Davis, Mejia, others heading to ST

Yeah, I’m still pretty sick.  But this might hold you over until I’m better.

From the Mets…

The New York Mets today announced that they signed infielder/outfielder Jolbert Cabrera, infielder Luis Hernandez and lefthanded pitchers Bobby Livingston and Travis Blackley to minor league contracts and invited all four to major league Spring Training camp in Port St. Lucie, Fla. later this month.  Additionally, the team extended major league Spring Training invites to righthanded pitchers Jenrry Mejia and Carlos Muniz, lefthanded pitcher Eric Niesen, catcher Francisco Peña, infielders Ike Davis and Ruben Tejada and outfielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis. 

Cabrera, 37, spent last season in Baltimore's system, appearing in 78 games for Norfolk (AAA) of the International League.  A .257 career hitter, Cabrera spent time with Cleveland, Los Angeles (NL), Seattle and Cincinnati over parts of eight major league seasons.  He played with Fukuoka of the Japanese League for two seasons (2005, 2006).

Hernandez, 25, split last season between Kansas City and Omaha (AAA) of the Pacific Coast League, hitting .205 (15-73) in 37 games with the Royals.  Hernandez's other major league action came with Baltimore in 2007 and 2008.

Livingston, 27, pitched in three different organizations' minor league system last season-Baltimore, Cleveland and Pittsburgh-and combined to go 10-2 with a 4.02 ERA (80 earned runs/179.0 innings) in 31 games, 29 starts.  Livingston is 3-3 lifetime with a 6.31 ERA after pitching with Seattle and Cincinnati.

Blackley, 27, pitched last season with Reno (AAA) of the Pacific Coast League, finishing the year 4-7 with a 4.85 ERA for the Aces.  For his career, the lefthander is 1-3 with a 9.35 ERA in eight games combined for Seattle and San Francisco.

Mejia, 20, combined to go 4-5 in 19 starts for St. Lucie (A) of the Florida State League and Binghamton (AA) of the Eastern League last season.  He has struck out 205 in 210.0 career minor league innings.

Muniz, 28, pitched with the Mets in 2007 and 2008, going 1-1 in 20 games out of the bullpen.  The righthander spent 2009 with Buffalo (AAA) of the International League.

Niesen, 24, made 27 starts between St. Lucie and Binghamton last season, going a combined 7-11 with a 4.09 ERA.

Peña, 20, caught 100 games for St. Lucie in his third season in the Mets' farm system.  He is the son of former Kansas City Royals manager and current Yankees bench coach Tony Peña.

Davis, 22, won the 2009 Sterling Player of the Year Award, given annually to the top player in the Mets' minor league system.  The first baseman hit .298 (128-429) with 20 home runs and 71 RBI in 114 games between St. Lucie and Binghamton last season.

Tejada, 20, hit .289 for Binghamton while Nieuwenhuis, 22, won St. Lucie's Sterling Award, emblematic of the team MVP.  Nieuwehnhuis ranked 10th in all of the minor leagues with 99 runs scored last season.  He added 16 home runs and 71 RBI with St. Lucie.

Mets never performed physical on Putz [Quote]

“When the trade went down last year, I never really had a physical with the Mets. I had the bone spur (in the right elbow). It was discovered the previous year in Seattle, and it never got checked out by any other doctors until I got to spring training, and the spring training physical is kind of a formality. It was bugging me all through April, and in May I got an injection. It just got to the point where I couldn’t pitch. I couldn’t throw strikes, my velocity was way down.”

-J.J. Putz on his time with the Mets

Click here to read more from the story, because it’s almost too good bad to be true.

This is beyond stupid.

Everyone and their mother was harping on the right elbow of Putz the moment he came to the Mets.  It was an issue, but not one to get hung up on.  Apparently, the Mets didn’t deem it an issue at all.

Extremely disturbing news.

Johan Santana handshake [Video]

Because it’s Sunday and absolutely nothing is going on, why not repost this video of awesome?

Enjoy and feel free to discuss anything Mets-related in the comments.

