimed off waivers by Washington back on January 29. Please provide your Richard Lovelady-specific memories in the thread below. He may be reading along. [FIMG=488]https://platform.amazinavenue.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/09/gettyimages-2224340263.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=9.3%2C3.6929994301229%2C80.7%2C67.840895518079&w=1200[/FIMG]

I don't think those players are "pocket lint." I don't know why this should be considered a "bad bench." And of course, new players will appear as the season progresses. Or regresses. Of course, also, bench strength is a far-less meaningful element of a team after the institution of the universal DH. But yes, Jett Williams is a Brewer prospect now.

wOw

Never even officially retired, as far as I was able to suss out, and I have checked regularly since his Mets tenure ended. Appeared in 10 games as a Met, all of which were Met wins. It is a level of perfection sadly sealed by this terrible news, and I imagine it is a mark unlikely to be exceeded any time soon, if ever.

Yabbut, saying Yes can mean saying No to AJ Minter or Brooks Raley. Or possibly some other shnook. Anthony Banda is definitely a guy you want on a minor-league deal.

That's always the issue with relievers, right? I like Banda's distinctive look. I could see him eating up 30 or so innings on the back end for somebody, but I don't think he has enough left to make any kind of difference. It would be nice to see him shave a few points off that 7+ ERA he put up for the Mets back in 2021, though.

I'm not sure how that works. A large class of candidates emerging, to me, should not disqualify them all because of the class' largeness. Sometimes, we have to look deeper. And man, I didn't even get to include Jerry Reuss. If nobody anymore — seemingly nobody at all — can do what Mickey Lolich did, that makes me want to pull his file again.

Righties who became lefties after childhood injuries, to be more specific, but you get the points and control of the board.

Skubal won the hearing and will be paid $32 million this year (versus the Tigers’ proposed $19M). Good for the Sku!

Today marks the wedding anniversary of Cleon and Angela Jones. Sixty-one years.

Bob Murphy, Billy Wagner, Mickey Lolich — what's the common thread?

Agreed, most certainly. Although we don't know that Valdez was biting at that a month ago.

Lots of realieasies going into Spring Training, as the Mets do that dick move of telling a bunch of young men who thought they had a job all winter "Oh ... you're still here?" We will get to them, but first we catch up on three outfielders who have been allowed to leave unremarked on. Transactions, 7/10/2024 [table][tr][th]Direction[/th][td90]GOING[/td90][/tr] [tr][th]Transaction [/th][td90]Signed away to Minor-League Contract by CHC[/td90][/tr] [tr][th]Position Group [/th][th] Outfielder[/th][/tr] [tr][th][/th][td90][fimg=90]https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-photos/image/upload/d_people:generic:headshot:67:current.png/w_213,q_auto:best/v1/people/572204/headshot/67/current[/fimg][/td90][/tr] [tr][th]Name [/th][td90]Trayce Thompson [fimg=50]https://metsrostercentral.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/usa_m.png[/fimg][/td90][/tr] [tr][th]DoB[/th][td90]1991-03-15[/td90][/tr] [tr][th]B/T[/th][td90]R/R[/td90][/tr] [tr][th]High Level[/th][td90] MLB (2023)[/td90][/tr][/table] Trayce Thompson, who appeared with several big league teams (including multiple tenures with a few) from 2015-2023, never found his way back with the Cubs, and played AAA ball for the Red Sox in 2025. He has also played for Team UK in international efforts. Transactions, 11/13/2025 [table][tr][th]Direction[/th][td90]GOING[/td90][/tr] [tr][th]Transaction [/th][td90]Signed away by Indianapolis Clowns (Banana Ball Championship League)[/td90][/tr] [tr][th]Position Group [/th][th] Outfielder[/th][/tr] [tr][th][/th][td90][fimg=90]https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-photos/image/upload/d_people:generic:headshot:67:current.png/w_213,q_auto:best/v1/people/598265/headshot/67/current[/fimg][/td90][/tr] [tr][th]Name [/th][td90]Jackie Bradley, Jr. [fimg=50]https://metsrostercentral.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/usa_m.png[/fimg][/td90][/tr] [tr][th]DoB[/th][td90]1990-04-19[/td90][/tr] [tr][th]B/T[/th][td90]L/R[/td90][/tr] [tr][th]High Level[/th][td90] MLB (2023)[/td90][/tr][/table] Jackie Bradley, Jr. has been an All-Star, a Gold Glove winner, and a post-season series MVP, so that's the sort of calling card that keeps a guy getting called. His short tenure with the Mets organization didn't lead far but he is now the first former big leaguer to sign with The Banana Ball Championship League, so the story goes on. The Red Sox are also planning a tribute night for him this season. Transactions, 2/16/2025 [table][tr][th]Direction[/th][td90]GOING[/td90][/tr] [tr][th]Transaction [/th][td90]Signed away to Minor-League Contract by LAD[/td90][/tr] [tr][th]Position Group [/th][th] Outfielders[/th][/tr] [tr][th][/th][td90][fimg=90]https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-photos/image/upload/d_people:generic:headshot:67:current.png/w_213,q_auto:best/v1/people/592696/headshot/67/current[/fimg][/td90][/tr] [tr][th]Name [/th][td90]Eddie Rosario [fimg=50]https://metsrostercentral.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/puerto_rico.png[/fimg][/td90][/tr] [tr][th]DoB[/th][td90]1991-09-28[/td90][/tr] [tr][th]B/T[/th][td90]L/R[/td90][/tr] [tr][th]High Level[/th][td90] MLB (2024)[/td90][/tr][/table] Eddie Rosario looks like a Puerto Rican Trayce Thompson and has kind of had a similar career. The Mets were one of three organizations he played with in 2024, appearing for two of them at the big-league level, and in 2025, he similarly had a three-organization/two big-league tenure journey. Sounds like a lot of coffee and itineraries but the money is still coming for Ed, though he's ow unemployed on February 5, so the next stop is still a mystery.

