Mets Morning News: Dominic Smith gives back to the community

Meet the Mets

Mets prospect Dominic Smith was in Los Angeles on Sunday appearing at a Community Baseball Fest with Dave Winfield and several other major and minor leaguers. The event was held in Smith’s hometown of Gardena.

Noah Syndergaard jokingly called out The 7 Line on Twitter for their lack of t-shirts depicting him and Mr. Met engaged in combat. Mr. Met promptly slew Thor with a sick burn.

Anthony DiComo thinks the Mets are likely to trade Jay Bruce soon. Joel Sherman thinks the team can’t afford to wait on a perfect deal.

Greg Prince is getting restless waiting for the off season to end.

Around the NL East

The Braves may be interested in signing Kelly Johnson to fill out their bench, and if history repeats itself, they’ll trade him to the Mets mid-season.

The Phillies’ spring training facility is now named Spectrum Field.

The Nationals’ Max Scherzer will miss the World Baseball Classic with a fractured finger.

Around MLB

The Rays have signed Colby Rasmus to a one-year deal.

Former MLB pitcher and pitching coach Jackie Brown died at 73.

Minor league umpires will get better hotel rooms and perks next year, and more importantly, will be guaranteed refrigerator space at minor league parks so that concussion headgear can be chilled for games.

Murray Chass went on MLB radio to defend submitting another blank ballot for the Hall of Fame. It went about as well as you’d think.

A club owner who scammed the Cubs, the government, caterers, and others, was sentenced to 18 months in prison by a judge yesterday.

Manny Ramirez, 44, has signed a contract to play for the Kochi Fighting Dogs in Japan next year.

Yesterday at AA

Matt Varvaro had another Monday Morning Mets Mind Boggler.

This Date in Mets History

The Mets gave Mike Pelfrey his first contract on this date back in 2006.