Mets baseball blog

Mets offer Lowe $36m

The Mets are moving along negotiations with Derek Lowe, reportedly with a three-year offer in the $36 million range for the free-agent pitcher.

That isn't nearly in line with the four-or five-year deal at around $15 million per season that Lowe's agent, Scott Boras, has been seeking, but then the Mets already have nabbed Francisco Rodriguez at a discounted rate amid this winter's recession. Lowe is the Mets' first choice for the glaring hole in their rotation, with Oliver Perez and Randy Wolf still possibilities if a deal can't be struck with Lowe. Continue

Amazin's waiting for lower price on Lowe

The Mets want to go Lowe without going too high on the price.A team official said yesterday that discussions are ongoing to bring free-agent pitcher Derek Lowe to the Mets, but reports in recent days suggesting a deal was almost done are untrue.

Lowe, who is represented by Scott Boras, tops the Mets' wish list to fill a vacancy in their starting rotation, with Oliver Perez the clear-cut second choice and Randy Wolf third.More uncertain is if the Mets have the stomach to give Lowe upward of $60 million over four seasons, as he is believed to be seeking. Continue

Derek Lowe not close to being Met yet

Derek Lowe remains a top priority for the Mets, but reports that a deal with the righthander is imminent are unfounded, according to a baseball official familiar with the Mets' thinking.

There could be progress in the next week, the official said.

The biggest competition might come from Lowe's former team, the Red Sox. Boston could be smarting from Mark Teixeira's decision to sign with the Yankees and the Bombers' aggressive offseason moves. Continue

Mets talk to pitcher Derek Lowe

With Mark Teixeira finally signed, agent Scott Boras can move on to getting deals for his other clients, and Derek Lowe Mets' top target among starting pitchers all along, and a club source said Tuesday that GM Omar Minaya is far enough along in negotiations for the righthander that a conclusion could be reached "between Christmas and New Year's."

Meanwhile, a club source said the Mets still are not likely to pursue Manny Ramirez, even if he seems to have precious few pursuers now that theYankees have Teixeira and the Angels are telling people they won't sign him. Continue

David Wright flagged as A-Rod's fill-in

When Alex Rodriguez decided to play for the Dominican Republic in next spring'sWorld Baseball Classic it opened up a spot at third base on Team USA for David Wright.

The Mets' star was always the logical candidate to man the position in A-Rod's absence, and Monday a Mets spokesman confirmed that Wright has agreed to play for Team USA.

Chipper Jones, who split the third base duties with A-Rod on the 2006 team, is going to play again but he is expected to be used mostly as a DH, leaving third base to Wright. Continue

Relief effort over, Mets must finalize starters

After introducing their new bullpen stalwarts this week, the Mets will fully turn their attention to filling in the holes in their starting rotation.

GM Omar Minaya likely will have to remain patient with the Mets' top choices to round out their top four - either incumbent Oliver Perez or workhorse Derek Lowe. Their mutual agent, Scott Boras, mostly has been focused this week on wrapping up a mega-deal for first baseman Mark Teixeira.

But the Mets also have extended feelers to several second-tier free agents to plug their other rotation opening - the No.5 spot, currently slated to go to rookies Jon Niese or Bobbu Parnell. Those include righty Tim Redding, who was non-tendered by Washington last week after going 10-11 over 182 innings and a career-high 33 starts last season. Continue

Putz satisfied with Amazin' new role

A shutdown closer for much of his career in Seattle, J.J. Putz did his best to shut down any potential controversy yesterday.

In his first comments since the Mets acquired him in a three-team, 12-player deal last week, Putz proclaimed himself satisfied with serving as the eighth-inning set up man to Francisco Rodriguez.

"The bottom line: I just want to win," Putz said during a news conference at Citi Field. "I hadn't had a chance to really do that in Seattle." Continue

GM Omar Minaya tries to get grip on Mets' rotation

The Mets spent Tuesday again discussing starting pitching options and today will formally introduce someone who should make being a member of the Met rotation a bit more comfortable - new closer Francisco Rodriguez.

Rodriguez is making an appearance at the Mets' annual holiday party, along with Jerry Manurl, GM Omar Minaya, Mike Pelfrey (who will play Santa Claus) and John Maine. After sampling a few candy canes, Minaya will get back to work sifting through the starting pitchers available on the free-agent market.

"We're going to look at everyone on the list," Minaya said.

Re-signing Oliver Perez, which Minaya called "50-50" at the winter meetings, seems to be their first choice, but the Mets have inquired about several other pitchers, as well, and there are other intriguing names available since last week's non-tender deadline. Continue

Wilpons give green light after Ponzi scheme

Omar Minaya spoke with the Wilpons concerning their huge losses in the Bernard Madoff Ponzi scheme, the Mets' general manager told Newsday yesterday, and he received the green light to keep working on the Mets' offseason renovation.

Sterling Equities, the real-estate firm co-founded by Mets CEO Fred Wilpon, lost a reported $300 million in the scheme.The Mets released a statement last Friday that their operations won't be impacted by the news, and Minaya said he received similar information from his bosses. Continue

With bullpen in order, Mets are starting to cry for Randy Wolf

After remaking their bullpen at the winter meetings, the Mets this week are planning to welcome new releivers Francisco Rodriguez and J.J. Putz and also move on to another area of concern:

The starting rotation.

Finding another starting pitcher is the priority for the rest of the winter, according to what the team has told several baseball people. The Mets are interested in re-signing Oliver Perez, something GM Omar Minaya has said is "50-50." Lefty Randy Wolf, who has a career mark of 11-5 with a 3.34 ERA in 28 starts against the Mets, is another strong possibility. Wolf is likely to sign faster than Perez, which would solve the Mets' rotation riddle sooner. Continue