Abreu likes the Mets & would be a good fit....

I do believe the Mets will sign Oliver Perez, if not this weekend at least before pitchers and catchers report. With Perez in place I believe the focus should be on improving the offense. The Bullpen is significantly improved and while the Rotation will return it's top four and I believe the back-end will be improved with Garcia/Redding/Fossum.

I believe after Ollie, Omar should focus on the offense. I know they scored the second most runs in the league and the problems in the pitching staff far out weighed any struggles the offense had down the stretch. That doesn't mean that the offense couldn't be improved, in fact I think the offense lacks depth and flexibility. As currently constructed there's no way around Reyes, Castillo, Wright, Beltran, Delgado, Church and then there is a significant drop off at the bottom of the order. If you add just one more bat that not only lengthens the line-up and gives Jerry more pieces to give the team a different look.

Who would I suggest, Bobby Abreu. It's been reported multiple times that Abreu's price has come down. I know he's a lefty, which isn't ideal and his warning track defense is awful but his numbers are better then you would think. Abreu is a lifetime .300 hitter, .405 OBP, with runners on .323, with RISP .316, with RISP 2 out .303, with bases loaded 2 outs .356, and .444 with bases loaded. In addition to all those numbers Abreu wants to be a Met, if 2/16 would get it done I would sign him in a minute.....

"The Mets are definitely a club . . . that's very high on Bobby's list," Abreu's agent, Peter Greenberg, said yesterday. "Bobby wants to win."

Greenberg said the reason Abreu's still unsigned is "we haven't received what we deemed was an acceptable offer." source NY Post

Another invited LOOGY

According to Mets.com official non-roster invitee list the Mets have signed Heriberto Ruelas to a minor league deal and invited him to spring training. Ruelas is a 26 y/o left handed relief pitcher who is strictly a LOOGY. He has spent his entire career in the Mexican leagues with some international exposure in the Olympics, WBC and exhibition games against the Rockies. Ruelas' made his debut in 2000 and hasn't been very good, last year with Mexico City his ERA was 5.91 in 44 games ( 38 innings) a record of 2-1. But he's having a great winter which it appears landed him on Mexico's WBC roster and an invite from the Mets. This winter in 38 appearances he has a record of 1-1 with an ERA of 1.80.

Ruelas debuted in the 2000 Arizona League with AZL Mexico, going 0-3 with a 8.08 ERA. He allowed 33 hits and struck out 24 in 22 1/3 IP. He made his Mexican League debut in 2002 with the Cafeteros de Córdoba, going 3-5 with a 7.73 ERA. In 2003, Ruelas was 3-2 with a 5.16 ERA for the Mexico City Red Devils. Rueles went 0-1 with a 5.06 ERA in the 2003 Baseball World Cup. He allowed 21 hits and 13 walks in 14 2/3 IP for the 2004 Red Devils, posting a 11.05 ERA. In 2005, Heriberto was 0-2 with a 11.25 ERA as a LOOGY for Mexico City. He allowed 26 hits in 16 innings spread out over 38 games. In 2006, Ruelas was 3-0 with a 4.23 ERA for the Monterrey Sultans, working a total of 27 2/3 IP in 38 games. In the winter of '06, the left-hander was 1-0 with a 7.84 ERA for the Cañeros de Los Mochis and totaled just 10 1/3 IP in 25 contests. Ruelas pitched 36 games and 27 innings for Mexico City in 2007, going 2-2 with a save and a 6.33 ERA. He gave up a .330 batting average. In 2008, Heriberto pitched 44 games (35 innings) for Mexico City and was 2-1 with a 5.91 ERA. source BR.com

Have the Mets ended their search for a LOOGY

Shortly after the Mets traded Scott Schoeneweis, Omar was asked what his direction would be in regard to a second lefty handed reliever. At the time he stated he was comfortable going with one lefty because he trusted his righties to get left handed hitters out. When pressed Omar said he might look to bring a guy in on an invite and see if he could earn a spot like Darren Oliver in 2006. Of course that's when every serviceable lefty was asking for at least three years. Now those lefties will be lucky to get a second year option let alone anything guaranteed past a year.

Still on the market are 11 left handed relievers and five of them are considered top LOOGYs ( bold). The first group are older players who are a injury risks Ron Villone (39), Brian Shouse(40), Ricardo Rincon (38), Kent Mercker (40), Eddie Guardado (38). Most of the next group are classic late blooming lefties who are over 30 y/o but early in their careers weren't very successful and could end up being Shoeneweis type busts Denny Reyes, Will Ohman, John Parrish, Randy Flores and Joe Beimel. The only player of the goup under 30 y/o is Tyler Johnson who posted an ERA 5.26.

Of that group I'd like to see the Mets sign Guardado, not only would he be cheaper but there are several other factors to consider. Guardado is nicknamed "Steady Eddie" because of his durability and he also has closed so if brought in with Utley, Ibanez and Howard coming up he won't be spooked. Guardado is also very good friends with Putz, with the former closer being demoted it'd be a good thing to have someone close to him in the pen.

But the Mets might be done signing lefties unless they come very cheap. Over the last two weeks the Mets have signed four lefties to minor league deals with invites to spring training, all four pitchers have major league experience. Instead of locking themselves into a roster spot and spending more money on another situational reliever the Mets may decide that their best bet is to have an open competition. Our second lefty could come from Casey Fossum, Tom Martin, Jon Switzer and Valerio De Los Santos.

Maine signs- avoids arby...

The two sides weren't far off to begin with, so this seemed inevitable. Maine struggled last year before being completely shut down due to a bone spur, going 10- 8 with a 4.18 ERA in 25 starts. Overall he has a lifetime record of 33-27 with a 4.18 ERA. If he could only learn another out pitch he could avoid all the foul balls which would reduce his pitch count and allow him to go deeper into games. Maine is reporting that he's throwing pain free and will be ready for spring training. The only arbitration eligible player not signed at this point is Pedro Feliciano...

The New York Mets have reached agreement with John Maine on a $2.6 million contract, avoiding arbitration, the Post has learned. Maine also can earn $25,000 by pitching 200 innings. source NY Post

Ollie this weekend ?

Monday Mack reported that he has a source who was telling him the Mets would sign Ollie by Sunday. There have been similar reports and some have indicated that the Mets have given a deadline on their latest offer. The Mets and Boras really don't have a choice at this point, Wolf and the Dodgers have increased their talks while the Rangers are the only ones not scared off by Ben Sheets medical reports. Mack has an up-date on the Ollie talks.....

Sources continue to tell me that the Mets will finalyze their deal with Scott Boras regarding Oliver Perez by the end of this weekend.Both parties are in the same ballpark and details still have to be worked out that don't include amount of years, monies, etc. These contracts tend to be lengthy and include all sorts of bonus encentives, housing musts, travel restrictions, etc. source Mack's Mets

Armas and two other pitchers signed

In addition to Bobby Kielty the Mets have signed three pitchers to minor league deals with invites to spring training.

Tony Armas Jr. returns and will more then likely be a reserve in Buffalo. Last year Armas was an invite with the promise to be released if he didn't make the team, I don't think he has the same expectations this year. Armas ended up accepting assignement and then was injured for a portion of the season. He appeared in three games ( one start) as a Met in which he had a record of 1-0 with an ERA of 7.56.

The Mets also signed RHP Matt DeSalvo and LHP Valerio De Los Santos, both have had major league experience.

DeSalvo, 28, had a 31.50 ERA in two relief appearances for Braves last season, allowing seven runs and 11 hits in two innings.

De los Santos, 36 and left-handed, made two starts with the Rockies last season. He produced a 0-1 record and a 5.63 ERA. source MLB.com

Mets sign Bobby Kielty

Mets signed 32 y/o switch hitting OF and 1B Bobby Kielty to a minor league contract with an invite to spring training. Kielty has been a weak hitting defensive specialist, although in 2006 he hit .270 in 80 games. He has always hit lefties well, batting .296 with a .379 OBP and is a much better right handed hitter then left. Kielty has been known as a great club house figure and went to the playoffs with the Twins, A's and Red Sox. In 2007 he only had one at bat in the World Series with Boston in which he hit a pinch hit home run. The last two seasons he has battled hand injuries and never made it to the majors in 2008, spending the entire year with Boston's AAA team....

