Agents Jeff Berry and Matt Ricatto of CAA Baseball are in Port St. Lucie and will meet with the Mets regarding Jacob deGrom’s contract status, Newsday’s Tim Healey reports. As Healey notes, it’s routine for agents to pay quick visits to MLB camps to check in with their clients and with organizational decision-makers, though the very public nature of deGrom’s extension candidacy makes this particular visit more intriguing. Certainly, a long-term deal for a pitcher of deGrom’s caliber isn’t something that’d be hammered out in a matter of hours, but this week’s visit could potentially help to lay some groundwork for negotiations that would carry on throughout Spring Training. Last week, deGrom indicated that talks had not yet gotten off the ground, and a few days prior to that, it was reported that his camp has placed an Opening Day deadline on getting a deal finished.
Here’s more out of Queens…
- The Mets received good news following Jed Lowrie’s recent MRI, tweets Mike Puma of the New York Post. Lowrie underwent the test after experiencing some discomfort in the back of his knee earlier this week, but the MRI did not reveal any significant damage. The veteran will be brought along slowly early in camp, Puma notes, although at this point it seems there’s no longer much cause for concern. The 34-year-old (35 in April) inked a two-year, $20MM pact with the Mets this offseason on the heels of a terrific 2018 campaign in which he batted .267/.353/.448 with 23 home runs and 37 doubles in 680 plate appearances with the A’s.
- The Mets aren’t ruling out the possibility of carrying three catchers to open the season, manager Mickey Callaway tells Kevin Armstrong of the New York Times. Offseason signee Wilson Ramos, of course, is a lock to make the Opening Day roster as the team’s new primary option behind the dish, and Travis d’Arnaud seems quite likely to be in the mix as well, so long as his rehab from 2018 Tommy John surgery has adequately progressed. The other two options are 24-year-old Tomas Nido and veteran Devin Mesoraco, who returned to the Mets on a minor league deal this winter. As Callaway explains, Mesoraco’s relationship with deGrom was a huge factor in the organization’s decision to re-sign him; Mesoraco caught 21 of 25 deGrom starts last year after being acquired from the Reds. Callaway spoke with high praise of Mesoraco’s preparation and leadership, which had a positive influence on other catchers and throughout the pitching staff. Given d’Arnaud’s ability to play some first base and left field, carrying a pair of backup catcher options wouldn’t be as limiting as it would for other clubs. Nido, meanwhile, has a minor league option remaining, so he seems likely to be headed for Triple-A to open the year.
Surprised Cafardo’s death isn’t mentioned here. I know he is not a baseball player, manager or executive but MLBTR had ‘Cafardo’s latest’ on weekly basis if I recall correctly.
Was mentioned in the chat today.
They will in time
Its about the Mets.
deFree Agency
deTraded to a team with money
deLamest joke I’ve heard in a while
Hopefully we see these cheap owners pay the franchise player what he deserves and I am glad he made the statements he did previously. Die hard mets fan but the Mets and wilpigs need Degrom far more then he needs the Mets. Lock the man up to a fair extension it amazes me how he even wants to stay here with the clown show he’s been apart of for so long.
I agree with you it’s amazing he’s willing to stay in NY. He had a 1.61 era and only managed a 10-9 record with the Mets lineup. If this was Tampa or Arizona this might be acceptable but he pitches in the largest city in the United States. The idea that the Wilponzis don’t spend is ridiculous
1.70 era
Why would you extend a 30 year old deGrom now when you could pay him the $40 mil over the next two season and then resign once you know his arm doesn’t fall off?
Or once his arm doesn’t fall off he flips his former agent the bird.
It’s great for Mets fans to wish the worst for their team’s players in order to protect the worst owner in baseball.
Hey dob-Are you on the Wilpon side of the family or Sol Katz’s family?
I was hoping you were below dirt.
