New York Notes: Mets, Yankees, Wright, Lincecum

Some items from both of the Big Apple’s teams…

• David Wright still doesn’t know when, or even if, he’ll be able to play again, though the Mets captain told MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo and other reporters that he is still determined to return to the field.  “It would be easy if I didn’t have that drive to get back out there,” Wright said.  “If I didn’t love what I did, that would certainly make things easier.  But I do love what I do….When it’s all said and done, I want to be able to say I did everything I could.  If it works, that’s obviously the goal.  And if it doesn’t work, then I’ll rest easy knowing I gave it my best shot.”  Wright played 75 games total in 2015-16 and then missed all of last season due to various surgeries stemming from spinal stenosis.  For their part, the Mets are fully supportive of Wright’s efforts, and manager Mickey Callaway told the third baseman that the team still values his clubhouse leadership.
• Though the Mets’ offseason lacked any headline-grabbing signings or trades, the New York Post’s Ken Davidoff is still giving the team an A (albeit “graded on a curve”) for its winter moves.  Davidoff feels the Mets did well in adding quality talent and depth without committing too much in long-term salary to the likes of Jay Bruce, Jason Vargas, Todd Frazier, Anthony Swarzak, Adrian Gonzalez, and Jose Reyes.  As well, all of those players were signings, so the Mets didn’t have to trade from their already-thin minor league system.
• The Yankees seem likely to save most of their remaining payroll space to address pitching needs at the trade deadline, Joel Sherman of the New York Post opines.  In the short term, the Yankees will look to trade for a low-cost third baseman to bolster their infield.  The team is looking to be as flexible as possible given its desire to stay under the luxury tax threshold while still filling any remaining roster holes, and I agree with Sherman that the Bronx Bombers have more fill-in pitching depth than infield depth.  It doesn’t make sense for the club to spend much on an infielder since Gleyber Torres and Miguel Andujar are seemingly on the cusp of regular duty at second and third base.
• “A source with knowledge of the [Yankees’] personnel decisions” told NJ Advance Media’s Brendan Kuty that Tim Lincecum looked “fine” in his recent showcase for scouts and that Lincecum will likely receive a minor league contract offer from a team.  The implication, however, was that New York wouldn’t be the team in question.  The Yankees were one of between 15-20 teams who sent evaluators to watch Lincecum throw on Thursday.