PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Four years later, the Mets have completed their long-anticipated reunion with Carlos Gómez, as the team finalized a Minor League deal with the veteran outfielder Saturday.

Gomez, 33, came up through the Mets organization until the team traded him to the Twins as part of a package for Johan Santana in 2008. He went on to play in Minnesota and Milwaukee before the Mets nearly reacquired him in a deadline deal for Wilmer Flores and Zack Wheeler in 2015. Forever remembered for Flores’ tear-filled reaction on the field, that trade fell through over medical concerns.

Gomez ultimately went to the Astros, batting .242 with four home runs during the stretch run, while the Mets acquired Yoenis Cespedes instead.

Since that time, Gomez has bounced through several organizations, most recently batting .208/.298/.336 in 118 games last season for the Rays. In New York, he offers the Mets additional insurance behind the five healthy outfielders on their 40-man roster, plus veterans Rajai Davis and Gregor Blanco.

A two-time All-Star, Gomez enjoyed his best big league season in 2013, batting .284 with 24 homers, 40 steals and an .843 OPS in 147 games for the Brewers. Once considered one of the game’s top defensive center fielders, Gomez has posted negative Defensive Runs Saved totals at that position each of the past three years.

Looking sharp

Jacob deGrom tuned up with three shutout innings in Friday's 7-1 win over the Tigers, striking out four and cutting his Grapefruit League ERA to 2.25. deGrom is scheduled to start four more times before taking the hill Opening Day in Washington.

“My mechanics feel really good right now,” he told reporters after the outing. “That’s a big thing I was working on.”

Velocity rising

Among those impressing the Mets early in camp is Corey Oswalt, who hit 95 mph on the radar gun earlier this week in Disney. Oswalt never threw faster than 93.5 mph last season, according to Statcast data, and averaged 91 mph on his four-seam fastballs.

He attributes the uptick to a winter spent throwing without much of a break -- a popular workout modification amongst Mets pitchers. As a prospect, Oswalt routinely reached the mid-90s, but he believes last year’s disjointed schedule -- he traveled frequently between New York and Triple-A Las Vegas, often starting games on little rest and even less sleep -- and a pair of injuries combined to dampen his performance. Now Oswalt is healthy and fresh, likely to begin the season in Triple-A Syracuse’s rotation.

“It feels good,” Oswalt said. “You put in all the hard work in the offseason. Now it’s just maintaining it.”

Up next

Closer Edwin Diaz will make his Mets debut when they host the Astros on Saturday at First Data Field. Diaz, who saved 57 games for the Mariners last season, will pitch behind Noah Syndergaard in the 1:10 ET game. The Astros will counter with Justin Verlander, matching him up against Syndergaard for the second straight start.