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LAKELAND, Fla. \u2014 Friends in high places can help when searching for a job.<\/p>\n
Devin Mesoraco\u2019s chief advocate was none other than the pitcher who had just won the National League Cy Young Award. And the fact Jacob deGrom\u2019s former agent, Brodie Van Wagenen, was the new general manager didn\u2019t hurt either.<\/p>\n
Mesoraco, who arrived to the Mets last season in the deal that sent Matt Harvey to Cincinnati, is grateful for another opportunity with the club after staying unsigned for most of the offseason.<\/p>\n
On Friday, he was behind the plate for deGrom\u2019s start and smashed his first homer of the spring in the Mets\u2019 7-1 exhibition victory over the Tigers.<\/p>\n
With questions lingering about Travis d\u2019Arnaud, the 30-year-old Mesoraco could have the inside track on the Mets\u2019 backup catcher job. His strong working relationship with deGrom only bolsters his case. <\/p>\n
\u201cI know that Jake was maybe more vocal about requesting me, but in my opinion, I thought I did a lot of good with everyone,\u201d said Mesoraco, who returned on a minor league deal in February. \u201cI was happy, and I think that maybe those other guys weren\u2019t quite as vocal, but I think they feel the same way as Jake did.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mesoraco posted a .222\/.306\/.409 slash line with 10 homers and 30 RBIs in 66 games with the team last season. <\/p>\n
As it stands, d\u2019Arnaud is yet to appear in a Grapefruit League game as he attempts to complete his comeback from Tommy John surgery last April. Wilson Ramos is the starter at catcher after arriving on a two-year contract worth $19 million.<\/p>\n
Among the possibilities is d\u2019Arnaud beginning the season on the injured list to continue strengthening his arm, opening a spot for Mesoraco. Or the Mets could trade d\u2019Arnaud or release him in spring training. D\u2019Arnaud was tendered a contract for $3.52 million this season, but if he is released by the end of spring training, the Mets are responsible for just 25 percent of that amount.<\/p>\n
Last season, Mesoraco was behind the plate for 21 of deGrom\u2019s 34 starts. DeGrom pitched to a 1.60 ERA in those games. With the Mets\u2019 other primary catcher, Kevin Plawecki, behind the plate, deGrom pitched to a 2.40 ERA.<\/p>\n
So what clicked with Mesoraco?<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter I worked with [Mesoraco] a couple of times, I think just the preparation he put into the games: knowing my last-however-many times I faced these guys and how I got them out and what they hit and what they didn\u2019t hit,\u201d deGrom said. \u201cJust him being around for a while and knowing the league and having a good idea of how he wanted to get guys out and bringing that to whoever the starter was and going over with him them how we wanted to get him out.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mesoraco suffered a neck injury toward the end of last season that may have contributed to teams\u2019 reluctance to offer him a major league deal. He said the Mets first contacted him around Christmas to gauge his interest.<\/p>\n
\u201cGoing into the offseason, my goal was to get a major league contract,\u201d he said. \u201cWhen that didn\u2019t materialize, we had some options as far as similar terms to what we signed here, and we kind of worked through that and thought this was the best fit.\u201d<\/p>\n
Friday it was like old times, with deGrom pitching three scoreless innings against the Tigers and allowing only one hit, with four strikeouts.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t treat Jake any differently than what I do my other pitchers,\u201d Mesoraco said. \u201cWhether it\u2019s [Zack] Wheeler or Steven Matz, I put in the homework, I go to the meetings prepared, and those guys see that. Whenever the catcher is looking out for the pitcher, that is something that definitely registers to those guys.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n