Jacob deGrom Solid In No Decision On Monday

New York Mets starting pitcher Jacob deGrom pitched six effective innings on Monday against the Phillies, allowing no runs, three hits, and two walks, while striking out seven in the Mets' 5-3 loss. Despite the quality start in which he routinely hit 99-100 mph on his fastball, deGrom was once again victimized by an ineffective […]

Dominic Smith Not In Monday's Lineup

New York Mets first baseman/outfielder Dominic Smith is not in the starting lineup for the season opener against the Phillies on Monday. Outfielder Kevin Pillar will instead get the start in centerfield, with Brandon Nimmo moving over to left field against lefty Matt Moore. A peculiar move made by manager Luis Rojas, despite his pre-game […]

Mets Had Extension Talks With Jacob deGrom This Spring

The New York Mets reportedly engaged in preliminary discussions on a contract extension with starting pitcher Jacob deGrom earlier this spring. deGrom has an opt-out in his current contract after the 2022 season. The Mets are attempting to lock up deGrom for multiple years in an effort to avoid his exercising such opt-out rights after […]

Seth Lugo On Schedule For Mid-May Return

New York Mets reliever Seth Lugo (elbow) reportedly began throwing off of flat ground in the final week of March. While there is still no timeline for Lugo's return, the initial estimate of his return in mid-May appears accurate and he remains on schedule. Heading into 2021, Lugo was projected to primarily work out of […]

Jacob deGrom To Start Monday In Mets' Opener

With the New York Mets' weekend series against Washington cancelled due to positive COVID-19 cases on the Nationals' roster, the Mets' first game of the 2021 campaign will be on Monday, April 5 at Philadelphia. Jacob deGrom will get the start against the Phillies for the Mets' "new" Opening Day. deGrom's second start of the […]

Little Optimism That Mets and Francisco Lindor Reach Deal

Reports on Wednesday reveal that there is little optimism that the New York Mets and shortstop Francisco Lindor will reach a deal on a contract extension by the end of the day. The two sides are reportedly in a stalemate regarding the length of the contract extension. The Mets have offered Lindor a 10-year, $325 […]

Mets Waiting On Michael Conforto Extension Talks

The New York Mets are reportedly waiting for resolution on extension talks with shortstop Francisco Lindor before moving forward on their extension talks with outfielder Michael Conforto. Conforto is due to become a free agent after the 2021 season. Contrary to earlier reports, Conforto has stated that he will negotiate a contract extension after Opening […]

Mets Offer Francisco Lindor 10-Year $325 Million Contract

The New York Mets have reportedly made a contract extension offer of 10-years, $325 million to shortstop Francisco Lindor. The Mets had been reportedly willing to go to, at least, $300 million to get a deal completed between the team and Lindor prior to Opening Day. It would appear the Mets have made good on […]

Trevor May Having A Solid Spring

New York Mets reliever Trevor May has had a solid spring posting a 3.86 ERA, a 1.14 WHIP, and a 9:3 K:BB in seven innings pitched in Grapefruit League action. May will be the lone, primary set-up man to Edwin Diaz for the early part of the 2021 campaign, with Seth Lugo (elbow) starting the […]

Mallex Smith Optioned To Minor League Camp

New York Mets outfielder Mallex Smith was optioned to the team's minor league camp after being advised that he did not make the Opening Day roster on Sunday. Smith hit just .176 with three RBI and three stolen bases in 17 at-bats in Grapefruit League action. In 2020, Smith hit a paltry .133/.170/.178 in 45 […]

Kevin Pillar Closing Out A Solid Spring

New York Mets outfielder Kevin Pillar has posted a .333/.395/.515 slash line, with three doubles, two triples, and two stolen bases across 39 Grapefruit League at-bats. It has been a very solid spring for Pillar who will likely serve in a fourth outfielder/defensive replacement role for the Mets in 2021. Pillar is also coming off […]

Taijuan Walker Using Analytics To Rejuvenate Career

New York Mets starting pitcher Taijuan Walker used technology and numbers provided by Driveline Baseball, an analytics-based player development organization in Kent, Washington to help improve his mechanics and spin numbers after the 2019 season. The results were impressive. In 2020, over 11 starts and 53 1/3 innings pitched between the Mariners and Blue Jays, […]

Seth Lugo Responding Well To Treatment

New York Mets reliever Seth Lugo (elbow) is reportedly responding well to treatment following bone spur surgery he had just prior to spring training. Although Lugo has not started throwing yet, Mets manager Luis Rojas has indicated that Lugo should begin throwing soon. It appears that Lugo remains on pace to return to the Mets […]

Robert Gsellman Makes Mets Opening Day Roster

In somewhat of a surprise move, the New York Mets have told reliever Robert Gsellman that he has made the Opening Day roster. Gsellman has not been too impressive in spring action, posting a 5.63 ERA and 2.00 WHIP in eight innings of relief. Gsellman is also coming off a very mediocre 2020 campaign in […]

Francisco Lindor With Three More Hits On Saturday

New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor went a perfect 3-for-3 with a walk on Saturday in Grapefruit League play against the Houston Astros. Lindor is now batting a robust .388/.444/.653 with four home runs, 14 RBI, and one stolen base in 49 spring training at-bats. After a sluggish start to spring training, Lindor is now […]

