2006 METS OFF-SEASON NEWS

February 9  Mets signed P. Chan Ho Park to a 1-year contract, pending a physical.  Financial terms were not disclosed.  Park was 7-7 with a 4.81 ERA in 24 games with the Padres last season. 

February 3  The Mets coaching staff all received new contracts; Pitching Coach Rick Peterson inked a 3-year deal while the rest signed 2-year contracts.  Financial terms were not disclosed. 

February 1  P. Dave Williams underwent neck surgery for a herniated disk.  His availability for this coming season will be known in a few days. 

Mets signed OF Ruben Sierra to a minor league contract and invited him to Spring Training. 

January 25  Mets and Manager Willie Randolph agreed on a 3-year contract extension worth $5.65 million dollars with a club option for 2010.  Randolph will earn $1.4 millions in 2007, $2 million in '08, and $2.25 millions in '09.  Randolph guided the Mets with 2 winning seasons in his first 2 years as the Manager, and 1 game short of the World Series last season. 

Mets signed P. Aaron Sele to a minor league contract and invited him to Spring Training. 

First Baseman Carlos Delgado will receive the Thurman Munson award for all of the charitable work he does.  

January 16  Mets signed P. Jorge Sosa to a 1-year contract worth $1.25 million dollars.  Sosa was combined 3-11 with over 5.00 ERA and 3 saves with the Braves and the Cardinals last season. 

Mets also signed OF Endy Chavez and C. Ramon Castro to 1-year deals, avoiding arbitration.  

January 12  Mets and P. Oliver Perez agreed to a 1-year contract worth $2.325 million dollars.  Perez was 1-3 with a 6.38 ERA in 7 starts with the Mets. 

Mets Signed P. Duaner Sanchez to a 1-year contract worth $850,000, avoiding arbitration.  Sanchez was 5-1 with a 2.60 ERA in 49 appearances.  His season was cut short because he separated his shoulder in a taxi cab accident in Florida on July 31.  Sanchez expects to be ready by Opening Day. 

Mets signed P. Scott Schoeneweis to a 3-year contract worth $10.8 million dollars.  Schoeneweis, a lefty reliever, was 4-2 with a 4.88 ERA in 71 games with the Blue Jays and Reds last season. 

Mets signed OF David Newhan to a 1-year contract, financial terms were not disclosed.  Newhan, who plays all 3 OF positions, batted .252 with 4 hrs and 18 rbis with the Orioles last season. 

December 12  Mets resigned P. Dave Williams to a 1-year contract worth $1.25 million dollars.  Williams was 3-1 with a 5.59 ERA last season

Mets didn't offer P. Victor Zambrano a contract, making him a free agent.   

December 8  Mets resigned P. Guillermo Mota to a 2-year contract worth $5 millions.  Mota was 3-0 with a 1.00 ERA in 18 appearances with the Mets last season.  However MLB suspended Mota for the first 50 games of the 2007 season for violated the league's steroid policy.  

December 7  Mets traded P. Brian Bannister to the Royals for P. Ambiorix Burgos.  Burgos, a fireballer young reliever, was 4-5 with a 5.52 ERA and 18 saves last season. 

Mets named Howard Johnson to the coaching staff.  Johnson will be the first base coach and the baserunning coach.   

December 1  P. Tom Glavine debated whether to return to the Mets or go back to the Atlanta Braves where his family lives, has decided to sign with the Mets.  Mets and Glavine agreed to a 1-year contract worth $10.5 millions plus a player option for 2008.  Glavine went 15-7 with a 3.82 ERA and is 10 wins away from 300.

November 20  Mets signed OF Moises Alou to a 1-year contract worth $8.5 million, plus a team option for 2008.  Last season with the Giants, Alou batted .301 with 22 hrs and 74 rbis in only 90 games.  Alou, 40, was injured twice last season but he is a lethal right-handed bat that the Mets sorely need.  

Mets declined the team option on P. Tom Glavine, making him a free agent.  Mets hope to resigned him. 

Three Mets were in the top 10 in the MVP voting.  They are; Carlos Beltran - fourth, Jose Reyes - seventh, and David Wright - ninth.  Phillies 1b Ryan Howard won the award.   

November 17  Mets signed utility man Damian Easley to a 1-year contract worth $850,000.  Last season with the Diamondbacks, Easley batted .233 with 9 hrs and 28 rbis.  Easley can play all infield positions and some outfield. 

November 16  Mets traded P's Royce Ring and Heath Bell to the Padres for OF Ben Johnson and P. Jon Adkins.  Johnson can play all 3 OF positions, batted .258 with 4 hrs and 12 rbis in 55 games last season.   Adkins was 2-1 with a 3.98 ERA in 55 games. 

Willie Randolph finished 2nd in the Manager of the Year balloting.  Joe Girardi who is the ex-manager of the Florida Marlins won the award with 111 points.  Randolph had 81 points. 

Mets resigned P. Orlando, El Duque, Hernandez to a 2-year contract worth $12 million.  Hernandez was 9-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 20 starts last season with the Mets.  

November 13  Mets resigned 2b Jose Valentin to a 1-year $3 million contract, pending a physical.  Valentin played an important role last season hitting .271 with 18 hrs and 62 rbis.  Valentin also played a superb second base. 

Mets and city and state officials held a ground breaking ceremony on their new stadium, named Citi Field.  The new stadium is due to be ready by Opening Day 2009.  The stadium's rotunda will be named after Jackie Robinson. 

CF Carlos Beltran and SS Jose Reyes won the Silver Slugger Award as their position. 

November 3  CF Carlos Beltran won his 1st Gold Glove.  Beltran started 136 games and had a .995 fielding percentage and he made only 2 errors in 372 chances.