OFF-SEASON NEWS AND PLAYER TRANSACTIONS

February 11  Mets signed Japanese pitcher Hisanori Takahashi to a minor leagues contract.  If he makes the team, he will earn $1 million dollars plus incentives. 

February 10  Mets signed outfielder Angel Pagan to an one year contract, avoiding arbitration. 

Mets also signed first baseman Mike Jacobs to a minor leagues contract with an invitation to Spring Training. 

January 30  Mets signed Smithtown native outfielder Frank Catanotto to a minor leagues contract with an invitation to Spring Training. 

January 29  Mets resigned utility man Fernando Tatis to an one year $825,000 contract.  Tatis batted .282 with 8 hrs and 48 rbis last season. 

Mets also signed pitcher Josh Fogg to a minor leagues contract with an invitation to Spring Training. 

January 22  Mets acquired Centerfielder Gary Matthews Jr. from the Angels for pitcher Brian Stokes.  The Angels also are giving the Mets $21 million dollars to cover the contract that is for 2 more years.  Matthews Jr. hit .250 with 4 hrs.  his best season was in 2006 when he hit 19 home runs with the Rangers.  He is an insurance policy to Carlos Beltran, but is an unhappy player when not playing everyday. 

January 19  Mets signed Rightfielder Jeff Francoeur to an one year $5 million dollars contract, avoiding arbitration.  Mets also signed pitcher Pedro Feliciano to an one year $2.2 million dollars contract, avoiding arbitration.

Mets selected four new members to their Hall of Fame.  They are; Darryl Strawberry, Dwight Gooden, Manager Davey Johnson, and General Manager Frank Cashen, all are from the 1986 World Championship Team.  The ceremony will be August 1, 2010.

January 16  Mets signed pitcher John Maine to a $3.3 million dollars contract, avoiding arbitration. 

January 15  Centerfielder Carlos Beltran will miss anywhere from 12-15 weeks because he had arthroscoptic surgery on his knee.  Beltran began to feel discomfort in his knee again in December then he went to see Dr. Steadman, a knee specialist, in Colorado.  Dr. Steadman suggested surgery, but the Mets wanted a third opinion.  However, Beltran went ahead and had the surgery without the Mets approval, even though Carlos said GM Minaya wished him well on the surgery.  It is a disaster! 

January 8  Mets claimed relief pitcher Jay Marshall from the Athletics.  He was in the minor leagues last season. 

January 5  Jason Bay passed his physical and is now officially a Met.

December 30  Mets and free agent outfielder Jason Bay agreed in principle on a four year contract worth $66 millions with a vesting option for a fifth year.  The deal is pending on Bay taking a physical early next week.  Bay hit .266 with 36 hrs and 119 rbis, both career bests, with the Red Sox last season.  However, Bay has both shoulder and knee issues to be concerned about. 

December 25  Mets signed P. Kelvim Escobar to a minor leagues contract.  Escobar made only one appearance over the last two years because of a shoulder injury, but was 18-7 in 2007 with the Angels.  Merry Christmas Mets fans! 

Mets signed knuckleball pitcher R. A. Dickey to a minor leagues contract. 

December 18  Mets signed P. Clint Everts to an one year contract.  Financial terms were not disclosed.  Everts was in Washington's minor leagues system last season.  

December 17  Mets signed Japanese relief pitcher Ryoto Igarashi to a two year contract worth $3 million dollars.  Igarashi will be used as the setup man, is 47-29 and 54 saves in his career.  Ryoto has an excellent fastball and splitter. 

Mets signed P. Elmer Dessens to a minor leagues contract. 

December 11  Mets acquired P. Carlos Monasterios from the Phillies in the Rule 5 Draft, then dealt him to the Dodgers for cash considerations. 

Mets made contract offers to OF Jason Bay and C Benji Molina.

December 5  Mets signed C Henry Blanco to an one year contract.  Blanco hit .235 with 6 hrs and 16 rbis last season with the Padres. 

December 3  Mets signed C Chris Coste to an one year contract.  Coste batted .224 with the Astros and Phillies last season.  He can also play first base. 

November 30  Mets resigned Inf. Alex Cora to an one year $2 million contract.  Cora hit .243 last season but his season was cut short due to a double thumb surgery in August. 

November 24  Mets named Dave Jauss as the Bench Coach and Chip Hale as the Third Base Coach.  Razor Shines will be the First Base Coach. 

November 6  Mets declined the 2010 option on JJ Putz.

OF Jeff Francoeur underwent successful thumb surgery and should be ready by Spring Training. 

October 20  Mets released P. Ken Takakashi.

October 15  SS Jose Reyes underwent successful surgery to remove scar tissue from his hamstring tendon and should be ready for Spring Training.  

October 5  The day after the miserable 2009 season has ended, Mets fired First Base Coach Luis Alicea, removed Sandy Alomar Sr. as the Bench Coach and reassigned him in the organization, removed Razor Shines as the Third Base Coach and possibly move him in the Bench Coach position.  The remaining coaches will remain the same as well as the medical staff.