Mets sign third-round draft pick

It seems I’m weeks behind on my draft pick signings.

The Mets and their second-round draft pick, Robbie Shields, agreed to terms on July 8.

The New York Mets today announced that they signed infielder Robbie Shields, the team's second selection (103rd overall) from the 2009 First Year Player Draft. Shields, a 6-0, 220-pound shortstop out of Florida Southern College will report to Brooklyn (A) of the New York-Penn League.

Shields, 21, hit .345 (76-220) with 65 runs scored, 19 doubles, two triples, five home runs, 37 RBI and 10 stolen bases in 57 games for the Division II Moccasins this season. A native of Dade City, Fla., Shields hit .329 (215-653) over his three-year career at Florida Southern, while starting all 167 games. He was named second-team all Sunshine State Conference as a sophomore.

BP: Mets sign Juan Urbina

Kiley McDaniel of Baseball Prospectus (via MLBTR) is reporting that the Mets have signed Juan Urbina, a lefty pitcher out of Venezuela.

Urbina is the son of former MLB player Ugeth Urbina.  The signing bonus is supposedly worth over $1 million.

This marks the first signing during the international signing period, so brace yourselves for a lot of names you’ve never heard before signing for big money.

Update – 10:23 a.m.: Urbina was listed at the No. 8 international prospect by Baseball America in this SI article.

And here’s a quote from an interview Ben Badler of Baseball America did with River Ave. Blues:

For me, the two that stand out are Venezuelan lefthander Juan Urbina and Dominican righthander Johendi Jiminian. Yes, Urbina is Ugueth’s son, and it shows in his advanced mechanics and feel for pitching. He’ll probably sign with the Mets.

He called it.

Report: Mets sign Willy Mo Peña [Updated]

According to the Web site almemento.net, the Mets have signed Willy Mo Peña to a minor league deal (via Retire31).

UPDATE – 7:40 p.m.: SNY has corroborated this report.

It’s a good signing because you can never have enough players.  The Mets seem hell-bent on signing outfielders with attitude problems.  It will help Buffalo, that’s for sure.  He’ll be up with the Mets sometime in 2009.

The translated version of the report reads…

SANTO DOMINGO. - The Dominican gardener Wily Mo Rock reached an agreement of smaller league with the set of the Meters of New York that will report about $400 to him thousands dollars reason why he remains of the season.

According to a source informed into whole credit, the Dominican one accepted the pact with the New York troops with the condition of which it would not remain in the minority circuits by more than two months.

It will not be until this Sunday or Monday when one hopes that the Mets makes the company/signature with Rock public.

Obviously, I’m skeptical of this report.  Take it with a large grain of salt.

The article claims it’s a minor league deal, worth $400,000.

Peña refused to his assignment to minor league camp with the Washington Nationals and was granted his unconditional release from the organization on March 31.

The Mets had originally signed Peña as a free agent in 1998.  Over seven seasons in the major leagues, Peña has played for three different teams, compiling a .253 AVG / .307 OBP / .447 SLG.  He’s driven in 225 runs, with his best year coming in 2004 with Cincinnati when he drove in 66 runs.

With the Buffalo Bisons off to a 1-10 start, I guess they need a bit of a kick-start.  Maybe Peña’s attitude will rustle some feathers.

The Stache is back: Mets sign Jose Valentin

Jose Valentin is back with the New York Mets, according to Joel Sherman.

Valentin, who started his Mets tenure in the doghouse, eventually took over the second base starting job in 2006. He went on to have a renaissance season, and some considered him a good leader in the clubhouse, especially around Jose Reyes.

In '06, Valentin hit .271 and slugged 18 home runs.

In '07, Valentin appeared in only 51 games before breaking a bone in his leg. He hit .241 in 166 at-bats.

It will be great to have him back around Reyes and the rest of the team, if only for spring training. If he ends up at triple-A he'll be a competent call-up if when Luis Castillo goes down with an injury.

Oliver Perez and Mets agree to deal, in principle

According to Jon Heyman over at SI.com, the Mets and free agent pitcher Oliver Perez have agreed, in principle, to a deal.

