According to sources, the New York Mets have agreed to a deal with catcher Bruce Maxwell. Maxwell has not yet signed the deal, but he is expected to report to the minor league training facility by the end of this week.
Maxwell made headlines in 2017 when he became the first player in the Major Leagues to kneel for the National Anthem. Maxwell was with the Oakland A’s at the time, and he drew national attention for his actions.
Major League Baseball players have been vocal in their support of the Black Lives Matter movement, which likely led to Maxwell getting another opportunity in the Major Leagues. Even though the A’s did not release the catcher for taking a knee, several people around the league felt that was the case.
Maxwell also ran into some trouble with the law in 2017 when he pointed a gun at a female delivery driver. The catcher was sentenced to probation that included completing community service hours.
Even though the Mets are not expected to make Maxwell a part of their active roster, New York is working on adding some insurance in case of a COVID-19 outbreak or injury. Wilson Ramos is the starting catcher for the Mets, and will likely remain in that position.
Mets Off to Solid Start
The New York Mets are off to a 3-2 start this season, which has to be considered a good sign considering their first two opponents. The Mets did drop two of three games at home to the Atlanta Braves but have rebounded nicely in Boston.
New York outscored the Red Sox 15-7 in the first two games of the series, and will now have their two best pitchers on the mound in the final two games of the series. In a 60-game season, New York can’t afford to go through any long losing streaks.
Mets Early Favorites to Win NL East?
The National League East is considered a three-team race in 2020, and the Mets are a part of that mix. The solid start from New York has gotten the attention of sportsbooks, and their odds have started to increase.
The Atlanta Braves are still the favorites to win the division at +220, but the New York Mets are right behind them at +230. New York has already jumped Washington, according to FanDuel, but there is still a lot of baseball left to be played.
Dodgers Still NL Team to Beat
The Los Angeles Dodgers entered the season as the team to beat in the National League, which remains the case to this day. FanDuel has the Dodgers at +190 to win the NL, which is well ahead of the Braves at +750.
The Mets are still listed at +1000 to win the National League, but they have jumped a few teams since the season began. Getting to the playoffs is a start for the Mets, but their pitching could be strong enough to carry them on a deep postseason run.
