SAN DIEGO — Carlos Beltran understands exactly what Edwin Diaz went through in 2019, because he struggled in his first season in the Big Apple, too. And if the closer’s experience was anything like what the new Mets manager withstood, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.
Beltran said Diaz’s first year in New York, 66 relief appearances that produced a 5.59 ERA, was an unfortunate season the 25-year-old “needed to go through” in order to understand how things work.
In an excess effort to ensure Diaz does not suffer the same blows in 2020, the Mets sent a group of professionals — like nutritionists, physical therapists and strength and conditioning employees — to Puerto Rico this winter to meticulously work with the Mets closer in different training areas.
“He was very receptive with all the information,” Beltran said, who hopes to take Diaz under his wing.
Diaz was coming off a career-best year for the Mariners where he recorded a Major-League leading 57 saves and earned the Mariano Rivera American League Reliever of the Year Award before joining the Mets. Beltran indicated that pitching under the bright lights in New York likely came as a shock to the closer’s system. But there were also some mechanical issues that Beltran feels confident will be ironed out with new pitching coach Jeremy Hefner on board.
“It’s a process,” Beltran said. “People a lot of times don’t understand, but when you come from a low-market team to a small-market team to a team that is in New York and you’re going to get all this attention, there’s no doubt that you want to prove yourself. And a lot of times, when things don’t go right, you put extra pressures on yourself.
“There’s no doubt that he realizes it’s a learning experience, so I believe he’s going to be ready for it this year. He’s super talented. What he did in Seattle is not a fluke. I have faced him a lot, and the guy has power stuff,” he said.
Beltran experienced a similar hapless season in 2005 when he signed with the Mets as a free agent. In his age-28 season, he hit .266 with 16 home runs and 78 RBI over 151 games. Beltran still earned an All-Star nod that year and his season doesn’t compare to Diaz’s 2019 – highlighted by seven blown saves and seven losses – but the new Mets’ skipper’s gut feeling says it will get better. And it starts with making adjustments.
“Well, at least in my case, because I came with a big contract, I was trying to please everybody and forgot about my priorities as a player,” Beltran said. “My priorities as a player were to prepare, to be ready, and to try to make sure that I did check all the boxes before I got to the game. So a lot of times I got caught up in doing things that were not related to baseball. So that really cost me.”
Beltran has maintained a positive relationship with Diaz since the pair became teammates playing for Puerto Rico during the 2017 World Baseball Classic. The skipper said Diaz has been training hard this offseason and he’s eager to prove he can handle competing on New York’s massive stage.
“He’s eager to prove himself, and I believe, as a player, that’s the right mentality that you should have,” Beltran said. “Not because you had a good year the year before. It doesn’t mean that you have to prove yourself. I do believe that every single year you need to show up hungry to spring training and make sure that the people see the work that you did in the offseason.”
Jeurys Familia is losing the pressure… and the weight
The Mets right-handed reliever suffered the worst season of his eight-year career — posting a putrid 5.70 ERA across 66 relief appearances in 2019. Beltran revealed Familia has lost almost 20 pounds this offseason in an aggressive attempt to correct his past year.
“I have faith in Familia,” Beltran said. “Familia has incredible stuff. Since he got to the big leagues and to this point, his velocity is there. So I had a conversation with him, and he’s working extremely hard. To me that shows he wants to prove himself this year. There’s no doubt that he wants to get back into the Familia that we all know.”
All eyes on Cano
The Mets expect Robinson Cano, set to enter his age-37 season, to bounce back from an underwhelming 2019 season filled with injuries and setbacks. The veteran has Brodie Van Wagenen, his former agent before CAA and Roc Nation ended their partnership, in his corner. The Mets GM said Cano will be the starting second baseman in 2020 and the team has not considered any other position for the player.
“We’re counting on Cano,” Beltran said. “He’s another guy that had a bad year last year. Knowing him, knowing his preparation, I have no doubt he’ll show up at Spring Training ready to go.”
Beltran is very good friends with Cano. The All-Star second baseman has helped support Beltran’s academy in Puerto Rico and they frequently attend the same events.
Cano suffered multiple hit-by-pitches to his hand and sustained a torn hamstring that limited him to just 107 games in his first season as Met. Beltran said he spoke to Cano about altering his daily routine as the 37-year-old’s body continues to change.
“It seems like to me like all his injuries that he had were lower body injuries, and there’s no doubt that, when you get to play this game as long as he is, he have to make adjustments,” Beltran said. “I played until 40, and I dealt with a situation on my knee where I needed to be creative with my preparation and try to do exercises that were low-impact.”