Kielty last played in the majors in 2007, for the Red Sox, when he hit a pinch-hit homer in Game 4 of the World Series in Colorado. He batted almost 100 points better from the right side that year (.260 to .162). Over seven major league seasons Kielty has batted .296 with a .379 on-base percentage and a .503 slugging percentage from the right side compared to .228/.329/.348 from the left. source NY Times

Pedro too...

There's now a report that after the Mets obtain a front line starter ( Ollie/Wolf/Sheets) Omar may re-sign Pedro. To be honest, I know he said this before but after signing Freddy Garcia I figured Pedro's career as a Met was essentially over. Where would Pedro fit, Redding is on a major league contract and I'm sure Garcia was promised a spot if he's healthy. The only way I see it working is if Garcia isn't ready to start the season in the majors and they want to see what Pedro has left, if every ones effective that will be a good problem to have in say May. Otherwise maybe they will have an open competition for the fifth spot with someone going home unhappy in the end, Omar generally doesn't work that way but he also did say that he wanted 7-8 starters this year......

However, a person familiar with the Mets' activities confirmed Minaya met with Martinez in the pitcher's homeland on Wednesday. He said no offer had been made to the 37-year-old pitcher, whose four-year, $53 million contract with the Mets expired after last season. source MLB.com

Sheets Up-date

Two weeks ago Ben Sheets was a hot commodity in the Mets pursuit for a starting pitcher, now he appears to have slipped behind Randy Wolf on the depth chart. In Sept. Sheets was shut down with a tear in the muscle near his pitching elbow in which rehab was opted for over surgery. There's no doubting that Sheets is a tremendous pitcher but he is also a huge injury risk and is looking for a guaranteed contract. It doesn't appear that Sheets up-dated medical records have made anyone jump to offer him the contract he would like. At this point the Rangers appear to be his best option but even they are moving very slow.....

Proof of Melvin's open-door policy came just after the new year, when he reached out to Close. The call was prompted by two Boston Red Sox signings. First they signed Brad Penny to a one-year deal that pays a $5 million base salary with incentives that could add another $3 million. Then they finalized a one-year contract with John Smoltz that guarantees $5.5 million and could pay as much as $10 million with incentives.

Melvin wanted to know whether Sheets and Close were open to a similar offer, and it appears they were not. According to Melvin, the men have not spoken since. Close has not responded to multiple inquiries from MLB.com this winter. source MLB.com

Fox Sports Dayn Perry believes that despite the injury risk and his contract request the Mets make the best fit for Sheets. I guess the Mets could platoon Garcia and Sheets for a spot in the rotation, as one goes down the other could fill in. Except for the possibility of Pedro ( which will be out of loyalty) I don't believe the Mets will bring in any other pitchers after Ollie or Wolf.

The Mets are focused on bringing back Oliver Perez, but even if they do Sheets would remain a great fit. The recent signings of Freddy Garcia and Tim Redding? Half-measures at best. The addition of Sheets (and Perez) would allow the Mets to slide Mike Pelfrey down to the fifth spot and perhaps use the lefty Jon Niese out of the bullpen. More to the point, the NL East figures to be another close race between the Mets and Phillies, and adding Sheets and Perez would be enough to make New York the favorite. It's the Mets who provide Sheets with the best union of need, payroll flexibility, and contender status. source Fox sports

Garland signs implications- Wolf, Ollie

The D-Backs signed Jon Garland to a one year deal worth 7.25 MM for the year. It still appears that Wolf will end up with the Dodgers and Ollie to the Mets. But Wolf appears to be a solid back-up plan for the Mets if they get tired of playing Boras' waiting game. After Andy Pettitte signed for 5.5 MM guarenteed the Dodgers seem to be looking to get Wolf on the cheap and he appears willing to see how the Mets situation pans out. It seems like Sheets is becoming less and less of an option and I have to believe that his medical records are a concern.

Mets executives are speaking multiple times per day with Perez's agent, Scott Boras, major-league sources said, though they continue to maintain contact with the representatives for Wolf and free-agent righty Ben Sheets.

The Mets, one source said, could sign Wolf quickly if they made him a pre-emptive offer. The team, however, first wants to exhaust all of its possibilities with Perez, whose other suitors remain unclear. source Ken Rosenthal

More good news on Ollie....

For those who want the Mets to sign Oliver Perez all indications are that he will eventually be a Met when Boras decides to stop looking for one more mystery team that just doesn't seem to be there, especially for a four year deal. While Mr. Inconsistency drives me nuts at this point I've surrendered myself to the idea and just want to see it get done. I would have preferred a guy who probably couldn't do what Ollie did in July but would provide 33 consistent starts a season. Perez is the best of whats left and being a lefty at 27 y/o it's understandable why they've targeted him. The Mets are returning the same starting four but should be better; Johan won't have his first half adjustment struggles, Maine wont have the bone spur hurting him, Pelfrey will have a year of confidence under his belt and Ollie will have the confidence of earning a big contract. The fifth spot with Freddy Garcia and Tim Redding as the sixth starter is an up grade over a struggling Pedro and Claudio Vargas.

Tonight the Brewers GM clarified his position on Ollie and Andrew Marchand of 1050 ESPN radio had a report on the Ollie market...

With so many folks showing interest in the rumors that the Brewers might be interested in signing free agent lefty Oliver Perez, I checked with general manager Doug Melvin.This was his short but to the point reply to whether he was in on Perez: "Absolutely not." source JSOnline

Unfortunately for Manny-Met fans, another GM told us today that he thinks there is no competition for Perez, meaning he'll be back with the Mets. source ESPN 1050

Pressures on the Mets over Manny.....

I don't think the Mets expected this kind of response from the fan base over Manny Ramirez. At this point if they don't explore the idea the backlash maybe bigger then being outbid for his services. Jerry Manuel joined David Wright in endorsing the idea of bringing Ramirez to flushing.

"I'd be on board with Manny 100 percent, assuming that he comes in and puts the team first and wants to be a part of this thing and wants to win," Wright said yesterday during an appearance at the Schneider Children's Hospital in New Hyde Park. source Newsday

"probably one of the best right-handed hitters in our generation."
"To have a shot at managing [him] would be exciting for me," Manuel said. "I'd love to have the opportunity to watch Manny hit every day." Manuel said he'd be unconcerned about Ramirez in the clubhouse. "I don't have a problem with people that produce in the form and fashion that Manny Ramirez produces," Manuel said. "We don't spend, shouldn't spend that much time in the locker room, anyway." source New York Post

So while the Mets are deciding whether Jeff Wilpon has been asked whether he would spend the money on Manny or if Omar is truly a fan of the hall of famer hitter, Boras says the market for Manny has finally started to heat up (MLB.com).....

“I know the perception out there again is that ownership said no,” Wilpon said today in an interview at Citi Field. “I don’t have the opportunity to say no because Omar hasn’t brought it to me as an option. Omar and the baseball staff aren’t interested.” source Bloomberg.com

While the Mets seem to be pointing fingers at who has decided to pass on Manny, the pressure has become suffocating. I have to believe they had no idea how big an out cry there would be for Manny. This makes the Piazza pressure seem like a businessman's special day game in April compared to a game seven playoff game. Passing on Vlad will seem like letting a backup catcher go compared to Manny. This could be a public relations nightmare if they don't at least look into him. The majority of the fan base, the same group that buys tickets and merchandise is screaming for this guy, while they are being supported by every expert in radio, TV and Internet. It seems like such a perfect fit that it's hard to understand why they won't even look into the idea. NY sports radio could be called Manny radio, because any conversation about the Mets eventually turns to Manny and several of the hosts who aren't even Mets fans are openly campaigning for the guy. And that doesn't include the players and staff who are endorsing him....

