Bradley O’Neill of Deep Leagues released his Top 250 Prospects list last week, and although no Mets made the top twenty, seven Mets prospects did make cut. First, the top twenty: Top 20 Prospects 1. Bryce Harper OF, Nationals 2. Mike Trout  OF, Angels 3. Anthony Rendon  3B, Rice Univ. 4. Domonic Brown  OF, Phillies 5. Jeremy Hellickson  P, Rays 6. Aroldis Chapman  P, Reds 7. Julio Teheran  P, Braves 8. Jesus Montero  C, Yankees 9. [...]

I was amazed yesterday at the free agent signings of outfielders Manny Ramirez and Johnny Damon by the Tampa Bay Rays. My first instinct was that they had gone bonkers, but it only took a few minutes to realize that both signings actually made good sense for the Rays who are still reeling from the losses of all-star outfielder Carl Crawford and the power hitting Carlos Pena. The price was right. Each of them agreed to one-year [...]

Of all the players at Citi Field Kids Day, I was most impressed by Josh Thole, who Terry Collins introduced as a rising young star in the National League. Even after speaking with Beningo and Roberts on WFAN in the morning and then fielding basically the same set of questions in the afternoon, Thole smiled and delivered in-depth, informative answers. What’s more is that he seemed like a genuine, friendly guy. Thus far in his [...]

OK, so that phrase is very overused, but you have to admit it’s true. What you are about to read, Mets fans, should look like solid gold on your screen. “I feel 100 percent,” said Jose Reyes. “I feel pain free.” No more thyroid issues, no more oblique problems, no more batting third, and simply the Jose Reyes that we know and love. Terry Collins introduced Jose Reyes at Citi Field Kids Day as the [...]

Adam Rubin of ESPN New York is reporting that the Mets have signed RHP Blaine Boyer to a minor league contract, and invited him to Spring Training. Boyer, 29, went 3-2 with a 4.26 ERA in 54 relief appearances for the Arizona Diamondbacks last season. He was very effective against right handed hitters last season who batted .198 off him in 111 at bats. He also has played for the Atlanta Braves and St. Louis Cardinals and apparently [...]

Statistical maven Mark Simon of ESPN New York, has another solid post today, this one looks at a true Mets rarity; being frugal. Let him explain, This will be the lowest potential payout that the Mets have put forth to free agents in an offseason since committing to only $8.6 million in potential payouts in the 1997-98 offseason. Since that one, the Mets have made at least one big free agent signing every offseason. From the [...]

As first reported by Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News, Tim Teufel has officially been named the manger of the Buffalo Bisons. The move was expected, but had not been announced until today. Terry Collins will be on hand as the keynote speaker at a luncheon to precede the press conference. Cold and frigid is the forecast but it’s plenty hot for baseball today for the Bisons as they host their annual Winter Hot Stove [...]

An interesting tweet from Rustin C. Dodd, a writer for kansascity.com via MetsBlog that really makes one wonder. Best Royals quote of 2011 so far? Jeff Francoeur on hitting in the Mets’ spacious park: “Citi Field is a damn joke.” No current Met has ever had anything negative to say about the vastness of Citi Field, but plenty of players from visiting teams and Mets that have since departed have had plenty to say and most of it [...]