Today's NY Back Pages and Mets Headlines: 2/15/26

 

Good Morning.  Happy Birthday today to Mark Canha and Luke Ritter. 

Mets YouTube Channel: Carlos Mendoza Press Conference 2/14/26

Ernest Dove: My New York Mets Top 30 Prospect List: #22, Trey Synder

Mets YouTube Channel: Marcus Semien Press Conference 2/14/26

Edwin Diaz News:

• Diaz addresses decision to leave Mets for Dodgers (MLB.com)
• Edwin D?az responds to Steve Cohen’s comments about leaving Mets (New York Post)
• Steve Cohen found Edwin Diaz bolting Mets for Dodgers ‘perplexing’ (New York Post)
• Mets owner Steve Cohen calls Edwin D?az’s decision to join Dodgers ‘perplexing’ (The Athletic)

 

Marcus Semien News:

• New Mets second baseman Marcus Semien is a quiet leader (Newsday)
• Mets’ Marcus Semien upbeat about Bo Bichette reunion, looks forward to playing with Francisco Lindor (New York Post)
• Mets expect veteran Marcus Semien to ‘lead by example’ (NYDN) 
• Marcus Semien brings Gold Glove defense, quiet leadership to the Mets (The Record)
• New Mets infielder wastes no time showing off what he does best: ‘He’s elite!’ (NJ.com)

 

Other Mets News:

• Biggest takeaways from opening days of Mets camp (MLB.com)
• The biggest offseason additions, 1 for each division (MLB.com)
• MJ Melendez ‘comfortable’ with outfield versatility after winter ball work in boost to Mets’ depth (New York Post)
• Bill Madden: Time to put David Stearns’ Mets overhaul to the test (NYDN)

Born on this date:

• Chuck Estrada (1938)
• Barry Jones (1963)
• Mark Canha (1989)
• Tzu-Wei Lin (1994)
• Luke Ritter (1997)

Died on this date:

• Joe Frazier (2011)
• Tony Fernandez (2020)

Transactions:

San Diego Padres signed Bobby Jones of the New York Mets as a free agent on February 15, 2001.

Detroit Tigers signed Vic Darensbourg of the New York Mets as a free agent on February 15, 2005.

New York Mets signed free agent Brady Clark on February 15, 2008.

New York Mets signed free agent Jason Isringhausen on February 15, 2011.

Cleveland Indians signed Aaron Harang of the New York Mets as a free agent on February 15, 2014.

Tampa Bay Rays signed Brooks Pounders of the New York Mets as a free agent on February 15, 2020.

From National Pastime.com:

1961	Donald M. Grant, chairman and a minority owner of the Mets, offers Branch Rickey a contract to become the general manager of the new National League expansion team. After the former GM of the Browns, Cardinals, Dodgers, and Pirates turns down the job, George Weiss, who filled the same role with the Yankees from 1947 to 1960, accepts the position.
2001	After turning down the Mets' offer of salary arbitration that at the very least would have been worth $2 to $3 million, Bobby Jones signs a one-year free-agent deal with the Padres for only $625,000. The 31 year-old right-hander, 11-6 last year with New York, will lose 19 games for the Padres this season.

 

2016

"Baseball is known as our national pastime, but the game has deep roots and a rich history here in New York State. From the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in storied Cooperstown to the Mets and Yankees — the pinnacles of Major League Baseball, to our recently crowned Little League World Series champions from Maine-Endwell, New York State is clearly the epicenter of baseball greatness. It is time that we formally recognize baseball as our official state sport." - JAMES SEWARD, New York state senator. New York State Sen. James Seward (R-Milford), thanks to a suggestion from a group of fourth-graders at Cooperstown Elementary School, announces he has introduced legislation (S.4288) to designate baseball as New York’s official state sport. In a press release, Hall of Fame president Jeff Idelson says he "enthusiastically supports” the proposed bill, citing Cooperstown serves as the spiritual home of baseball.

Baseball Reference:

2011 - The Mets bring back a figure from the past, signing reliever Jason Isringhausen to a minor league deal coupled with an invitation to spring training. Isringhausen is attempting a comeback from Tommy John surgery at age 38. He was part of the Mets' vaunted "Big Three" in the mid-1990s along with Bill Pulsipher and Paul Wilson: the minor league standouts were supposed to anchor the Mets' pitching staff for the next decade, but all three fell victim to arm injuries, and none of them had much success in the Big Apple.