PORT ST. LUCIE — Travis d’Arnaud is prepared to occasionally trade his catcher’s mitt for an even larger one.
As the Mets search for at-bats for both their catchers this spring, d’Arnaud said he is preparing to play first base – a position he occasionally played in high school, along with second base and third.
D’Arnaud joked he could play shortstop, too.
“If they feel it’s going to help us win, I’m all for it,” d’Arnaud said. “Whatever they want me to do, I’ll be ready for it.”
D’Arnaud then smiled: “Especially shortstop.”
Kevin Plawecki also could see action at first base this spring.
Jacob deGrom and his wife, Stacey, are expecting their first child in early April, but it’s unclear how that might affect manager Terry Collins’ rotation plans for the first week or two.
Josh Edgin, who underwent Tommy John surgery last year in spring training, is targeting May 1 for his return to the major league roster.
Addison Reed, who avoided arbitration with a one-year contract worth $5.3 million, said he doesn’t care where he is slotted in the bullpen. The Mets spent $12 million on a two-year deal for Antonio Bastardo, another option to pitch the eighth inning in front of closer Jeurys Familia.
“I could throw the third out of the first inning,” he said. “As long as we are getting outs and getting the ball to Familia in the ninth inning, that’s all we’re trying to do.’’
Reed, who arrived in a waiver deal with the Diamondbacks last August and was solid down the stretch, said he wasn’t surprised the Mets tendered him a contract.
“I feel like it all kind of clicked when I came here,” Reed said. “Dan [Warthen] is a pitching genius. I was throwing all my pitches for strikes whereas the first half of the season I couldn’t tell you where the ball was going.’’
Jerry Blevins indicated his left arm feels strong after throwing from a mound seven times. The lefty sustained a fractured left arm on a batted ball last April and sustained another break in the same bone when he slipped on a curb.
The freak curb injury occurred as Blevins was returning to his car at the team hotel because he had left his iPad in the backseat on a 95-degree day. As he slipped, Blevins used his left arm to brace the fall.
“It wasn’t anything crazy — it just happened,” said Blevins, who had a plate inserted into the arm with six screws.
Four Mets pitchers will have giveaway days at Citi Field this season: Noah Syndergaard Gnome Day (April 30 vs. Giants); Matt Harvey Bobblehead (Aug. 27 vs. Phillies); Steven Matz Lunch Bag (Aug. 28 vs. Phillies); Jacob deGrom Hair Hat (Sept. 17 vs. Twins).