What's the story, Giuseppe Torre?

That was John Kruk. At least, it is credited to him, clearly by himself included. But the way Tug McGraw and Bill Lee often claimed the same quotes, it is hard to tell original sources when guys get to write their own myths.

I have no problems with those discussions, and I have no reason to believe "all the data" suggest these are closed issues.

I've been thinking about Mickey since Wilbur Wood died. How many terrific pitchers from that era never got a tumble from the Hall of Fame, but look better every year now that 300 wins is a myth, 200 is mostly out reach for even the best, and even Jacob deGrom is still looking up at 100? There was all this handwringing over the likes of Bert Blyleven and Don Sutton, who put up mountainous numbers but were rarely ever sexy, and even over the Don Drysdales who were sexy af, but not for a full generation. But Wilbur Wood, Mickey Lolich, Tommy John, Luis Tiant, Joe Niekro, Jerry Koosman, Vida Blue, and the like are all condemned to die off without their file even being reopened. Fie on that.

Well, Gary presenting ephemera, while Keith responds with "Yeah, well, I don't know why anybody cares about squares and square roots — what's the point?" provides contrast. And in contrast, you can get both drama and comedy.

Rob Refsnyder has joined the Mariners on a one-year deal. He is 35 and looks older, and has only once hit as many as 10 homers (11 in 2024), but he has become, year in and year out, one of the best choices in the league to be the righthanded-hitting member of any platoon spot in your lineup.

FUN FACT: Pete Rose did not invent, or even really reinvent, the head-first slide. It had been around since at least the 1880s when we have reports of the St. Louis Browns doing it. Johnny Bench was a practitioner of it early in his career, and he says he picked it up from studying Enos Slaughter, who entered the league in 1938. But Bench dropped it from his game, out of deference to Rose. He figured it was Pete's brand, or something. One of the true all-time greats — probably the best ever at his position — actually took a facet out of his game because he didn't want to dim the light on a self-promoting teammate working a hustle. Why do we do that?

It's pretty good to hear Gary be firmly against Keith and Ron on at least one divisive issue. He too often wants to be down with the cool kids even if he occasionally snorts at how proudly uninformed Keith stays on some issues. And, I guess, part of Ron wants to be as cool as Keith also, even as he is twice the mind. The problem with Keith (and Ron to a lesser extent) is really about growing old and wanting the hegemony you flourished under in your youth to be the dominant and defining one as you grow older. It never occurs to too many of us that our lives and the lives of countless others would have been better if we hadn't slopped up the self-serving myths of awful self-promoters like Pete Rose and Steve Garvey and the future President Trump.