Jose Bautista and Matt Kemp Win Hank Aaron Award. Both Kemp and Bautista were honored this past week with the Hank Aaron Award. This award was first given to players in 1999 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Aaron breaking Ruth’s career home run mark and is intended for the player in each league with the most impressive offensive performance. The MLB-sanctioned award is voted on by the fans and select Hall of Famers. Bautista [...]

I think that I’ve finally succumbed to Hot Stove fatigue… Information overload… I don’t know about you guys, but I’m so ready for spring training. I just want to move on already. This off season was overloaded with so much misinformation, overblown speculation and an endless stream of conflicting reports. Wow, it was mind-blowing to say the least, especially for Mets fans who I feel bore the brunt of it more-so than any other team. [...]

According to Ed Price of AOL Fanhouse, the Mets are having in-depth talks with right hander Joel Pineiro about a contract that is worth around 2 years and $15 million. Pineiro reportedly received a much similar offer from the Washington Nationals earlier this off-season, but he may be leaning toward signing with a contender like the Mets. Last year the 31 year old right hander was 15-12 with an ERA of 3.49 in 32 starts. [...]

The Philadelphia Phillies have added another pitcher to their staff, signing Danys Baez to a two-year contract pending a physical. The 32 year old Baez missed all of the 2008 season due to tightness in the elbow which required Tommy John surgery, yet he returned in 2009 and went 4-6 with a 4.02 ERA in 59 appearances last season with the Baltimore Orioles. Baez has 114 career saves including a career-high 41 saves for the Tampa Bay Rays in [...]

Various news outlets are reporting tonight that the New York Mets have signed Kelvim Escobar to a one year Major League contract. The 33 year-old right hander has pitched for two teams throughout his big league career; first with the Toronto Blue Jays and most recently with the Los Angeles Angels. During his career, Escobar has amassed a win/loss record of 101-91 and compiled an ERA of 4.15. His best season came in 2007 when [...]

While things may be quiet in terms of Mets activity, the Orioles are wasting no time in building their club up for the 2010 campaign and beyond. Jeff Zrebiec and Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun are reporting that the Orioles have inked former Colorado Rockie, Garrett Atkins, to a one year deal. Atkins, who was non-tendered by the Rockies last week, is coming off the worst full season performance of his big league career. [...]

The Toronto Blue Jays waved goodbye to the face of their franchise by dealing starting pitcher Roy Halladay to the Philadelphia Phillies.  The three-team deal, which also involved the Seattle Mariners, will be considered complete once all the players involved take (and pass) their physicals. On paper, it looks as if the Phillies improved themselves drastically by adding arguably the best American League pitcher of the past few years.  However, while I was focusing on [...]

Earlier today Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post wrote that there is pressure on Omar Minaya after the Mets missed on Roy Halladay and John Lackey. The Mets have yet to make a significant move this offseason and Minaya spoke about the Mets plans. Minaya said that so far “the timing of the deals have not been there.” He also confirmed that the Mets did make a trade offer for Halladay. Jeff Francoeur added [...]

On a day when a few extra coals have been added to the Hot Stove, the Phillies are close to trading for ace pitcher Roy Halladay, while Jon Heyman of SI.com is reporting that John Lackey will be signing a five-year, $85 million contract with the Boston Red Sox. In related news, the Mets have announced the signing of Jack Squat.  Squat hasn’t done much in the past and might go unnoticed in the Mets [...]

According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, the Mets are expected to meet with the agent for John Lackey tonight, among many other meetings.  Olney adds that he doesn’t know if the Mets would be able to meet his financial demands which are reportedly expected to exceed $100 million dollars according to one report. Joel Sherman reported via Twitter that the Mets are one of several teams that are looking at Kelvim Escobar who might pitch in Venezuela later [...]

This past week, New York Mets beat writer, Brian Costa, of the Star Ledger was kind enough to allow me to submit to him questions regarding Mets Hot Stove rumors. To obtain the questions I scoured the forums, as well as the chat room here at Mets Merized to try to come up with the best and most frequently asked questions regarding the team’s future. I’m confident that this interview will give you, the fans, [...]