Mets Daily February 13, 2026

Mets In The News Today

Francisco Lindor’s hamate watch just hijacked camp. This is one of those “it’s fine until it isn’t” injuries, because grip strength and bat speed don’t lie. The good news is the calendar is still on the Mets’ side. The bad news is hamates love stealing power for a while, even after a guy is “back.”
Francisco Álvarez basically gave the real hamate TED Talk. He’s lived it. Surgery, timeline, the annoying part where you return and your hand still feels like it’s running Windows 95 for a couple months.
Bullpen lefty tryouts are now a thing. With A.J. Minter expected back around early May, the Mets need someone to hold the line on the left side. Bryan Hudson showed up loud (intensity, velo, the whole “new guy trying to take your job” vibe) and got Mendoza’s attention immediately.
Roster math moved fast. The Mets officially added MJ Melendez and cleared room by moving Tylor Megill to the 60-day IL. That’s not “depth,” that’s “break glass in case of emergency” depth getting thinner.

Hamate injuries are popping up everywhere. It’s early February and MLB already has a “what even is the hamate” explainer making the rounds. That tells you the vibe.
Phillies cut bait on Nick Castellanos. The story got weird, got public, then got over. That’s the cleanest way to describe it.
Marlins add veteran pitching. Miami brought back Chris Paddack and also signed John King to stabilize innings and bullpen looks.
Corbin Carroll was back at camp almost immediately after hamate surgery. Baseball players are a different species.

Braves: Spring storylines already include rotation stress and injury anxiety. Atlanta is talented, still feels like it’s held together with elite players and a prayer.
Phillies: Castellanos is out, and the conversation is now “how does the lineup absorb the chaos” instead of “how many wins is this roster worth.”
Marlins: Paddack + King gives them adult supervision on the mound. Miami needs innings like oxygen.
Nationals: Big camp roster, lots of non-roster competition, and the usual “who’s ready faster than expected” spring roulette.

February 13, 2003: The Mets signed David Cone to a minor-league deal for one more run. Veteran rotation, big-name expectations, and that familiar Mets hope that always feels slightly dangerous.

Hamate reality check: The timetable can look clean on paper, but the power/feel often lags. The swing comes back before the pop does.
Bullpen leverage math: If Minter is a true early-May return, the Mets need a reliable second lefty for March and April, not a roulette wheel.
Bryan Hudson’s profile: When he’s right, he misses barrels and keeps the ball in the yard. When he’s off, it turns into loud contact fast. Spring is the audition for which version showed up.
Roster churn signal: Megill to the 60-day IL this early is a reminder that “starter depth” is a myth by midseason. It’s always an injury race, and nobody wins.