Heyman believes the numbers to be for three years and $36 million.

Update: The Post has it too. Same figures. No option, vesting or otherwise, on the deal. Probably because no other team was vying for him.

While it's good to have him back, I'm still iffy on the rotation. Perez is decent and will be a nice addition to the weak rotation, but I don't think he's the anchor the Mets need.

Yay, I guess?

Armas Jr. will be back, among three others

Three pitchers and an outfielder. (Sounds like a bad reality show on the MLB Network.)

Tony Armas Jr. will be returning to the Mets organization and Matt DeSalvo, Valerio de los Santos and Bobby Kielty will be the newcomers to the the team.

I like Armas Jr., as he's versatile to start or be the long-man if needed.

Nothing really important to note here, only that Kielty looks a heck of a lot like the bad guy from The Incredibles.

Freddy G in NYC

The Mets have signed Freddy Garcia to a minor-league deal.

According to Adam Rubin, if Garcia makes the majors and surpasses the incentives in his contract, he can earn up to $9 million.

Woah. I'm glad the Mets landed Garcia, as I think he'll be beneficial in the long run. Still, that's a lot of dough.

If they're willing to pay Garcia $9 million for one season, I don't understand why they're unwilling to pay more for a better pitcher for a few years.

Update -- 9:17 p.m.: It's back. Breathe easier?

Update -- 9:15 p.m.: The page is gone, but it's still viewable on the Surfing the Mets homepage. I'm not sure if that means the deal is not there or if there are just server problems.

Mets sign Cory Sullivan

The Mets have signed free agent outfielder Cory Sullivan to one-year major league deal.

The contract is worth $600,000 with $300,000 more available through incentives.

I don't get this. As if the Mets needed another outfielder at the major league level. A major league deal just makes no sense to me. Hmm...maybe something is stirring?

Sullivan has played his entire career with the Rockies organization. In 355 games over four seasons, Sullivan is a career .279 batter, with a .330 OBP and .391 SLG. He's hit eight career home runs.

Defensively, though, it's a different story. Sporting a career .992 fielding percentage at all three outfield positions.

Still very odd.

Mets add Alex Cora

According to WEEI in Boston, Alex Cora and the Mets have agreed to a one-year contract worth $2 million.

From WEEI:

Former Red Sox infielder Alex Cora has agreed to a one-year, $2 million deal with the New York Mets. The 33-year-old Cora played with Boston from July 7, 2005 — when he was traded from Cleveland for infielder Ramon Vazquez — through last season.

I like it.

Last season with the Boston Red Sox (whom he played for since partway through 2005), Cora hit .270 / .371 /.349 in 75 games. He played shortstop the majority of those games (69), while also seeing some time at second base.

He's the new Damion Easley, except he's been to the playoffs.

Thanks to Ian from SOX & Dawgs.

Hello, Tim Redding

The deal is official. Tim Redding the your newest New York Met.

Jon Heyman was right, as the deal was worth $2.25 million, but Redding has the chance to earn up to $3 million, according to Adam Rubin.

Redding went 10-11 with the lowly Nationals last season. Against the Braves, Phillies and Marlins, he posted a 6-5 record. 3-1 against Philadelphia, 1-1 against Atlanta and 2-3 against Florida.

The Mets won two and lost one to Redding.

Jon Niese may not even factor into the rotation now, but he'll be the perfect guy to come up if a pitcher gets injured. You never know, though, with a strong spring training, anything is possible.

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.

wow...i skip out for a few days and...

Lets recap...

~Mets sign Jose Reyes to four year $23.25 mil. contract. Option for 5th year...

~Mets sign David Wright to six year contract $55 mil Option for 7th year...

~John Maine has pitched 23 2/3 straight scoreless innings. Adding 6 last night in the 8-1 win over Philly.

~13 game lead over Philly

~Castro on DL. DeFelice takes his spot.

~Mike Piazza is coming back into town on Tuesday. (Video Triubute Planned)

~Lo Duca is no longer talking to the media...reason:: divorce says Hot Foot and the Post.

Lets Go Mets.