Mets legendary, elusive employee Jed Lowrie is a starting second baseman this year
Calling Jed Lowrie a legendary New York Mets employee isn’t a stretch. Plenty of mythical creatures whose existence remains unproven fall into the category of legendary.
Bigfoot. The Lochness Monster. El Chupacabra. Jed Lowrie. They’re all the same. They are absolute elusive legends. No one is quite sure if they are real or not.
We may soon have the answer to one of these. Lowrie is reportedly set to become the starting second baseman for the Oakland Athletics in 2021. After two years of doing his best Jimmy Hoffa impression, Mets fans may finally get an answer to whether or not this guy is real.
What former Mets are up to this offseason
Lowrie isn’t the only former Mets player making news in the week leading up to Opening Day. Matt Harvey will make the Baltimore Orioles rotation. Toms River’s own Todd Frazier is a free agent again after opting out of his minor league deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
It’s not really a shock to see those two tidbits of former Mets news. Harvey got off to such a promising career and always seems to get a chance with a big league team. The O’s, practically holding open tryouts for anyone willing to earn far below league average, will be the squad hoping they can get anything out of the Dark Knight in 2021.
Meanwhile, Frazier’s decision to opt-out means he knew he wasn’t making the Pirates’ Opening Day roster. Considering how little attention he got this offseason, it’s possible he won’t play any Major League Baseball at all in 2021.
Also of some significance, Jay Bruce will be a member of the New York Yankees to start the season. An injury to Luke Voit made the decision easier for the Bronx Bombers. Don’t be surprised if Bruce finds his home run swing at Yankee Stadium. Their short porch in right field was built for guys like him.
Some other ex-Mets still looking for work
This final week of the preseason includes a hodgepodge of former Mets news. With some making rosters and others opting out, there are a couple of members from the orange and blue alumni association still unsigned.
Yoenis Cespedes hasn’t gotten a contract yet but I suspect there is a little bit of a groundswell with the Chicago White Sox after losing Eloy Jimenez. I would caution them against this. His half-brother, Yoelqui Cespedes, is probably a better answer.
There’s also Rick Porcello still out there. Despite a track record of staying healthy throughout his entire career, his performance in New York last season and in Boston a year prior hasn’t garnered much attention at all.
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When the Triple-A season does finally begin, maybe we will see some of these free agents sign. If Lowrie can earn a starting role after missing nearly two full seasons with an injury, there’s hope for all major leaguers to find employment.