Through age 30 (reg season & playoffs):
Kershaw: 2248.3 innings
deGrom: 922 2/3 Innings
deGrom also only started pitching partway through college, so he has even less mileage on his arm than the above stats suggest.
I doubt they trad deG this year. They’ll wait for the winter, and if the two parties can’t get together, then they’ll move him.
Or, just as likely, deG will see the sea of Free Agents not getting signed (it will be worse than this year) , and will take a lower value (all terms being relative) than you might suspect.
The Mets, after a few years of nothing but negative PR, have some nice things being said about them now. I don’t think they want to dam the flow, at least not now.
Think Degrom will be fine just as he saw Corbin sign and get paid by the nationals this year. He gets traded mid year someone will give him the extension he wants hundred percent and at least more then Corbin
Waiting for next winter will greatly reduce his worth to another team. He’ll probably be earning 25 million by then and getting 1 year of Degrom for 25 mill while good is not nearly as desirable as getting 2 years of him at about 40 mill. I agree with what you said about the Mets waiting though. However as to the low price as seen in free agency. How much did Corbin suffer. Oh that’s right he didn’t. How about Machado. Oh thats right he didn’t. Top players are not suffering and DeGrom right now is top of the heap
I’ve loved the Mets for 46 years now – but signing Jake this year is a bad business move.
His floor for 2020 is about $25mm. If he repeats 2018 or even comes close, he’ll get more.
Then, if both years were “average” for him (30 starts, 175+ IP, WHIP of below 1.2, 5/1 K/BB ratio) or better, he’s in line for Kershaw money ($35mm per) for another 4-6 years.
So, why should the Mets take an extra year of injury risk on him by signing now? If he regresses in 2019, or (God forbid) gets hurt, do we really want 6 yrs/$200mm on the books?
Next January, sign him for 5 years/$165mm. He’ll probably take it. Because the risk to him of an injury on 2020 is pretty steep…after all, what would you pay for a guy having TJ in August 2020, who won’t pitch until 2022 at age 33?
I created an account to say this. If you are going to pay a 31 year old pitcher 165 mil you are out of your mind. Degrom should get 4/100 or 4/110 if he keeps up his current production for the next two years.
His value is at an all time high, why not move him now?
Maybe because they want to compete this year
While I agree with you – plus his two years of control makes him even more attractive, the Mets have invested in the off-season to be competitive and moving their best player would hurt ticket sales. The one thing the Mets have going for them, when healthy, is their pitching staff. If they’re not performing by the trading deadline and he’s not signed to an extension, I can see them moving him then.
I’m curious about how the roster would be structured with both TDA and Mesoraco opening the season on the bench. I’m also uneasy about the durability of their group – personally, I was in favor of them spending the extra money on a more reliable guy like Maldonado.
My guess is the reason why Mesoraco was brought back was only because Jake flourished with him behind the dish and pretty much said I want him back as my personal catcher and they both seem to click together
I’m definitely not opposed to Mesoraco being back, I’m just a bit worried about his injury history.
Agreed but I think he mostly will just catch with Degrom maybe every other start on the mound personally that’s just my opinion
If he’s just catching one or twice during each rotation turn, he should be fine. Ramos will get the bulk of the catching chores I’m sure.
I’ll take Mesoraco over TDA. TDA is always hurt and sucks behind the dish.
id take Travis as a flyer..low BA but enough at bats when healthy and age makes him a better than most
The problem with TDA is “enough at bats.”
Lowrie Notes:
Jed Lowrie has fewer career stolen bases than Zack Greinke
What’s the status of Yoenis Cespedis?
Hey Garry-thanks for looking in on Ces. During spring training Ces is is Port St.Lucie and keeping in shape by riding his Arabian Horses every day.
His plan is to move up to the north shore of Nassau County in mid May—waiting for some of the flowers to bloom at his house. He looks forward to a productive golf season and has already extended invitations to some new teammates like Robinson Cano to join his daily foursome playing 18’holes.