Garcia, 37, had a decent season in 2013, posting a 4.37 ERA in 80.1 innings pitching for both the Orioles and Braves. However, he really sparkled once he got to Atlanta and produced a 1.65 ERA in 27 innings for the Braves.

The Mets had showed interest in the two-time All Star early in the offseason, as they seeked a veteran starter to compete with Jenrry Mejia for the fifth spot in the rotation. But the team signed lefthander John Lannan to fill that role last week.

Still, I’m sure we might see Sandy bring in one more arm on a minor league deal to keep things interesting in camp and so that they have enough arms for all those split-squad games they’ll have this Spring.

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AP Photo/Tom Gannam

Despite the addition of Bartolo Colon, the Mets reportedly continue to monitor the free-agent market to find another starting pitcher to meet their needs.  Unfortunately, with every passing day, the list of reliable options continues to dwindle.

While the Mets have reported interest in Johan Santana, Freddy Garcia, and others out there, this begs the question; why not give a guy like Mark Mulder a shot?

Mulder, who had some great seasons with the A’s and Cardinals, is reportedly making a comeback. The lefthander, who has been out of the game since 2008, is working as an analyst for ESPN since 2011. Three mystery teams have already watched Mulder pitch and one scout reported that his fastball is clocking in at 89-90 MPH.

The Mets may be able to catch lightning in a bottle here. We don’t know if they were one of the teams who watched Mulder’s showcase, but given his connection to Sandy Alderson and many others in the Mets’ front office, it wouldn’t be surprising.

Mulder is simply looking for an opportunity to make a comeback and says he would sign a minor league deal with an invite to spring training. The Mets would really have nothing to lose here and the payoff could be nice.

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LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. –

The consensus on MMO is that the Mets got themselves another solid player whose a genuine good guy that knows how to play the game.

Other than that, it was another slow day for the ballclub, with the re-signing of Jeremy Hefner the lone thing passing for an addition.

Here is what we learned in Day Two of the Winter Meetings:

• General manager Sandy Alderson said the team is still attempting to trade Ike Davis, but manager Terry Collins said he plans to go into spring training with the anticipation of having both Davis and Lucas Duda on the roster.
• My colleague Joe D. disagrees and says the Mets are highly motivated to unload their former first rounder at all costs and that he will be a former Met when Sandy Alderson boards the plane back home. He may be onto something.
• Collins touched on several topics today, including Ruben Tejada, saying as of now he’s his shortstop. Even so, neither Alderson nor Jeff Wilpon ruled out Stephen Drew, but with the Red Sox saying they are interested in retaining him, the Mets appear unlikely, especially since the opening bid for him is $14.1 million.
• Alderson continued to work the phones for a starter, but nothing was close. Once on their radar, hopes of signing Bronson Arroyo are diminishing quickly. A reliable source told Joe D. that the Mets have not met with Arroyo or made any offer.
• The Mets have pitchers Bruce Chen, John Lannan, Bartolo Colon, Paul Maholm, Freddy Garcia and Johan Santana on their wish list, but in the end they may wind up re-signing Daisuke Matsuzaka. They are intent on not committing more than one year on any free agent pitcher and believe they have some young arms on the way who will be solid additions to the rotation.
• The Mets talked about Ike Davis with the Rays and Brewers, though Milwaukee would prefer to first try and re-sign Corey Hart. One Milwaukee exec told us that talks were dead and the Mets were asking for far more than they were willing to part with for a player whose swing needs to be reconstructed from the ground up.
• The Mets are still shopping Daniel Murphy, but teams have balked when learning his price tag would be a top pitching prospect of a mid rotation starter that is both young and controllable for three or more years. That may be a sign that the Mets don’t really want to trade Murphy, says Joe D.
• We seeked out a Mariners team official to find out what level of interest the the Mets had in second baseman Dustin Ackley and learned that it was more of a “checking in” and that there’s no current dialog between the two teams.
• The Mets continue to show interest in free-agent Stephen Drew, as they are still looking to acquire a shortstop. That said, The while the Indians are listening to offers for SS Asdrubal Cabrera, the Mets are not interested.

