NEW YORK (AP) — From the start of spring training in Florida, their lockers were lined up all in a row at one end of the rectangular clubhouse.Left to right: Matt Harvey, Noah Syndergaard, Jacob deGrom, Steven Matz, Zack Wheeler.The dream rotation for the New York Mets — if only their health would cooperate.More than a month later, with opening day in sight, those five prized pitchers are still feeling good and the Mets finally have a chance to roll out that entire quintet together for the very first time.After hiring rookie manager Mickey Callaway and spending nearly $90 million to fill holes in free agency, New York (with fingers crossed) is counting on its homegrown power arms to lead the way this season."All of us are All-Star capable," Wheeler said.Harvey, Matz and Wheeler struggled on the mound last year during their latest injury-stunted seasons, so they must rediscover the nasty stuff that looked so promising when they first arrived in the majors.At the top of the rotation, Syndergaard... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — From the start of spring training in Florida, their lockers were lined up all in a row at one end of the rectangular clubhouse.Left to right: Matt Harvey, Noah Syndergaard, Jacob deGrom, Steven Matz, Zack Wheeler.The dream rotation for the New York Mets — if only their health would cooperate.More than a month later, with opening day in sight, those five prized pitchers are still feeling good and the Mets finally have a chance to roll out that entire quintet together for the very first time.After hiring rookie manager Mickey Callaway and spending nearly $90 million to fill holes in free agency, New York (with fingers crossed) is counting on its homegrown power arms to lead the way this season."All of us are All-Star capable," Wheeler said.Harvey, Matz and Wheeler struggled on the mound last year during their latest injury-stunted seasons, so they must rediscover the nasty stuff that looked so promising when they first arrived in the majors.At the top of the rotation, Syndergaard... [More]

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — After yet another medical setback that will stretch his layoff from the major leagues past two years, New York Mets captain David Wright hopes to start baseball workouts in May.Dr. Robert Watkins examined the 35-year-old third baseman in Los Angeles on Monday and said he should not participate in baseball activities for two months because of back and shoulder issues."it certainly wasn't positive news. I guess the news could have been worse," Wright said during a telephone news conference Wednesday. "The goal would be to take these eight weeks — and it's not like I have to be idle for eight weeks — and kind of focus on the actual rehab and kind of forget about doing some stuff and progress to baseball stuff."New York also said star left fielder Yoenis Cespedes had a cortisone injection in his injured right wrist. The 32-year-old was hurt while swinging in a game on March 6.A seven-time All-Star, Wright has been limited to 75 regular-season games during the past... [More]

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — Mets captain David Wright won't participate in baseball activities for two months because of back and shoulder issues, another setback in his attempt to return from injuries that have sidelined him for two years, and New York star outfielder Yoenis Cespedes is sidelined after hurting a wrist.New York made the announcements Tuesday, a day after Wright was examined by Dr. Robert Watkins in Los Angeles.The 35-year-old Wright has been limited to 75 regular-season games during the past three years. He was on the disabled list from April 15 to Aug. 24, 2015, when he strained his right hamstring and then developed spinal stenosis.He returned as the Mets won their first NL pennant since 2000 but has not played for them since May 27, 2016. Watkins operated that June 16 to repair a herniated disk in Wright's neck. After Wright's minor league rehabilitation assignment was ended after three games last year due to shoulder pain, he had surgery Sept. 5 to repair his right... [More]

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — Mets captain David Wright won't participate in baseball activities for two months because of back and shoulder issues, another setback in his attempt to return from injuries that have sidelined him for two years, and New York star outfielder Yoenis Cespedes is sidelined after hurting a wrist.New York made the announcements Tuesday, a day after Wright was examined by Dr. Robert Watkins in Los Angeles.The 35-year-old Wright has been limited to 75 regular-season games during the past three years. He was on the disabled list from April 15 to Aug. 24, 2015, when he strained his right hamstring and then developed spinal stenosis.He returned as the Mets won their first NL pennant since 2000 but has not played for them since May 27, 2016. Watkins operated that June 16 to repair a herniated disk in Wright's neck. After Wright's minor league rehabilitation assignment was ended after three games last year due to shoulder pain, he had surgery Sept. 5 to repair his right... [More]

