Port St. Lucy – Drew Smith began listening with the Mets before last season ended, and by late December he had made it clear to him that he was returning to the organization.
His free agent deal recently became official, with the 31-year-old Reliever receiving a one-year contract from the team for the 2026 club options.
Smith has been rehabilitating since his second Tommy John surgery and may not pitch this season, but he is relief that he is around a familiar face when he returns to health on Monday. We talked about it.
“I didn't want to sign a new team. Then I had to integrate it with the new training staff and people I didn't know. That was a big part,” Smith said at Clover Park. “They really wanted to get me back. That was something I was grateful for from being here for so long and building those relationships.”
Smith, the longest-equipped Mets Pitcher (he arrived at the 2017 trade with the Lucas Duda Rays), does not rule out the possibility that he could return this season – he made his surgery last July I got it – but he said he wouldn't push that.
The right-hander said he just started catching last week.
“I just go through this once and because I hate putting a timeline on things and know how difficult it is,” Smith said. “If everything goes well, we see where we are by the end [season]that's what I want. ”
According to manager Carlos Mendoza, Joey Menesez (who has problems getting a work visa) was the only player still missing from the camp.
Mexico's first baseman will report on tourist visas on Tuesday. He is allowed to exercise, but he cannot play in the game until his workplace visa is issued.
Team owners Steve Cohen and Alex Cohen were at camp on Monday. Their special guest was 1970s pop icon Tony Orlando (who raised up in Chelsea and mentioned meetings with former Mets manager Casey Stengel and Gil Hodges).
Steve Cohen is expected to answer questions from reporters on Tuesday.
