METS OFF-SEASON NEWS
February 12 Mets signed P. James Baldwin to a minor leagues contract and invited him to spring training. After suffering an injury last spring, Baldwin was 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA in 10 games with the Twins. James' best years were between 1996-2001 when he won over 10 games each year with the White Sox.
February 11 Mets signed P. Ricky Bottalico to a minor leagues contract and invited him to spring training. Bottalico was injured last season, only went 1-2 with a 5.40 ERA with the Diamondbacks. His best years were 1996-97 with the Phillies when he saved over 30 games.
February 5 Mets signed P. Scott Erickson to a minor leagues contract and invited him to spring training. Financial terms were not disclosed. Erickson missed the last 2 out of 3 seasons because of injuries. In 2002, he was 5-12 with a 5.68 ERA with Orioles. However, Scott won 20 games twice and is worth the risk.
January 29 Mets signed another former Yankee OF Shane Spencer to a minor leagues contract and invited him to spring training. Financial terms were not disclosed. Spencer will probably make the team platooning with Karim Garcia in RF. Last season with Indians/Rangers, Shane hit .251 with 14 hrs and 49 rbis.
January 28 Mets officially signed 3b/1b Todd Zeile to a $1 million 1-year contract. Zeile could make additional $500,000 with a certain amount of plate appearances. This will be the second tour of duty with the Mets; Zeile spent 2000-01 with the Mets, helping them to make it to the World Series in 2000. Last season Zeile, 38, split time with Yankees and Expos hitting .227 with 11 hrs and 42 rbis. Zeile will back up Ty Wigginton at 3rd base, play occasionally at 1st base, and be use as a pinch hitter.
January 26 Mets traded P. Jaime Cerda to Royals for Shawn Sedalek. The move opened a spot on the 40-man roster for 3b/1b Todd Zeile who expects to be signed this week because he passed his physical last Friday. Sedalek was Royals' minor leagues pitcher of the year in 2000 and will compete for the 5th spot in the rotation or a long relief role.
January 20 Mets signed RF Karim Garcia to a $800,000, 1-year contract. Garcia split time with Indians and Yankees last season, hitting .262 with 11 hrs and 35 rbis. However, Garcia was involved in a brawl in Yankees' bullpen with a Red Sox worker during the ALCS. There were charges filed and hearings set, but Mets believe Garcia will come through this innocent.
January 6 Mets signed Braden Looper to a 2-year, $6.75 million contract to be their closer. Looper was 6-4 with 28 saves and a 3.68 ERA with Marlins last season.
Long-time Met and Phillie pitcher Tug McGraw passed away of brain cancer, he was 59. McGraw won 2 world series; 1969 with the Mets and 1980 with the Phillies. However, Tug was the most famous for the phrase "Ya Gotta Believe" during the Mets' 1973 pennant drive.
December 22 Mets signed RHP Scott Strickland to a 1-year $650,000 contract. Strickland was 0-2 with a 2.25 ERA in 19 games last season. However, Scott had the "Tommy John" surgery last June and isn't expect to be back until June 2004.
December 20 Mets signed both utility man Joe McEwing and OF Timo Perez to contracts avoiding arbitration. McEwing signed a 2-year deal worth $1 million. Joe hit .241 with 1 hr and 16 rbis but his versality is huge because he plays everywhere. Perez signed a 1-year deal worth $850,000 with incentives that could be worth $1.5 million. Timo hit .269 with 4 hrs and 42 rbis and he plays every outfield position.
Howie Rose will replace long-time met voice Bob Murphy in the radio booth. Rose signed a 2-year contract.
December 17 Mets re-signed RP John Franco to an 1-year contract worth $1 million, plus $1 million in bonuses if John achieved certain goals this season. Franco was 0-3 with a 2.62 ERA and 2 saves in 38 games last year. Franco is 2nd on the all-time saves list and is entering his 15th season as a New York Met.
December 13 Mets agreed with CF Mike Cameron on a 3-year deal worth $19.5 million. Last season with Seattle Cameron hit .253 with 18 hrs and 76 rbis but he struck out 137 times. He also had 17 stolen bases. However, Cameron is a defensive whiz; he won 2 gold gloves and he will fit perfectly in the spacious Shea Stadium's outfield.
December 8 Kazuo Matsui has accepted the Mets $23 million offer for 3 years to become the club's SS. Matsui was an all-star in Japan. He has the combination of speed and power and he is a four-time gold glove winner. Matsui's signing means Jose Reyes will switch to 2nd base and he is fine with it.
Mets signed C. Vance Wilson to a 1-year contract, avoiding arbitration.
December 3 Mets hired Bill Livesey as an special assistant to the GM Jim Duquette. Livesey has 26 years of MLB service in every aspect, from player development to scouting.
November 18 Mets fired Bill Singer after he made some racial remarks to Kim Ng of the Dodgers organization. Mets hired Singer Nov. 6 as a special assistant to GM Duquette. Singer made the remarks at the GM meetings in front of other GM's. Mets investigated the incident and they fired him immediately.
November 5 Mets named Rick Peterson as their pitching coach. Peterson will be reunited with Manager Art Howe (they were both in Oakland). Peterson is well organized and is a great communicator. Rich signed a 3-year contract.
In other coaching moves; Bobby Floyd will be the 3rd base coach, Matt Galante who was the 3rd base coach, moves to the dugout to assist Don Baylor as the bench coach. Galante will continue to coach the infield. Nelson Silverio will be the bullpen coach, replacing Rick Waits who was reassigned as the minor league pitching coordinator.
October 27 Mets officially named Jim Duquette as the club's 10th General Manager. Duquette became the interim GM on June 12 after Steve Phillips got fired. In the four months as the GM, Duquette traded away some high-priced veterans for minor leaguers to restock the farm system. No financial terms were announced.
October 8 Athletics claimed Inf. Marco Scutaro and OF Matt Watson off waivers from Mets.
September 30 Mets fired Pitching Coach Vern Ruhle due to a lack of communication between he and the pitchers. Even though some pitchers had a very good year, the young pitchers didn't perform as good. Mets are considering Rick Waits, Randy Niemann, and Bobby Ojeda among others.