That pretty much sums up the day and night here in Lake Buena Vista. We’ll see what tomorrow brings. Hang in there Met fans…

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My question is this, though…..for as dominating as Livan has been so far, does last night’s game cement him as our #2 starter behind Johan?  I mean, Pelfrey and Maine are doing better than their collective April indicated, and have similar ERAs and won-loss records, but Livan has been a downright stopper.  Forget the radar gun too….he’s got stuff on his pitches that have kept his career going, and the fact that he throws so slow most of the time is a big reason Livan was able to pitch nine innings last night, throwing 127 pitches. 

True, in the grand scheme of the 2009 season, it doesn’t matter who is #2 or 3 or 4 or 5, and there is still a lot of baseball to be pitched and played this season.  But not only has Livan been a pleasant surprise and made many of us forget about Ollie Perez’ horrendous start, but he just might be the piece of the off-season puzzle that gets the Mets back to the postseason.  And who could have predicted that?

So is he #2?  Do you care?  I know I don’t, as long as he keeps doing what he’s doing. 

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Garcia was initially viewed as the favorite to win the fifth starter’s job in spring training, after signing a one year minor league deal with the Mets. However, Garcia never regained the velocity or control that once made him a top starting pitcher in the American league.

Officially, he ends his Mets professional career with an 0-2 record and an 8.18 E.R.A. for Buffalo, including a disastrous outing on Monday, when he gave up seven runs in five innings against Syracuse.

After that start, Garcia told the Buffalo News that he was contemplating retirement. He’ll have more free time to think things over now.

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On Monday night, Garcia served up a grand slam to Ryan Langerhans in a six-run fifth inning after which he was pulled. Garcia was charged with seven runs and has an 8.18 ERA since joining the Bisons.

Garcia told the Buffalo News that he is contemplating pulling the plug on his career after one more start at Triple-A, which should come Saturday against Louisville.

“Maybe I want to try it one more time,” he told the newspaper. “If I don’t feel the way I’m supposed to be feeling right now, I don’t know. I have to make a decision what I’m going to do. I don’t know yet. Hopefully next time I’ll feel better. I want to wait for tomorrow and see how I feel. I’m working really hard to try to get right but my shoulder doesn’t respond. I’m going to try my best and work hard. If not, I guess I’ll go home. I don’t know. That’s it, man.”

Surprising… I thought he was going to be nice addition at some point this season.

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The Good
For any Mets fan, hearing that your ace may miss their Opening Day start is never a good thing. Then you remember that they’re playing the Reds. And then you say to yourself, “I’m glad Jerry’s being careful with Johan.” I’d rather lose Johan for one or two starts in April than for the whole month of September. In the mean time, Jon Niese and Bobby Parnell have shown why they should at least be considered for the rotation. Luis Castillo has also surprised me this spring. I may have to give him a cookie. And the best news of all….Jose Reyes and Fernando Tatis are back in Mets camp after the Netherlands stunned the Dominicans!

The Bad
Angel Pagan, after showing once again he deserves a spot on the Mets roster, got hurt. I really hope he isn’t a younger version of Moises Alou. I also believe that Freddy Garcia is nowhere near ready to be the Mets 5th starter. I’m all for letting Niese or Parnell have a shot. The Mets have also shut down Tim Redding, which means there will be a spot on the roster for a long reliever. Port St. Lucie may very well become an infirmary.

22 days until regular season! LGM

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The Good
*Jose Reyes looked really good coming out of the three hole this week. At first, I was opposed to this move because his stolen base count might go down, but I’d rather see him drive in more runs than swipe more bags.
*At first I was a little annoyed with Luis Castillo for not showing up to camp earlier. But to hear reports of him showing up to camp having lost weight and being able to run with Reyes were encouraging. Then in the first spring game, he got 4 RBI and I now I have hope that this year will be better for Luis. I’m not on the bandwagon yet, though.
*At this early stage in spring, it looks like Livan Hernandez is the front-runner for the 5th rotation spot. Of course, with troubling reports about Johan Santana, whoever loses this battle may get a second audition after all.

The Bad
I will not rip anybody yet. I will not rip anybody yet. I will not rip anybody yet, unless your name is Freddy Garcia, then I shall rip you (see below).

