Our first Ben Sheets rumor

With Derek Lowe becoming the newest enemy, the Mets are forced to look down the list of free agent pitchers to fill the hole in their rotation.

Oliver Perez and Ben Sheets both appear on that list. We've heard a few rumors lately about Perez, but really nothing has been brought up about Sheets.

Ben Shpigel stops all that, with this: "They are also weighing a run at Ben Sheets, but are wary of his injury history."

Finally.

Sheets, when healthy, is an excellent pitcher. Too bad that is a very big "if."

Also in the article, Shpigel points out that the Mets have been unwilling to offer four years to a starting pitcher this season, and only granted one to Francisco Rodriguez in the form of a vesting option.

If the Mets were to sign anyone for four years, I'd prefer it to be Perez, simply due to his age (27). Sheets is too risky to sign for that long, but a one- or two-year deal would be fine with me. Laden it with incentives that he can earn if healthy to keep him pitching and motivated and you'd pretty much have a steal if he can start 25 games.

Mets add Alex Cora

According to WEEI in Boston, Alex Cora and the Mets have agreed to a one-year contract worth $2 million.

From WEEI:

Former Red Sox infielder Alex Cora has agreed to a one-year, $2 million deal with the New York Mets. The 33-year-old Cora played with Boston from July 7, 2005 — when he was traded from Cleveland for infielder Ramon Vazquez — through last season.

I like it.

Last season with the Boston Red Sox (whom he played for since partway through 2005), Cora hit .270 / .371 /.349 in 75 games. He played shortstop the majority of those games (69), while also seeing some time at second base.

He's the new Damion Easley, except he's been to the playoffs.

Thanks to Ian from SOX & Dawgs.

Virtual tour of Citi Field

This is just too cool.

Things featured: Francisco Rodriguez's name featured on scoreboard, pitching against Ryan Howard. (He just threw a 96 mph strike), Luis Castillo(?) playing in the shift, the Home Run Apple, tucked away, K-Rod pitching to Howard, Carlos Beltran making a shoe-string catch on Howard's hit ball.

Johan Santana pitching (first to Jayson Werth (name on scoreboard) and then striking out Pedro Feliz), Castillo slapping a hit through the hole at 2B, Carlos Delgado sliding into third, David Wright smashing a home run off the second tier in left field, the Home Run Apple coming out in celebration.

The stats showed that Wright is a .301 hitter with 33 home runs, 124 RBI, 42 doubles, 115 runs, 15 stolen bases and a .533 slugging.

Fletcher has the video for the new Yankee Stadium.

Braves sign Derek Lowe

According to Braves Blast and the AJC, the Atlanta Braves and Derek Lowe have agreed to a four-year, $60 million deal.

Lowe still needs to pass a physical, but that will likely happen within the next few days.

OK, Mets fans, Lowe is off the table. Time for Omar Minaya to focus all his efforts on Oliver Perez (or Ben Sheets!). No chance that Minaya signs Perez for only three-years, $30 million as reported. He's going to command a lot more than that.

As I said before, I think the offer has to be for five years even to get Perez to the table. If Lowe is going to get $15 million a year, there is no reason that Perez can't get the same.

Improving the Citi Field Inaugural Season patch

I'm sure by now you've all seen the absolutely miserable design (if you can even call it that) on the Mets inaugural patch for Citi Field in 2009.

Well, combining my lack of anything truly productive to do and my semi-decent Photoshop skills, I decided to take a stab at designing a better patch. I came up with three. Two of them are takes on the current design and the third goes in a different, somewhat better direction.

First, for reference, here is the patch that will be worn in 2009:
Patch 1 -- Original:
Now here are my takes on it.
Patch 2 -- "Arches":
Patch 3 -- "Backdrop":
Patch 4 -- "Oval":Which one tickles your fancy?

Cast your vote!

Lowe, Braves seriously talking

From Jon Heyman:

The Braves are trying hard to finalize a deal that would solidify their rotation. The deal for Lowe is believed to be for close to $60 million over four years.

For that much, you can have him Atlanta.

I would have been OK with three-years, $45 million or four-years, $50 million. But four-years, $60 million is a little rich for my taste.

Mets make offer to Ollie?

Update: The deal is apparently for three-years and an unknown amount of money. Sorry Mets, that's just not going to get it done. I think they'll have to go for a five year minimum to even get him to the table.