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — Mickey Callaway had his first big managerial decision Friday, and it came down way before the New York Mets' first pitch was delivered by starting pitcher Zack Wheeler.A day before when the Mets announced their lineup for their Grapefruit League opener against the Atlanta Braves, prized first baseman Dominic Smith was scheduled to bat cleanup.However, Callaway scratched Smith on the updated lineup card when the clubhouse opened on game day.Right slugger Peter Alonso was penciled in at first base, while lefty-swinging Smith was out."I didn't even see the lineup when I left yesterday, so I didn't even know," Smith said in his first interview at his locker."It's spring training. Everybody's got to get work in and everybody needs ample amount of time to show the coaches what they can do."Smith, 22, initially said being taken out of the order wasn't frustrating and that "it's the first game, we have a lot more."That explanation changed dramatically a few minutes later... [More]

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — The final season of the franchise-record contract the Minnesota Twins gave Joe Mauer has begun, bringing with it the inevitable questions about his future.For now, before any such decisions must be made by the front office or the soon-to-be-35-year-old first baseman, Mauer has found himself in a reflective mood. He has started his 17th major league spring training, appreciative of how far he's come and in awe of how much has happened since the Twins used the first overall pick in 2001 on a smooth-swinging kid from a high school just a few miles away from their home stadium.The setbacks are well-known, but the good times are given priority space in his mind."I was lucky enough to be drafted by the team I grew up rooting for and cheering on," Mauer said. "To be able to play here and win here, that's what I have always wanted to do."Without an extension in place there's no guarantee he'll still be with the Twins beyond 2018, as jarring as the sight of Mauer in another... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — By the end of last season, the New York Mets' vaunted pitching staff was broken. So they brought in rookie manager Mickey Callaway as Mister Fix-it.The former Cleveland Indians guru begins his first managerial job at any level next week when New York opens spring training in Port St. Lucie, Florida. The primary task for Callaway and first-year Mets pitching coach Dave Eiland: rebuild the same rotation with their own set of tools.Callaway, the lauded pitching coach of a highly successful group in Cleveland, has already hinted at implementing unorthodox tactics such as summoning his closer in the middle innings and occasionally using six starters. He plans to keep the brittle arms sharp with throwing and conditioning programs."Our season is going to turn on the health of our pitching," general manager Sandy Alderson said last month. "If we have a reasonably healthy season out of our pitching, particularly our starting pitching, we're going to be pretty good."New York rode... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Todd Frazier stood a few feet away, wearing the No. 21 Mets jersey of Cleon Jones, Carlos Delgado and Lucas Duda. New York general manager Sandy Alderson smiled.In a depressed free-agent market, Alderson added the third baseman to New York's offseason haul with a $17 million, two-year contract. For a commitment of just $72 million, the Mets brought in Frazier, outfielder Jay Bruce and reliever Anthony Swarzak while retaining shortstop Jose Reyes."Profligate," Alderson said wryly."I think we've tried to be opportunistic," he went on during a news conference at Citi Field. "Some opportunities arose for us that probably would not have been expected right after the end of the World Series."New York hunted the free-agent market for bargains like savvy shoppers at a season closeout. The ever-chatty Frazier, from Toms River, New Jersey, preferred to stay in the area after an enjoyable stay with the New York Yankees last summer.Peripatetic at calm times, Frazier's was even more... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Todd Frazier and the New York Mets have finalized a $17 million, two-year contract after the third baseman passed his physical.Frazier, who turns 32 next week, gets $8 million this year and $9 million in 2019, and the agreement includes a $500,000 assignment bonus if traded."This is my home. I belong here. I belong in New York," Frazier said during a Citi Field news conference Wednesday.He was a 1998 Little League World Series champion in Toms River, New Jersey, and starred at Rutgers. He hit .213 with 27 home runs, 76 RBIs and a .344 on-base percentage last year for the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees, who acquired him on July 19.Frazier hit 35 homers for Cincinnati in 2015 and set career highs with 40 homers and 98 RBIs for the White Sox in 2016."A big personality," Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said.Asdrubal Cabrera becomes New York's projected starter at second base.Third baseman David Wright has been limited to 75 regular-season games during the past three... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Todd Frazier and the New York Mets have finalized a $17 million, two-year contract after the third baseman passed his physical.Frazier, who turns 32 next week, gets $8 million this year and $9 million in 2019, and the agreement includes a $500,000 assignment bonus if traded. He was to be introduced Wednesday at Citi Field.He was a 1998 Little League World Series champion in Toms River, New Jersey, and starred at Rutgers. He hit .213 with 27 home runs, 76 RBIs and a .344 on-base percentage last year for the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees, who acquired him on July 19.Frazier hit 35 homers for Cincinnati in 2015 and set career highs with 40 homers and 98 RBIs for the White Sox in 2016.Asdrubal Cabrera becomes New York's projected starter at second base.Third baseman David Wright, the Mets' captain, has been limited to 75 regular-season games during the past three years and none since May 2016 because of injuries and a chronic back condition.Among the most active teams this offseason, the Mets brought back right fielder Jay Bruce with a $39 million, three-year contract, gave free agent reliever Anthony Swarzak a $14 million, two-year deal and retained infielder Jose Reyes with a $2 million agreement.___More MLB baseball: https://apnews.com/tags/MLBbaseball