It’s troubling to hear the reports about Santana’s elbow. It’s troubling anytime the ace of your pitching staff is hurt. I slept better at night knowing that the first game of the regular season was in the bag. I hope, as every Mets fan does, that it is nothing serious and Johan will be lights out come Opening Day. If he is not, I really hope the Mets are looking for more than just a 5th starter. And I hope that Mike Pelfrey gets the nod.

The Freddy Garcia
Ah, now the time has come to talk about Freddy “Start me or release me” Garcia. I know he hasn’t pitched in the bigs since ’07 and I know it’s still early. But he walked into camp expecting the Mets to make them their fifth starter when he knew like 4 other guys were competing for the job. On the outside looking in, I think we all knew Garcia had the most to prove. He took about three giant steps back if he wants that 5th starter role. Jon Niese makes his case today; I would love for the Mets to build on a rotation of young guys.

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Some of the most recent examples include Jose Valentin, Damion Easley, Fernando Tatis, El Duque (when he was healthy), and even Oliver Perez.

Garcia may be the best one of them all. After a losing a season and a half to a torn labrum that required surgery, Freddy Garcia says he is 100% healthy. The Mets had their own doctors check him out and the reports are glowing.

Adam Rubin of the Daily News gave a little medical update on newly acquired starting pitcher Freddy Garcia.

Mets doctors recently examined Freddy Garcia and gave him a clean bill of health. Garcia is the clear-cut favorite to win the No. 5 spot in the rotation, which would push Tim Redding to be the long reliever. “If Redding is our long reliever, we’re going to be really strong,” a team insider said about the bullpen.

There are many reasons to be optimistic for a big season from Garcia, the guy is a battler and big time winner. His career highlights are peppered with accolades that will tease you with what might be in 2009. Here are just a few that I found on MLB.com.

• In 2006 (his last full season), García finished the season 17-9 with a 4.53 ERA. He led the White Sox in innings (216.1), starts (33) and quality starts (18).
• Garcia, a two-time All-Star (2001, 2002), has won 10 or more games seven times in his career, including six straight years from 2001-2006. He went 17-8 with Seattle in 1999, 18-6 with an American League leading 3.05 ERA in 2001, and was 16-10 with the Mariners in 2002.
• From 2001-2006, he was one of four pitchers in the majors to win at least 10 games, start 30 or more games and pitch 200 or more innings.
• He has .605 career winning percentage, the eighth-best among active pitchers with 250 or more innings. He was 118-77 during his career with the Mariners, White Sox, Phillies, and Tigers.

You get the picture…

Garcia also oozes with clutchness in the post season.

“He’s a big game pitcher who has had great success in the postseason and we feel has a good opportunity to contribute to our success this year,” said Mets General Manager Omar Minaya.

Garcia was the starting pitcher in the championship clinching Game 4 of the 2005 World Series for the Chicago White Sox, going 7 innings and allowing no earned runs. In eight post-season games, he is 5-2 with a 3.56 ERA in 48 innings.

He signed a minor league contract with the Mets, who say he will battle with Jon Niese, Tim Redding and Nelson Figueroa for the final spot in the rotation. Yeah right…

The Mets might be calling it a battle, but the reality is that it’s Garcia’s job to lose and that Tim Redding will pitch out of the bullpen, while Niese and Figueroa head up the rotation in Buffalo. 

“I’m excited about the opportunity to pitch in New York,” Garcia said in a statement released by the Mets. “Nothing would make me happier than to pitch in the same rotation with my friend and fellow countryman, Johan Santana, and help win a championship with the Mets.”

I’m pretty excited too.

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Freddy Garcia is a Met. The righthander agreed to a minor-league deal with the Mets tonight, the Daily News has learned. It’s believed he can earn as much as $8 million to $9 million if he makes the team and reaches all of his incentives.

Nice signing for the Mets, especially if Garcia returns to his pre-injury form.

It’s a minor league deal, but barring a major setback, he should easily make the team,

The deal only pays him $8-9 million if he reaches a number of incentives, so it’s a very solid play by Omar Minaya. I’m guessing that the guaranteed money is probably around $2-3 million dollars. 

I don’t know how this impacts the Ben Sheets or the Oliver Perez situation, but it certainly gives the Mets a little more leverage in their negotiations.

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