Good morning, Mets fans!
Steve Cohen’s plan to build a casino near Citi Field took a major step forward as the NYC Council approved Metropolitan Park’s land use and rezoning proposals 41-2. All six community boards backed the project, with 83% in favor.
The $8 billion development, endorsed by local leaders, includes a food hall, live music venue and conference space. However, key hurdles remain, including securing a casino license from the state’s Gaming Commission, where Cohen faces competition from 11 other proposals. He also needs parkland alienation approval, which remains uncertain. For more on this development, check out our story about the situation.
Now onto the morning briefing!
Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized
Latest Mets News
The Mets fell 3-2 to the Red Sox at Clover Park. David Peterson allowed two runs (one earned) over 3 2/3 innings, while Brett Baty went 1-for-2 with a walk. Brandon Nimmo collected a hit in his return to the lineup, and both Edwin Díaz and Ryne Stanek delivered scoreless relief outings. For more on this game, check out our recap!
After the game, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com noted that Edwin Díaz’s fastball sat at 95 mph during his last outing, topping out at 96, with his final pitch at 92. Despite the dip in velocity, manager Carlos Mendoza remained unconcerned, viewing the outing as a positive step. “It’ll come up,” Mendoza said. “I’m not worried about that.”
Mets third baseman Mark Vientos proved himself in 2024 with a breakout season and strong postseason. Now, his challenge is sustaining success. He spent the offseason refining his approach and conditioning for the long grind, shifting his mindset from proving doubters wrong to chasing greatness. Tim Britton of The Athletic took a deeper dive into Vientos’ mindset for 2025.
Jeff McNeil is dealing with a mild right oblique strain and will refrain from baseball activities for the next 7-10 days. According to Mets manager Carlos Mendoza, McNeil’s recovery timeline could keep him out for 3-4 weeks.
Latest MLB News
Lynn Worthy of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes that the St. Louis Cardinals announced they’ve signed free-agent relief pitcher Phil Maton to a one-year deal. Maton appeared in 71 regular season games with the Tampa Bay Rays and New York Mets with an ERA of 3.66 along with six appearances in the playoffs for New York.
The Tampa Bay Rays announced via social media that they will not pursue their new ballpark development project in St. Petersburg and will focus on preparing Tropicana Field’s recovery for the 2026 baseball season. The Rays are set to play three more seasons at Tropicana Field under their current contract with the City of St. Petersburg, once repairs are completed from the severe damage caused by Hurricane Milton in October, which left the stadium unusable for 2025. However, the team’s long-term future in the Tampa Bay area remains uncertain.
Latest on MMO
FOCO releases new Rookie of the Year bobbleheads of Tom Seaver and Pete Alonso.
On This Date in Mets History
2021: Luis Guillorme and Jordan Hicks battle in a 22-pitch at-bat during a spring training game. After quickly falling into an 0-2 hole, Guillorme fouls off 16 pitches and earns a walk.
Born on This Date: Josh Stinson (1988).
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