Starting to Sproat

Morning Dose: Friday, February 14

☀️ Good Morning:

Happy Valentine’s Day!

My family has a tradition of watching a baseball movie each week from the beginning of spring training until Opening Day. We start tonight with Angels in the Outfield. What’s more romantic than that?

We led yesterday’s newsletter talking about Alex Bregman’s contract with the Red Sox. We learned shortly after publishing that deferrals will bring the present-day-value of his three-year deal down from $120 million to ~$90 million, or around the value Alonso was seeking as a first baseman. While Bregman secured an extra year and ~$20 million more than what the Mets were willing to pay on a three-year deal for Alonso, the gap is not as significant as it first seemed.

Scott Boras had a tough winter (ask Astros fans).

Meanwhile, it was another busy day at Mets camp.

☕️ Grab your coffee for your morning dose of Mets Fix!

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◼️ Brandon Sproat continues to turn heads. He grew a mustache in the offseason, but that’s not why he’s getting attention. The up-and-coming flamethrower looked electric in three innings of live batting practice on Thursday, even making a nice grab on a comebacker.

• Sproat leaped from High-A to Triple-A last season, where he struggled for the first time, a learning experience that manager Carlos Mendoza hopes helps him in the future.

• “I don’t want to say I was glad, but it was good to see he was hit around a bit because it kind of humbled him,” Mendoza said, via the NY Post. “He kind of flew through the minors and it was easy for him. And, ‘OK, I got to a level where I have got to make adjustments.’ He’s in his second year and he’s already in big league camp.”

The Florida product has a plus fastball that reaches 100 mph, but it was hit around a bit in the upper minors. Some think he could use some added ride on the pitch. He also throws a changeup to lefties, a sweeping slider, a cutter and the occasional curveball. He is working on adding a sinker as well.

“There’s a lot to like about him,” manager Carlos Mendoza said of Sproat. “He’s got five pitches and the ability to spin the baseball, whether it’s the short slider, sweeper, the changeup is really, really good, and then he’s got velo. Everything I’ve heard about him, whether it’s the makeup, the compete, how much he cares, it’s exciting. Saw him today and just watching him interact the past couple of days, pretty impressive.”