Mets front runners and moving closer- Ollie

Well was that Boras' last attempt to see if he could squeeze anything extra out of the Mets, when Jon Heyman said there were rumblings about the Brewers and Rangers being interested. Those rumblings have been rapidly dispelled and while Heyman isn't completely backing down from that rumor he is saying that the Mets are the front runners....

The Mets continue to negotiate with Oliver Perez in hopes of signing him to a long-term deal, and while people familiar with the situation suggest talks slowed in the last day or two, the Mets still are widely viewed as the favorite to sign the 27-year-old lefthander. source SI.com

And now that the Brewers have been ruled out and the Rangers are waiting for the Mets to sign Ollie so they don't have competition for Sheets, Newsday is reporting that those slow talks are moving again. Rumor ( strictly rumor) is that the Mets have added a fourth year, despite any serious competition it appears the Mets are looking to just get this done....

With less than three weeks to go before spring training, a baseball source said Tuesday that the Mets are "a little bit closer" to re-signing lefthander Oliver Perez, but also are continuing talks with three other remaining free-agent pitchers. source Newsday

Debunking the Ollie rumors....

You know your big time when a major newpaper writer from hundreds of miles away hears your rumors and weighs in on them (nice job Matt). Matt Cerrone of Metsblog posted this morning that Jon Heyman of SI.com was on MLB Network's Hot Stove show last night and stated that he's heard rumblings that the Brewers and Rangers are in on Ollie Perez....

Somehow Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel ( I'm assuming he's the beat writer for the Brewers) heard or saw Matt's post and at his Brewers Blog had the following to say about the rumor....

Don't count on it.When I ran Perez's name by Brewers general manager Doug Melvin recently, he showed virtually no interest for two reasons:

1. Melvin doesn't think he's worth the money he is seeking (Perez led the NL in walks last year and can be very erratic).

2. Melvin doesn't want to forfeit the first-round draft pick to sign a Class A free
agent.

So, I think this is mostly a smokescreen provided by Perez's agent, Scott Boras. The Brewers, of course, have "interest" in any pitcher that might help them. But there are varying degrees of interest, from "very slight" to "highly interested."
I fully expect Perez to re-sign with the Mets at some point. Boras is probably trying to create a market that isn't there for his client, which is an agent's job. source JSOnline

Despite the tear in his throwing elbow which occured in Sept. '08' and has not been surgically repaired but instead rehabbed the Rangers appeared to be focused on Ben Sheets. While today's rumors weren't specifically address the Star Telegram has an article in which the Rangers are hoping the Mets sign Ollie so there out on Sheets....

The other New York team, the Mets, and the Texas Rangers are believed to be the two front-runners to add Sheets. The Mets, though, could soon be out of play if they decide to re-sign free-agent lefty Oliver Perez.

"Any time somebody signs another starting pitcher, it lessens the competition," Rangers president Nolan Ryan said. "Andy and Ben are at two different places in their careers. Andy signing certainly doesn’t hurt anything." source Star-Telegram

Hat tip to the guys at NYFS

A little on Snyder....

The other pitcher the Mets signed is 31 y/o right handed relief pitcher Kyle Snyder. The former first round pick of the Royals career was derailed by injuries. In 2001 he had TJ surgery costing him 1 1/2 seasons and then in 2004 he missed the entire season recovering from surgery on a torn labrum in his shoulder. From 2003-2005 there were two other stints on the DL. In 1999 he was ranked the top prospect in the Northeast by Baseball America and then in 2003 he was listed by BA as the Royals #7 prospect ( source Wikipedia). Between 2003-2005 for the Royals Snyder appeared in 29 games, 16 starts with a record of 2-9 during which time his best ERA was 5.19.

In 2006 he was claimed by the Red Sox and in his first year he made 16 appearances, 10 starts with a record of 4-5 and a 6.02 ERA. His best season came in 2007 when he moved to the pen full time. Kyle appeared in 46 games ( 54 innings) with an ERA of 3.81 and a record of 2-3. The next year was spent in AAA where he struggled with an ERA of 5.26 and a record of 1-4, he did receive a late season call up but only pitched 1.2 innings in which he allowed four runs ( ERA 21.60). If relievers run hot and cold then this year he should be on again.....

Snyder, 31, was a significant bullpen part for the 2007 World Series champion Red Sox, though he did not make the postseason roster. Once a starter for the Royals, Snyder spent the past two seasons with the Red Sox primarily in the bullpen -- and, last year, primarily in the Minor Leagues. source MLB.com

Look at Switzer's Durham numbers....

The Mets signed Jon Switzer to a minor league deal and invited him to spring training. At first look the best part of Switzer is that he's left handed. The 29 y/o lefty has only appeared in 68 major league games, all as a reliever with an ERA of 6.11 over four years with the Rays ( 2003, 2005-2007 ). After spending his entire career in the Rays system, last year he signed with the Red Sox's where he spent the entire year in AAA Pawtucket and posted a 4.40 ERA in 52 appearances without getting a call up.

Before that Switzer put together two impressive seasons with the Durham Bulls, the Rays AAA affiliate. In 2006 he posted an ERA of 0.87 with a WHIP of 1.13 in 28 appearances and only allowed one home run while striking out 29 and walking 13. The next year (2007) in 23 appearances, his ERA was 0.82 with a WHIP of 1.03, no home runs and striking out 23 while walking 8.

Could Switzer be one of those classic late blooming lefties who finally put it all together in the majors.....

Yet such statistics aren't always telling. One of Switzer's teammates in that Rays bullpen, Brian Stokes, posted a 7.07 ERA in 2007, before becoming a productive reliever for the Mets last season. source MLB.com

Ollie by Saturday ?

Mack is back !!!!

For those of us who enjoyed Macks Mets he is back with a new Macks Mets website. If your not familiar with Mack, he brings years of experience as a beat writer especially with the minor leaguers, inside scoop and a unique perspective to his sites. Once you get hooked it's truly is a must read. Today one of Mack's sources has the following to say about the Ollie situation....

sources tell me the deal will be done by Saturday night, Sunday the lastest.

4 years + a 5th year team option

no amount of monies have been disclosed as of yet

if this is done... and I assume my info is accurate... OP will be slotted into the SP2 slot. Slotting is a big thing in negotiating. Many people think it is only money and amount of years, but players want their suites, and red jelly beans, as well as an earlier slotting. source Macks Mets

Thank you, Andy Pettitte and Randy Wolf

While it's now believed that Omar Minaya is going to wait Scott Boras out (source Daily News), which scares me because this seems strikingly similar to the Derek Lowe situation. Remember we were the only bidder and could sit back, to wait for them to come to us, only to have a team swoop in to steal him. Both the Red Sox and Braves have given Scott Boras deadlines and as a resulted finally signed the player ( Lowe & Varitek), while Omar claims to have a very good relationship with Boras I have to wonder if he knows how to handle him. But without the Mets doing anything two very good things have happen in the last few days.....

If there is one team that could afford to pay a fifth starter 16MM a year it's the Yankees and while they have plenty of prospects who should be given a shot at the back of the rotation, it always seemed that last year's third place had pushed them to sign players to fill every hole. The Mets need not worry about the Yankees getting in on Ollie Perez because if the reports are accurate they are on the verge of re-signing Andy Pettitte ( source Jon Heyman/ SI.com ) Have the Yankees definitely out of the picture is huge as they are the one team who can always swoop in at the last minute and steal a player ( just ask the Red Sox). In the last 24 hrs I've grown worried about Ben Sheets' are health but the Pettitte signing also takes them out of the Sheets market as well.

I understand what Randy Wolf is attempting to do, talks with the Dodgers have slowed and the team is talking to guys like Jon Garland and Brandon Looper. So Wolf is countering with the statement that he has spoke to the Mets and if they pass on Ollie they will look to him. In his comments Wolf almost sounds as if he's waiting for Ollie to sign before he makes a decision. Of course, Wolf's comments were directed at the Dodgers however it does let Boras know that not only are we talking to other pitchers but they are willing to come here......