NEW YORK (AP) — Free agent third baseman Todd Frazier is switching sides close to home, set to join the New York Mets and take over a spot that's been in flux since David Wright got injured.A person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press on Monday night that Frazier and the Mets had agreed on a two-year contract for $17 million. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal was still pending a successful physical.Frazier, who was a 1998 Little League World Series champion in nearby Toms River, New Jersey, and later starred at Rutgers, finished up last season with the New York Yankees.The Yankees got him last July in a trade with the Chicago White Sox, and Frazier hit a combined .213 with 27 home runs, 76 RBIs and a .344 on-base percentage. Popular wherever he's been, the spirited Frazier has always drawn cheers from local fans when playing in the New York area."I love playing at home," Frazier said last year after he was traded to the Yankees, his favorite team as... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Free agent third baseman Todd Frazier is switching sides close to home, set to join the New York Mets and take over a spot that's been in flux since David Wright got injured.A person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press on Monday night that Frazier and the Mets had agreed on a two-year contract for $17 million. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal was still pending a physical.Frazier, who was a 1998 Little League World Series champion in nearby Toms River, New Jersey, and later starred at Rutgers, finished up last season with the New York Yankees.The Yankees got him last July in a trade with the Chicago White Sox, and Frazier hit a combined .213 with 27 home runs, 76 RBIs and a .344 on-base percentage. Popular wherever he's been, the spirited Frazier has always drawn cheers from local fans when playing in the New York area."I love playing at home," Frazier said last year after he was traded to the Yankees, his favorite team as a kid.Frazier... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — A person familiar with the deal tells The Associated Press that free agent third baseman Todd Frazier and the New York Mets have agreed on a two-year contract for $17 million.The person spoke Monday night on condition of anonymity because the deal was still pending a physical.Frazier turns 32 next week. He hit a combined .213 with 27 home runs and 76 RBIs last season for the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees.A two-time All-Star, Frazier hit 35 homers for Cincinnati in 2015 and 40 for the White Sox in 2016.The Mets still have captain David Wright on the roster, but the longtime third baseman's future is in doubt after injuries and a chronic back condition limited him to 75 regular-season games over the last three years. He hasn't played in the big leagues since May 2016.The move also means Asdrubal Cabrera could be the Mets' projected starter at second base this season, rather than third.

