New York Mets

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Just because the offseason has not been fortuitous for the New York Mets' closer situation doesn't mean you have to worry. The team's chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon sure isn't. Continue reading "Jeff Wilpon says Omar is ready to take care of business" »

The media got a tour of Citi Field on Tuesday so they could see progress on the New York Mets' new stadium. The stadium is on track to be open next year. Video by William Perlman/The Star-Ledger.

Citi Field is almost done

The Mets' new ballpark is called Citi Field. And in spite of financial troubles that last month resulted in Citigroup's being awarded $20 billion in government bailout money, there are no plans to change that.

Mets chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon led members of the media on a tour of the beautiful new ballpark, which is set to open in April as the Mets' new home. He expected questions about the team's association with Citigroup, and he got them.

"We're proud to be partners with Citi," Wilpon said. "They've received some money to help them through tough times. But if they do a good job of marketing, and we can help them bring eyeballs to help sell their brand, they're going to come out of this and pay back the public."

From The Star-Ledger:

Video: A tour of progress at Citi Field

Photos from Tuesday's Citi Field tour

Continue reading "New York Mets proud of partnership with Citigroup despite bailout" »

Here's a look at how the construction is progressing at Citi Field, future home of the Mets, as of Dec. 2:

We have confirmed that physical exams are the only remaining hurdle in a deal that will send right-hander Javier Vazquez from the Chicago White Sox to the Atlanta Braves. The deal was first reported by Ken Rosenthal of foxsports.com, who says one of the players going to Chicago in the deal would be infielder Brent Lillibridge.

How does this affect the Mets? Well, the Braves were a 90-loss team in 2008 and haven't been a real threat for the division title since 2005. But they are still run by smart people who remember when they used to win the division every year, and those people went into this off-season determined to find at least two frontline starting pitchers around which to build their 2009 rotation. Vazquez, the former Yankee, appears to be one of them.

Continue reading "Atlanta Braves to acquire Javier Vazquez from White Sox" »

Just sharing some photos I snapped with my phone while on a tour of Citi Field today. Bill Perlman should be up later with some better ones, since he's, you know, a professional photographer and all. But me and my new iPhone had a fun time of it, so I thought I'd share some stuff. Shea Stadium, for example, never looked better...

Continue reading "Touring the Mets' new ballpark" »

Mets outfielder Nick Evans had an MRI on Monday at the Hospital for Special Surgery and was diagnosed with what the team described as a "mild quadriceps strain of the right knee"(sic). The Mets said Evans suffered the injury while playing winter ball in Puerto Rico (he last played on Nov. 19) and would undergo three-to-four weeks of therapy at home in Phoenix in preparation for spring training.

The only one of their free agents to whom the Mets offered arbitration is left-handed pitcher Oliver Perez, who is extremely likely to get a long-term deal, either from the Mets or another team. The Mets will receive draft-pick compensation if Perez signs with another team, but they are interested in bringing him back.

Moises Alou, Luis Ayala, Damion Easley, Orlando Hernandez, Pedro Martinez, Ramon Martinez, Ricardo Rincon and Matt Wise are the other Mets free agents. They were not offered arbitration. The Mets may continue to negotiate with them, but if they sign elsewhere the Mets will not receive draft-pick compensation. Of the group, Ayala, Easley and Wise are the most likely to be brought back, if anyone is.

There's this story today out of Denver, and it's interesting, for sure. For me, it speaks once again to the idea that the Mets are in a very strong position in terms of being able to sign a closer. If Brian Fuentes' agent is putting it out there that his client is planning to visit New York, it means he wants everybody to know that the Mets are interested in his client. And an agent only does that when he needs to drum up interest.

There's an industry-wide feeling that the Mets will end up signing Francisco Rodriguez to a three-year deal, and I see no reason to doubt it. A couple of weeks ago, it appeared that the Mets were torn between Rodriguez and Fuentes and would prioritize whichever one first came to them willing to do the deal THEY wanted (i.e., three years). But over the past week or so, it's become clear that Rodriguez has moved to the front of the list, either because they've decided they like him better or because they've been getting a vibe from him that he's willing to talk deal at their preferred parameters.

Continue reading "Update on Mets closer hunt" »

No, this isn't about the Mets signing both Francisco Rodriguez AND Brian Fuentes. I believe they'll sign one of them (my money's on Rodriguez), and probably pretty soon. But as Matt Cerrone of MetsBlog keeps pointing out, the team is also focused on acquiring a setup reliever who has closer experience.