Pete Alonso Continues His Red Hot Spring

New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso went 1-for-4 with a two-home run on Saturday against the Houston Astros in Grapefruit League action. Alonso continues his hot hitting this spring, giving credence to a potential, imminent bounce-back campaign in 2021. Alonso now has four HR to go with a .333/.418/.688 slash line and 14 RBI […]

Dominic Smith Blasts Two Home Runs On Saturday

New York Mets first baseman/outfielder Dominic Smith went 2-for-4 with two home runs on Saturday in Grapefruit League action against the Astros. Smith, who had been dealing with a wrist issue earlier in spring training, is finally heating up at the plate just in time for Opening Day. He now has four HR in Grapefruit […]

David Peterson With Solid Outing Friday

New York Mets starting pitcher David Peterson pitched six effective innings on Friday in Grapefruit League action against the Nationals. Peterson allowed only four hits and two earned runs while striking out two. He lowered his spring ERA to 3.75 in 12 innings pitched, though his spring K:BB stands at a less-than-impressive 3:3. With the […]

Optimism That Mets Will Reach Deal With Francisco Lindor

There is an increasing sense of optimism that the New York Mets will reach a multi-year contract with shortstop Francisco Lindor prior to Opening Day. The Mets are reportedly willing to go to, at least, $300 million to get a deal completed. Both Lindor and the Mets have stated that they will not negotiate after […]

J.D. Davis Easing Concerns At Third Base

New York Mets third baseman/outfielder J.D. Davis went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Grapefruit League action against the Marlins on Tuesday. Davis also looked better in the field on Tuesday, including starting a pair of 5-4-3 double plays. Davis is now batting .250 with the one HR and two RBI in 28 at-bats […]

NL Starting Pitcher Sleepers

Looking at early mock and seasonal drafts results, we see the huge trend of starting pitchers falling off of draft boards at a furious pace in the early rounds. As a result, managers who miss out on rostering the top-tier starters must identify value sleepers they can target in the mid-to-late rounds of drafts. Below […]

Francisco Lindor Blasts Fourth Spring Homer

New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor hit his fourth home run of the spring in Grapefruit League action on Tuesday. Lindor went 3-for-4 with the HR, a double, two runs scored, and two RBI in the Mets' 5-3 win over the Marlins. After a sluggish start to spring training, Lindor is now batting .476 with […]

Mets Willing To Go To $300 Million To Sign Francisco Lindor

The New York Mets are reportedly willing to go to $300 million to lock up shortstop Francisco Lindor on a multi-year contract. Extension talks between the Mets and Lindor have taken place, but there has been no real movement by either side toward ultimately reaching a deal. Both Lindor and the Mets have stated that […]

No Progress Between Mets And Michael Conforto On Extension

The New York Mets have reportedly not made much progress on their extension talks with outfielder Michael Conforto this spring. Conforto is due to become a free agent after the 2021 season and, much like shortstop Francisco Lindor, both the Mets and Conforto have stated they will not negotiate a contract extension after Opening Day. […]

Little Movement On Francisco Lindor Extension Talks

The New York Mets have reportedly continued extension talks with shortstop Francisco Lindor, but there is no real movement by either side toward ultimately reaching a deal. Both Lindor and the Mets have stated that they will not negotiate after Opening Day. The industry expectation is that Lindor will command at least a 10-year deal […]

Dominic Smith Close To Returning To Action

New York Mets outfielder Dominic Smith (wrist) took batting practice on Friday, one day ahead of his schedule to do so. Smith has been held out of the Mets' past few Grapefruit League games due to a sore right wrist. The injury does not appear to be serious and reports indicate that Smith should be […]

David Peterson In Mets Rotation

New York Mets manager Luis Rojas stated on Friday that starting pitcher David Peterson is "pretty much" in the Mets' starting rotation. Peterson had been in a competition with Joey Lucchesi for the fifth rotation spot during spring training. However, with the injury to Carlos Carrasco (hamstring), Peterson appears to be earmarked for the fourth […]

Undervalued Mixed League Draft Targets in 2021

Finding undervalued players during drafts can make or break your fantasy season. One of the ways we look for undervalued players is to utilize RotoBaller’s Expected Draft Value research developed by my colleague Nick Mariano.  We attempt to identify players who are forecast to return value in 2021 which is greater than the expected value […]

2021 Relievers To Target For Holds

As evidenced by the success of the 2015 Kansas City Royals and 2020 Tampa Bay Rays, we have seen a much greater focus placed on strengthening middle-relief in MLB bullpens over the past decade. Additionally, in recent seasons we have seen a shift toward teams utilizing their best reliever in the most crucial innings and […]

Mark Canha (OF, OAK) - Fantasy Baseball Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~pick 240 CURRENT ADP: ~255 overall ANALYSIS: In 2020, Oakland A’s outfielder/designated hitter Mark Canha posted a .246/.387/.408 slash line to go with five home runs and a very impressive 33 RBI in 243 plate appearances. While his RBI total, fifteenth in all of MLB, and OBP were among the league’s best […]