Amazin' Avenue: All Posts by Chris McShaneLove the Metshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46695/amazinavenue-fave.png2024-03-26T17:06:55-04:00https://www.amazinavenue.com/authors/chris-mcshane/rss2024-03-26T17:06:55-04:002024-03-26T17:06:55-04:00Mets release Phil Bickford
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<img alt="Seattle Mariners v New York Mets" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Vp7-O-4mmOLc4RV2n3jl-MHD088=/1043x0:3158x1410/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73234923/1680888122.5.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Picked up during the 2023 season, Bickford’s time with the Mets has ended.</p> <p id="R8pjji">The <a href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/">Mets</a> have released 28-year-old right-handed reliever Phil Bickford, having designated him for assignment a few days ago to make room for designated hitter J.D. Martinez on their 40-man roster.</p>
<p id="iLnfX3">Coming into spring training, Bickford was one of several pitchers who had a shot at making the team’s Opening Day bullpen. But he and many of the other relievers in that competition were out of options. Having joined the Mets last year in a trade with the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a>, Bickford had a 4.62 ERA in 25.1 innings in orange and blue and had a 4.95 ERA on the 2023 season. In 4.2 innings in Grapefruit League play this year, Bickford had a 5.79 ERA. </p>
<p id="AdnwM8">The Mets still haven’t made the last bullpen spot or two official just yet, as Sean Reid-Foley, Yohan Ramírez, and Michael Tonkin are the three pitchers in the mix for two spots. All three are out of options.</p>
https://www.amazinavenue.com/2024/3/26/24112906/mets-phil-bickford-release-new-york-bullpen-2024-opening-day-rosterChris McShane2024-03-26T12:00:00-04:002024-03-26T12:00:00-04:00Omar Narváez is clearly the Mets’ backup catcher in 2024
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<img alt="New York Mets Photo Day" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/B6c-qAU8mfrYpmhtnS9po7T_bw4=/0x242:3752x2743/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73234007/2030674409.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Omar Narváez | Photo by Elsa/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Francisco Alvarez is the number one catcher, and Narváez will be his backup.</p> <p id="Uc8Ywm">Omar Narváez joined the <a href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/">Mets</a> before the 2023 season, and just a few days into the season, <a href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/2023/4/6/23672673/mets-news-omar-narvaez-injured-list-francisco-alvarez-call-up-catcher">he hit the injured list</a> and saw top prospect Franciso Alvarez called up to fill in. </p>
<p id="rO4xCG">Narváez didn’t make it back until early June, and by then, Alvarez had gotten a firm grasp on the starting job behind the plate. That remains the case now as the 2024 season is set to get underway, with Alvarez playing the role of starter and Narváez serving as his backup. </p>
<p id="22ynKo">In the end, Narváez made just 146 plate appearances for the Mets, his lowest total in a full single season in his major league career. In that time, he hit just .211/.283/.297 with two home runs and a 64 wRC+. It was a very small sample, but over the past two years, he now has a cumulative 68 wRC+.</p>
<p id="dXhzuA">If Narváez were to bounce back, the Mets could entertain the idea of trading him to a team that could play him more regularly. Tomás Nido remains in the minors and could take Narváez’s place if the team were to go that route. If not, Alvarez still figures to get the vast majority of the time behind the plate, and Nido might end up staying in Syracuse longer simply because he’s out of options and might not clear waivers if the Mets had to put him on them this season.</p>
https://www.amazinavenue.com/2024/3/26/24111988/mets-omar-narvaez-catcher-alvarez-2024-season-preview-new-yorkChris McShane2024-03-26T11:00:00-04:002024-03-26T11:00:00-04:00Josh Walker could get another shot in the Mets’ bullpen in 2024
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<img alt="Chicago Cubs v New York Mets" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ir2RNq1lPik46WbmSe3oWxMQV_o=/0x0:3727x2485/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73233802/1607979142.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The 29-year-old made his big league debut last year.</p> <p id="jgbwqN">Josh Walker was picked by the <a href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/">Mets</a> in the 37th round—a round that no longer exists by 17 rounds—in the 2017 draft. Most players taken in rounds that late don’t end up making it to the big leagues, but Walker made his debut with the major league team last year.</p>
<p id="cqEClL">The results across his 10.0 innings with the Mets weren’t exactly ideal. Walker had a decent strikeout rate for a reliever, a bad walk rate, and a fairly significant home run issue. And he ended up with an 8.10 ERA at the end of the season.</p>