The Mets?
"They've been honest with everyone," Wolf said. "Their priority, pretty obviously, is Oliver Perez. I understand. It's their guy. They know him better than anyone. They see the potential that could be there with him." source Fox Sports

Feliciano helps Ponce grab title...

Pedro Feliciano was one of three pitchers who combined to three hit Arecibo, as Ponce won the Puerto Rican winter league Championship by the score of 8-0. Ponce will now advance to the overall winter league playoffs. Feliciano has a 0.00 ERA in the playoffs in which he appeared in 1.1 innings of work, striking out two while not allowing any hits or walks. During Ponce's regular season he appeared in seven games with no record and an ERA of 1.69; one run, four hits, 2 walks and 5 strike outs. Overall hitters batted .200 against him, he pitched 1.2 innings against lefties in which they hit .167 and 3.2 innings against righties they hit .214. The one run he allowed was a solo HR to a lefty ( ERA 5.40) but otherwise he completely controlled them, no other hits or walks while striking out two. He continues to struggle against righties, while he did not allow a right handed batter to score or drive in a run ( ERA 0.00), he did give up three hits and two walks while striking out three......

More on the game I wouldn't be surprised if LHP Hector Mercado gets another shot at the majors ( played for the Phillies and Reds) on an invite with a team based on his winter ball performance. It looks like Feliciano's platoon partner all winter Fernado Cabrera signed with the Red Sox. The offense was driven by none other then Pudge Rodriguez after hitting .355 in the regular season he's at .289 in the post season. Pudge batted fourth and went 3-5 with a double and a run scored.......

Mercado, who pitched for the Reds and Phillies from 2000-03, yielded three hits and a walk while striking out four over 6 2/3 innings for his first postseason win. Mets left-hander Pedro Feliciano and Red Sox right-hander Fernando Cabrera combined to get the last seven outs. source MiLB

Sheets X-rays a concern

The Texas Rangers appear to be the front runner for Ben Sheets, he now lives in Texas and his childhood hero is Ranger president Nolan Ryan. It's believed The Rangers are willing to pay his asking price of 20MM for 2 yrs and the local paper thought that a deal could be done by Monday, but things have slowed over the weekend due to red flags raised by Sheet's X-rays. The Star-Telegram is reporting that the Rangers have enough concerns over Sheet's x-rays that they're slowing things down as they wait for further medical records and their own medical staff reviews them. Apparently an MRI in September revealed a slight tear in the muscle near the elbow, Sheets did not have surgery and was recently seen by Dr. Andrews the renowned TJ surgeon. The Rangers are waiting to review the records of that visit before they decide to go any further with Sheets.....

But Sheets’ last effective start of the 2008 season came on Sept. 6. In his final three starts, he worked 10-plus innings, giving up 15 hits and 10 runs. An MRI in late September revealed a tear in a muscle near his right elbow. The Brewers elected not to include him on their playoff roster.

For Sheets, the timing couldn’t have been worse.

Fresh in the Rangers’ minds is right-hander Jason Jennings. He missed much of the 2007 season with a torn flexor tendon, the same thing Sheets has. The Rangers signed Jenningsto a one-year, $4 million free-agent contract in January 2008, and he made six starts before being shut down again. In May, he underwent a second surgery on the elbow tendon.

Sheets has not had surgery.

As a club source explained it, "We’re trying to get as much information as we can so that we’re confident that he’s got a decent chance to be healthy." source Star Telegram

Did the Mets give Ollie a deadline....

It was reported on Friday that the Mets have sweetened their offer to Ollie, either the amount per year has increased or the Mets have relented and offered a fourth year. I've been saying that it's extremely important for the Mets to secure Ollie before the other pitchers go off the market. Otherwise the Mets will either have to overpay or pass and have a significantly compromised rotation. Steve Popper of North Jersey.com is reporting that his sources have indicated that with the Mets latest offer some sort of deadline may have been given. The Braves were successful in landing Derek Lowe when they gave a hard deadline to accept their contract offer, we'll have to see if it works for us, so far this weekend there has been no news at all......

According to a person familiar with the negotiations, the Mets have laid down a new set of parameters for a deal with their own free agent, Oliver Perez.

And while the numbers have improved slightly over where the talks began, the Mets also have let Perez know that the clock is ticking.

"Basically, it was that we’ll either get something done or we’ll move on," one Mets’ official said. source North Jersey.com

Buffalo isn't New Orleans.....

The Mets held the second longest affiliation with a AAA club, from 1969 until 2006 the Norfolk Tide was home to the Mets Triple Aers. During that time the Tide went to nine Championship games and won five of them. But the Tide hadn't been to the Governor's Cup since 1995 and hadn't won since 1985. The Tide's chief complaint to the Mets was that they were using AAA as a haven for over the hill, former major leaguers which didn't allow them to put a competitive product on the field or showcase the farms top prospects. Norfolk wanted either competitive players or the top prospects to come through them instead of skipping straight to the majors from AA. In 2006 Norfolk decided to change affiliations to the Orioles who are a much closer team and will allow them to draw more fans due to regional interest....

The Mets had to settle on New Orleans who was the only AAA team left and it sort of showed in the roster, that this wasn't going to be a long term relationship. The roster was composed of journeymen minor leaguers, rehabbing players and minor league guys who never had the label prospect.

This year the Mets are starting new with the Buffalo Bisons, it appears that both sides are intent on having a long term relationship. The Mets appear to to building the team a solid roster and the Bison's have gone as far as to change their logo to resemble the Mets. Buffalo is reported to have facilities that would rival what some small market major league clubs have. They are also a very competitive market that wants to put a winning team on the field.

So maybe some of these most recent moves that seem a bit questionable are to stock Buffalo and have players who are more then AAAA' s in the case of an injury. Buffalo will have FMart, A. Reyes and Nick Evans who will be joined by at least three players who could be on a major league teams. Between Cory Sullivan, Angel Pagan, Jeremy Reed, Andy Green and Rob Mackowiak, these are all players under 35 y/o who could still contribute on a major league level. This isn't the days of the late 30's player who hadn't been good since his 20's and is now hitting .215 in AAA.

Mets up the ante on Ollie

Jon Heyman is reporting that the Mets have improved their offer to Oliver Perez. The original offer was believed to be three years, worth 30MM but Metsblog reported early today that the Mets may now be willing to go four years. As I stated in the last post I believe the Mets are attempting to either secure Ollie or find that Boras' demands are ridiculous before Sheets, Garland and Wolf come off the board. The Braves gave Lowe a dead-line on a very good offer which is what made the deal move so quickly, I wouldn't be surprised if the Mets haven't done the same, which is why Heyman believes they hope to hear something in the next few days.

The Mets have placed an offer on the table for free-agent lefthander Oliver Perez, SI.com has learned, and are hopeful to have an answer in coming days regarding their prime pitching target.The Mets are believed to have improved their original thought, which was for about $30 million over three years. But it isn't certain what their latest offer is. source SI.com

Leverage waining

It's a double edged sword, it's true that each team that signs a pitcher is out of the running for Ollie ( that's assuming Ollie is their target) but it also leaves Omar less leverage in negotiating with Boras for Ollie's services. It seems like players and teams are in that dance which usually occurs in December, where they start to line up with each other and signings become inevitable (barring a sudden surprise).

The Dodgers appear to be the front runners for Randy Wolf with a fall back of Jon Garland and Braden Looper. (source MLBTR)

Despite our recent interest, I've said all off-season Ben Sheets will end up working in his home state and for his childhood hero Nolan Ryan. Especially after meeting (source Fox Sports) with the team and now that Sheets medical records look good, while I still hope the Mets get him, it appears he'll be a Ranger.

It looks like the D-backs are still focused on Jon Garland despite him turning down their one year 4MM deal. Even if they lose out on Garland to the Dodgers, they'll probably turn around and sign who the Dodgers pass on...

