3:45 PM Update:
Adam Rubin writes on Twitter, “I’m told point blank from ultra-reliable Mets source: Mets had same offer to Balfour as Rays, but he preferred living in Florida.”
3:00 PM Original Post:
Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, reports that the Mets offered RHP Grant Balfour a larger deal than the two-year, $12 million contract he signed with the Tampa Bay Rays.
The former Oakland A’s closer chose the Rays because of its proximity to his Clearwater, Florida home, says Rosenthal. Balfour also pitched for the Rays from 2007-10, so I’m sure that was a consideration as well.
Balfour, 36, had an All Star season in 2013, saving 38 games and posting a 2.59 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 72 strikeouts in 62.2 innings for the A’s.
Obviously, this would have been a nice grab by the Mets, but I’m a little surprised that they were willing to add a reliever with this pedigree and at these prices to be quite honest. I wonder if something is up with Bobby Parnell…
