According to John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer, the Reds have re-signed OF Ryan Ludwick pending a physical. Contract details have not been released, but Ludwick had a two-year offer from the Reds believed to be in the $13 to $14 million range. Ludwick, 34, revived his career with Reds posting a slash of .275/.346/.531 with 26 home runs and 80 RBI in 422 at-bats this season. The Mets were said...

Let’s assume for a moment – and this isn’t much of a reach – the Mets don’t do anything for the remainder of the winter. How then, can the Mets be competitive if another assumption that R.A. Dickey won’t be back? A lot of things must happen, beginning with David Wright regaining his power stroke. If he does, and Johan Santana has a good year, that’s only the beginning. So much else has to happen...

Mets outfielder Jordany Valdespin is tweeting photos of himself on his twitter account. This particular pic of him sporting a Miami Marlins cap is drawing harsh criticism from the Mets fan base this morning. Valdespin, who was recently suspended for insubordination while playing Winter Ball, has become a magnet for controversy. Despite his talent, the Mets may have to weigh whether or not he is...

Updated Post 11:00 AM Ken Davidoff sums it all up like this: As we leave R.A. Dickey’s hometown, let’s rank his list of admirers, from big fans down to skeptics. 1. R.A. Dickey 2. The New York Mets 3. The 29 other Major League Baseball teams. That’s where things appeared to stand as the Mets and the rest of baseball packed up their laptops, slide projectors and blazers and headed home to their...

According to John Harper of the Daily News, the Texas Rangers would trade top hitting prospect Mike Olt for R.A. Dickey, but only if they first lose out on free-agent Zack Greinke AND are unable to trade for James Shields who is their top preference if they have to make a swap. Meanwhile the Royals and Blue Jays are not that interested in Dickey and and prefer the Mets young lefthander Jonathan...

Speaking at the Winter Meetings, Mets’ CEO Jeff Wilpon said GM Sandy Alderson would have an increased budget for 2013 and the team “will be competitive.’’ What exactly he meant by that, he wouldn’t specify. Does it mean the Mets will be a playoff contender or at least a .500-caliber team? Just exactly how much will the budget be increased? When Wilpon spoke of payroll flexibility, in the...