Mets interested in Bourn, but working to keep draft choice

The Mets have "sincere interest" in free agent outfielder Michael Bourn, and would like to sign him to a long-term deal that is back-loaded. However, Bourn would cost the Mets their 2013 first round pick if they do so happen to sign him. The Mets are petitioning MLB to view their top draft pick as protected, and the MLBPA supports allowing the Mets to surrender their second-round pick instead. 

The Mets originally had the 10th overall pick in next year's draft, but the new CBA rules allow the Pirates to have the pick instead since they didn't sign their 1st round pick Mark Appel last year. The rules would push the Mets out of the top 10, meaning that their pick would be unprotected, and that the Braves would take it if the Mets signed Bourn. 

Well, it definitely didn't take that long to find a flaw in this new CBA. It is unfair that the Mets would have to give up a first round pick to sign Bourn all because the Pirates couldn't come to an agreement with their pick. I really hope that the MLB allows the Mets to protect this pick, because bringing in Michael Bourn would be a solid move. I would have to imagine that his value has took a free-fall over the last couple of months or so, so he probably won't be asking for ridiculous money. However, I feel like I am speaking for most Mets fans here when I say that we would only like to have Bourn if we don't have to give up that first round pick, so hopefully MLB listens to the Mets and lets them protect its place in the first round. 

Mets agree to sign Shaun Marcum

The Mets have agreed to sign starting pitcher Shaun Marcum to a one year deal worth $4 million plus an additional $4 million in incentives. Marcum posted a 3.70 ERA in 21 starts for Milwaukee in 2012, and missed two months of the season with an elbow injury. He is 57-36 in his career with a combined 3.76 ERA. The Mets have shown interest in him throughout the entire off-season.

In my opinion, this is a great signing. I have advocated signing Marcum throughout the whole winter, and the two sides finally came to an agreement. It is nice to see the team actually sign a Major League free agent. Marcum's value is kind of low right now due to a somewhat-injury plagued 2012 season, so this could be slated as a low-risk, high-reward pickup. He is being brought to Queens to help eat up some innings that R.A. Dickey left once he was traded. 

I am not a scout, but I know that Marcum relies heavily on his off-speed pitches, most notably his change-up, to get opposing hitters out. Surprisingly, he does tend to strike out quite a few hitters, so that is definitely a positive. I just hope that he can stay healthy and become a fixture in this rotation for the entire season. 

Hairston signs with Cubs

The Cubs have agreed to sign outfielder Scott Hairston to a two year deal worth $6 million. Hairston hit .263 with 20 home runs in 377 at-bats with the Mets last season. The Mets showed interest in retaining him, but the two sides were a ways apart financially.

I don't have a huge problem with Hairston leaving because the Mets need quite a bit of pieces to compete again, and Hairston would have been just a start. There are other holes that need to be filled, and it was unlikely that, even if Hairston came back, he would have made a big difference. Paying $6 million for an extra 3-4 wins isn't the smartest move, especially with the team's payroll flexibility. Going to the Cubs ensures that he will be getting playing time, so it is a good career move for Hairston. I wish him the best of luck and thank him for his two years in Queens. 

Were the Mets right to pass on Delmon Young?

Yesterday the Phillies signed outfielder Delmon Young to a one year deal worth $750,000. The deal includes incentives that can boost the value of it to $3.25 million. Young wasn't very highly coveted this off-season, mostly due to his off-the-field trouble and defensive problems. The Tigers said early on in the off-season that they weren't interested in bringing back Young for another season, and it became clear that he was going to have to settle for a smaller contract. 

The Mets weren't that connected to Young this winter, but I expected them to inquire and see what he was willing to sign for. I am very surprised that Philadelphia got him for $750,000, especially when you consider how much success he had in the post-season last fall. It is obvious that his stock greatly fell when the hate-crime arrest came afloat.

I am happy that the Mets avoided him, and I still hope that they sign Scott Hairston. Putting Young in an outfield with an inexperienced Lucas Duda and Kirk Nieuwenhuis isn't really the best idea, and Alderson knows that. Sandy is a smart man, and I expect him to sign a MAJOR LEAGUE free agent sometime before Spring Training. 

Mets pick up Pedro Feliciano on a minors deal

The Mets have signed pitcher Pedro Feliciano to a minor league deal with an invite to Spring Training. Feliciano led the majors in appearances from 2008-2010, appearing in 266 games, all with the Mets. He has held lefty opponents to a .214 batting average in his career, and has a career 3.31 ERA across eight big league seasons. He has not pitched a Major League game ever since leaving the Mets after the 2010 season. Feliciano signed a two year, $14 million contract with the Yankees in the 2010 off-season, but shoulder problems stopped him from throwing a single pitch in a Yankees uniform. Also, he has posted a 1.23 ERA in seven relief appearances in the Puerto Rican Winter League this off-season. 

I was kind of upset when the Mets let Feliciano go after the 2010 season, because he was a main center-piece of that bullpen. Us Mets fans seemed to take his production for granted, and once he left the bullpen took a huge hit. Of-course, there were rumors that management overused him, according to Brian Cashman, and that we ruined his arm. However, I believe that if Feliciano was that seriously hurt, then why did Cashman completely overpay for him? 

Anyway, I like this signing as a low-risk, moderate reward move. Feliciano has every chance in the world to make the team out of Spring Training if he proves he is healthy and able to get major league hitters out. His competition is Josh Edgin and Robert Carson, both of whom have little experience at the big league level. In order to get Feliciano to come back and resurrect his career, the Mets are going to have to use him more delicately than they did with his first stint on the team. 

Mets, Davis agree to avoid arbitration

The Mets and Ike Davis have agreed to a one year deal worth $3.125 million, therefore avoiding arbitration. MLB Trade Rumors predicted that Davis would earn $2.8 million through the arbitration process, and he still has three more years of arbitration eligibility before he can become a free agent. In 2012, Davis hit .227 with 32 home runs and 90 RBI in 584 plate appearances. 

Paying $3.2 million for Davis is a very fair price in my mind. Davis still has a lot of room for improvement, but I expect great things from him in 2013. The batting average is going to need to go up, and he needs to cut down the strike outs. He also needs to avoid long slumps like he had last season, because that is ultimately what held him back for the first half of the season. If Davis has a strong 2013 season, look for the club to lock him up to an extension before he gets too expensive.