LAS VEGAS - Just moments ago, Omar Minaya officially announced what everyone at the Bellagio knew for the last 36 hours: Francisco Rodriguez is now a Met.

“We have come to comepleted terms in filling our No. 1 need in signing Francisco Rodriguez to a three year contract with the New York Mets,” Minaya said. “Our goal, from day one, was to improve our bullpen and I can not think of a better reliever than Francisco Rodriguez.”

K-Rod set a Mjor League record in 2008 with 62 saves. He also converted 23 saves when entering the game with a one-run league and 22 more with a two-run cushion. He went 2-3 with a 2.24 ERA.

“I am thrilled to join the Mets,” Rodriguez said in a statement. “Mets fans are very passionate and playing in a new ballpark is going to be great. I am going to do everything I can to help bring a championship to Citi Field.”

Rodriguez, who wore Johan Santana’s No. 57 with the Angels, will switch the number around and go with No. 75 in Queens.

Posted under Free Agency, Winter Meetings

LAS VEGAS - After meeting with closers Brian Fuentes and Trevor Hoffman yesterday, the Mets seem to be close with free agent reliever Francisco Rodriguez.

After offering the bidding Sunday night with a 2-year deal for around $24 million, the club has upped the offer guartanteeing the third year to make it a $36 million contract.

With Mets COO Jeff Wilpon on the trip with Omar Minaya, the Mets seemed determined to come away with a closer and Rodriguez is the best one on the market. Originally the former Angel wanted a five year contract worth about $75 million, but because the closer market was satuated, the Mets seemed willing to wait as the money dropped.

Now after two meeting with Rodriguez and agent Paul Kinzer, the price seems to be in the Mets comfort zone and by getting him so cheaply, it opens up doors for the club to revamp the entire bullpen, which was one of the worst in the National League last season.

Last season, the free agent reliever went 2-3 with a 2.24 ERA and a Major League record 62 saves.

A deal may be announced later today.

Posted under Commentary, Free Agency

The Mets announced today righthanded pitcher Nelson Figueroa was signed to a one-year minor league deal.

As you may remember the Brooklyn born Figueroa filled in nicely early in the season for the injured Pedro Martinez and then came back up in September to help in the bullpen.

All-in-all, he finished 3-3 with a 4.57 ERA.

The organization also signed righthander Adam Bostick, infielder Andy Green, and catcher Rene Rivera to minor league deals.

Posted under New York Mets

In an article published by the NY Daily News, Mets reliever Aaron Heilman said - through his agent - he wants to start or be traded.

“The object the entire time has never been to get out of New York,” Heilman’s agent Mark Rodgers told the Daily News. “The object is to get out of the bullpen. The most success he’s ever had as a pitcher has been as a starting pitcher. He was drafted by the Mets as a starting pitcher.”

Now, Heilman has made it no secret he wants to start and the Mets do have room in the rotation. But after last season where the righthander was one of the more ineffective relievers, which made him a Shea Stadium pariah, I don’t see how the team should reward him with a spot in the rotation.

Fortunately, he still has value and the Mets can get some quality back for the 30 year-old, so I think it’s time for him to move on.

Posted under New York Mets

The Daily News reports the Mets are looking to compete with the Yankees for CC Sabathia. In the three by-line article, the News baseball staff says Omar Minaya will look at how the free agent market pans out and may make an offer.

To quote:

“Meanwhile, Omar Minaya was dicussing a trade for a pitcher with a GM but said he would first have to see how Sabathia’s free agency was progressing, a baseball executive said. A Mets official subsequently wouldn’t deny interest in Sabathia.

“Such a deal with the Mets likely would require backloading some of Sabathia’s salary, at least until Carlos Delgado’s $12 million and Billy Wagner’s $10.5 million salaries for 2009 are cleared.”

For me, getting Sabathia would be a real coup for the Mets and if they do, Minaya will have a little less pressure on himself to totally revamp the bullpen, even though I expect major changes out there no matter what.

Posted under New York Mets

Let’s go under the assumption Aaron Heiman’s bad knee was the real reason for his miserable year and he could be a viable pitcher again. Before we torch the guy, remember he was very effective in 2006 (save that one pitch) and for the most part in 2007.

Here are the options:

-Never mind, just trade him for what you can get.
-If the Mets are unable to land a significant starter, finally give him a chance in that role.
-If the Mets are unable to obtain a significant closer, give him a chance in that role.
-Keep him in the bullpen as a set-up reliever.

Posted under New York Mets

As the Phillies were rolling around on the infield last night much to the dismay of most Mets fans, take solace in that 2008 is officially over. The last out of the World Series officially brings with it the start of the 2009 season, although the Mets have been thinking for the past month about what went wrong and what to do about it.

It’s time to build GM Omar Minaya’s shopping list for the Hot Stove Season.

Here’s my list:

1. Starter #1: Fixing the bullpen begins first with fixing the rotation. They need to add a starter to begin shaving innings from the bullpen total. They will attempt to re-sign Oliver Perez and add a solid, but not spectacular starter such as Derek Lowe.

2. Closer: The Phillies proved a dominant closer is better than a closer-by-committee format. Brian Fuentes appears first on their list. The money is too steep for Francisco Rodriguez.

3. Starter #2: The Mets need fifth starter. They could go in the market, they could gamble with Jon Niese or they could bring back Pedro Martinez.

4. Adding bullpen depth: The Mets’ bullpen blew 29 saves, but Billy Wagner only coughed it up seven times. There were a lot of collapses in the seventh and eighth innings. Help is needed.

5. Bench (right-handed hitting outfielder): Fernando Tatis should be re-signed, I could go with the platoon of he and Daniel Murphy. Adding a proven bat would be beneficial, but not at the expense of adding pitching.

6. Re-signing Carlos Delgado: It’s doubtful Delgado will duplicate last season’s second half, but there shouldn’t be that big a dropoff. I don’t understand the eagerness of some to trade him. Afterall, for a team with holes, trading him adds another. Delgado does have a no-trade clause so it will cost something to get him to waive it.

Posted under New York Mets

Cole Hamels will be out of the game, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the Rays have the advantage for the end of Game 5 tonight. They might have gained a sense of momentum after tying the game, but let’s not forget the Phillies have a rested bullpen.

As the weather becomes a storyline in this World Series, unfortunately we could be hearing a lot tonight and in the near future about the showcase event being played at a neutral site. Yeah, that was me you heard screaming.

There are some things that shouldn’t be considered, and that’s one of them.

Posted under New York Mets

Rebuffed once before, Willie Randolph is one of the leading contenders for the vacant Milwaukee Brewers’ managerial position. Evidently, the Brewers place more weight on Randolph’s career winning percentage of .544 (302-253), which is the second highest in franchise history.

Randolph interviewed for the Brewers’ job in 2000 eventually going to Davey Lopes, now a Phillies’ coach.

Given a proper bullpen, I believe Randolph eventually would have been able to win with the Mets. He deserves a second chance.

Posted under New York Mets

It has to be a good morning somewhere. Boston, perhaps? Gotta think they didn’t get much sleep in Tampa last night. If you’re the Rays you have to be a little concerned. The Red Sox have come back before.

Twice they’ve been down 3-to-1 (including 3-0 to the Yankees in 2004) and rallied. This is a team with a backbone. And, with Jon Lester pitching tonight, you have to like their chances. The decision to go to the bullpen instead of giving Scott Kazmir a shot to work out of trouble could be the turning point to the series.

Of course, I’ll blog the game with you tonight. I’ll also have a post up at 1 p.m., for those watching football.

Should be a fun day.

Posted under New York Mets