Your Wednesday morning dose of New York Mets and Major League Baseball news, notes, and links.
Meet the Mets
The Mets had their annual holiday party on Tuesday and Sandy Alderson gave an update on the goings on with the team. Meanwhile, Daniel Murphy was the Mets' Santa Claus, a job that has been somewhat cursed over the years. Despite this, Murphy believes he'll be back with the team in 2014. Zack Wheeler was an elf at the party and said that he wants to be the Mets' Opening Day starter. Go for it, Zack!
The chatter on the Ike Davis front has been mostly quiet, though considering Sandy Alderson's comments yesterday and Doug Melvin's most recent comments, the Mets and Brewers seem to be preparing for a standoff. One development that was reported yesterday in multiple places was that the Pirates have turned their attention towards Davis, as well as the Rangers' Mitch Moreland. John Perotto mentioned on Twitter that the Mets are looking for a big arm in return for Davis such as Pirates' prospect Nick Kingham.
It must've been New York Mets day over at Fangraphs on Tuesday, as Marc Hulet published his Mets top 10 prospects list. Steamer, meanwhile, projected the seasons of some Mets prospects. And finally, David Laurila had a nice Q&A with lefty relief prospect and strikeout legend Jack Leathersich.
Around the Majors
MLB will set record revenues in 2013, exceeding over $8 billion for the first time ever.
The Nationals are ready to extend their PDC with AAA Syracuse for four more years. The Mets' agreement with Las Vegas expires at the end of 2014 but with Syracuse off the board, their chances of getting back into the International League anytime soon appear extremely limited.
Balfour Rage will be coming to Baltimore as the Orioles have signed closer Grant Balfour to a two-year, $14 million contract.
Oft-injured second baseman Brian Roberts has signed on with the Yankees for a year at $2 million.
Is Ubaldo Jimenez a gamble worth taking?
Yesterday At AA
Jeff Kopman reviewedWilmer Flores' 2013 season.
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