Morning Briefing: Lindor, Soto Ready to Move Past Last Year’s Disappointment
Good morning, Mets fans! Five more days.
Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto arrived for spring training, talked to the media and both seemed eager to put the disappointment of 2025 and any lingering questions about clubhouse chemistry to bed.
“We’ve always pulled for each other,” Lindor told reporters. “We’ve always wanted what’s best for each other. Are we all best friends? That’s not how it works in the clubhouse. But we are friends. We’re good teammates. We care for each other. We love each other, and we want the best for each other.
“We have a lot of new faces here, guys that seem like they’re going to work hard, and they’re going to do whatever it takes to win. Ultimately, that’s what it comes down to. It’s all about winning and everybody pulling in the same direction.”
Soto said last season is “in the past” and added: “We forget about it. We focus on 2026.” Asked about his relationship with Lindor, Soto said it was “great” and that they “talk all the time in the game and everything, and we help each other.”
MMO’s James Villani has more details here.
The spring training opener is Saturday at 1:10 p.m. ET vs. Miami.
Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
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The Mets claimed catcher Ben Rortvedt off waivers from the Dodgers and placed pitcher Dedniel Núñez on the 60-day injured list. Rortvedt posted a .445 OPS last season in 44 games with the Rays and Dodgers. Núñez is recovering from Tommy John surgery.
Jared Greenspan of MLB.com had Carson Benge on his list of “15 must-watch hitters in spring training.” The 19th overall pick of the 2024 draft will compete for the right field job after hitting 15 homers, stealing 22 bases and posting an .857 OPS last year in the minor leagues.
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Bryce Harper told reporters it’s “kind of wild” that Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski talked negatively about him publicly after last season.
Manny Machado of the Padres told ESPN’s Jesse Rogers that he approves of the Dodgers’ spending. “I f—ing love it,” he said. “Every team should be doing it. That s— is f—ing great for the game.”
Braves manager Walt Weiss said that RHP Hurston Waldrep, expected to compete for a rotation spot, may need surgery to remove loose bodies in his elbow.
Jeff Agrest of the Chicago Sun-Times reported that the ball-strike box on telecasts will remain, but will no longer show if a pitch was a ball or strike because of the ABS system set to be implemented this season. In previous years strikes were indicated by filled-in circles and balls were hollow circles. The change was made because that box will be used for the ABS system.
The Astros signed Cavan Biggio to a minor-league contract and invited him to spring training.
The Rangers signed Mark Canha, who turned 37 on Sunday, to a minor-league contract and invited him to spring training. The ex-Met hit .212/.272/.265 with one home run in 125 plate appearances for the Royals last season. He was hit by a pitch three times.
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Elliot Teichman has a non-roster invitee preview of pitcher Jack Wenninger, a 23-year-old who pitched to a 2.92 ERA in 26 starts at Double-A Binghamton last year.
Robert Colonna looked at how the corner infield spots are shaping up.
Robert Colonna recapped a wide-ranging interview that Howie Rose did with Steve Cohen. Topics included the eventful offseason, the Mets Hall of Fame and Metropolitan Park.
On This Date in Mets History
2012: Hall of Fame catcher Gary Carter dies at the age of 57 from brain cancer in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. The cleanup hitter and catcher of the 1986 champs hit 89 of his 324 career home runs during five years in New York.
2018: Coming off a career year in Kansas City where he made the All-Star team and led the majors in wins with 18, the Mets sign Jason Vargas to a two-year, $16 million deal. He pitches to a 5.77 ERA over 20 starts in 2018 and is dealt to the Phillies for minor league catcher Austin Bossart at the 2019 trade deadline.
2023: Tim McCarver, a Mets TV announcer from 1983-1998, dies of heart failure in Memphis at 81.
Born on This Date: Jeff Brigham (1996), Tommy Milone (1987), Bill Pecota (1960).
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