Mets, K-Rod close to deal

The Mets and free agent closer Francisco Rodriguez are reportedly "close" to agreeing on a deal, supposedly for three years and worth $37 mil.

Per Jon Heyman:

"It's going to get done,'' said a person familiar with the talks.

Per Joel Sherman:

[Paul] Kinzer indicated that a deal could get done before these Winter Meetings end Thursday. He said, "we will know more in the next 24 hours, but so far everything has been positive."

Per Anthony DiComo:

"I am more optimistic than I have ever been," Rodriguez's agent, Paul Kinzer, told the New York Post late Monday night.

Again, the deal for K-Rod is supposedly worth three-years and worth around $37 million, which is not far off from my little mock up yesterday.

I don't want to count the eggs before they're in the Mets basket, but if this does go through, and it's could happen as early as today, Rodriguez better be thinking of a new number. 57 is taken.

Mets-BoSox talking Brian Schneider [Updated]

According to the Washington Post, the Mets and Boston Red Sox have had discussions over Brian Schneider.

It was unclear what players the Red Sox would send to Queens in a deal for Schneider, but the Mets are known to need starting pitching, and the Red Sox could have a surplus, even if they fail to sign a top target such as Derek Lowe.

Forget who the team would get in return right now, but who would be the catcher next season? Do the Mets actually trust Ramon Castro with a full season behind the dish? The Castro-Johan Santana connection is undeniable, but his injuries worry me.

I'd like a major league ready pitcher, but that's asking too much. The catching market is very slim this year, so having one to deal works in the Mets favor.

Should be interesting if this plays out a little more. I'd like to hear what kind of deal the Sox would offer.

Update - 12:14 am: No deal?

Per Joel Sherman (h/t SOX & Dawgs):

Once the Red Sox agreed to offer arbitration to Varitek, the Mets turned away from that scenario because they didn't want to give up both the money necessary to sign Varitek and the first-round draft pick they would have to surrender in compensation.

Maybe if the Mets realize there are other catchers out there, this might spark back up. Don't hold your breath.

Sherman: Kinzer says three-years, $33 mil [Updated]

I don't know who to believe anymore.

First, Jon Heyman reports a two-year deal, worth $12 mil per. Now, Joel Sherman reports that Paul Kinzer (Francisco Rodriguez's agent) told him the offer is for three years and $33 mil.

The Mets have offered a deal in the range of three years at $33 million with an option. The two sides will continue to see if they can find a middle ground, with Kinzer conceding the economy has scuttled his plans from a few months ago.

The Mets want K-Rod, there is definite mutual interest and numbers have been discussed. That's all we know, and anything anyone else tells you is a fabrication or estimate.

Update - 8:01 pm: Now I really don't know who to believe. Sherman updated his article with...

But the Mets' first bid was for two years for $25 million with an option. The two sides will continue to see if they can find a middle ground, with Kinzer conceding the economy has scuttled his plans from a few months ago.

So Heyman was right to begin with. Thanks, Sherman!

Heyman: K-Rod offered two years from Mets

I think we all better prepare ourselves for the "Freddy Coupon" name to come back into style, at least on this proposed deal.

According to MetsBlog:

In an appearance tonight on SNY, SI.com’s Jon Heyman said the Mets offered Francisco Rodriguez a two-year deal, with a third-year option, at roughly $12 million per season.

I know the closer market is slim, and the Mets want to get the best deal, but this is just silly. Rodriguez originally wanted five-years and $75 million, so what do the Mets do? Offer two-years, of course.

This might just be a play to get a cheaper deal in the long run, and Heyman doesn't expect K-Rod to take it (shocker!).

At least give the man three years. Is that so bad?

Sign on the dotted line

Pretty Please?

Mets have Indians in their corner

The Mets want to sign Francisco Rodriguez. The Indians want the Mets to sign him as well.

Why, you ask?

Because they think they'll get a deal on Brian Fuentes, the closer they want. The Mets had wanted to stay away from setting the bar for the market, but it looks like their hand is forced in this situation.

The Indians are waiting for the Mets to sign a closer, their hope being that once the big-market Mets are out of the closer derby, the prices will fall. In particular, the Indians hope the Mets take Francisco Rodriguez out of the mix. Multiple officials from other teams say they believe the Indians are particularly intrigued if Brian Fuentes' dollar demands plummet to an acceptable level for them.

The move is yours, Omar Minaya. Let's kick this off-season off with a bang.

Mets Rumor: Mets meeting with Fuentes soon

The Magical Mystery Tour of Omar Minaya rolls on.

Jon Heyman is reporting that the Mets and Brian Fuentes will have a meeting sometime today to discuss years and dollar signs. Francisco Rodriguez already has an offer on the table, according to Heyman.

The Mets made an initial offer, believed to be for three years, to Rodriguez, who is thought to be their first choice. However, Mets people like Fuenets very much as well, and view him as a viable second choice.

I wonder if Fuentes will only get a hamburger in his sit down with the Mets. Maybe only a chicken platter.

Update: Trevor Hoffman meeting soon after Fuentes get together, per David Lennon.

I guess Minaya had a case of Red Bull this morning.

Mets Rumor: Inquiring on Hoffman

The Mets are looking into Trevor Hoffman, hopefully not as their closer of 2009.

Hoffman is a Hall of Fame closer, without a doubt, so I'm not too sure if he'd be willing to accept a role other than closer. I wouldn't mind him as a set-up man, especially if the Mets can sign fire-baller Francisco Rodriguez for the 9th inning.

Per to Barry M. Bloom:

"I'm absolutely open to anything," Hoffman said at the time. "National League, American League, just something that's a good fit in a number of arenas. A lot of it is going to depend on what teams come into play."

Again, this is a second tier priority. I wouldn't mind him, but I'm not clamoring for him. I doubt anyone will be.

As expected, Perez denies arbitration

If anyone thought Oliver Perez would accept arbitration, they were crazy.

Perez turned down the Mets arbitration offer last night, and will hit the market seeking a multi-year, lucrative deal.

If Perez signs elsewhere, the Mets will be awarded a first-round draft pick, and another pick between the first and second rounds.

I'd like to have him back, but I know he will cost the Mets a lot of money. With the inconsistency they've seen first-hand over the last few years, do the Mets even want him back? Not for the money he wants, in my opinion.

Sorry for this getting lost in the shuffle, but no one expected him to accept, so I had resigned myself to the fact for a while.

Mets Rumor: Jon Garland

This is the the kind of pitcher the Mets need to focus on. Solid, durable and effective. Not a top tier starter, but someone who will fit nicely at the back of their rotation.

Per Ken Rosenthal (I wonder how many times I will write his name over the next two weeks...):

Right-hander Jon Garland, who declined arbitration from the Angels, is on the Mets' radar. The Mets are unlikely to pay top dollar for a starter after investing in a closer, and Garland would fit the back of their rotation. Johan Santana, John Maine, Mike Pelfrey and Jon Niese are the Mets' current projected starters. Garland, 29, has averaged 205 innings over the past seven seasons and likely would benefit from a move to the National League.

Perfect. If the Mets can manage to land Garland, I will feel much better about guys like Jon Niese and Bobby Parnell competing for that final spot(s) in the rotation.

If not, they must go out and sign someone else instead of handing two-fifths of the rotation to unproven rookies. Garland is high on my Mets fan wish list for this off-season.