Mets baseball blog

Mets trying to catch up?

Earlier this offseason, the Mets asked the Rangers about catcher Gerald Laird, just as they did last year, a person familiar with the situation said.

There hasn't been much discussion there lately; the Mets, as we all know, have prioritized the renovation of their pitching staff. But the fact that the Mets checked in speaks to how difficult it is to build a good catching crew. Continue

Brian Fuentes' price rocks Omar Minaya

Brian Fuentes'' representatives told the Mets the free agent closer is seeking a three-year deal worth $10 million to $11 million annually, according to a source familiar with the discussion. That price tag is a bit high for the Mets, but they are still interested in the former Rockie.

GM Omar Minaya contacted the agents for Francisco Rodriguez and Fuentes on Tuesday, trying to lay the groundwork for in-person meetings. The Mets appear to be moving on parallel tracks with both free agents, content to sign either if the price is right. Continue

General manager Omar Minaya works to get closers to meet Mets

Mets general manager Omar Minaya reached out to the agents for Francisco Rodriguez and Brian Fuentes Tuesday to schedule "future meetings," a source told the Daily News. The Mets are not believed to have made financial offers to the closers, and are not expected to bid before Thanksgiving.

The Mets have proceeded slowly this winter, having so far only re-signed Fernando Tatis. With big-market teams largely out of the closer mix, the Mets have intended to monitor the market rather than aggressively dive in with a big offer and subsequently bid against themselves. Continue

Mets get K-Rod's medical report

Contrary to a published report, the Mets didn't receive the medical breakdown on free-agent closer Francisco Rodriguez until yesterday afternoon and are just now poring over it.

The Mets told K-Rod's agent they would get back to him, but probably not until after the Thanksgiving holiday. That lack of urgency is another sign that GM Omar Minaya is letting the closer market come to him instead of the other way around.

Another New York newspaper reported last week that the medical reports had already been delivered to the Mets, but agent Paul Kinzer told The Post that a "miscommunication" with the Angels - K-Rod's former team - caused the reports to be delayed. Continue

Derek Lowe eyes dollars, so Mets might try cheaper options

Derek Lowe is a hotter commodity in the free-agent market than the Mets envisioned, a development that is forcing them to rethink their plan of signing the 35-year-old righthander and plugging him into Oliver Perez's spot in the starting rotation.

The Mets aren't conceding anything yet, but privately they admit they didn't expect Lowe to be in such high demand, and they worry that with the Yankees and Red Sox in the hunt, they may have to lower their sights for a starting pitcher. Continue

Francisco Rodriguez's agent still awaiting word from Mets

K-Rod will have to wait a little longer for the opportunity to close this deal.Francisco Rodriguez's agent was still waiting to hear back from the Mets after forwarding the All-Star closer's medical records to GM Omar Minaya on Thursday. "I would guess their medical people are looking over the reports, and then I'd anticipate we'll hear from them again," Paul Kinzer said in a brief phone interview Friday. "So nothing's changed as far as that goes right now." Continue

Murphy has hammy strain

The Mets are breathing easier after an MRI exam yesterday on left-fielder Daniel Murphy showed a Grade 2 strain of his right hamstring.

The injury will cause Murphy to sit out his planned participation in the Puerto Rican winter league, but he is expected to be fully recovered for the start of spring training.

The Mets had announced Wednesday that Murphy was suffering from an injured right knee, but the MRI exam showed a hamstring problem. Murphy first noticed the problem Nov. 11 in the Arizona Fall League and hasn't played since. Continue

Murphy's knee worries Mets

This doesn't sound good.

 Mets left fielder and rising star Daniel Murphy was flown back to New York from the Arizona Fall League last night for an MRI exam this morning on his ailing right knee. Murphy felt discomfort in the knee during pregame batting practice Nov. 11 and hasn't played in the AFL since.

Murphy, by far the biggest (and most pleasant) surprise for the Mets this past season, already has missed time in Arizona this fall due to a lacerated forearm suffered during the league's "Rising Stars" game last month. Continue

Aaron Heilman wants starting role with Mets or a trade

Aaron Heilman doesn't necessarily want out of New York. He just wants out of the bullpen.But if the Mets insist he remain a reliever, Heilman wants to be traded."The object the entire time has never been to get out of New York," Heilman's agent Mark Rodgers told the Daily News. "The object is to get out of the bullpen. The most success he's ever had as a pitcher has been as a starting pitcher. He was drafted by the Mets as a starting pitcher."

A source with knowledge of the Mets' internal discussions suggested there's an organizational split about Heilman - with chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon wanting him to remain and other key front-office personnel favoring a trade.There isn't a shortage of teams that want Heilman as a starter, with the Rockies believed to be among at least six teams intrigued. Continue

K-Rod crossed up on medical data

The Angels don't intend to re-sign Francisco Rodriguez, but they are playing an early role in the bidding for the record-setting free agent.

Paul Kinzer, who represents K-Rod, said he has yet to receive medical reports from the closer's former club, which has prevented teams from beginning to bid for Rodriguez. The agent described it as "some type of misunderstanding" and a "mix-up on paperwork with the Angels" and said he expected to receive the old MRIs and other documents in the next couple of days. Then Kinzer can distribute the information to K-Rod's suitors, including the Mets, for bidders to review. Continue