Mets Morning News: Lagares gets extension, Gee named fifth starter

Meet the Mets

The Mets lost to the Cardinals by a score of 5-4. Bartolo Colon allowed three runs over five plus innings. Matt Reynolds had a strong day at the plate going two-for-two, including a pinch-hit double.

The Mets locked up one of their young players by agreeing to a four year extension with Juan Lagares worth $23 million. The deal will take him through 2019 and includes a team option for 2020.

It was announced that Dillon Gee has won the job of fifth starter. There were rumors that Rafael Montero could overtake him for the role, but now Montero will likely head to the bullpen.

Outfield prospect Cesar Puello was placed on waivers. With no room on the Mets' major league roster, Puello must be offered to other teams before he can be assigned to Triple-A Las Vegas.

Around the NL East

Federal Baseball made predictions about the Nationals for this upcoming season. Unsurprisingly, they have the Nats winning 97 games en route to a division crown.

Fish Stripes put out five reasons to be excited about the Marlins this year. Much of this excitement centers on young core players, such as Giancarlo Stanton, Christian Yelich, and Jose Fernandez who will return from elbow surgery some time this season.

The Good Phight wonders if Ruben Amaro Jr. is being hung out to dry by the Phillies. The oft-criticized general manager is in the last year of his contract, and as of now, seems to be a lame duck.

The Braves lost to the Phillies 9-2. Opening Day Starter Julio Tehran gave up four homeruns.

Around MLB

In response to Juan Lagares' deal, Grant Brisbee wrote about giving extensions to players who derive most of their value from defense. Specifically, he apologized to the players whom he has trashed in the past, back when defense was not considered as valuable as it is today.

The Blue Jays are beginning a new R.A. Dickey experiment, writes August Fagerstorm. For the first time since his arrival in Toronto, Dickey will be caught regularly by Russell Martin rather than Josh Thole.

Joel Sherman put out 36 predictions for the upcoming MLB season. He notes that a confluence have factors have resulted in a league that has much more parity than it once did.

Beyond the Box Score wrote about the myth of "sophomore slumps" among Rookie of the Year Winners. Steven Martano writes that neither Jacob deGrom or Jose Abreu are candidates for much regression.

Yesterday at AA

Steve Schreiber imagined a world in which Derek Jeter purchases the Mets. The year is 2018, the Mets have just won their first World Series since 1986, and their new owner is focused on winning another.

Chris McShane put out a new edition of the Make-the-Mets-o-Meter. Danny Muno is one name who is trending upward, as it appears he will make the team if Daniel Murphy starts on the disabled list.

Amazin' Avenue Audio episode 110 was released. In this edition, the hosts discuss the new left-handed relievers acquired by the Mets along with Steve Schreiber's MS Paintz skills.

Season previews continued as Andrew Felper profiled Daniel Murphy.

This Date in Mets History

Davey Johnson made his managerial debut for the Mets on this day in 1984. It would be an inauspicious debut, as the Mets would fall to the Reds by a score of 8-1.