Report: Mets sign Kelvim Escobar [Update]

Update – 12 a.m.: Brian Costa tweets that it is a one-year, major-league deal.

Or as Google Translator says: Kelvim Escobar got his Christmas present: just come to an agreement with New York Mets. In brief details of the firm.

A good low-risk, possibly-high-reward signing for the Mets.

New York Mets songs [Video / Audio]

I won’t be around much today. If you follow my Twitter, you likely know why.

So here, on this cold December day, are as many New York Mets-related songs I could find on YouTube. Which is your favorite?

Some of these are just gold.

This is how Mets fans feel right now [Audio]

It’s been 10 days since offers were extended to Jason Bay and Bengie Molina.  In the interim, the Mets signed Ryota Igarashi for next year’s set-up man.

But still, as noted in my letter to Jason Bay, the waiting is the hardest part.

I’m pretty sure this song sums up many Mets fans feeling right now.

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers – The Waiting

I’m off to pick up some Christmas presents.  I’ll be back if anything breaks.

A letter to Jason Bay

Hey Jason Bay,

I know you want a lot of money and a nice big contract, probably the last “big” contract of your career, but if you ever want to be welcome in New York City if you sign with the Mets, you better hurry up and put some ink on paper.

Just letting you know it’s a rough world out there for Mets fans.  We’re reeling after three disappointing seasons and we just watched the Phillies and the Yankees win the last two World Series.  Not fun.

Mets fans are getting antsy, though.  The biggest move the team has made this offseason is signing Ryota Igarashi.  Yeah, exactly.

Though it might be a good signing, it’s done nothing to appease fans. 

They’re simply chomping at the bit to see their team improve on paper.  You signing would quell this bubbling anger.

You’ll be welcome by most fans here in New York.  Many fans want you here very badly.  So just a suggestion: If you want to play here and not be booed mercilessly through your first 150 at bats, I would get your John Hancock down quick.

And then apologize to fans for making them wait.  I know many are already quite angry.

Anyway, hope to see you in orange and blue fairly soon.  (But hopefully not for five more years)

Oh, and work on your defense a bit, would you?  Thanks.

Sincerely,
Andrew Vazzano

Mets MVP reception [Video]

Enjoy on this snowy Sunday.

Link: Mets should trade Johan Santana

Here’s an idea: Mets should trade Santana
By Bob Klapisch

I wholeheartedly disagree.  Have at it in the comments to explain your opinion.

Clint Everts signs major-league deal

Last week, I wrote that the Mets had signed former first-round pick Clint Everts.  Omar Minaya was the GM to draft Everts for the Montreal Expos back in ‘02.

Today, we learned (via Brian Costa), that it was a major-league deal and he has been added to the 40-man roster.

Jose Reyes interview on WFAN [Video]

I’m about to pack up and hit the road back to my home state of New Jersey.  Just  finished up the first half of my senior year at Quinnipiac University, so it’s winter break!  (Man, when did I get so old?!)

While waiting on Jason Bay and reveling in the signing of Ryota Igarashi, here are links to the videos from Jose Reyes’ interview on WFAN from Wednesday.

Video 1 | Video 2 | Video 3

Enjoy and if anything happens, in the next three hours, shoot me an e-mail (TheRopolitans@gmail.com) and I’ll pull the car over and post from the road.

Link: As the Mets go, so does SNY

In one of those articles where you scratch your head and wonder, was there nothing else to write?, Bob Raissman penned this.

The gist of the article is that when the Mets lost, less people watched Mets games, meaning SNY struggled with commercials and sponsors.

Thanks, Bob.  Couldn’t get that one on my own!

Mets (finally) sign Ryota Igarashi [Updated]

Update – 7:50 p.m.: According to Brian Costa, it’s a two-year deal worth $3 million.

$1.25 million in 2010, $1.75 million in 2011.  There are also $50,000 bonuses for each of 45, 50, 55, 60 and 65 appearances.

Original Post: The Mets have announced the signing of relief pitcher Ryota Igarashi.

The contract is a two-year deal, according to reports.  No money has been announced yet.

For the inside scoop on Igarashi, click here.

Here’s the release from the Mets…

The New York Mets today announced that they signed righthanded pitcher Ryota Igarashi to a two-year contract.

Igarashi, 30, was 47-29 with 54 saves and a 3.25 ERA in 507 games for the Yakult Swallows of the Japanese Central League from 1999-2009. He recorded 630 strikeouts in 570 innings for an average of 9.95 strikeouts per nine innings.

"We've had an interest in Ryota for two years," said Mets General Manager Omar Minaya. "He's got a power arm and an outstanding split-finger."

The 5-11, 190-pound hurler went 3-2 with three saves and a 3.19 ERA in 56 games last year. In 53.2 innings, he surrendered 42 hits, 19 runs, earned, with 20 walks and 44 strikeouts.

"I have known the Mets scout in Japan, Isao O'Jimi, since I was in high school," Igarashi said through an interpreter. "When I received the Mets offer there was no doubt in my mind that this was the team I wanted to go to and start my career in the United States. I am looking forward to playing in New York and pitching in the same bullpen as Francisco Rodriguez."

Igarashi rebounded from Tommy John surgery in 2007 to post a 3-2 record with a 2.47 ERA and three saves in 44 contests the following year. He recorded 42 strikeouts in 43.2 innings.

He established a career-best 37 saves in 2004 and won a career-high 11 games in 2000. Igarashi pitched in 60-or-more games from 2002-2004.

The Mets have had nine Japanese-born players appear in at least one game. The list includes: Takashi Kashiwada (1997), Hideo Nomo (1998), Masato Yoshii (1998-1999), Satoru Komiyama (2002), Tsuyoshi Shinjo (2001, 2003), Kazuhisa Ishii (2005), Shinjo Takatsu (2005), Kazuo Matsui (2004-2006) and Ken Takahashi (2009).