According to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe, the Mets are hoping they could unload Johan Santana before the start of the season. Cafardo says that the Mets are one of three teams willing to “pick up most of the freight” to get rid of Santana, Vernon Wells, and Alfonso Soriano. The Mets would help pay the $31 million left on Santana’s deal. As teams start to round off rotations, he could be a good fifth arm. That’s the first [...]

With spring training almost a month away, the Mets are running out of time to fill voids left in the outfield, bullpen and starting rotation. Andy McCullough of the Newark Star-Ledger reported this morning that the Mets and Carl Pavano are in preliminary discussions on a potential deal, and that the interest is mutual. A lot of fans are probably not thrilled that the Mets are looking at the former Yankee to fill the void in the [...]

The Las Vegas 51s professional baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL), Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets, announced today, in conjunction with the Mets Media Relations Department, that Wally Backman will return as manager for the Mets Triple-A affiliate for the 2013 season. Backman will begin his first season as manager of Las Vegas and was named the 22nd manager in the history of the Las Vegas franchise (1983 – 2012, 30 seasons). The [...]

According to the Huffington Post, former Mets and Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine will work as a commentator for NBC Sports Radio. He will be the part-time co-host of a weekday talk show that debuts in April. Starting this month, he will also periodically provide analysis to NBC Sports Radio shows and affiliated stations. Valentine was fired in October after just one season in Boston, when the Red Sox went 69-93. His colorful no holds [...]

Normally, I might say David Wright when it comes down to who might be the most indispensable Met this season. Wright is, after all, the center of the Mets’ offensive universe and when he’s hitting it elevates the entire team. However, I’m a pitching guy first and when I posed the question to myself this morning Jon Niese popped up as the answer. With the trade of R.A. Dickey to Toronto and Johan Santana entering his [...]

On family vacations when I was younger, — be it at Disneyworld, Washington D.C., or Busch Gardens — my family would always argue where to go first, how much time we would have to do this or that, etc. The debates would end with my dad, declaring “I have a plan.”, and that would settle the bickering. The way he said it made it sound as if he had spent hours online researching the best [...]

Yesterday, Clayton did a nice job digging up as many Hall of Fame ballots as he could to put together a sneak preview of what we could expect on Wednesday when the BBWAA will announce who will be inducted into Cooperstown. With about 12% of all the ballots in, it looks like Mike Piazza will not have nearly enough votes to make the Class of 2013, and in fact the data shows that only second [...]

Since the NY Post broke the story on Thursday that the Mets have refinanced $450 million dollars in SNY loans, we’ve gotten a little more clarity on what looks to be an ambitious overall re-fi plan by the Wilpons. Including other outstanding loans that were refinanced, Mets owners have re-positioned about $700 million in total debt. In fortifying their improving financial hold of the Mets, they have cashed out to the tune of over a $160 million dollar [...]

Question: How many free-agent pitchers are 26 years-old, have had two seasons at the major league level with sub 3.00 ERA, and were named to an All-Star game? Answer: Jair Jurrjens There has been little to no talk about Jurrjens hooking on with any teams this offseason. The question is why? Granted, he is coming off an abysmal year that saw him sent down to the farm to work out his issues at one point. But [...]