Mets sign Byrd to a minor league deal

The Mets have signed outfielder Marlon Byrd to a minor league contract with an invite to Spring Training. Byrd hit .210 in 47 games with Chicago and Boston during the 2012 season, and served a 50-game suspension for a PED violation.

This signing is great for Byrd because it gives him a landing spot where he will actually get the chance to compete for a starting job. If he has a decent Spring Training, than there will be a great chance that he makes the Opening Day roster. I would imagine that he would be batting Andrew Brown for the 4th/5th outfielder spot on the depth chart, so it will be interesting to see that play out. 

The PED suspension from last season definitely concerns me, but minor league deals are basically risk-less, and Byrd has had a history of (legitimate) success in the game. Hopefully he provides a veteran presence in the club-house and revives his career as a Met. 

Alderson not conformable with Francisco being his closer

Last night on SNY's Mets Hot Stove,  Sandy Alderson said that he is not conformable with Frank Francisco being the team's closer in 2013. 

"I don't know if we can have a lot of confidence in where we are. I hope that Frankie is able to step up. We've taken a lot of time to look at other possibilities and ways we can shore this up. At this point, we have added some pitching, but more of the front-end of the bullpen as opposed to the back-end. But no, not terribly comfortable, but I hope Frankie, over the next few weeks, does something to dispel that comfort."

Alderson also said that he hopes to add one or two more relievers before the the start of Spring Training, but isn't sure if it will specifically help the back-end of the bullpen.

I am happy that Alderson is now focusing on the bullpen, since it was such a big problem for the Mets in 2012. He has made a few smaller signings, but bringing in a players with proven track records would be a smart move. In my mind, Brian Wilson is the best fit for this team. He would bring a lot of energy to the team both on and off the field, and who can forget about the talent that he possesses. If he recover from Tommy John surgery and be the pitcher of old, then he could be arguably one of the best closers in the National League. That kind of production on a minor league deal would be a great bargain for the Mets.

As for Valverde and K-Rod, both of whom have been connected to the Mets over the last couple of days, I do not want to see them in Queens at anytime during the 2012 season. Both are headcases, and would be a mess in New York. We already know that Rodriguez isn't capable of handling the New York pressure, so moving on from him is a given. Valverde is a decent low-risk, moderate reward pickup, but the injury/aging concerns and the drop in velocity on his fastball is definitely concerning. With that being said, something needs to be done with this bullpen, and if Alderson signs either of these guys on minor league pacts, then I wouldn't be completely against it. However, it is unlikely that either one of these players (specifically Valverde and K-Rod) will settle for a minor league deal, even at this point in the off-season.

Mets sign Hawkins to a minor league deal

The Mets have signed relief pitcher LaTroy Hawkins to a minor league deal with an invite to Spring Training. Hawkins, 40, posted a 3.64 ERA in 42 relief innings with the Angels last season. If he makes the team, he will earn an additional $1 million with the possibility of other incentives. Even after signing Hawkins, the Mets are still going to look to add more bullpen help, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.

I don't mind this signing, and expect more of these low risk moves in the the next coming weeks leading up to Spring Training. Hawkins has had a long career mixed with occasional success and failure, but has seemed to really up his game over the last couple of seasons. I am not really concerned with the fact that he is 40 years old, because, look at Darren Oliver for example. The guy is 43 years old and still putting up very respectable numbers. Anyway, I expect Hawkins to make the team, and possibly be the team's setup man depending on whether any other moves come. 

Mets, Murphy agree to one year deal

The Mets and Daniel Murphy have agreed on a one year deal worth $2.925 million, therefore avoiding arbitration. Murphy was originally seeking $3.4 million, but the Mets countered with a $2.55 million offer. The Mets settled with Bobby Parnell and Ike Davis as well back in January, so they will not be going into arbitration with any of their players this off-season. 

Murphy has taken huge strides in his offensive development, but still has some more to learn from the defensive standpoint. The team has finally found a position for him to play everyday, and now he must prove that he can be the long-term second-baseman. Once the defense comes around, I would imagine that the team would explore extending him. However, if he continues to stay where he is regarding his development, he may find himself being traded for relief help. 

Mets sign Atchison to a minor league deal

The Mets have signed relief pitcher Scott Atchison to a minor league deal with an invite to Spring Training. Atchison, 36, appeared in 42 games for Boston in 2012, posting a 1.58 ERA in 51 1/3 innings. He missed two months of the season with a torn elbow ligament, and he did not elect to have surgery to repair the injury. Atchison will earn $700,000 if he makes the Opening Day roster, and can earn an extra $150,000 in performance-based incentives. 

Atchison has certainly had an odd career, but I don't mind this pickup for the Mets. Throughout the 2012 season, he kept the ball in the park, posting a 0.4 HR/9, so that is certainly a nice statistic to see. He doesn't throw hard, and will not strike out batters, but could be a decent find if that arm holds up. It is strange to see that he didn't elect to have surgery, so perhaps his arm is a ticking time bomb, but only time will tell. As of now, I have no problem with this.