NEW YORK (AP) — Mets chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon defended the team's offseason spending, saying more moves are likely before opening day and during the season."Being top five in payroll, I don't think that won us a World Series," he said Tuesday during a media gathering. "So we're set out to make the playoffs and do well ... try to win the World Series, not try and be at the top five in payroll."New York started last season at $157 million for its 40-man roster and cut it to $149 million as the team faded from contention following a series of injuries. Two years after reaching the World Series, the Mets went 70-92 for their worst record since 2009.This year's payroll projects to be in the $140 million range after the New York gave outfielder Jay Bruce a $39 million, three-year contract and reliever Anthony Swarzak a $14 million, two-year deal."I get what the fan perception is. It's not something that's lost on any of us," Wilpon said. "I understand the fan base's frustration and... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Mets chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon defended the team's offseason spending, saying more moves are likely before opening day and during the season."Being top five in payroll, I don't think that won us a World Series," he said Tuesday during a media gathering. "So we're set out to make the playoffs and do well ... try to win the World Series, not try and be at the top five in payroll."New York started last season at $157 million for its 40-man roster and cut it to $149 million as the team faded from contention following a series of injuries. Two years after reaching the World Series, the Mets went 70-92 for their worst record since 2009.This year's payroll projects to be in the $140 million range after the New York gave outfielder Jay Bruce a $39 million, three-year contract and reliever Anthony Swarzak a $14 million, two-year deal."I get what the fan perception is. It's not something that's lost on any of us," Wilpon said. "I understand the fan base's frustration and... [More]

3B David Wright underwent a laminotomy procedure on his lower back this week, the Mets announced Thursday. This was the third major surgery Wright has had in the past two years, and he did not play a single game this season. He had surgery on his neck in June 2016, and did not play again that season. Wright did not appear in a major league game this season because of a shoulder impingement. He underwent surgery to repair his right rotator cuff last month. This latest surgery was performed to remove part of the arch of the vertebrae with the hope that it relieves pressure on the vertebral canal. The 34-year-old Wright played in only three minor league games this season. He played in just 37 major league games in 2016 and 38 in 2015. He is under contract with the Mets for three more years. He is owed $20 million in 2018, $15 million in 2019, and $12 million in 2020.

3B David Wright (shoulder) said he plans to attempt another comeback next season. Wright, who played just three minor league rehab games this season before undergoing surgery to repair his right rotator cuff on Tuesday, has played only 75 major league games the last three years due to neck, back and shoulder injuries. He said he still has "passion and fire" for the game and is looking forward to beginning a rehab program with the hope of playing next year. Wright added he understands if the Mets look to acquire a full-time third baseman. Wright is signed through 2020.

3B David Wright (shoulder) underwent surgery Tuesday to repair his right rotator cuff. Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said the surgery was a success, though he didn't offer a timetable for how long Wright's recovery might last. Alderson indicated the injury was likely a result of wear and tear exacerbated by the long layoff Wright experienced after missing the final four-plus months of last season due to neck surgery. Wright was sidelined in spring training by a right shoulder impingement and didn't begin a rehab assignment until August, when he went 1-for-10 in three games for Single-A St. Lucie. The Mets indicated Wright will continue to try to come back next spring. Wright has played in just 75 games since the start of 2015 due to back, neck and shoulder injuries. He is signed through 2020.

3B David Wright's ongoing injury saga continued Monday as the Mets announced he decided to undergo surgery to repair a right rotator cuff. The 34-year-old veteran will undergo the shoulder surgery Tuesday in New York. Wright has appeared in just 75 games since 2015 due to various shoulder, back and neck issues. He was originally injured April 14, 2015, stealing second base and the original diagnosis was a right hamstring strain. He was eventually diagnosed with spinal stenosis, which is the narrowing of the spinal column that will affect him throughout his life. Last season, Wright underwent surgery to repair a herniated disk in his neck and did not play after May 27. He reported to spring training hoping to play but experienced shoulder weakness. He made it back to the field by appearing in three rehab games with Class A St. Lucie but last Monday, the Mets announced he was shutting it down due to shoulder pain.