Mets News and Breakfast Links - 11/20/2019

Today is the day, November 20th.  Clubs have until 8pm tonight to finalize their rosters to protect players from the Rule 5 Draft.  More on that in a bit but first…

Story about Cespedes taking batting practice against Endy Chavez is all over the internet.  Endy Chavez originally posted the video then deleted it, but SNY.TV still has it which is linked above.

Even made the NY Post Back cover.  (If the front page pops up first, click on it for the back page).

Here is Kevin Davidoff of the Post’s take.

Metsmerized has how the Mets are interested in Veteran Catchers Robinson Chirinos and ex-Met Minor Leaguer Drew Butera (once traded for Luis Castillo).  

If any of these are added, the Mets may go with three catchers or that could mean that either Wilson Ramos will be traded or Tomas Nido might be traded or waived as Nido is out of options.

It could also have implications for Rule 5 Draft eligible Patrick Mazeika and Ali Sanchez.

Here is a recent video interview with Ali.

Here is another video posted today with Pitcher Jordan Humphreys.

We should see some moves all around the league today regarding the Rule 5 draft.  

The Braves got ready for the Rule 5 draft by adding 5 players.

MLB.com listed all the top prospects yet to be protected as of last night.

Here is the complete unofficial list of the Mets Rule 5 eligible players updated as of yesterday. 

I think there is a good chance that players like Ranfy Adon and Andres Regnault could go in the minor league portion of the draft.  Mack’s Mets Tom Brennan thinks I have nothing to worry about and he is usually correct.

As Baseball America has detailed: After the teams finish the major league portion of the Rule 5 draft, they move on the minor league portion. At this point, there are no further eligibility rules. Any player picked in the minor league Rule 5 draft immediately becomes a member of his new organization without having to be stashed on any particular roster—a player taken in the Rule 5 draft can end up playing next year in low Class A.

Last year the Mets picked up Chris Mazza, Braxton Lee, and Catcher Mitch Ghelfi.  Maybe they will explore this avenue again this December.

Mets Minors has how Adonis Uceta and Jason Krizan are staying with the Mets.

Another Big story continues to be MLB’s proposed contraction of 42 Minor League Teams. 

I think Bill Madden is right and the contraction will result in lots of lawsuits.

Yesterday, the Binghamton Rumble Ponies held a Press Conference and vowed to fight the plan.

Yahoo Sports said that Congress sent MLB a letter condemning the plan.

MLB.Com has the latest Trade Rumors and mulls about Marte going to the Mets.  Jim Duquette suggests the Mets as the first team the Pirates should call to shop Marte.

Reflections on Baseball thinks the second year could be the charm for Brodie Van Wagenen.

Mets Daddy thinks Derek Jeter is over rated but will be a unanimous Hall of Fame selection.

The Mets Police think Billy Wagner is not a Hall Of Famer.

The Mets Police likes New Zealand’s idea to make all baseball games 7 innings.

Metsmerized says that the Mets recently met with Jerry Narron and won’t meet with John Gibbons.

In Winter Ball Last night:

Daniel Zamora made his winter ball debut.  He was the first pitcher out of the pen for Toros Del Este pitching the 7^th.  He struck out his first batter, hit the next one with the pitch, then induced his 2019 Syracuse Mets Teammate, Arismendy Alcantara, into an inning ending double play.

Juan Lagares went 1 for 3 with a walk and 2 runs scored.  He is now hitting an even .400. 

Mets360 has a Belated sendoff for Juan.

UltimateMets has this date in Mets History:

Born on this date:

• Jackson Todd (1951)
• Amed Rosario (1995)

Transactions:

New York Mets traded Reggie Dobie to the Seattle Mariners for Chuck Carr on November 20, 1988.

New York Mets signed free agent Moises Alou of the San Francisco Giants on November 20, 2006.

New York Mets traded Henry Owens and Matt Lindstrom to the Florida Marlins for Jason Vargas and Adam Bostick on November 20, 2006.

New York Mets traded Guillermo Mota to the Milwaukee Brewers for Johnny Estrada on November 20, 2007.

Mack’s Mets Blast from the Past from 10 years ago.  In October 2009, Mack looked back at his prospect list from August 2007! 

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