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Mets manager Luis Rojas comments on Yoenis
Cespedes and starting pitching competition
Mets manager Luis Rojas. Courtesy of the New York Mets
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TIMESLEDGER | QNS.COM | FEB. 14-20, 2020 33
SPORTS
BY JOE PANTORNO
New York Mets manager
Luis Rojas took a page out of
ownerships’ book on Tuesday,
opting not to divulge
much about some of the
pressing issues of his roster.
The first-year skipper,
who is on the job for less
than a month after taking
over for the dismissed Carlos
Beltran spoke to the media
in Port St. Lucie as pitchers
and catchers are reporting
to spring training.
Taking over an 86-win
team that fell just three
games short of a wild-card
berth last season, Rojas is
tasked in righting the ship
after a turbulent offseason
that featured the loss of Zack
Wheeler, the firing of Beltran
after two months on the
job, and the failed transition
of ownership to hedge fund
billionaire Steve Cohen.
“I know the guys pretty
well and the guys know me
back,” Rojas — who is entering
his 16th year with the organization
— said. “We have
good relationships throughout
the years. The talent that
we have, the great team that
we have, we want to see the
preparation.”
“This is the time we set
the tone.”
The Mets have a promising
core to finally match up
with their two-time defending
Cy Young Award winner,
Jacob deGrom.
Pete Alonso quickly became
one of the premier
sluggers in the game, Michael
Conforto eclipsed the
30 home-run mark for the
first time in his career, and
Jeff McNeil and JD Davis
had breakout first full seasons
as anchors of the Mets’
lineup.
New York’s lineup would
become even more potent if
Yoenis Cespedes is ready to
go come Opening Day. The
34-year-old has been limited
to just 119 games over the
past two seasons due to injuries,
but he’s continuously
made it known over the past
few months that he is expecting
to play close to a full season.
Rojas, however, echoed
the sentiments of general
manager Brodie Van
Wagenen in remaining noncommittal
to the big bat.
“Cespedes is running and
hitting, but there’s no timeline
yet,” Rojas said.
The same demeanor held
true for the current state of
his starting rotation.
Behind deGrom, Noah
Syndergaard, and Marcus
Stroman, Steven Matz and
the newly-acquired Rick
Porcello and Michael Wacha
are believed to be gunning
for the final two spots of the
staff. The loser would head
to the bullpen to bolster New
York’s set of relievers.
“We have six starters with
a history of being good starters
at the MLB level,” Rojas
said. “Right now, we’re not
defining the roles yet of 2,
3, 4, 5 or sixth starter. We’re
going to sit back and enjoy
watching these guys pitch in
spring training.”
“I know Wacha and Matz
had the experience of working
out of the bullpen,”
he added. “But right now,
they’re our starters. Right
now, we have six starters.”
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