I think it's more beneficial to Boras with each player who signs, sure it rules teams out but there are always teams out there, the Brewers or White Sox's could jump back in. But for the Mets can they really say to Boras that they're going with Mark Mulder or Braden Looper. In the end I think both sides need each other but I also think Ollie gets a better deal with each top tier guy that signs....

Mets sign Mackowiak....

This is something Omar didn't do last off-season was stock pile players. The NY Post is reporting that the Mets have signed Rob Mackowiak to a minor league deal with incentives based on plate appearances if he makes the team or gets called up. I'm not really sure what the Mets will do with another lefty even with him in reserve at Buffalo but of the group Mackowiak has played the most positions and until the last season and a half was a solid hitter ( the offensive decline could have been the result of a hernia).

Mackowiak is a 32 y/o lefty hitting utility player, his primary position is the outfield but has spent significant time in the majors at 3B, 2B and 1B. He was a solid hitter to start his career with the Pirates and White Sox where his BA was around .270. But in 2007 he was hitting .278 for Chicago when he was traded to the Padres where he struggled with his home games at Petco park and only hit .196 in 28 games. At the end of the season he underwent double hernia surgery and it doesn't appear that he fully recovered by the start of last season. In 2008 he hit a mere .132 in 38 games before being released and spending the rest of the year on the Reds AAA team.

If Mackowiak makes the team he will have a base salary of $600,000 and he has a chance to earn an additional $200,000 in bonuses depending on plate appearances between 250 and 500. source NY Post

More on the Garcia signing....

I like the Freddy Garcia signing, Garcia is a veteran starter with a history of winning. Even if you think he's washed up, signing him to a minor league deal is a no risk/ high reward situation.

In 2007 Garcia struggled through 11 starts with the Phillies before admitting to a shoulder injury. Garcia went 1-5 with a 5.90 ERA but much of that can be contributed to the injury which he attempted to pitch through. He returned in 2008 for three games in which he went 1-1 with a 4.20 ERA. This was the first injury of his major league career, there weren't any major set backs and he pitched decent in his return.

You can hardly call him a pitcher on the decline, if he doesn't recover fully from the injury then you can say that but the season before the injury he was a 17 game winner. In fact from 1999 - 2006 in all but one season he was a double digit winner and pitched in 200 innings. In his second year he only started 20 games in which he went 9-5 in 124 innings. His ERA has never been great but it should lower in his first full year in the NL and at the back of the rotation all were looking for is innings eating....

If there's a good environment for Garcia to rebound it would be the Mets, he's very close to Johan and Omar has always been a big fan...

Mets Sign Garcia to a Minor League Deal

As seen on NY Mets Global

Adam Rubin of the Daily News is reporting on his blog that the Mets have come to an agreement on a minor league deal with starting pitcher Freddy Garcia. The deal could be worth as much as $8 or $9 million if he makes the team and reaches certain incentive points.

The signing of Garcia to a minor league deal adds some potential depth to the Mets starting corps, but since it’s a minor league deal he is not guaranteed a spot on the roster, and may just as easily be cut or start the year in the minors. Solid signing by Omar to bring in a veteran with some high upside.

Mets make Cora official

Mets made it official today announcing the Alex Cora signing. Cora is an upgrade for the bench who can fill in at any infield position and take over full-time at 2B if needed. Cora is a 33 y/o left handed hitter with a lifetime BA of .245, who is know as a good clubhouse presence and was a intricate part of the Red Sox's 2007 World Championship team....

"You win championships with a 25-man roster," said Mets General Manager Omar Minaya. "Alex Cora has been an integral part of teams that have been to the postseason in four of the last five years." source MLB.com

Odds-N-ends; Garcia, Reyes and Pudge....

Not only is it believed that Freddy Garcia has reduced his search for a new team to the two NY teams but Adam Rubin believes a decision could come within 24 hrs.

Despite all the backlash I stand by the idea of bringing in Pudge Rodriguez and at this point he may only cost a minor league deal. The only team recently linked to Pudge was the Florida Marlins and David Samson the President of the Marlins told the Palm Beach Post that they don't have the payroll for Pudge.

If your a left handed batter you might as well not go to the plate against Dennys Reyes but he can't get righties out. At the start of the off-season he was looking for a 2-3 year deal similar to Jeremy Affeldt. That's a big deal for a specialist even in good economic years and would immediately rule the Mets out. Ken Rosenthal initially reported that Reyes had backed off that demand, however; an edited version of the post reports that he's still looking for a deal similar to Affeldt.

I assumed that Casey Fossum would be the second lefty but maybe there going to stow him in AAA as an extra starter. There are still a lot of established lefties on the market and if they can grab one at approx. 2 MM on a one year deal I'm sure they'll do it. Aside from Reyes, still available are; Joe Beimel, Will Ohman and Brian Shouse ...

Finally Ken Rosenthal is reporting that he can't believe the best offer for Ollie is the Mets reported 3/30. While he's waiting for a market to develop for a 27 y/o left hander with Ace potential, one simply hasn't emerged. It took about two weeks for Boras to get the Braves involved so I'm sure eventually someone will come out of the wood work and it will be up to the Mets to decide whether to make a stand or not....

A Crowded Outfield with Plenty of Options

As seen on NY Mets Global

There has been a lot of talk in the blogosphere and in the press about the reasoning behind the Mets addition of outfielder Corey Sullivan. Sullivan who appears to further crowd that Mets outfield in a group that already contains Carlos Beltran, Ryan Church, Fernando Tatis, Daniel Murphy, Angel Pagan, Nick Evans, Marlon Anderson, and newly acquired Jeremy Reed it leaves 9 players to fill 6 spots. Not to mention the possibility of Damion Easley possibly coming to spring training.

Now realistically Marlon Anderson is a pinch hitter that will see sometime at first base, and used very, very sparingly in the outfield. Carlos Beltran and Ryan Church are the obvious locks and when healthy are on the roster. Fernando Tatis baring an injury will make the team mostly because he hits right handed, in addition to the fact that he did a pretty good job in left last year.

So that leaves 2 spots for 4 guys. All 4, Evans, Sullivan, Reed, and Murphy have options so they can start the year in the minors and it won’t pose a problem. Evans produced the least last year for the Mets, and was awkward at best in the outfield, so he will be at Buffalo or Binghamton to start the year.

Now a lot has been made that Sullivan was signed to be traded, but there has been not talk what so ever about him actually being moved. Now in all truth these two guys are extremely similar players. They hit from the left side, play a decent center field, and will hit about .270 with no pop. The only defining difference is that Reed is two years younger. So, pretty much who ever performs better during the spring will make the team as the back up centerfielder. Don’t expect either of these guys to be as exciting as Endy Chavez, but as far as a back up goes they can play the field, just pray that Beltran won’t have any hamstring issues this year.

The last spot is Murphy’s to lose. As a late call up last year he proved that he can handle the bat, while showing a plate discipline for someone with 10 years experience. He’s a natural infielder so he gives you the most flexibility, whether that be giving Wright a day off at third, filling in for the inept Luis Castillo, or giving 38 year old Alex Cora a day off. Most likely he will be in the same roll as last year, a platoon with Tatis in left. Numerous teams reached out to Minaya about Murphy, and there is a reason he is still on the team.

Gacia coming to NY ?

Ken Rosenthal is reporting that it's believed Freddy Garcia has reduced his employment search to the two NY teams. It's been speculated for two weeks now that Garcia was close to deciding and that only four teams were in the running. The White Sox have conflicting reports, some accounts say their out after signing Bartolo Colon while others still believe their in, the biggest attraction for them is familiarity. The Rangers have been very quiet and are said to be limited financially ( still should be able to afford the contract he'll demand) but unless he was injured Gacia would almost be assured a starting job. Just a week ago Rosenthal reported that the Yankees were showing very little interest but Garcia is looking to prove himself in the large market. He's hoping for a major league contract but appears willing to accept a minor league deal with a buy out if he doesn't make the team. The Mets have done those sort of deals in the past and this probably come down to personal preference. Hopefully the Mets have a few things that make them more appealing; He has several close friends on the Mets, would be in the National League and hopefully in a pitchers park. Anytime you have a chance to get a guy who logged eight years of 200 innings and double digit wins, at next to nothing I'm for it even if he's a reclamation project....