Continue reading "Can the Mets get two closers?" »

The New York Mets are intent on landing an elite closer this offseason and have reached out to the reps for free agents Francisco Rodriguez and Brian Fuentes to begin talking contract, according to a report on SI.com.

Continue reading "Mets begin talks with closers Rodriguez, Fuentes, report says" »

NEW YORK -- Two New York City Council members say that Citigroup should show its thanks for a federal bailout by sharing the naming rights to the new Mets ballpark in Queens.

The struggling bank is slated to pay $400 million over the next 20 years to name the stadium Citi Field.

The bank made the commitment years ago, when it was flush with cash. Now that Citigroup is getting billions of dollars in federal aid, Staten Island Republicans Vincent Ignizio and James Oddo say the ballpark's name should be changed to Citi/Taxpayer Field.

Citigroup and Mets chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon have been saying that they have no plan to alter the naming-rights deal for the ballpark, which hosts its regular-season opener April 13.

Citigroup is the latest financial institution in line for a federal buyout, but the Mets say their new stadium will still be named Citi Field, at least for the time being.

Continue reading "Citi Field name change a possibility, New York Mets say" »

Nevermind his questionable performance that drew boos from the Shea Stadium faithful in 2008. New York Mets second baseman Luis Castillo is set on changing his ways next season, and he wants to do it as a Met.

Continue reading "Met's Luis Castillo seeks to revamp himself for 2009" »

Luckily for Mets fans the affect will not be a long-lasting physical one. If anything, recent news of Murphy's strained hamstring may cause more a flub in team development than it will in terms of physical restraint. Continue reading "Will Daniel Murphy's injury affect his 2009 season with the Mets?" »

Aaron Heilman's start me or trade me demand has New York Mets fans talking on the web today. Do you give the guy a shot to start or get rid of him altogether?

Continue reading "Should the Mets give Aaron Heilman a shot to start?" »

Official release from the Mets says this:

"The Mets Daniel Murphy underwent an MRI this morning at New York's Hospital for Special Surgery and the test revealed that he has a Grade 2 Strain of the right hamstring. Murphy felt discomfort in the leg in pre-game batting practice of his November 11th Arizona Fall League game. He will skip winter league ball in Puerto Rico so that he can be ready for the opening of Spring Training this February in Port St. Lucie, Fla."

So that's the team line, at least. Let's address a couple of issues on this:

Continue reading "Mets -- Daniel Murphy injury and other stuff" »

As the New York Mets look to build their offseason bullpen and acquire a closer, one staffer is openly unsatisfied with his role. Middle reliever Aaron Heilman, according to his agent, won't settle for anything less than a spot in the rotation. Should his demands not be met then Heilman will ask for a trade.

Continue reading "Aaron Heilman wants out of the Mets bullpen" »

Of course they need a closer, and a couple of starting pitchers, and at least a couple of new faces in the bullpen setup corps. This is where the Mets' off-season focus is right now, and where it should be.

But I am of the opinion that the Mets this winter ignore their offensive needs at their own peril.

Continue reading "Tough to find the right fit to bolster the Mets' offense" »

I have heard this same thing, which makes me start to think a potential Mets deal with Francisco Rodriguez is closer than either side wants us to believe.

Continue reading "Mets/K-Rod marriage getting closer?" »

Pedro Martinez's agent spoke with a New York City tabloid, hinting that the 37-year-old pitcher is not finished in Flushing and wants to return to the NewY ork Mets' rotation next season. Continue reading "Pedro Martinez wants to remain with New York Mets" »

Aerial photos of the Mets' Citi Field show that the grass has been installed at the ballpark. Great job, Tom Kaminski of WCBS880.com.

Talking today with somebody familiar with the Mets' off-season plans. This person agrees that the Mets want to and will sign one of the big free-agent closers (Francisco Rodriguez, Brian Fuentes or Kerry Wood), and that's a matter of time and seeing which one drops his demands closest to what the Mets are willing to pay.

Continue reading "Mets need more than a closer to rebuild their bullpen" »

There's a report circulating on the Internet out of Venezuela that suggests that Angels closer Francisco Rodriguez was in New York getting a physical. A person within the Mets organization tonight said "it's not true."

As Dan suggested, sometimes these reports have a tendency to hit the center of the mark. The same thing happened with the Erik Bedard trade to the Mariners last winter. A report out of Diario Panorama in Venezuela said the Mariners had pulled star prospect Adam Jones out of winter ball and were shipping him to Baltimore for a physical. The M's denied it, but all it did was stall a deal that was eventually finished.

