NEW YORK (AP) — After finalizing a $10 million, two-year contract with the New York Mets, reliever Justin Wilson concluded that the number of teams not pursuing free agents has damaged the market."I think for the role that I pitch in, late in the game and high-leverage situations, there are only certain teams that are willing to spend money to compete," Wilson said Monday during a conference call. "There is a lot of the league that rather make money than win, which if you're a player isn't very fun because we play this game to win. I don't go into (the) season with any other goal than a World Series. So having two-thirds of the league not really involved in that, not trying to win a championship, does hurt free agency."Astros ace Justin Verlander was quoted last weekend by the Houston Chronicle expressing similar sentiments."The biggest detriment to our game right now is the non-competitiveness of two-thirds of the league," Verlander was quoted as saying. "I think that's why you're seeing... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — After finalizing a $10 million, two-year contract with the New York Mets, reliever Justin Wilson concluded that the number of teams not pursuing free agents has damaged the market."I think for the role that I pitch in, late in the game and high-leverage situations, there are only certain teams that are willing to spend money to compete," Wilson said Monday during a conference call. "There is a lot of the league that rather make money than win, which if you're a player isn't very fun because we play this game to win. I don't go into (the) season with any other goal than a World Series. So having two-thirds of the league not really involved in that, not trying to win a championship, does hurt free agency."Astros ace Justin Verlander was quoted last weekend by the Houston Chronicle expressing similar sentiments."The biggest detriment to our game right now is the non-competitiveness of two-thirds of the league," Verlander was quoted as saying. "I think that's why you're seeing... [More]

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — Jason Vargas wants to make his regular-season debut with the New York Mets as soon as possible — even if takes more than a month past opening day.The lefty could miss up to six weeks after he has surgery Tuesday for a broken right hand, an injury incurred last week when he was hit by a line drive during a minor league game.Vargas met with a hand specialist over the weekend to talk about the test results. He then opted to have the operation."I don't know if I was surprised," Vargas said. "It kind of reinforced what some of the CT scans and how they were read the first time. Getting the word from the specialist is kind of the defining fact on what needed to be done. This is the fastest way to get better."Vargas threw a bullpen session Monday morning, but it wasn't without difficulty.The 2017 All-Star had to loosen the laces on his glove to get his right hand inside the mitt, then tightened the laces to keep his pitching balance the same. And he didn't take a return... [More]

Clayton Kershaw's second spring training outing went according to plan, save for one poor throw to first.The ace left-hander breezed through two scoreless innings for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday, allowing one hit and walking one during a 7-6 victory over the Chicago White Sox at Glendale, Arizona. He worked a perfect inning in his spring training debut against Seattle on Sunday."Another step. Another inning," Kershaw said. "Definitely things I can do better, but for the most part I'll take it. It was all right. I made some good pitches when I needed to. I made some bad ones, too. Enough to work on for the next one."Leury Garcia dropped a single into left in the first for Chicago's only hit off Kershaw. Garcia raced all the way to third when Kershaw made a wild throw on a pickoff attempt, but Jose Abreu and Avisail Garcia grounded out to end the inning."I just tried to be a little too quick," Kershaw said, looking back on his fielding miscue. "I think I might have, it would have been... [More]

Clayton Kershaw's second spring training outing went according to plan, save for one poor throw to first.The ace left-hander breezed through two scoreless innings for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday, allowing one hit and walking one during a 7-6 victory over the Chicago White Sox at Glendale, Arizona. He worked a perfect inning in his spring training debut against Seattle on Sunday."Another step. Another inning," Kershaw said. "Definitely things I can do better, but for the most part I'll take it. It was all right. I made some good pitches when I needed to. I made some bad ones, too. Enough to work on for the next one."Leury Garcia dropped a single into left in the first for Chicago's only hit off Kershaw. Garcia raced all the way to third when Kershaw made a wild throw on a pickoff attempt, but Jose Abreu and Avisail Garcia grounded out to end the inning."I just tried to be a little too quick," Kershaw said, looking back on his fielding miscue. "I think I might have, it would have been... [More]

2B Gavin Cecchini was 3-for-4, his first multi-hit game of the season and a career high. The rookie and former first-round draft pick also tied his career best with two RBIs.

Cecchini missed the last two weeks of the minor league season due to a hip injury, ESPN New York's Adam Rubin reports.

The Mets' shortstop prospect is expected to play in the Arizona Fall League, so the injury should not affect his 2016 campaign. Cecchini has emerged as a prospect worth following in most dynasty leagues after slashing .317/.377/.442 in 109 games with Double-A Binghamton. His power and speed both project to be average at best, but it appears that Cecchini may have a big-league caliber hit tool and approach, in addition to being relatively close to the big leagues.

Cecchini, 21, is batting .317/.377/.442 with seven home runs, 51 RBI and three steals through 109 games for Double-A Binghamton.

Cecchini has been even better over his last 10 games, hitting .366 with two RBI and one stolen base. Though he's having a breakout season with the bat, the fact that he does not project to hit double-digit home runs or steal double-digit bases makes him a mediocre fantasy prospect.

Cecchini was named Eastern League Player of the Month for July, ESPN New York reports.

Cecchini, the Mets' top pick (12th overall) in the 2012 draft out of high school in Louisiana, hit a league-best .387 with 11 extra-base hits and 18 RBI in 29 games in July. He is hitting a career-best .310 with seven home runs and 49 RBI; the latter two career-bests as well. Cecchini, who was viewed to be solid defensively when he was drafted, has struggled in the field and there are questions if he profiles best at shortstop.

Cecchini, who has been on-fire lately, went 5-for-6 for Double-A Binghamton on Thursday.

Cecchini is now up to .309/.369/.446 on the season and is hitting .367 his last 30 days. He has added seven home runs, 46 runs batted in and 53 runs scored in his best season as a professional. Cecchini could be promoted to Triple-A Las Vegas before too long.

Cecchini, 21, is hitting .291/.352/.453 with three home runs, 17 RBI and two steals through 32 games for Double-A Binghamton.

Cecchini may finally be hitting his stride after a few mediocre seasons. He did hit eight home runs and swipe 10 bases last season, but those numbers won't exactly cause fantasy owners in keeper leagues to rush to the waiver wire to grab him. He'll need to show that his power, his speed, or both, are legit tools, to make a real fantasy impact.