Garcia, 33, has "pretty much narrowed it down" to the New York teams, the source said, though two other clubs remain on the periphery. The White Sox also have had interest in Garcia, and the Rangers were in the early mix. source Fox Sports

Mets interested in Nady, reason for Sullivan ?

The Yankees have just signed Xavier Nady to a one year deal worth 6.55 MM to avoid arbitration. Nady now becomes a very reasonably priced and productive right handed corner outfielder. The Yankees have an over crowded outfield and with Nady in his last control year, they have motivation to move him over others. For the Mets he would be a perfect fit and their comfortable with him because of familiarity. Peter Abraham of the Lo Hud journal reports that the Mets are one of the teams interested....

Several teams, including the Mets, have an interest in Nady. Trading him would give the Yankees room to retain left-hander Andy Pettitte and further bolster their rotation. But it has been nearly four months since Pettitte predicted he would quickly agree to terms. He has since balked at a $10 million offer. source Lo Hud Journal

So maybe yesterday's unusual signing does have some sort of underlying meaning. Mets fans aren't the only ones who found the Cory Sullivan signing strange especially after trading for Jeremy Reed. I could see the Yankees asking for Dan Murphy ( doesn't mean the Mets would give him up), a young multi-positional left hander who is under control for another five years. Still the Mets seemed to have created a log jam of similar players in their outfield and need to find a right handed bat to balance things out.......

One GM found it curious that the Mets signed Cory Sullivan to be an outfield reserve after they already had acquired Jeremy Reed, calling them "the exact same player." Sullivan, 29, and Reed, 27, both are left-handed hitters, and both are out of minor-league options. Their adjusted career on-base/slugging percentages are nearly identical, and they've had almost the same number of career plate appearances. source Fox Sports

Omar sign Pudge !!.....

In one player you get a veteran leader, fiery clubhouse figure, right handed bat and a good game caller. Even if he's now a .270 hitter and .400 slugger, it's an up-grade over what we have. I know everybody points to his .219 hitting in the Bronx last year but that was 33 games and before that he was hitting almost .300 before leaving Detroit. For those of you against the idea, when Schneider's hitting .225 this season and Castro's on the DL while Pudge is becoming a Met killer in Florida rem. this post. Not only is Pudge determined to enter someones camp in great shape he's proving it by hitting .355 in winter ball.....

"I'm in great shape," he said. "Whoever gets me, it's going to be a lot like hitting the lotto. I'm back in the shape I was in 2004. I'm at 195-200 (pounds), and I'm ready to go. "I just want to let everyone know I'm ready to go." source CBS sports

In 2004, Pudge went .334/.383/.510 in 575 plate appearances; in 2008, he went .276/.319/.394 in 429. source MLBTR

Dodger's close on Wolf ?

Inside the Dodgers is reporting that they believe the Dodgers are focused on LHP Randy Wolf. Despite his numbers being strikingly similar to Oliver Perez's I'm not that concerned with Wolf signing. But what I'm concerned with is the starting market diminishing to the extent that the Mets no longer have any leverage and find themselves in a bad situation. Either the Mets sign a bad contract or they pass on a top starter and are stuck with another reclamation project. The way they've been approaching this off-season I could see them completely passing on the upper echelon starters, instead of signing a bad contract and end up with a Pedro/Redding bottom of the rotation....

This could be a sign he is zeroing in on the Dodgers, who are believed to have been zeroing in on him for a few days now. The lefty reportedly was offered a one-year deal with two option years, this according to the Arizona Republic. He also reportedly turned down a three-year, $28.5 million offer from Houston earlier. And while it's tough to imagine the Dodgers guaranteeing him three years, the thought of pitching in his hometown presumably would be appealing enough for Wolf to cut them some slack. I get the sense he'll be in the Dodgers' rotation this season, maybe in the fourth spot. source Inside the Dodgers

Sheets over Ollie should be a no-brainer....

It seems like these decisions should already be made somewhere, isn't there a war room with a grease board with a list of starters writen on it and what their willing to spend on each starter. According to Jon Heyman the Mets are once again split, just as there were before regarding Lowe and Ollie now their split between Sheets and Ollie. Supposedly the Mets are debating whether to go after Ollie who will cost a long term deal and Sheets who will only need a 2-3 year deal but is a huge injury risk. Apparently Sheets is providing extra medical records for those teams interested and the Mets are currently looking at those additional records over. Unless there's a report indicating that his arm is about to fall off, I would sign a two year 18 MM deal with a third year option that activated when certain milestones were reached in a heart beat. I only want Ollie back if he's the only pitcher left, of the upper level starters.....

Some Mets people are now wondering whether one or two years for Sheets might be a better gamble than four or five for Perez, whose resolve to get his asking price probably only strengthened when Lowe -- who's seven years older at 35 -- got $60 million over four years from the Braves after the Mets bid just $36 million for three years. source SI.com

Add Pagan to the list of signed....

It appears the Angel Pagan has also come to terms, Pagan is a super two meaning that he hasn't completed his third year of service but has played at least 142 days of the 172 days required to be considered a full service year. Of those eligible Pagan was in the top 17 % of service time so he was awarded arbitration. Pagan will still have options until he goes over the 172 day mark, so if he sees anytime in the majors he will also be out of options....

ESPN's Jerry Crasnick says Angel Pagan signed for $575K. source MLBTR

Church avoids Arby- three left....

Jon Heyman is reporting that Ryan Church has avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one year deal worth 2.8MM. Last year Church was awarded arbitration as a super two, so he's out of options but still under control and at a reasonable price for two more years after this season. The Mets now have four above average defensive outfielders ( Beltran, Church, Reed, Sullivan) but only Beltran and Church can be relied upon for offensive production. With it being the first year in a new stadium and right field looks to have several nuances it seems like a smart move to start the year with a defensive minded roster, now if they get the rotation in order we'll be set. What's the saying pitching and defense wins championships.....

The Mets still have Pedro Feliciano, John Maine and Angel Pagan still un-signed arbitration eligible.

Mets sign Sullivan - trade coming ?

It's been reported that the Mets have signed Cory Sullivan to a major league deal worth $600,000. On the surface it appears to be an odd signing, which makes me speculate that something else is in the works. Sullivan is a 29 y/o left handed outfielder with a lifetime .279 BA. I don't have anything against Sullivan but the last thing they need is another left handed fourth outfielder. He came cheap enough that if they cut him after spring training it's no big deal but why sign him to a major league deal, when the rumors first surfaced I expected him to be a back-up plan in Buffalo. The Mets now have a starting outfield of Beltran, Church and Murphy with Tatis, Anderson, Reed, Pagan and Sullivan all competing for the bench. The bench will have Castro and Cora with three more spots between the five players. Four of those players are left handed and only Pagan has options, so they either expect to cut someone, let Murphy start the year in AAA or a trade is in the works.....

Cory Sullivan, arguably one of the best defensive center fielders in Rockies’ history, has caught on with the Mets, signing a one-year, $600,000 major league deal with $300,000 in incentives. source Denver Post

"They're not close"- starting pitching market...

The theme for this year's starting pitching market for the Mets should be "they're not close" because no matter who the Mets are linked to eventually those words are uttered.

The first two players who came off the board nobody was close besides the Yankees and I don't blame them whats so ever. A.J. Burnett and C.C. Sabathia were going to be Yankees, no matter what....

But since then they seem to be struggling to find there way in the market, at one point they were considered the front runners for at least two starters and now there hoping to find one. It seems like they've fought over who to go after and miss-read the market. For a team who declared after the winter meetings that starting pitching was their main priority it's not a ringing endorsement that three weeks from pitchers and catchers they still haven't signed a major component for the rotation. Pitchers joining new teams are already on the phone with their new pitching coaches. For those saying it's the market, take a look at the list of starters there are more signed then available.

