UPDATED: ‘They’re only interested in signing low-budget Latin players’ [Quote]

Update – 3:30 p.m.: It seems the Daily News has edited this Madden column. It now reads…

They won't spend the money for Holliday, Bay or Lackey and apparently, they're only interested in signing low-budget players, having shown little or no interest in Byrd, Figgins, DeRosa, Wolf or even Staten Island's Jason Marquis, while waiting for their markets to come to them.

Very, very interesting.

Original post: From Bill Madden in today’s Daily News…

Mets? Did somebody say the Mets? They won't spend the money for Holliday, Bay or Lackey and apparently, they're only interested in signing low-budget Latin players, having shown little or no interest in Byrd, Figgins, DeRosa, Wolf or even Staten Island's Jason Marquis, while waiting for their markets to come to them. At the same time, the Phillie sand Braves wasted no time in addressing their needs. Sad.

Emphasis mine.

I know columnists are paid to be controversial, but this is a bit much.

Also, did Madden miss the Chris Coste signing?

Mets have interest in Willingham? [Twitter]

Here’s Ladson’s article on the Mets interest in Josh Willingham.

But here’s a pull from a Ladson article from two days ago…

LF Josh Willingham: The Braves are one team that has shown interest, but it seems doubtful the Nationals will trade him. He provided the power Washington needed last year and he was an excellent clubhouse presence.

(Ed. note: Over the course of the Winter Meetings, and likely for the rest of time on this site that Twitter is a relevant means of communication (hint: a while), you’ll see more posts like these.)

‘69 Mets contribute to Habitat for Humanity [Video]

Here’s a neat little video with the 1969 Mets as they contributed to Habitat for Humanity this summer.

Enjoy on your crappy Saturday.

Omar’s plan for catchers [Image]

I just Tweeted this…

Remembering Marco Scutaro as a Met [Photo]

Here is, for all to see, a Marco Scutaro signed Mets jersey.

Sorry for the blurriness, but this was snapped inside the Mets clubhouse store back when they still played in Shea Stadium.

I figured it was appropriate since Scutaro just signed a nice little contract with the Boston Red Sox.

Santana behind Blanco signing

According to Ben Shpigel of The New York Times, Johan Santana was very active in recruiting catcher Henry Blanco to the Mets.

Blanco and Santana played on the same Minnesota Twins team in 2004. 

That season, Blanco played in 114 games for the Twins.  Blanco caught 24 of Santana’s starts.  Check out the stats in those starts here.

For the Mets, whatever Santana asks for, you give him.  And as quickly as possible.

Mets sign Henry Blanco to one-year deal [Updated]

The Mets have signed catcher Henry Blanco to a one-year, $1.5 million deal, according to Francisco Blavia of ESPN Deportes (via MetsBlog).

Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post confirms the report.

Blanco, the second catcher the Mets signed this off-season, will likely serve as the backup on the major league squad.  Chris Coste, the other catcher signed, will probably land in Triple-A.

What happens to Omir Santos now?

Sherman: Mets to tender contract to Maine

John Maine, according to Joel Sherman, will have a contract tendered to him by the New York Mets.

Maine, who pitched in only 15 games last season for the Mets, avoided arbitration last season with a one-year, $2.6 million contract.  He has struggled with shoulder injuries the past few years, pitching in 40 games in 2008 and 2009 combined. 

I like Maine and think he’s a quality pitcher, but am worried about his durability.  If this is another year where we can only count on half a season from him, is it worth the deal, no matter the price?

After ‘09, I hope it’s become apparent to the Mets organization that they need to both plan for injuries and bring in players who have had a track record of staying healthy and staying on the field.

For Maine, though, I think it’s worth the risk.  He likely won’t make more than $3 million due to his injuries and if they can keep a guy with this talent for only $1 million more than Alex Cora, I’m for it.

Twitter Poll: What will the Mets slogan be in 2010?

As we all await the signing of the next catcher, I asked my Twitter followers what they believe the 2010 Mets slogan will be.

As expected, no one thought I was serious and submitted joking and funny slogans.  I got a ton of responses, and they’re all pretty good, so check them out below…

nicolino11: It's not 2009!

Macho_Row: Sh*t happens?

mattclausen: You're 2010 Mets: Cuz Catchers are Everything

Dennis676: Right now… “The 2010 NY Mets...we're ‘catching’ up”

SusieTVaddict: ‘You give us your money, we'll give you the Shea Bridge’

790justin: New York Mets: Thank Goodness for the Natinals

RyanFingAwesome: Citi Field: at least we have a Shake Shack!

dances_w_vowels: “Guaranteed not to go 0-18!”

Majin_Bernard: "The Resurrection Begins"

justinleon: “Hey, at least we aren't the Nets”

Rad_Ryan: You stay with us, we'll give you aging players.

nymetropolitans: “Please buy tickets. We painted the stairwells orange and blue.”

dtmfr: Catch the Magic??

tyronem: “We will try harder not to make you claw your eyes out”

DanPirozzi: Disabled List Dropouts

realcinch: The New York Mets... We Can't Get Any Worse!

mtmcq: Minor League Baseball, at Major League prices

Do you have your own slogan you think the Mets will use in 2010?  Which one was your favorite?  Let us know in the comments!

Reports: Henry Blanco in NYC for physical; What I think it means for the Mets

Henry Blanco, who played in 67 games with the San Diego Padres last season, is traveling to New York for a physical, according to El Nacional, via Adam Rubin.

Blanco, who would be the second catcher the Mets signed this off-season, hit .235 / .320 / .382 in 204 at bats last year with six home runs and 16 RBI.

This means one of three things to me.

1. The Mets don’t think they will sign Bengie Molina (be it they don’t want to pay or they think they’ll be outbid, we’ll see), and are stockpiling catchers because they don’t fully trust any of them.

2. The Mets are doing this to signal to Molina, “Hey, we don’t really need you, but we’ll sign you for X amount anyway.”  Sort of a bargaining chip trying to give the Mets leverage.

3. They are really taking the progression of Josh Thole seriously.  Bringing in veteran catchers, no matter their stats, who can give the young Thole tips, tricks and insight to playing in the league for so long.  Catchers are considered the most knowledgeable position.  Could this be the Mets creating a “Catching High Council” to tutor the future?