Mets Morning News: Are you for Realmuto?

Meet the Mets

The Daily News’ Kristie Ackert broke down all the challenges facing new general manager Brodie Van Wagenen this offseason.

Matt Ehalt of the Bergen Record listed free agents the team could target, such as catchers Wilson Ramos and Yasmani Grandal.

MetsBlog’s Danny Abriano made a case for the team’s trading for Marlins catcher J.T. Realmuto.

Omar Minaya will return to the team as an advisor to Van Wagenen. The team also hopes executives John Ricco and J.P. Ricciardi will come back, though it’s unclear if they will.

Around the National League East

The Braves traded cash considerations to the Padres for catcher Raffy Lopez, who’s played 76 games in the majors, hitting .184/.270/.322 with seven homers.

Fish Stripes’ David Phillips reviewed the seasons of the most disappointing Marlins in 2018.

The Good Phight’s John Stolnis interviewed Phillies farmhand Austin Listi, who won the 2018 Paul Owens Award as the organization’s best minor league position player.

Around Major League Baseball

Grant Brisbee ranked the best 50 free agents of the offseason. Only two of them played for the Mets last season, and neither made it a full season: Matt Harvey and Asdrubal Cabrera.

The worst called ball of the season was thrown by Cardinals reliever Dakota Hudson to Dodgers outfielder Joc Pederson, and it had a pretty decent explanation behind it.

Yesterday at Amazin’ Avenue

Before his ascension to the majors, Jeff McNeil earned the No. 2 spot in Steve Sypa’s rankings of the best Mets minor league hitters he saw in 2018.

In his review of Tomas Nido’s 2018 campaign, Lukas Vlahos determined that the young catcher needs more time in the minors.

This Date in Mets History

Three Mets pitchers received votes for the 1976 NL Cy Young, handed out on this date: Jerry Koosman, Jon Matlack, and Tom Seaver. Seaver came in last among the eight players to receive votes, despite having the best WAR and leading the league in strikeouts.