Gag me! Luis Castillo to hit leadoff?

Read: Castillo to hit leadoff?

I would vomit all over my television every time if I have to watch Luis Castillo hit leadoff for the New York Mets in 2009.

Sorry for the vulgarity of that, but Castillo slapping his way into an out is not the way I want to see the Mets start the game or set up for the heart of the order.

Jerry Manuel is no fan of Castillo, Bart Hubbuch notes. I beg of anyone to find me more than 10 Mets fans who actually like seeing "the gimpy one" in blue and orange.

Two tidbits: Raul Ibanez and Pedro Martinez

Two little nuggets to much on as you process the Mets deal with Francisco Rodriguez.

The Mets brass in Las Vegas apparently dined with Raul Ibanez's agent at the Bellagio, reports Ken Rosenthal.

The Mets are looking into Ibanez to fill left field, which is currently being manned by a tandem of Fernando Tatis and Daniel Murphy.

He's a little too old for my liking, especially for the seemingly cursed left field of the New York Mets. Omar Minaya has been after him since July, so now that he's a free agent and within his grasp, I think if Omar can get a grasp on him, he'll snag him for his team.

Minaya also mentioned that the Mets remain interested in Pedro Martinez.

I have a feeling this is a good act on behalf of the Mets toward Pedro. He meant a lot to this club, even if his wins didn't show it. His signing ushered in a new era of the team. They are likely doing this to drum up some rumors and buzz about him as he tries to sign elsewhere.

I think the Mets should sign him, cheaply, to compete with Jon Niese and Bobby Parnell for a spot in the rotation. If he beats them out of spring training, but gets hurt a few weeks into the season, then the team can turn to Niese. That's instead of just handing Niese the job as it stands now. What if he falters? Then what?

Cheaply, I wouldn't mind him. Now that K-Rod is all but locked up, Minaya will begin to look elsewhere. What his first move will be in unknown. Stay tuned!

Mets sign Francisco Rodriguez -- pending physical

According to a the Associated Press, the Mets and free agent Francisco Rodriguez have agreed to a three-year deal, with a vesting option for a fourth year.

The deal is supposedly worth $37 million, plus incentives.

The vesting option would likely be triggered by innings pitched or saves converted and is worth $14 million.

Update - 3:44 pm: News on the vesting option, via Ken Rosenthal.

That vesting option is within reach as long as Rodriguez pitches his normal number of innings as a closer, either in the third year of the deal or in a combination of years two and three. "Basically, he's just got to be healthy," one source said.

Joel Sherman claims that K-Rod may be in New York as early as Wednesday for his physical with the team.

Again, that is three-year, $37 million deal with a $14 million vesting option for a fourth year.

Let's make sure all the parts work the same before we begin to sing his praises as a member of the Mets. Don't want to be the party-pooper here, but let the Mets doctors get their hands on him to see if all is in working order.

Update - 4:06 pm: The Mets have the 25th pick in the first-round of the First Year Player Draft, which will be heading into the Angels hands with this signing. They will also receive a supplemental pick.

If the Mets happen to sign another Type A player who was offered arbitration, the picks are divvied out to the appropriate teams by the caliber of the players signed.

The equalizer

With the Mets very close to signing Francisco Rodriguez for at least the next three years, Joel Sherman asks Torii Hunter and Mike Scioscia how K-Rod will handle New York.

Among the questions, Sherman asks about K-Rod's supposed diminishing velocity, and got this response from Hunter:

His velocity was down in parts of the season but in August I looked up at the scoreboard and saw 93, 94 mph. Plus he developed that changeup and on our team we called it 'the equalizer.'

Seems the Mets will have another nasty changeup in their arsenal if/when K-Rod comes aboard. The ace of the starting rotation has a pretty good one too, if you don't remember.

I like this already. So he's down from 97 mph to 94 mph? He's not even 27-years-old? Three miles per hour may not seem like a lot, but I think he can get by with 94 mph. Especially if he now has a changeup to counter his fastball.

I think I can live with that.

Ken Davidoff out of a job?

Update - 2:19 pm: Davidoff is safe. Whew!

Say it ain't so!

Taking a step away from the insanity in Las Vegas, it looks like one of my favorite writers may be soon joining the independent blogging ranks.

According to the New York Post (via River Ave. Blues), Newsday is laying off 100 staffers, including Ken Davidoff.

Three sports columnists' jobs are being eliminated. They are Sean Powell, Johnette Howard and Ken Davidoff.

Insiders said that some of the staffers might be allowed to reapply for lower-paid editorial positions. Davidoff's name was expected to be among that group.

Davidoff is easily one of the best writers in the New York area and he will be sorely missed if he is indeed gone for good. The Post reports that he may be offered a lower-paying job with the paper.

Good luck, Davidoff. If you ever need to know how to start your own blog, give me a call.

Update - 12:35 pm: The man is apparently unphased. Davidoff is running a live blog chat right now.

Manners?! We don't need no stinkin' manners!

If the Mets sign Francisco Rodriguez (I'm still using "if" until this thing is official. Remember Yorvit Torrealba?) prepare for more angry Phillies fans.

We always hear about how excitable and immature the Mets are, especially with Jose Reyes and his dancing. Well, K-Rod is probably one of the most over-the-top players in the league. Have you seen him celebrate a save?

It seems the Mets are sliding away from David Wright's pretty-boy image, and more toward the rough and tumble competitive side we've seen in all players at some time.

And I celebrate this.

The Mets have tried to stay "classy" for years, trying to show the upper hand in all of this. Meanwhile, the grittier Phillies have, well, you know.

It's time this team got some attitude, some spunk. Let's sign K-Rod and let's start celebrating victories with some screaming, fist pumping and even some dancing.

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?