David Stearns delivers his first big gift as excitement levels rise overnight
Plus, Mark Vientos shows a little something with another blast in a loss to the Yankees...
What’s up with the Mets? 🍎
The Mets lost to the Yankees 5-3 on Friday afternoon
DH Mark Vientos hit a two-run homer in the top of the second inning
INF Zack Short scored on a Francisco Lindor sacrifice fly in the fifth in what was the final run of the day for the Mets
1B Pete Alonso went 2-for-4 on what was a quiet day for the offense
RHP Tyler Stuart got the start for the Mets and gave up two runs in three innings with one strikeout
RHP Jeffrey Colón pitched in relief and allowed three earned runs on two hits and three walks in two innings of work
Newly-acquired DH J.D. Martínez will begin the 2024 season in the minors in order to build up the required at-bats (New York Post)
OF Brandon Nimmo was present in Port Saint Lucie to officially welcome Martínez to the Mets on Friday (New York Post)
Today’s Game 🗓️
Match-Up: Mets (14-11) vs. Astros (11-14)
Where: Clover Park — Port Saint Lucie, FL
Starters: LHP José Quintana (0-1, 4.15 ERA) vs. RHP Cristian Javier (2-1, 4.30 ERA)
When: 1:10 PM EDT
Where To Watch: SNY
David Stearns swings for the fences and delivers in more ways than one ✍️
David Stearns has opted for a low-key approach to start his reign as president of baseball operations for the Mets.
With the organization having hit the reset button at last year’s trade deadline, Stearns has put all of his focus on building for the future and adding considerable layers of depth to the farm system. As a result, every move the former Brewers executive made this offseason flew in the opposite direction of sexy. Every addition made could be filed under the solid, serviceable and no-thrills category.
All the emphasis and all the onus was on developing Brett Baty and Mark Vientos, while continuing to lay the foundations and build a perennial winner from the bottom up.
However, in breaking from his self-imposed shackles and executing a big-time move for a proven slugger in J.D. Martínez, Stearns has now pulled off his first swing-for-the-fences type moment for the Mets.
And it is a move that could define his entire first year on the job.
Allow me to explain. Stearns has been consistent in his belief from day one that this is a team that can compete for the playoffs in 2024. He has never, ever shied away from that stated goal. The only problem with that, though, is every move Stearns made contradicted the words that were coming out of his mouth. Relying on second-year players to provide power from two notable spots in the lineup, as well as building a starting rotation full of question marks, hardly screamed a sure-fire playoff contender.
But, by bringing Martínez on board, Stearns has not only raised the ceiling for this team on the field, but he’s also sent a very clear message to the rest of the clubhouse that he believes in them and will do whatever he can to help them become a playoff team in 2024.
That latter point cannot be understated.
We’ve already seen a whole buffet of reactions from a slew of different Mets to Martínez’s signing, and they’ve all been overwhelmingly positive. And why wouldn’t they be? After all, Martínez instantly makes that lineup a whole lot better because of his big bat and his ability to get on base. His presence lengthens the entire lineup, which will help Pete Alonso significantly.
Optics is incredibly important in sports, and Stearns has no doubt bought himself a lot of extra credit within that clubhouse by adding a player that dramatically raises the ceiling on what can be accomplished in 2024.
Plus, it is well-known throughout baseball that Martínez is an absolute master of his craft, and he’s religiously devoted to the art form of hitting. There is no doubt that the likes of Baty and Vientos will only benefit from having Martinez around. They should pull up a stool and soak up every single nugget of information about hitting they can obtain from the six-time All-Star.
Stearns has now injected rocket fuel into his big league clubhouse, and the team will be entering Opening Day riding one hell of a confidence booster knowing that the front office is really committed to being competitive this year. After all, all players care about is winning and Martínez will certainly help in that department.
It shouldn’t also be overlooked at how Stearns has now ramped up the excitement levels for the fans just in time for Opening Day at Citi Field next week. As of Thursday, there were still tickets available for the home opener, which illustrates the general feeling around this team. In what many expected to be a transition year packed with more boring valleys than compelling peaks, there wasn’t really an abundance of feverishness enthusiasm for the season ahead.
But now, by adding an elite slugger who can mash the hell out of baseballs for pure fun, Stearns has sent a much-needed jolt of energy through the fanbase and you can now feel the palpable excitement for Opening Day. All of a sudden, fans really do believe that this team could be better than expected and produce an exhilarating thrill-ride of a season that we can all get behind.
Stearns has given his team a vote of confidence. He’s given the fans a real reason to go out and buy tickets and get behind this team from the get-go. And he’s also proved that, after a fairly underwhelming and nondescript first offseason on the job, he’s also willing to flip the script and swing for the fences to considerably better his roster when the golden opportunity presents itself.
And that’s an encouraging precursor for things to come down the road.
This was David Stearns’ first real big moment to impress since taking the job in Queens, and his signing of a proven star in J.D. Martínez could prove to be the gift that keeps on giving.
Around The League 🚩
MLB has launched an official investigation into the allegations involving Shohei Ohtani and his interpreter Ippei Mizuhari
It is understood, barring anything unforeseen, that Ohtani will remain on the Dodgers’ active roster and will continue to play while MLB’s investigation is carried out (ESPN)
The Blue Jays granted INF Eduardo Escobar his release. The former Met is now a free agent
In good news for former Mets, RHP Carlos Carrasco has made the 26-man Opening Day roster for the Guardians
RHP Sonny Gray (hamstring) and OF Lars Nootbaar (ribs) will both begin the season on the IL for the Cardinals
Former Met 1B Dom Smith is expected to opt out of his minor league deal with the Cubs (ESPN)
OF Wyatt Langford will make the Opening Day roster for the Rangers. As will OF and No. 2 prospect in baseball Jackson Chourio for the Brewers
However, SS Jackson Holliday will not be on the Opening Day roster for the Orioles. The No. 1 prospect in baseball will begin the year in the minors
A’s RHP Trevor Gott has a fully torn ACL in his right elbow and will undergo Tommy John surgery
OF Myles Straw has been placed on waivers by the Guardians, per sources (MLB.com)