Mets Morning News: Conforto, Matz, and the rest of the Mets are confident heading into spring

Meet the Mets

Michael Conforto admits now that he potentially pushed himself a bit too hard in his recovery last spring and is looking forward to heading into spring training completely healthy this time around.

Devin Mesoraco’s minor league deal with the Mets is $1.75 million with $250,000 in incentives.

Some NL executives spoke to Mike Puma about the Mets and are high on the improvements they have made, but remain skeptical of the team’s ability to win in a crowded NL East.

Regardless, there is definitely an air of excitement at Port St. Lucie already. About two thirds of the Mets’ spring roster has already reported and they are confident in the fledgling new era under Brodie Van Wagenen.

Peter Alonso is hoping to prove himself in spring training and win the Mets’ first base job.

Mike Petriello of MLB.com named Amed Rosario as one of eleven players poised for a breakout season.

Former Met Logan Verrett has signed a minor league deal with the A’s.

Steven Matz recalled his April 25 start against the Cardinals last season, in which he made an errant throw on a bunting play and ultimately gave up seven runs, despite being on a roll early. After that, Dave Eiland and Mickey Callaway helped him to settle into a new mentality of resetting after every pitch and the results were there on the mound for Matz.

Around the National League East

There is speculation that the Nationals may try to match or beat a Phillies offer for Bryce Harper just to keep him away from an NL East rival.

Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia gives us five Phillies who are heading into spring training with something to prove.

Josh Donaldson is looking to re-establish himself after calf issues sidelined him for most of last season. Count Freddie Freeman among those who believe he can be the Josh Donaldson of old.

“I would tell our fans to just give us a chance,” Marlins president of baseball operations Michael Hill says.

Around Major League Baseball

Reported offers to Manny Machado are pouring in. Apparently the Yankees offered him $220 million over seven-to-eight years, while the White Sox have offered $250 million over eight years.

For the second straight year, it’s possible to field an entire team with still-unsigned free agents as spring training is about to begin. And this year that team is headlined by two superstars.

Part of the reason those two superstars remain unsigned is the fact that neither wants to be the first to sign and set the market, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. In the same piece, he covers the Marlins trade strategy when it came to J.T. Realmuto (spoiler alert: they were hoping for an overpay) and hints at a potential reunion between the Brewers and Mike Moustakas.

Bryce Harper spoke highly of Buster Posey during his meeting with the Giants and there is a sense in San Francisco that the Giants may be his preferred team at this point.

A Nolan Arenado extension could affect not only Machado and Harper’s market, but also this summer’s trade market and next offseason’s free agent market, writes Mark Feinsand of MLB.com.

Madison Bumgarner is not a fan of the opener concept.

The Royals signed Homer Bailey to a minor league contract.

It has been two years since Yordano Ventura died in a car crash. The money remaining on his contract has still not been paid and his estate is broke. It is an unprecedented situation in Major League Baseball; Ventura is the first major league player with a multi-year contract to have died before the contract expired.

Yesterday at Amazin’ Avenue

In the latest installment of our One Last Move series, I made the case for adding Adam Warren as the final piece of an overhauled Mets bullpen.

This Date in Mets History

On this date in 1982, Frank Cashen made his first big trade as Mets general manager, sending three players to the Reds in exchange for former MVP George Foster. Unfortunately, Foster was underwhelming as a Met.