Javier Vazquez is no longer an option for the Mets

By Steven Inman

The Mets were looking for a “6^th starter” to put on a minor league deal as insurance. That player won’t be Javier Vazquez who won’t be pitching in the majors this season. Vazquez was planning on showcasing himself to major league teams during the World Baseball Classic for Puerto Rico. Vazquez will not pitch in the major leagues this season because he is still recovering from late January surgery on the meniscus in his right knee. Vazquez is still mulling retirement but seems very unlikely to ever pitch in a major league game again.

It appears unlikely the Mets will bring in another starter as insurance. They had some interest in Vazquez as well as Roy Oswalt but neither appear likely to ever become Mets. The Mets will probably stick with what they have and Jenrry Mejia will be the Mets 6^th starter who will start the season in triple A Las Vegas.

Was Ruben Tejada or Daniel Murphy actually on the table for Justin Upton?

By Steven Inman

According to John Harper of the Daily News the Mets were discussing the possibility of trading Daniel Murphy or even Ruben Tejada, along with some of their younger pitching prospects, to the Diamondbacks for Justin Upton. Upton eventually was traded to the Braves in a package centered around Martin Prado after rejecting a trade to go to the Seattle Mariners. Murphy has put up similar numbers to Prado but Prado was in the last year of his contract. I would rather have Murphy under team control for the next three years than Prado for one where I would have to pay him. Arizona did pay him 4 years around $40 million.

Most scouts believe Prado is the only major starting player the Diamondbacks got back for Upton. Murphy or Tejada plus lower level pitching prospects like Michael Fulmer and Rafael Montero would probably be a more appealing package for Upton if I was the Diamondbacks.

If the Mets did trade Murphy and or Tejada, I have no idea who would play middle infield. Justin Turner would probably play second every day but they really don’t have another shortstop option. The Diamondbacks would have had to give the Mets a shortstop like Didi Gregorious or Cliff Pennington. This probably isn’t enough to get a star player like Upton but I didn’t think the Braves package was good enough either. Bottom line is Upton is now on the rival Braves and the Mets will have to fill their outfield needs somewhere else.

Mets tell Travis d’Arnaud to not block the plate

By Steven Inman

One of the more controversial issues in major league baseball the last few years has been should catchers be allowed to block the plate? It has been controversial ever since Giants superstar Buster Posey was badly injured in a collision at the plate with OF Scott Cousins who was playing with the Marlins at the time. Posey was done for the year and the Giants were basically done. In the two years that Posey has been healthy throughout the whole year the Giants have won the World Series.

Cardinals’ manager Mike Matheny who also is a former catcher has been lobbying baseball for a rule change to protect catchers. Apparently Terry Collins agrees with the Matheny and told Travis d’Arnaud today not to block the plate. I told him, ‘Trav, I know you’re a tough guy. I know its baseball. But if you want to play for the next 15 years, the last thing we need is to have you reinjure your knee. Just get in front of that plate and let them have the plate. And if you receive the ball early, get yourself in a good position. But I’m not going to let you stick that left leg out there and have somebody who is just a reckless guy come charging in and have you shorten your career. I’m not going to allow that to happen right now.'” Collins said. D’Arnaud tore part of his PCL in his left knee in June last year and was deemed out for the year. Collins doesn’t want to put the same knee in jeopardy again.

This is the right move because blocking the plate may save a couple runs over the course of the season but is not worth the potential of losing your franchise catcher for any duration of time. The Mets are going to need d’Arnaud later in the season if they want to compete for a playoff spot.

Zack Wheeler scratched from today’s start

By Steven Inman

Zack Wheeler has been scratched from today’s start against the Cardinals with a strained oblique. Wheeler suffered the injury when he was participating in batting practice today. The injury is not considered serious and prospect Darin Gorski will start in Wheeler’s place.

It’s better for Wheeler to get nicked up now in February than in the regular season. He has plenty of time to dazzle the Mets upper management this spring especially with spring training being extended for the World Baseball Classic.

