Mets Morning News: The Mets should extend Michael Conforto. That’s it. That’s the title.

Meet the Mets

Even though what the Mets’ new front office will look like and which free agents they will pursue have dominated the conversation so far in Steve Cohen’s first offseason as owner, Joel Sherman takes a look at three key things that will have big impacts on the Mets moving forward: who their shortstop will be, Michael Conforto’s impending free agency, and Jacob deGrom’s 2022 opt-out.

While the news of Robinson Cano’s PED suspension had many immediately thinking thoughts of DJ LeMahieu in a Mets uniform, George A. King III of the Post argues that the Mets should be using that savings on extending Michael Conforto.

Jim Bowden of The Athletic outlines a must-do move for every MLB team with a new front office this season. For the Mets, that is signing George Springer to a five-year, $119 million contract.

Around the National League East

Dodgers assistant GM Jeff Kingston is a finalist for the Phillies’ GM vacancy, reports Jon Morosi of MLB Network.

Around Major League Baseball

Rob Arthur of Baseball Prospectus suggests some changes to the game, including moving the mound back a foot, that might go a long way toward fixing baseball’s aesthetics, unlike the more surface changes suggested by Rob Manfred. ($)

Yesterday, the baseball world celebrated the 51st birthday of the legendary Ken Griffey Jr.

Former Tampa Bay Rays prospect Brandon Martin was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility for parole for beating three people to death with a baseball bat in 2015, including his father and uncle.

This Date in Mets History

Terry Collins took the helm as Mets manager on this date in 2010. He recently announced his retirement from baseball.