Thanks to Brian Decina for shooting me an e-mail about Oliver Perez.

Decina writes that he was watching the MLB Network and Jon Heyman noted that the Mets have made an offer to Perez. The numbers are unknown as of right now, but I'm guessing it will be for a long-term deal.

Perez, 27, has been the second choice all for the Mets all off-season, behind Derek Lowe.
I'm out and about right now, so again, thanks to Brian for the e-mail.

Brooklyn Cyclones to become Baracklyn Cyclones, if only for one night

Regardless of political affiliation, this is a tad bit extreme.

According to NJ.com, "The New York Mets' Single A farm team will be renamed the Baracklyn Cyclones for its June 23 game in Brooklyn."

There's already a website up and running, along with an insane YouTube video.

I almost have no words for this. Thankfully this is only for one night.

Here's what you can get, if you attend:

* Alternate red, white, and blue jerseys adorned with the team’s new name
* FREE Barack Obama bobbleheads to the first 2,500 fans in attendance, featuring the President in a Baracklyn Cyclones Jersey
* The Economic Stimulus Package: From 10am on January 20th – Inauguration Day – to midnight on January 23rd, ticket prices for the June 23rd game will be “rolled back” to the Cyclones’ inaugural 2001 season rates: $10 Field Box Seats, $8 Box Seats, $5 Bleacher Seats. Beginning January 24th, tickets will be priced at the regular 2009 rates ($15, $12, $8)
* Universal Health Care: Free Band-Aids to the first 1,000 fans
* Naming Rights: Anyone named Barack gets in for free (Bring your ID on the night of the game)
* Joe the Plumber special: any plumber named Joe gets two free tickets – one for himself, and one to “spread the wealth” with a friend (Bring your ID and a business card or proof of employment on the night of the game)
* Bi-Partisan Consolation Prize: anyone named McCain or Palin will get a free Bleacher Seat (Bring your ID on the night of the game)
* A clear-cut Exit Strategy: fans will receive American Flags and discount coupons as they leave the ballpark

You have got to love the minor leagues and their wacky promotions. And to top it all off, tickets will go on sale Jan. 20, at 10 am. So fitting and very, very clever.

It's Obama-mania!

In the quest to sign every Reyes playing baseball

Here's a nugget from Ken Rosenthal:

Free agent Dennys Reyes is attracting interest from the A's and Mets as well as the Dodgers and other clubs.

They have Jose, and he's not going anywhere. They had Argenis and Al last season, though Al never made it to the big club. Dennys is next. Also out there, Anthony and Jo-Jo.

Good luck with that.

The Mets need a left-handed starter

The Mets are sorely lacking southpaws on their pitching staff.

As the depth chart stands right now (sans Tim Redding), the Mets only have three lefties between their rotation and the bullpen. Johan Santana and Jon Niese on the starting staff and only Pedro Feliciano in the bullpen comprise the lefties on the team.

To be successful, the Mets need to sign or trade for some more.

The team has focused on two free agent starters to fill the void in the rotation. Derek Lowe, a righty, and Oliver Perez, a lefty, seem to be atop the Mets wish list, in that order. With Redding now a New York Met, and likely becoming the fifth man in the rotation (or at the least the long man and spot starter), should the Mets look to Perez first and Lowe second?

Friend and fellow blogger Josh Levitt brings up this point on his blog Jorge Says No!:

I think that Omar Minaya should back off his pursuit of Derek Lowe. With rumors swirling that the Braves are going all in on Lowe, now would be a good time for the Mets to step aside and focus their efforts on Oliver Perez, who is only 27 and great against lefties. Lowe would be a wonderful addition to the Mets rotation, but at this point I'm skeptical about giving him a fourth year or another $10-$15 million more than the Mets original offer (3 years/$36 million).

Levitt absolutely hits the nail on the head here.

Though I'd love Lowe on the Mets, I think the smarter play here if for Perez, at least given their current situation. Perez has shown his ability to win in big games (even if he couples that with loses against sub-.500 teams) and would provide the Mets with another lefty arm on the staff.

With guys like Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard and Chase Utley all batting left handed, the Mets need another southpaw. (Yes, I realize these are all Phillies, but the rest of the teams in the NL East don't really have any feared left-handed hitters. Plus, these are three of the biggest boppers the Mets will face in any division, so it just makes sense.)

The Mets should shift focus to signing Perez. Lowe would be nice, but Perez seems like the better fit right now.