What's the latest with Jay Bruce and the New York Mets Outfield?

Jose Reyes Talks Yoenis Cespedes, David Wright and 2017 Mets

Jeurys Familia Likely Suspended After Domestic Violence Case Dropped

If it ends up being 30 games suspended the Mets can live with Addison Reed as their closer during that time.

Why Aren't the Mets Considering Obtaining Andrew McCutchen?

An MVP only 3 years ago and while he had an off-season last year, his 2nd half was pretty good and for the right 'ML-ready' players he could be available. Then too, if McCutchen has a comeback year (he's only 30 so the chances are more likely that he will) he would provide excellent protection for Cespedes in the lineup. And he gives a mostly (outside of Jose Reyes) slow Mets offense much-needed speed. With 36yo Curtis Granderson slated to start in CF next year and Juan Lagares serving as his backup, Andrew McCutchen would certainly be an upgrade.

Matt Harvey: "I'm right where I want be, everything's feeling great"

Terry Collins Wants Tim Tebow At Mets' Spring Training

Mets GM Sandy Alderson on Why He Did Nothing During Annual Winter Meetings

Mets Considering Zack Wheeler for Bullpen

ESPN.com:

Alderson plans to have Addison Reed slide into the closer role in Familia’s expected absence. The team potentially will add a couple of middle relievers, ideally on one-year deals.

“The first guy we signed was a two-year deal, and that didn’t work out,” Alderson said, referring to the Mets’ signing of D.J. Carrasco in December 2010, shortly after Alderson took over as GM.

 “We’ve had subsequent two-year deals that didn’t work out all that well. In fact, we have about one a year. That’s why I think we’ll be a little bit cautious, especially with that midrange.”

Alderson said the answer may be using some of the Mets’ starting-pitching depth in relief next season, assuming everyone is healthy. Alderson listed Zack Wheeler as a potential reliever, presumably with Robert Gsellman in the rotation. Wheeler has missed the past two seasons while dealing with setbacks from Tommy John surgery, which he underwent in March 2015.

Alderson suggested Wheeler may be a suitable reliever because he throws hard, and bullpen work may “minimize whatever lack of control may exist.”

“There’s no reason for us to say, ‘Well, he’s got to be a starter,’” Alderson said. “Now, he may feel that way himself. But it may be that coming back after two years he’s better off pitching out of the pen. You might have to be careful. You might not be able to pitch him back-to-back [days]. It might have to be two innings at a time. These are all hypothetical at the moment. But I don’t see any reason to just eliminate that possibility.”

I like this idea. As long as Wheeler's been gone now and with the higher risk of aggravating his injury if he continues to be a starter, he could be the in-house answer to the bullpen help the Mets so desperately need.

Steven Matz Talks Injuries and his New York Mets Future

Does the Yoenis Cespedes Signing Change the Mets Need at Catcher?

Yeah, the combination of Travis d'Arnaud, Kevin Plawecki and Rene Rivera (who is definitely coming back per a one-year deal he just signed) were pretty bad offensively and defensively last season. But with Cespedes back in the fold and hopefully Sandy Alderson doing the right thing by keeping Curtis Granderson and Jay Bruce for 2017, do the Mets really need a change at catcher?

I mean, Met pitchers seem to always praise their backstops ability to call a good game and considering that we traded a Cy Young winner to get d'Arnaud, I wouldn't be quite ready to give up on him just yet (tho it's kind of scary how powerless he looked at the plate when he came back from his latest injury in 2016). Plus with the market being pretty low for catchers (yeah, Matt Wieters is still out there, but he's 30yo and injury-prone, so how long does he have left playing catcher?) these days and the need to acquire bullpen help being great, it might be in the Mets best interests to keep what they have, save money and hire a new catching coach instead.

Mets Re-Sign Yoenis Cespedes for 4 Years and $110 Million

I was hoping for a 5-year deal, but whatever. He's back and that's all that matters because the Mets window for winning is now.

SNY's Mets Hot Stove checks in with Wilmer Flores

What can David Wright still contribute to the New York Mets?

So Jose Reyes, who should be playing every day and batting leadoff anyway, will be backing up Wright at 3rd?

What's Next for Jeurys Famila and the New York Mets Bullpen?

Bring back back Jerry Blevins and sign Boone Logan too, then make Addison Reed your closer while Familia's gone...there's your answer.

Neil Walker Accepts Mets’ Qualifying Offer; Yoenis Cespedes Rejects It

NYTimes.com:

Second baseman Neil Walker informed the Mets just before a 5 p.m. deadline on Monday that he would accept a $17.2 million qualifying offer for 2017, a decision that keeps one of the team’s two most important free agents in Queens.

The other, the star outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, rejected the Mets’ qualifying offer, as expected, making him perhaps the most attractive free agent on the market.

Although Cespedes declined the offer, that does not preclude the Mets from continuing to pursue him. General Manager Sandy Alderson made clear last week at the annual general managers’ meetings in Scottsdale, Ariz., that the team was serious about re-signing Cespedes.

Alderson had also said the Mets wanted to keep Walker, 31, for next season — and beyond that, if possible. Walker, a switch-hitter, replaced Daniel Murphy at second base in 2016, hitting a team-leading .282 with an .823 on-base plus slugging percentage, second on the team only to Cespedes’s .884. Walker also hit 23 home runs and emerged as a clubhouse leader.

I like Walker, but his injury is a tough one to come back from and with Reyes and TJ Rivera around for next to nothing and capable of playing 2nd base, I figured that the Mets could save some money and put it on a quality relief pitcher instead. Now the question is: do you possibly move Walker to 1st base, let Reyes play 2nd full-time? Because I don't see how Reyes doesn't leadoff and play every day.