Lucas Duda’s new swing remains a work in progress

By Steven Inman

Lucas Duda has been working with hitting coach Dave Hudgens this spring to remove a lot of the extra movement in his swing. Duda is coming off surgery this offseason on his wrist from moving furniture. He hadn’t been able to start swinging the bat until recently and is a little behind in spring training. Terry Collins gave Duda the day off yesterday as he started just 1 for 8 with six strikeouts so far this spring. Duda remains a work in progress in left field and his wrist isn’t completely recovered yet.

The Mets should be very concerned with Duda, who is the only power threat in their outfield. “He’s not quite ready. He’s behind the other guys. He hasn’t had any cage work, but his hands are starting to feel better, starting to feel stronger, so we can start to ramp up the work load a little bit and work on his timing.” Hudgens said. Duda is only taking about 25 swings a day according to Hudgens. For comparison most hitters in camp take about 150.

Duda doesn’t appear too worried yet and luckily it is still February but this is not a great start for an outfield that has been highly criticized.

Ruben Tejada day-to-day with quad injury

By Steven Inman

Terry Collins told reporters that Ruben Tejada will not play at least tonight against the Nationals and tomorrow after injuring his quad today. Collins called it a strain but Tejada downplayed the injury saying he would be back in no time. It’s nothing,” Tejada believes. “I feel it, but I don’t push too much. It’s prevention to stay healthy. This is spring. I felt it today and I stopped.”

While Tejada is out Brandon Hicks will play at shortstop. This should be more concerning than the Mets originally let on because Tejada missed about six weeks with the same injury last year during the season. This time, it doesn’t sound as serious but the injuries are starting to pile up here as Spring Training gets into full swing…

Pedro Feliciano has a heart condition, out at least 2 weeks

By Steven Inman

Pedro Feliciano told reporters over the weekend that he has a small hole in his heart and will be required to wear a heart monitor for the next two weeks. Over that time Feliciano will not be allowed to participate in baseball activities.

With Feliciano trying to make the team as a second lefty this obviously doesn’t help his status but more importantly we all hope health wise that Feliciano will be okay. The condition has not been considered life threatening at this time. Feliciano should still have plenty of time to make a case for the roster if he only misses two weeks.

Jenrry Mejia is in fact Jenrry Mejia and will report to Port St. Lucie today

By Steven Inman

Jenrry Mejia was unable to report on time due to a visa issue related to an age and identity check in the Dominican Republic. Sandy Alderson said last week this check was random, and Mejia had reported to the team’s Dominican facility for workouts. Terry Collins said that Mejia has been cleared and will report to Port St. Lucie some time later today.

With the news that Johan Santana may not be ready for Opening Day, Mejia who is the “6^th starter” could be in line to make the Mets rotation should Santana be unable to avoid a DL stint so it was important to get him to camp.

Johan Santana is behind in his throwing program, Opening Day in jeopardy

By Steven Inman

Sandy Alderson told the media this morning that Johan Santana is behind in his throwing program and will have his March 2^nd Spring Training start pushed back. Santana is now expected to start his first spring training game sometime in the March 10^th-15^th range. Alderson said there is no specific injury for Santana and that he is just building up arm strength again. Alderson did say that Opening day could be in jeopardy now however. “Right now we don’t think so but it’s obviously a possibly.” Alderson said to reporters a few minutes ago.

Obviously this is a major concern as Santana has had injury after injury for the last few years with the Mets. If Santana has no more setbacks than he will start opening day against the Padres but based on his history that isn’t guaranteed. If the Mets want to be successful this year they need a strong start from Santana.

Pitching coach Dan Warthen isn’t too worried noting that Santana is long tossing today and if the team was that worried about Santana he wouldn’t be throwing. Warthen has no doubt that Santana will be ready for Opening Day.

Daniel Murphy receives cortisone shot

By Steven Inman

Daniel Murphy received a cortisone injection in his right side at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York on Tuesday according to the Mets. The Mets say that Murphy is day-today.

Murphy still expects to be ready for Opening Day but this injury sounds worse than the Mets originally let on to the media. Sandy Alderson said a few days ago that he only expected Murphy to miss a week. Only time will tell but with the Mets lineup in the current state that it is, the Mets can’t afford to let their second basemen miss any time during the regular season.