PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. _ The parking lot at First Data Field was familiar. So, too, was the blue-and-orange workout gear, the clubhouse, the bullpen mounds. Everywhere Jeurys Familia looked Monday reminded him of being home again.
Familia said he turned down offers elsewhere to be a closer because he wanted this, that being a setup man, essentially a demotion, was fine as long as he was back with the Mets. Clearly a three-year, $30-million contract nudged him in that direction as well. Let's not ignore the obvious.
But in listening to Familia explain his Mets reunion, there also sounds like he has a belief in what went down this winter in Flushing, along with the architect, agent-turned-GM Brodie Van Wagenen. While he's still new at this front-office gig, give Van Wagenen credit for leaning on what he knows _ namely forging relationships with players, in the hope that this behind-the-scenes support can translate to better performance on the field.
Van Wagenen visited with Familia when the Mets' contingent traveled to the Dominican Republic last month, as part of a tour that included the team's academy down there. It was during that chat Familia got an impression of Van Wagenen's push for culture change.
"That's really good to have a GM with that kind of mind," Familia said. "It's really impressed me."
The rest of us have been hearing it since Van Wagenen was appointed GM back in November. The loud talk of being the team to beat in the NL East, starting with the bold trade for Robinson Cano and Edwin Diaz, then continuing through a string of free-agent signings that included Familia, Wilson Ramos, Justin Wilson and Jed Lowrie.
Familia, for one, seems convinced. It's easy to predict playoff berths in February, before a single pitch has been thrown in a spring training game, and these Mets don't mind leading with their chins at this point. But this conversation is better than the alternative.
"Right now, I tell you what, the team looks really good," Familia said after Monday's workout. "I think this is our year."
As the Mets gradually arrive in Port St. Lucie this week, with pitchers and catchers officially scheduled to report Tuesday, the players start to become more than just names on a sheet of paper. Most of the pitching staff already was working out by Monday afternoon, with a handful of younger position types _ such as Michael Conforto, Dominic Smith and Jeff McNeil _ among them.
The limited roster on hand didn't stop most of the front-office crew from watching the events on Field 2, with Van Wagenen joined by two of his assistant GMs, Allard Baird and Adam Guttridge, along with special adviser Omar Minaya, the GM who first signed Familia in 2007. Of course, Minaya also was part of the triumvirate that traded Familia to the Athletics last July, in the deal that brought back third baseman Will Toffey and reliever Bobby Wahl (since shipped to the Brewers).
Familia speaks fondly of his time in Oakland, despite being relegated to setup duties for Blake Treinen, and credits that experience for helping him in this second tour with the Mets, who should benefit from having a closer-quality arm in that role. Remember, during a two-year stretch in Flushing, a period that included two playoff trips and a World Series run, Familia averaged 47 saves with a 2.20 ERA and a 9.8 K/9 ratio.
There is value in that comfort. One thing Sandy Alderson learned during his Mets' tenure was the difficulty of bringing relievers from outside to New York, the volatility of neophytes being exposed to the big-market experience. That won't be a concern with Familia, who's had his difficult episodes but still has the thick skin and short memory to succeed in Flushing.
Ultimately, it was the money that made Familia's reunion possible. But you don't often hear of players genuinely wanting to return to the Mets, and that's something extra that should work in Familia's favor, along with his bowling-ball sinker. Familia doesn't fear the spotlight; he's endured both the best and worst of it, yet has come back smiling, asking for more.
"This is my house," Familia said.
Seeing him Monday, it was like Familia had never left. The two-month trip to Oakland was a pleasant memory, a playoff run abbreviated to one game by the Yankees. If the Mets are able to better that, as Van Wagenen has preached, Familia will be a critical part of that success. And the best part for him? He knows exactly what that looks like.
