Your Friday morning dose of New York Mets and Major League Baseball news, notes, and links.
Meet the Mets
Mike Piazza is inching closer to the Hall of Fame, as he has appeared on 79 percent of public ballots according to Baseball Think Factory. Voting results will be revealed on January 6.
Greg Prince writes about his attachment to Rick Aguilera and how everyone always celebrates the end of their shared birthday.
Bryan Kilpatrick has a Hall of Fame profile on former Mets great Pedro Martinez.
On this date in Mets history: David Cone was born. Happy birthday!
Around the National League East
The Braves have dealt a pair of arms to the Yankees in exchange for Manny Banuelos.
The NHL played its annual Winter Classic game at Nationals Park and the Capitals came away with a 3-2 win.
Around the Majors
We all like to act excited at the moment the calendar turns from December 31 to January 1, but you know who really had something to celebrate? John Gibbons, the Blue Jays manager whose 2016 salary became guaranteed the second that 2015 arrived.
MLB.com shows us how years ending with a five can be pretty darn exciting.
After failing to defeat Oregon in the Rose Bowl, Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston is looking forward to baseball. Aren't we all?