I still think the Mets completely mishandled the Lowe situation and losing him to the Braves takes away from the brilliant job that was done with the pen during the winter meetings. You call a guy all along your #1 target and then send him a weak offer without extending any hospitality. Which allowed your division rival come in to out bid you, just my opinion but that shouldn't happen even if you have to over pay. But all along while reports were leaking out that Mets officials were confident in signing Lowe, guys like Rosenthal, Starks, and Heyman said they're not close and that won't get it done.

The Mets have done the exact same thing with Ollie, so why should different results occur. They've put out an offer and are sitting back waiting, again the experts say they're not close and that won't get it done. Ollie's inconsistency makes him much less appealing to me, but if he is their target why shouldn't we expect another team to swoop in and steal him. By the way for those who say it's the market, ask the D'Backs who have basically put the same contract on the table for Garland, Pedro and Wolf if you can get a starter at a bargain price.......

Now I'm all for Ben Sheets but I find it odd that he wasn't even a consideration until last week and they're just now looking at his medical records. That, to me sounds like a team scrabbling and then it's reported again that the two sides are far apart. If the reports are true that Sheets is looking for two years at 8MM a year with a third year option; I'd say to that, sign him now and spend the money saved on Ollie on a back-up for when he's injuried.

It's true I'm extremely fustrated with the way the Mets are handling the starters market, my biggest concern is that they're broke and won't sign anybody of quality. My concerns can easily be put to rest by signing Ollie or Sheets or sign two from the rest of the available free agent class. But I'm really tired of hearing "They're not close".....

Mets bring in 3 more on minor league deals...

We heard yesterday that the Mets signed Casey Fossum and Jason Cooper to minor league deals but according to Baseball America they have signed two former Mets and a minor league catcher.

LHP Tom Martin is a 38 y/o lefty specialist who's career seems very similar to Ricardo Rincon in that he has experience major league success as a LOOGY in the past but has struggled over the last 2-3 years. Martin found himself in independent league ball last year and in 2007 he appeared in 26 games for the Rockies with an ERA of 4.91. In 2001 he was with the Mets in which he appeared in 11 games with a record of 1-0 and an ERA of 10.06. His best year was in 2003 with the Dodgers when he went 1-2 with an ERA of 3.53 in 80 appearances......

Mets fans love their back-up middle infielders like football fans love the back-up QB. Whether it was Jeff Keppinger, Chris Woodward, Ruben Gotay or Argenis Reyes you would find somewhere someone arguing that they should be the starter, when in reality they are either AAAA or bench players. Last year it was A. Reyes who came up, showing a decent glove and a pesky bat, but he quickly cooled off to show that he was nothing more then a AAAA player, still it's nice to have a back-up plan in Buffalo.

Finally the Mets have re-signed minor league catcher Salvador Paniagua......

New York MetsSigned: LHP Casey Fossum, LHP Tom Martin, C Salvador Paniagua, 2B Argenis Reyes, OF Jason Cooper
The Mets’ trade of Scott Schoeneweis left the club with only one proven lefthanded reliever option (Pedro Feliciano), so it’s not coincidence that Fossum and Martin happen to throw with their left hands. Of course, Martin, 38, was released by the Dodgers during spring training last year and for the year logged just 5 1/3 innings in the independent Atlantic League. source Baseball America

Reed avoids Arby as well.....

One of the newest members of the Mets team Jeremy Reed avoided arbitration by agreeing to terms with the team the day before salary figures are suppose to be exchanged. The former first round pick and top prospect appears to be Endy Chavez's replacement as the defensive replacement and fourth outfielder on the Mets bench. Reed can play all three outfield positions and is a good defensive 1B, while his bat has done very little in his first three major league seasons.

Reed, 27, is the outfielder the Mets acquired from the Mariners in the deal for J.J. Putz. He is likely to fill the role left vacant by the departure of Endy Chavez. He, too, bats left-handed and is considered a better-than-average defensive player, though not as skilled as Chavez. Reed does come cheaper. His 2009 salary represents an increase of $520,000. But he still stands to earn considerably less than Chavez whose 2008 salary was $1.8 million. source MLB.com

Duaner avoids Arbitration....

The Associated press is reporting that the Mets and Duaner Sanchez have agreed to a one year deal which will avoid arbitration. I think Duaner is the biggest variable in the entire pen, he could either regain his dominant form or show that the taxi cab accident forever changed his career. Last year Duaner struggled when he first returned ( 6.00 ERA -May ) but then was solid in June and July ( 3.60/3.86 ), he seemed to fatigue in his first year back as his ERA ballooned in August to 7.94 and while Sept. he posted a 4.26 that was probably because he was barely used.

New York Mets reliever Duaner Sanchez ($1,687,500) source Yahoo sports

Fossum got an Invite with MiLB..

This is more of an up-date then anything else, the Buffalo Bison's announced yesterday that LHP Casey Fossum was signed to a minor league contract. Sometime last night the non-roster invitee list was up dated to include Casey Fossum.

Omar had said to expect a few signings like this, remember before the 2006 season Darrin Oliver had been out of baseball since spring training of 2005. Oliver after being a starter was re-invented as a lefty in the bullpen on a spring training invite. Fossum has been used mainly as a starter and in the pen as a cross over pitcher but his stamina has always been a issue and struggles against righties. His curve ball, that he can throw for strikes is very effective against lefties but he's used it sparingly so that hitters can't get it's timing down. As the second LOOGY in the pen he would be asked to be a situational lefty, coming in to get a tough left hander out in the middle of an inning. If used sparingly he could throw the curve more often and wouldn't break down. I'm not saying Fossum is the answer but I'm also not against the signing....

Mets continue to look at Freddy

Missed in all the buzz surrounding Ben Sheets yesterday was a report that the Mets continue to look a Freddy Garcia. The idea would be to bring in Garcia to compete for the fifth spot, if he earned the spot then Redding would go to the pen and if he was cut he would recieve a buyout with his release. Any deal for Garcia is believed to be seperate from signing Ollie, Sheets, Wolf or Garland. It's believed that Garcia will pick this week between the White Sox, Mets and Rangers ( with the Yanks still lurking)....

Now there is a new name on the list: Freddy Garcia. The Mets have been in contact with his representatives, a baseball official confirmed. The righthander, who will be 32 on Opening Day, is a candidate to be signed by the Mets even if they sign one of the players ahead of him on the list. He could compete with recently signed Tim Redding for the No.5 spot. source Daily News

Mets ink Fossum to a minor league deal...

Former 1999 first round pick of the Boston Red Sox's, Casey Fossum is reported to have signed a minor league deal with the Mets. So there's the invite LOOGY that most of us were expecting. Fossum had a tremendous collegiate career but never lived up to expectations in professional ball. He has a lifetime ERA of 5.47 with a record of 40-53. He spent his first three years with the Red Sox and then a year with the D-Backs before spending another three years with the Rays. When the Rays released him in 2007 I completed this post, he went on to bounce from the Padres, to Pittsburgh and finally Tigers. Omar had said he would look for guys like Darren Oliver who resurrected his career as an invitee and it appears that's what he's looking for in Fossum...

Wogan also announced the Mets have signed veteran pitcher Casey Fossum to a minor-league deal. He was 3-1 with a 5.66 ERA last year in 31 games for the Detroit Tigers and has big-league time with Boston, Arizona and Tampa Bay. source Buffalo News

So what does the 31 y/o left have for a repertoire;

Fossum throws three different overhand curveballs. The first curveball is a tight-rotating 1–7 curveball that has a velocity in the low to mid 70s, but a pitch that Fossum struggles to throw effectively over the plate for strikes and at times remains too flat. The second curveball is also a 1–7 pitch, has a moderate break while clocking in between 65–70 MPH, and can effectively throw for strikes. The third curveball is a 12–6 curveball with an enormous break, making it nearly unhittable. While the pitch has been a very effective pitch for him to use, often landing for strikes or causing popouts, he regulates the pitch as a change-of-pace pitch to prevent batters from becoming used to it. Fossum dubbed this pitch the "Fossum Flip", and it is essentially a form of the eephus pitch[1]. He also has a decent fastball in the 88–92 mph range and a changeup that while effective, does not drop as well as most other pitchers. Fossum is also a good fielder and has an above-average pickoff move. source Wikipedia

Interest in Sheets intensifies...