According to this link here, which is a story from a Venezuelan newspaper, Francisco Rodriguez is on his way to New York for a physical exam in advance of signing a contract with the Mets.

True? Well, it could be. As MetsBlog's Matt Cerrone points out, the past few years have given rise to a trend in which news reports from foreign countries either exaggerate or fabricate stories regarding players from those countries in connection to major-league teams. (Some would say we do it here too....) So it's worth taking this with a grain of salt. I'll tell you what I know, based on conversations last week and this weekend with Mets people:

Continue reading "Report: Mets to sign K-Rod?" »

The Mets rounded out their coaching staff today with the addition of Luis Alicea, who will coach first base. Alicea was the first base coach for the Red Sox during the last two seasons. He also managed three years in the Red Sox system from 2004-06.

Alicea takes over for Ken Oberkfell, who is likely headed to manage in Triple-A Buffalo.

Here is how the coaching staff will look.

1B Luis Alicea
3B Razor Shines
Bench coach: Sandy Alomar Sr.
Pitching coach: Dan Warthen
Hitting coach: Howard Johnson
Bullpen coach: Randy Niemann
Catching instructor: Sandy Alomar Jr.

Despite the New York Mets' obvious pursuit of a closer, the Daily News reports that Omar Minaya may join the New York Yankees in a battle for CC Sabathia. Continue reading "Mets may compete with Yankees for CC Sabathia" »

Oh no, I'm not gone yet...

We ran this free-agency primer in this morning's Star-Ledger, since the free-agent signing period begins tonight at midnight, but I'm planning to use this space over the next couple of months to dig a little deeper into what the Mets are up to as the off-season rolls along. And at the bottom, I may tack on some other National League notes, especially as they pertain to Mets' fans questions/paranoia about what other teams are up to. If you're interested in what I have to say on the Yankees and/or the AL, we've got a blog for that too.

Continue reading "Mets closer hunt and other hot stove nuggets" »

David Wright isn't burning up his cell phone to entice free agents towards the Mets, but he wouldn't mind the assignment.

Speaking at his "Do the Wright Thing" charity gala last night in Times Square, Wright said he has kept his ear to the ground in terms of the offseason rumors. And he would be open to making the recruiting pitch for the Mets if general manager Omar Minaya asked.

One glaring need for the Mets is a closer to fill the gap of the injured Billy Wagner, who will miss the season with an elbow injury. Wright admitted the Mets are in need of a "facelift" after two consecutive September collapses, and given Minaya's history with the free-agent market, he wholly expects a move to occur. The Mets can discuss contract terms with outside free agents beginning on Friday.

"Being in a big market, you always expect that," Wright said. "And the way the season's ended the last couple years, you expect that."

Continue reading "David Wright weighs in on offseason free-agent rumblings" »

NJ.com's New York Mets Forum has been bustling with Cy Young commentary since the league's announcement yesterday afternoon. With Tim Lincecum taking home the award, fans discuss Johan Santana's third place finish. Continue reading "Mets fans discuss Johan Santana and Cy Young award" »

Buster Olney of ESPN reported late last night that the San Diego Padres have withdrawn an offer to keep long-time closer Trevor Hoffman on board for 2009. As Omar Minaya keeps his eye on the market, is there a chance he may consider the 41-year-old closer? Continue reading "Will the New York Mets consider Trevor Hoffman?" »

Back in May of this year, NJ.com reported that former Met and Hall of Fame catcher Gary Carter expressed interest in a managerial role with the New York Mets. Although Carter remained out of consideration for that position, former Met and owner of the Long Island Ducks Bud Harrelson has given Kid Carter a new opportunity. Continue reading "Former Met Gary Carter named manager of Long Island Ducks" »

Fresh aerial photos of the Shea Stadium demo were posted today on WFAN.com. It looks like the whole outfield area is gone, not to mention all of the field itself. Solid job by WCBS copter guy Tom Kaminski.

It's baseball postseason awards week (they'll name rookies of the year later today) and one of the more interesting races will be for National League Cy Young: Will the Mets' Johan Santana win it? you'll find out Tuesday when they NL Cy is announced.

Continue reading "Will Mets' Johan Santana get aced out for NL Cy Young?" »

Willie Randolph, who was fired last summer as the Mets manager, will be the bench coach for new Milwaukee Brewers' manager Ken Macha, according to the Journal-Sentinel of Milwaukee.

Continue reading "Brewers hire ex-Met manager Willie Randolph as bench coach" »