PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Heading into a season with a record payroll projected at $370 million, the New York Mets realize the expectations.
"Is our season a failure if we win 90 -- whatever number you want to come up with?" manager Buck Showalter said Tuesday, a day ahead of the team's reporting day. "It's about the endgame."
Justin Verlander, the AL Cy Young Award winner signed to an $86.7 million, two-year contract, threw his first bullpen session for the Mets.
"Just like all pitchers, regardless of their background and their success, you're trying to serve their needs and create an atmosphere that they can be as good as they can be," Showalter said.