Just a month ago when the Mets were considered "in the driver's seat" for a starting pitcher, Ben Sheets name wasn't even an after thought. The list was primarily Lowe and Perez with Wolf and Garland as fall back options. There were some reports that the Mets looked at Sheets medical records and ran for the hills. But now that Lowe has signed elsewhere and Boras is playing his games with Ollie, suddenly Sheets looks much more appealing. Apparently the Mets are having their medical staff (yes, the same staff that approved Victor Zambrano) look a little closer at Sheets medical reports. So what has changed; is the market forcing them to look at Sheets, has his price come down so much they can't help but look at him or is this simply a ploy to get leverage with Boras. If I had my preface I would sign Sheets and forget about Ollie, I know if Sheets is pitching it's going to be a quality outing and I can find a fill-in like Freddy Garcia/Pedro Martinez for when he's hurt.

If the Mets are truly in on Sheets they need to move quickly, the Braves acted so quickly on Lowe not because of the Mets but the Phillies. Apparently the Phillies were considering trading Brett Myers to get Lowe. Now it's being reported that if his price drops enough the Phillies ( source Boston Globe) might be able to find the room for him....

For his part, Minaya has played it cool, suggesting that he has other options if Perez falls through. Two of the most intriguing names still available are Ben Sheets and Andy Pettitte, with the Mets only recently showing interest in the former Brewers ace. A person familiar with the situation said yesterday that Sheets is now being discussed, but it's unclear what the parameters of such a deal would be. source Newsday

Hidden Gem- Mulder....

Mark Mulder is a 31 y/o left handed, starting pitcher who has compiled a record of 103-60 with a 4.13 ERA in eight seasons. He a two time All-Star and in seven post-season starts he has a record of 3-4 with an ERA of 2.34, in 2006 received a World Series ring but was on the DL. It's a tale of two careers for Mulder, from 2000-2005 he had a record of 97-57 with an ERA at approx. 3.50. But in 2006 he only made 17 starts with a record of 6-7 and an ERA 7.14 before he under went rotator cuff surgery. The next two seasons were a complete wash as he struggled with shoulder problems, in those two seasons he appeared in six games going 0-3 with an 11 ERA. The Cards declined his option making him a free agent. The Boston Globe did a piece on him in December marking his progress. Buster Olney is reporting he'll throw for scouts soon and believes that some team is going to get a hidden gem....

"Mark was in the office the other day and the excitement in his voice over his arm angle was pretty touching," said agent Gregg Clifton of Mulder, who has a career record of 103-60. "The arm angle isn't quite as high as it was in his prime, but in his mind it is, and the fact he's come so far from where he started is so encouraging to him. He has the confidence now that he's going to pitch at a high level again." source Boston Globe

Kris Benson is going to throw for scouts next Saturday, and in the week after that, it's likely that Mark Mulder -- who, like Benson, is represented by agent Gregg Clifton -- will throw off a mound for scouts. Two advance scouts say that they think Mulder could be the hidden gem of this free-agent class, because if he can restore his arm angle -- and that's been the focus of his offseason work -- he could be a very effective pitcher for relatively little money. source ESPN

Garcia, Perez, Jones up-dates...

It's unclear whether the White Sox's are still in on Garcia or not, if they are it appears they are the front runners for his services. The Yanks have all but eliminated themselves and that leaves the Mets and the Rangers who could both use a fifth starter. Ken Rosenthal believes it will come down to who he feels he has a chance of making the rotation ( with us he's competing with Redding - with Texas he'd be the fifth) even if that means taking a minor league deal....

Garcia would prefer a major-league deal, which would guarantee him termination pay if he were released in March, but he could accept a minor-league deal if he receives a better chance to start. source Fox Sports

According to Newsday the Mets aren't expecting a fast resolution to the Oliver Perez negotiations. No way Boras takes 3/30, he will wait til a market develops and if one doesn't he'll get a team to over pay for a one year deal. The Mets could get out bid on a one year deal and at this point it might be worth exploring alternative options. Either Ben Sheets or signing two pitchers, in effect going with quantity over quality; two from Garland, Wolf, Pedro and Garcia.

the Mets don't expect any resolution on Oliver Perez's status in the coming days. The Mets have maintained regular contact with the representatives for free agents Randy Wolf and Jon Garland as fallback options if they don't retain Perez. They also have acknowledged being among the teams to have talked with Freddy Garcia, who made three starts for Detroit late last season following shoulder injury. source Newsday

In the same Newsday article it's reported basically that the Mets expect Andruw Jones to return to Atlanta but if he doesn't and still needs a job in spring training they may take a look. Meanwhile, his agent Scott Boras says he's had phone calls from 8 teams regarding Jones.

Agent Scott Boras said eight teams called Friday about the center fielder, and Boras said he would soon discuss with Jones his various options. Boras wouldn’t say what level of interest the Braves had expressed. source AJC.com

Would Hudson consider LF

Remember when the Nationals traded for Alfonso Soriano, the questions immediately started surfacing as to why they made the move and where would they use him. The Nationals had Jose Vidro at the position, an All-star, nine year incumbent and one of the teams power hitters. GM Jim Bowden simply brought in the best bat he could find with the idea of using the athletic player where ever he could fit him. At the time, the 31 y/o was a full time second basemen who had never played a game in the outfield. Two years later Soriano is a starting left fielder who continues to be a key offensive player and few even think of him as a second basemen.

Could the same happen for Orlando Hudson, Ken Rosenthal posted an article last night about the very weak market for Hudson. During the article Rosenthal describes the Mets desire to acquire him but that they simply can't move Castillo. It's also been reported that Hudson wants to be a Met, it seems like a perfect marriage if the two sides could think outside the box. One of the knocks on Hudson is that he's beginning to lose range, which means he might benefit from a move to the corner outfield. Omar said when the rotation was complete he'll look to see if he can find a right handed outfielder on a one year deal. What about signing Hudson for left field with the idea that if Castillo continues to struggle he'll take over 2B. Hudson is the same age that Soriano was when he made the switch and the versatility helped him sign a huge contract the next year. Which would Hudson rather, sign a one year deal to play out of position for the team he wants and a contender or play in position with the Nationals.......

Minaya said. "It's going to be a real low-end right-handed hitter if we do anything." Hudson is a switch-hitter. His effervescent personality would be perfect for a Mets team that has collapsed in each of the past two Septembers. And the high-energy, slick-fielding double-play combination of Hudson and Jose Reyes would be a fan's delight. The problem is, the Mets already are paying two managers, Willie Randolph and his replacement, Jerry Manuel; and two closers, the injured Billy Wagner and his replacement, Francisco Rodriguez. Paying two second basemen would be a stretch at a time when the Mets' bigger priority is probably upgrading the combination of Daniel Murphy and Fernando Tatis in left field. source Fox sports

Marti working out in NY....

It was reported last month that 29 y/o right handed starting pitcher Yadel Marti defected from Cuba. Newsday reported this week that Marti along with fellow defector OF Gomez have made there way to New York and are looking to sign with Jaime Torres ( Jose Contreras agent). Torres believes that both players could be major league ready for opening day. The last time the Mets dipped into the Cuban market Aloy Soler was a complete bust but of course El Duque had his moments. I question whether the paperwork can be organized that quickly...

Marti added that he was in the best physical shape of his life and was enthusiastic to get back into baseball. Both he and Gomez will be training with Steven Gourley at Oyster Bay's Evolution Fitness and spending the week networking with Torres and others at Burke's Primo Cafe in Melville. From there, Gomez said, they hope it'll be a short ride to Opening Day. "It was a golden dream," Marti said. "And it's really happening." source Newsday