Your Sunday morning dose of New York Mets and MLB news, notes, and links.
Meet the Mets
Mike Puma of the New York Post reported on the latest from Port St. Lucie, including Kodai Senga throwing live batting practice yesterday, the potential for Francisco Lindor getting a day off here and there during the season, and more.
Speaking of Francisco Lindor, it’s time to make him captain of the Mets, writes David Lennon of Newsday.
Starling Marte, who will be getting most of his at-bats at DH, but may see some time at the corner outfield positions, offered to get reps in center field as well.
First ITBSOHL moment of 2025 alert: Christian Scott, who is in the middle of rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, came to camp having added 10 pounds of muscle to his frame.
Mets officials hope and believe Dedniel Núñez will be ready for Opening Day, but that is not a certainty.
“No guarantee, but I’m hoping to do it,” said Edwin Díaz of the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
The Mets have partnered with Queens-based Bodyarmor as their official sports drink, so that’s what the players will be drinking in the dugout and the clubhouse rather than Gatorade.
“It hurts because we started something that definitely isn’t finished yet. It took a lot for us to get where we got. That’s what hurts. I definitely get that it’s a business. But it definitely hurts,” said Jose Iglesias, who is still hoping to return to the Mets.
Jeff McNeil is confident he can return to his best form this season. “I’ve had some down years before and came back and showed who I am,” he said. “I’m a good ballplayer. I know that. I just need to come ready, play hard and hopefully the results are there.”
Around the National League East
Phillies manager Rob Thomson has said he may tinker with the lineup to produce more offense, including dropping Kyle Schwarber from the leadoff spot to hit cleanup.
Bryce Harper shared his thoughts on the Dodgers and Mets’ offseason spending sprees, and where the Phillies stand with the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Spencer Strider, who got an internal brace to repair his UCL last spring, may be cleared to throw live batting practice soon and could appear in a Grapefruit League game before the end of spring training if all goes well. This would put him on track to return to the Braves’ rotation sometime in April.
“We just want to make sure that he gets his work in and he’s comfortable doing everything that we ask him to do,” Nationals Manager Dave Martinez said about Shinnosuke Ogasawara, who is beginning to feel comfortable at Nationals camp.
“I’m just going out there and just throwing the nastiest stuff possible and getting after [it] every single time,” Marlins righty Max Meyer said of his mindset in camp.
“Year 1 was a lot about assessing the entire organization, the entire baseball operations department, from top to bottom — on field, off field, understanding what we have, what we don’t have, what we need, and how to get to that point as quickly as we possibly can,” Marlins president of baseball operations Peter Bendix said to the Miami Herald. “Year 2 is about starting to actually go in that direction.”
Around Major League Baseball
Christian Yelich, who had back surgery last season, is on track to be ready for Opening Day.
Former World Series closer Bobby Jenks is going through a rough patch in his life. He lost everything in the recent wildfires in LA and is also battling stomach cancer.
Shohei Ohtani threw his first bullpen session at Dodgers camp yesterday and it went well, according to manager Dave Roberts. “Really positive day for Shohei,” he said.
MLB.com’s Rhett Bollinger, Mark Bowman, and Maria Guardado wrote a profile of the Minasian brothers, who have been involved in baseball their entire lives.
This Date in Mets History
Gary Carter, one of the most beloved members of the 1986 Mets, passed away on this date in 2012.