<p id="WoKLFK">In Triple-A Syracuse, however, things went much better for the lefty. He struck out 33.3 percent of opposing batters, walked 10.8 percent, and had a 1.84 ERA in 29.1 innings of work out of the bullpen. That was a marked improvement from his brief stint in Syracuse as a reliever in 2022 and his time spent as a starter there in 2021. </p>
<p id="JnU4fU">With two option years remaining, Walker was an obvious choice to begin the year in Syracuse, especially since the Mets’ bullpen includes two lefties: Brooks Raley and Jake Diekman. Neither of those pitchers has significant platoon splits, and for what it’s worth, Walker was more effective against left-handed hitters than right-handed hitters last year in Syracuse.</p>
<p id="SLhuwb">Like a bunch of other relievers who will be in Syracuse to start the year, Walker could get called up at one or more points this season, assuming he’s pitching well in Triple-A and and a need arises. And again, the fact that he has options makes it much easier for the team to call him up and send him back a few times if needed.</p>
https://www.amazinavenue.com/2024/3/26/24111042/mets-josh-walker-relievers-bullpen-2024-previewChris McShane2024-03-25T18:15:00-04:002024-03-25T18:15:00-04:00Mauricio will spend most, if not all, of 2024 recovering from surgery
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<img alt="Philadelphia Phillies v New York Mets - Game Two" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/0D3buqfQafreoJDtXjjbW2QNzzs=/0x0:3242x2161/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73232546/1730399217.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>After making his major league debut late last year, Mauricio likely has to wait until 2025 for another shot in the big leagues.</p> <p id="faEB7Y">In an effort to preview the 2024 seasons of every player on the <a href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/">Mets</a>’ 40-man roster by Opening Day, yes, we’re doing a season preview for Ronny Mauricio, who is unlikely to play at all this year—especially at the major league level.</p>
<p id="uQseL6">Following a major league debut in which he made 108 plate appearances, hit .248/.296/.347 with two home runs, and stole seven bases, Mauricio <a href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/2023/12/12/23999147/mets-injury-ronny-mauricio-acl-knee-new-york">tore his ACL playing winter ball</a> in December. He had surgery in January, and he’s expected to miss 8 to 12 months as he recovers. He’s already on the 60-day injured list and won’t count against the Mets’ limit of 40 players on the team’s 40-man roster.</p>
<p id="fipfe1">With that, Mauricio is likely a spring case of wait ‘til next year. Having retained his rookie status, he still <a href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/2024/2/7/24063138/top-25-mets-prospects-2024-williams-gilbert-acuna-clifford-scott">ranked sixth</a> on our list of the Mets’ top 25 prospects this year. And hey, it’s possible that he’ll recover on the faster side and get into game shape in Florida before making some appearances at the upper levels of the minors this year. The minor league season does go deeper into the calendar these days.</p>
<p id="ukpHGO">Anything short of the absolute best-case scenario here, though, means that Mauricio will be doing everything he can to return to spring training next year fully healthy. Between now and then, Brett Baty will likely establish whether or not he is the Mets’ long-term solution at third base. Mark Vientos may or may not get an opportunity to show if he can be a more capable major league bat. And plenty other variables will surely factor into whether or not Mauricio ends up having a real shot at cracking the Mets’ Opening Day roster in 2025.</p>
https://www.amazinavenue.com/2024/3/25/24111969/mets-ronny-mauricio-injury-surgery-recovery-2024Chris McShane2024-03-25T12:35:00-04:002024-03-25T12:35:00-04:00Open thread: Mets at Yankees, 3/25/24
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<img alt="MLB: Spring Training-St. Louis Cardinals at New York Mets" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Rkn2qjeeJ5Pv6FPKi3e-mqUWzU8=/2200x0:6397x2798/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73231707/usa_today_22812732.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Rich Storry-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Mets’ final Grapefruit League game of 2024 is upon us.</p> <h3 id="fg6IN5">Mets lineup</h3>
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<li id="txT4Xa">Brandon Nimmo - LF</li>
<li id="pFWYyX">Francisco Lindor - SS</li>
<li id="MxdiKY">Pete Alonso - 1B</li>
<li id="83pBbF">Jeff McNeil - 2B</li>
<li id="z3tjZd">Starling Marte - RF</li>
<li id="P9DJdy">DJ Stewart - DH</li>
<li id="NausSM">Francisco Alvarez - C</li>
<li id="77ADde">Brett Baty - 3B</li>
<li id="vi1mp7">Harrison Bader - CF</li>