Mets sign Catalanotto to minor-league deal

As I was tweeting last night, the Mets have signed Frank Catalanotto to a minor-league deal.

Catalanotto will be invited to spring training with the team.

Last season, Catalanotto hit .278 / .346 / .382 with one home run in 144 ABs with the Milwaukee Brewers.

A lot of people seem to respect Catalanotto as more than just a player.  He seems to fit the same mold of Alex Cora, in playing ability and in his future at a possible managerial position.

The Mets could do worse than having Catalanotto coming up from Buffalo if/when the injuries begin.  (That is not a challenge, Omar.)

Twitter Poll: What are your thoughts on Omar’s off-season?

It’s Saturday, I’m still laying in bed and I’m tired.

That, of course, has me thinking about the Mets.  So far, Omar Minaya has added one big bat and a few fringe players / pitchers.  So how do you think he’s done this off-season?

I asked my Twitter followers and here are some responses…

SheckyXero: Omar sucks, he could’ve done more, instead we lack a good catcher, a good first baseman and loads of pitching.

beerman59452000: BAD Jason bay was good, we got no pitching he signed washed up catchers and the mets got holes in there line up.

MetsGuide: ok. It can be salvaged if he acquires a #2 and a catcher.

bosco86: 2 many "ifs". Has not done enough support the core. No #2 starter no catcher bad move at 1st and pen full of "ifs".

willDavidian: Hudson/Lopez and Smoltz or an unlikely trade are his only opportunities to salvage it. Otherwise, it's been awful.

metsfan6986: I feel mixed. He didn't do as good as he couldve but I think Jeff has his hands tied. He's been more aggressive in the past.

MVPGotham: After his comments in October along with Jeff Wilpon, the team has not done enough.

darknova306: This offseason will be a failure until our rotation is fixed. I see only a very slim chance of that happening.

What are your thoughts on Minaya’s off-season so far?  Has he done enough?  Or is there a lot more work to do?

Mets sign Josh Fogg

The Mets have signed Josh Fogg to a minor-league deal, according to Troy Renck of the Denver Post.

Fogg, Renck writes, is “one of the coolest guys I have ever covered — think of Vince Vaughn in “Dodgeball.”  Renck believes Fogg has a shot to make the Mets out of spring training, and might even compete for the fifth starter spot.

Unfortunately, that might be the best thing to be said about Fogg.

Last season with Colorado, Fogg pitched in 24 games, starting only one.  In 45 2-3 innings, Fogg struck out 27 and walked 20.  He posted a 3.74 ERA and 1.139 WHIP (surprised me).

He’s a career 5.03 ERA and 1.458 WHIP pitcher.

‘I have full autonomy’ [Quote]

“I understand there is going to be a lot of articles written about how the situation with the Mets is, but when I tell you that I have full autonomy, I have full autonomy.”

-Omar Minaya on who controls the Mets

Tatis returns

Mike Puma, who last night reported the Mets were “close” with Fernando Tatis, is now reporting that the Mets and Tatis have agreed to a contract.

Puma reports that the deal is worth less than the $1.7 million he made last season.  Matt Cerrone believes the deal to be worth $800,000 with a chance to make up to $1.5 million in performance bonuses.

My “SHOW YOUR TATIS” shirts, which were shelved last year, will be available next week.

What would you ask Omar?

So with Omar Minaya in studio tonight for Mets Hot Stove, I was wondering what you would ask him if you had the chance?

A few of mine:

• Are you still in control? (Echoing Mr. Burkhardt)
• Why Gary Matthews Jr.?
• What’s next this off-season?
• How is it working under the Wilpons?

What would you ask Omar Minaya if you had the chance?

POST: Mets close with Tatis

The Mets and utility-man Fernando Tatis are closing in on a contract, according to Mike Puma of the New York Post.

Tatis, who made $1.7 million last year with the Mets, would serve as a likely backup/platoon partner with Daniel Murphy at first base.  He could also spell either corner outfield position, as well as David Wright at third.

I’m for this.  I think Tatis can contribute to the team, especially they way it is designed right now.