The Latest Breaking News from Mets

The snapshot of Tim McCarver penetrating our mind when we heard of his death at the age of 81 Thursday afternoon, was first meeting him while he was standing on the press level of Shea Stadium squinting out at the sun while spitting tobacco juice into a Styrofoam coffee cup.

PEORIA, Ariz. — Michael Wacha wanted a multi-year deal and wanted to play for a contender.

In a world where in which most postgame meals are eaten at the stadium, the 33-year-old has become a rarity in baseball.

We asked three of our writers which deal they thought was the best of this winter’s free agency.

It’s a big spring for catcher Francisco Alvarez and third baseman Brett Baty. After making their big league debuts last season, the hope is that the Mets’ top prospects will be ready to produce consistently at that level this season.

In 1976, a 20-year-old Buck Showalter was spending the summer in Cape Cod, working as a short-order cook and playing for the Hyannis Mets.

It’s the second time in his post-playing career that he has held a front office position.

Cohen is ABSOLUTELY right.

The Twins have rarely competed for top talent on the free-agent market. The signing of Carlos Correa to a franchise-record contract could alter perceptions of the franchise, and if that happens, it will be due mostly to the Correa deal, a long-running, sharp-winding negotiation that required chief baseball officer Derek…