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<p id="8V446J"><strong>SP</strong>: Sean Manaea</p>
<h3 id="GZYPQN">Broadcast info</h3>
<p id="JTIK5L"><strong>First pitch</strong>: 1:05 PM EDT<br><strong>TV</strong>: YES (Yankees)<br><strong>Radio</strong>: WFAN 660/101.9 FM (Yankees)</p>
https://www.amazinavenue.com/2024/3/25/24111452/mets-yankees-spring-training-finale-lineup-tv-radio-new-yorkChris McShane2024-03-25T11:00:00-04:002024-03-25T11:00:00-04:00Luisangel Acuña begins 2024 in Syracuse with a shot to make his big league debut
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<img alt="Mets prospect Luisangel Acuña warms up before a Binghamton Rumble Ponies game." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/kPwmpZBUH3egFqiSEMMTSgcW9HU=/949x0:3619x1780/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73231396/rumble_ponies_chris_mcshane_1734.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Luisangel Acuña | Photo: Chris McShane</figcaption>
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<p>The 22-year-old stole 57 bases in the minors last year.</p> <p id="ZjbwnI">Earlier this month, the <a href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/">Mets</a> sent Luisangel Acuña to minor league spring training and optioned him to Triple-A Syracuse, where he figures to begin the 2024 season. A top-100 prospect in all of baseball according to Baseball Prospectus and MLB.com, <a href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/2024/2/7/24063138/top-25-mets-prospects-2024-williams-gilbert-acuna-clifford-scott">Acuña ranked third</a> on our list of the Mets’ top prospects heading into the 2024 season.</p>
<p id="BmnvOa">Having just turned 22, Acuña is the younger brother of Ronald Acuña Jr., arguably the best player in baseball at the moment. Both players stole a ton of bases at their respective levels last year, but Luisangel is a middle infielder and hasn’t hit for nearly as much power as his older brother. And on top of being linked to his brother, Acuña is linked to Max Scherzer, as the veteran pitcher was traded to the <a href="https://www.lonestarball.com/">Texas Rangers</a> in exchange for him last summer.</p>
<p id="xu2arq">In 569 plate appearances with the Rangers’ and Mets’ Double-A affiliates last year, Acuña hit .294/.359/.410 with 9 home runs and 57 stolen bases in 67 attempts. You can read plenty more about him in <a href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/2024/2/1/24057691/mets-top-25-prospects-for-2024-inf-luisangel-acuna-3">Steve Sypa’s profile</a> from our series counting down our list of the organization’s top prospects.</p>
<p id="kBJIZ9">As things stand right now, the Mets will be carrying a few players who play at least one middle infield position on their major league roster: Francisco Lindor, Jeff McNeil, Joey Wendle, and Zack Short. When J.D. Martinez joins the major league team in early-to-mid April, it’s possible that Short could be designated for assignment, but if DJ Stewart is the Mets’ DH to start the year, he could be sent to Syracuse and has options remaining.</p>
<p id="Dv48k4">Over the course of the season, whether or not Acuña gets a major league call-up will depend largely upon whether or not Starling Marte and Jeff McNeil are healthy and producing and—perhaps to a lesser extent—whether or not Harrison Bader remains healthy. Any injury in the outfield could push McNeil to a corner outfield spot on a regular basis, or a repeat of 2023 from McNeil or Marte could make it hard to keep Acuña in the minors if he’s hitting well in Syracuse.</p>
<p id="NxFZgU">For now, if Acuña adjusts well to a higher level and keeps doing the things he did last year in Double-A, he will presumably get a shot with the Mets at some point this year.</p>
https://www.amazinavenue.com/2024/3/25/24110985/mets-luisangel-acuna-top-prospects-2024-syracuse-new-york-infieldChris McShane2024-03-24T19:50:00-04:002024-03-24T19:50:00-04:00Max Kranick will begin the year on the IL, possibly serve as rotation depth for the 2024 Mets
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<img alt="New York Mets Photo Day" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/v7HhLXY3xaGiA_lBm-nlyLiMnow=/0x505:4000x3172/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73230259/2030485574.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Elsa/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The 26-year-old suffered a hamstring injury in spring training.</p> <p id="0hPj1l">Back in mid-January, the <a href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/">Mets</a> claimed 26-year-old right-handed pitcher Max Kranick on waivers, a move that might not have registered with most Mets fans ahead of his brief stint in spring training that ended with <a href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/2024/2/29/24087017/mets-max-kranick-injury-hamstring-opening-day-rotation-roster-new-york">a hamstring injury</a>.</p>
