Mets Morning News: Winter (meetings) of our discontent

Meet the Mets

Despite the impending sale of the Mets to Steve Cohen, it will be “business as usual” for the Mets this winter, according to Brodie Van Wagenen.

The Mets’ general manager confirmed the team is looking to add some starting pitching and bullpen depth for the upcoming season.

Yoenis Cespedes has begun a running program, in addition to hitting and throwing. Van Wagenen would not commit to the outfielder playing for the team in 2020.

The team has a better grasp of “what went wrong physically” for Jed Lowrie in 2019, and the GM expects that he “will be ready to go”.

With Ali Sanchez on the 40-man roster, the Mets are pretty comfortable with their catcher situation.

Following that quote, the team signed catcher David Rodriguez to a minor league deal. He will join the team for spring training. Rodriguez spent the last seven years in the Rays’ organization.

Van Wagenen is letting the Mets fall terribly behind.

The Mets were interested in bringing back Zack Wheeler, but “the value of the investment didn’t match up”.

Mets’ bench coach Hensley “Bam Bam” Meulens discussed the difference between working with Bruce Bochy and Carlos Beltran. The Post profiled Meulens as he prepares for his new job working alongside Beltran.

The Mets unveiled their new threads for 2020.

The plan is for Jeff McNeil to play third base full time in 2020.

Phil Regan will serve as a minor league coordinator within the organization.

David Wright is keeping a low profile in his new role.

Tim Britton breaks down where the Mets’ roster stands at the end of Day One of the winter meetings.

Eleven years ago, Robinson Cano paid for open heart surgery for a Dominican boy with a critical condition. The two were recently reunited.

Drew Gagnon has signed with the Kia Tigers.

The Mets will be featured on Sunday Night Baseball on April 19 vs. the Brewers, April 26 at the Braves, and May 31 vs. the Dodgers.

Around the National League East

The Nationals have resigned Stephen Strasburg to a 7 year, $245 million contract. More than $80 million will be deferred.

Strasburg’s contract includes a full no-trade clause and a number of performance-based incentives.

Josh Donaldson is increasingly likely to receive a four-year deal following his year in Atlanta.

The Phillies officially announced the signing of Wheeler to a five-year, $118 million deal.

Around Major League Baseball

Jeff Passan breaks down everything you need to know about the winter meetings.

During the winter meetings, MLB will be running an auction to benefit ALS research.

Jayson Stark examines just how high the Gerrit Cole contract can go.

Rumors around the winter meetings suggest the White Sox offered Strasburg a $246 million contract.

The Red Sox are actively trying to trade Jackie Bradley Jr., and were engaged with the Mets prior to the Jake Marisnick trade.

Boston is not currently involved with any of their free agents, including Rick Porcello.

Fangraphs explains the 2019 MLB Home Run Record with Quality of Pitch.

SABR has unveiled the Sporting News Player Contract Card Collection, which has searchable data on almost 180,000 professional baseball players.

Didi Gregorius seems likely to receive a contract worth $14-$15 million annually.

Adam Jones could soon be headed to Japan to play for the Orix Buffaloes.

MLB unveiled the new Nike-branded logos for all teams.

MLB is moving the June First-Year Amateur Draft to Omaha, Nebraska, which is the site of the College World Series.

MLB will remove marijuana from the list of banned substances for minor leaguers. Major leaguers are not subject to testing for marijuana.

Yesterday at Amazin’ Avenue

Linda Surovich recapped an uneventful first day of the winter meetings.

Nate Gismot composed a not-so-fond farewell to Fred and Jeff Wilpon.

Lukas Vlahos graded the Marisnick trade.

I continued the search for a relief pitcher for the Mets.

A new episode of From Complex to Queens focused on the upcoming Rule 5 Draft.

This Date in Mets History

The Mets completed blockbuster trades in 1971, 1984, and 2008, to varying degrees of success. In 1971, the team shipped Nolan Ryan, Leory Stanton, Francisco Estrada, and Don Rose to the then-California Angels for Jim Fregosi. 13 years later, they delt Hubie Brooks, Mike Fitzgerald, Herm Winningham, and Floyd Youmans to the Montreal Expos for Gary Carter. In 2008, the Mets completed a mega-deal with the Indians and Mariners that involved sending Aaron Heilman, Endy Chavez, Jason Vargas, Mike Carp, Ezequiel Carrera, and Maikel Cleto to Seattle and Joe Smith to Cleveland. In return the Mets received J.J. Putz, Sean Green, and Jeremy Reed.