Update 1/26 3:00 pm
Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reports the obvious via Twitter,
Mets’ next target, after losing Sheets, looks to be Smoltz. They have not been aggressive on Garland, according to a source.
Adam Rubin also reported that the Mets were engaged in aggressive dialogue this morning even before the Sheets signing went down.
Update 1/25 3:30 pm:
According to Adam Rubin (Welcome back Adam!) of the Daily News, the Mets are also actively engaged in dialogue with veteran starter/reliever John Smoltz.
The sense I get is that the Mets are very likely to add one more starting pitcher. They’ve been in active dialogue with John Smoltz about a starting role, although it’s hard to handicap whether it’s Smoltz, Ben Sheets or Jon Garland they ultimately sign.
Original Post 3:16 PM
In a new post to his blog at SI.com, Jon Heyman has an extensive update on some new developments regarding free agent starter, Ben Sheets.
The A’s, Rangers and Mets are among teams considering free agent pitcher Ben Sheets, who raised his value with what was described by several scouts as an excellent showcase last week in Monroe, La.
Last week, some journalists speculated that Texas might be in the lead, but that may no longer be the case as the recent sale of the team may have complicated that situation for now.
The Mets’ interest in Sheets came suddenly after Joel Pineiro, whom they had targeted, rejected their offer and signed with the Los Angeles Angels.