<p id="Te6YxO">With the team’s Opening Day rotation set, Tylor Megill will begin the year at the major league level with José Butto and Joey Lucchesi starting in Triple-A Syracuse. As things stand, the rotation there figures to be pretty crowded, and whenever Kranick is ready to start a rehab assignment, it wouldn’t be shocking to see someone in the mix end up in Double-A Binghamton instead. </p>
<p id="pgqrkm">Kranick has options remaining, and unless his rehab assignment goes exceptionally well and there’s an opening in the big league rotation once he’s ramped things up, it’s tough to see him getting a shot at the major league level immediately upon his return.</p>
<p id="syQxFw">In 2021, Kranick made his major league debut with the Pirates, and in nine starts, he had a 6.28 ERA and a 4.64 FIP. He made just two appearances for them in 2022, both of which came in relief, and totaled 5.0 major league innings. Injuries have been a fairly consistent issue for him, as he’s eclipsed 100 innings of work just once, back in 2019.</p>
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https://www.amazinavenue.com/2024/3/24/24110976/mets-max-kranick-injury-rotation-depth-2024-rosterChris McShane2024-03-24T12:40:00-04:002024-03-24T12:40:00-04:00Open thread: Mets vs. Nationals, 3/24/24
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<img alt="New York Mets v Miami Marlins" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/FT4PiYxhB1t-E-eysDrQZ4HTmHY=/1030x0:5182x2768/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73229624/2069614403.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Luis Severino makes his final spring training start in split-squad action today.</p> <h3 id="rRXDqH">Mets lineup</h3>
<p id="90W9C2">lineup to follow</p>
<h3 id="4fXC5r">Broadcast info</h3>
<p id="55gepN"><strong>First pitch</strong>:<br><strong>TV</strong>: WPIX<br><strong>Radio</strong>: WCBS 880, Audacy</p>
https://www.amazinavenue.com/2024/3/24/24110450/mets-nationals-spring-training-severino-lineup-watch-tv-radio-broadcastChris McShane2024-03-24T10:23:25-04:002024-03-24T10:23:25-04:00Mets option Mark Vientos to Syracuse, Zack Short makes Opening Day roster
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<img alt="MLB: MAR 16 Spring Training - Mets at Astros" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/dVyDzHaMJJ8JFBLAi7NUfcgCyTY=/0x0:6346x4231/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73229400/2087311615.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Doug Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Jiman Choi won’t make the roster, either.</p> <p id="NhNgKe">The <a href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/">Mets</a> have optioned Mark Vientos to Triple-A Syracuse, will put Zack Short on their Opening Day roster, and won’t include Jiman Choi on that roster. </p>
<p id="ZOzphx">With that, the team’s roster continues to take shape, as the team also designated Phil Bickford for assignment yesterday and decided that Shintaro Fujinami, Tomás Nido, José Iglesias, and Luke Voit weren’t making the roster. There are still decisions to be made regarding the final spots in the team’s bullpen.</p>
<p id="LA1tTX">As for Vientos, he seemed destined to start the year in Triple-A as soon as the Mets <a href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/2024/3/21/24108244/mets-j-d-martinez-agree-to-deal-mark-vientos-dj-stewart-jiman-choi">signed J.D. Martinez</a>. With Martinez ramping up in the minors for a brief stint to start the season, though, it seemed possible that Vientos might get some major league at-bats to start the year before he got sent down. </p>
<p id="OEiq5W">Short hasn’t done much with the bat in his major league career, as he owns a .174/.266/.308 line and a 58 wRC+ in 450 career plate appearances. For what it’s worth, he’s hit well in spring training games and currently has a .278/.395/.444 line in 43 plate appearances.</p>
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https://www.amazinavenue.com/2024/3/24/24110453/mets-vientos-short-choi-opening-day-roster-new-york-2024Chris McShane2024-03-23T12:40:00-04:002024-03-23T12:40:00-04:00Open thread: Mets vs. Astros, 3/23/24
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<img alt="New York Mets starting pitcher Jose Quintana pitching against the Houston Astros in spring training game" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/5yVtkcG89jRdKa__AAco74QYofQ=/0x514:4476x3498/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73228163/2084606564.0.jpg" />
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<p>José Quintana makes his final spring training appearance ahead of Opening Day on Thursday.</p> <h3 id="MJ8R12">Mets lineup</h3>
<p id="wPgdYt">lineup to follow</p>
<h3 id="VvXvol">Broadcast info</h3>
<p id="bEeA6S"><strong>First pitch</strong>: 1:10 PM EDT<br><strong>TV</strong>: SNY<br><strong>Radio</strong>: WCBS 880, Audacy</p>
https://www.amazinavenue.com/2024/3/23/24109543/mets-vs-astros-spring-training-lineups-broadcast-info-and-open-thread-3-23-24Chris McShane