Mets to meet with agents for Axford and Gregg

The Mets plan to meet with agents for free agent relievers John Axford and Kevin Gregg. As well as them, the team has also been linked to Chris Perez and Mitchell Boggs. 

Axford, 30, split the 2013 season with Milwaukee and St. Louis, posting a combined 4.02 ERA in 75 relief appearances. He played significantly better in his brief stint with the Cardinals, as he had a 1.74 ERA in 13 games. 

From 2010-2012, the right-hander was known as one of the more dominant closers in the game, putting up a 3.04 ERA during that time while notching 105 saves. There have been some criticisms over his control, as he does sport a 4.0 BB/9 ratio, but his strong strikeout numbers (career 10.8 K/9) tend to overshadow that. 

Gregg, an 11 year veteran, spent the entire 2013 season with the Cubs organization, and had a solid comeback season. The 35 year old had a 3.48 ERA in 62 relief appearances, while racking up 33 saves and finishing 52 games.

He put up similar numbers back in his prime with the Marlins from 2007-2008. During that time, he posted a 3.48 ERA with 61 saves in 146 relief appearances. 

The Mets are clearly concerned about Bobby Parnell heading into the 2014 season. As you recall, he underwent neck surgery that ended his 2013 season a little early, but it was expected that he would be ready for Opening Day of this coming season. 

To me, Axford is the more appealing option, simply because of his track record. Not too long ago he was one of the best closers in the game for the Brewers, but after a year and a half of so-so numbers, he was dealt to the Cardinals and seemed to rediscover himself. I would take him on an incentive-based deal, and give him the opportunity to close some games if Parnell isn't ready. 

Of-course, it's worth mentioning that Vic Black will be in the running for some sort of late-inning role for the Mets next year. Bringing in a veteran like Axford, Gregg, etc., could prove to help Black out quite a bit in his development. 

Mets to sign Bartolo Colon

The Mets will sign pitcher Bartolo Colon to a two year deal worth $20 million. The deal is pending a physical.

Colon, 40, went 18-6 with an impressive 2.65 ERA with Oakland last season. There was interest in a reunion between Colon and the Athletics, but that faded away when the club inked Scott Kazmir to a multiyear deal. 

Fangraphs valued Colon at 3.9 WAR in 2013, whereas Baseball Reference labeled him at 5.0 WAR. The 16 year veteran has a combined 3.94 ERA in his career while playing for Cleveland, Montreal, the White Sox, Angels, Red Sox, Yankees, and Athletics. He is a four-time All-Star, and won the Cy Young award in 2005 as a member of the Angels.

The Mets had been searching for a veteran pitcher to eat up some innings in 2014, but this signing comes as a surprise. Not only is Colon an extremely effective option, he will now be locked up at a reasonable price. Last year he managed to put up that 2.65 ERA against tough competitors in the American League, so one could imagine how his numbers who be in the National League. 

I'm very pleased by this signing. Colon isn't going to be the team's ace, but he'll be very serviceable in the middle of the rotation, and despite the old age and weight problems, I have a hunch that he'll turn in a very solid 2014 season, and perhaps look at being dealt next winter depending on where the Mets are in their rebuilding effort.

The Mets have signed three Major League caliber players this winter, totaling at a combined $31 million. It is predicted that they will now shop Ike Davis and/or Daniel Murphy to try and clear some payroll space, and perhaps look at a more expensive shortstop option such as Stephen Drew, as well as bring in some veteran relievers. 

Mets announce Granderson signing

The Mets have officially announced the Curtis Granderson signing via press conference. The details of Granderson's contract were also announced and will go as follows: $13 million in 2014, $16 million in each of 2015 and 2016, and $15 million in 2017. It does not include an option year or a no trade clause. He will wear number 3, as shown below. 

Granderson addressed reporters during the press conference and had the following to say:

"Today is an amazing day, I'm really excited to be a part of the New York Mets organization." 

"A lot of people I've met in New York said, 'True New Yorkers are Mets fans." 

When asked why he chose the Mets, he replied saying "When weighing every possible opportunity, it was the best fit possible." 

Sandy Alderson said that the Mets were set on signing him before other teams showed a strong interest. 

"We focused on Curtis." he said. "We felt he would add the most to our team, given where we were and we're very pleased to have him." 

Granderson also tipped his cap to David Wright for reaching out to him when the season ended.

"Wright was one of the first people to contact me, before we even got to the negotiation stage," he said. "It's like we've known each other our whole career and I'm really excited to get to play with him."

Mets looking at a pair of relievers

The Mets are looking at a pair of relief pitchers to bolster their 2014 bullpen. They have interest in Chris Perez and Mitchell Boggs. Both players are free agents. 

Perez, a former closer for the Indians, had a 4.33 ERA in 54 appearances for Cleveland in 2013. The two time All-Star had a combined 2.84 ERA with 98 saves from 2010-2012, proving to be one of the game's most dominant closers. However, his numbers slipped in 2013, and he only notched 25 saves. 

Perez earned $7.3 million for the Indians last year, and was ultimately released by the team shortly after the postseason came to a close. 

Boggs, a former dominant setup man, split the 2013 season with the Cardinals and Rockies, where he had a combined 8.10 ERA in 14.2 innings pitched. He was non-tendered by Colorado last week. 

The 29 year old righty was once a fixture in the Cardinals bullpen, as he had a combined 3.08 ERA in 190 relief appearances from 2010-2012. After getting off to a slow start with St. Louis in 2013, he was ultimately traded to Colorado.

Both of these names could be interesting, as they had great success in the game not too long ago.

Perez comes with more baggage, however, since he does like to run his mouth when things aren't going his way. His most recent antic came when he blew a save in August of 2013, and he decided to boycott the media for the rest of the year, leading to a rough relationship between him and the Cleveland faithful. In late September, he eventually came out and talked to the media, however. 

I wouldn't go too crazy over bringing in Perez, just because it would hard to root for someone who has shown disrespect towards the fans in the past. Is/was he talented? Yes. But unless it's a great deal, I don't think it's worth it at all. With the way the market has gone, he'll likely get a guaranteed major league deal anyway, so I don't think he's a good fit for the Mets.

Boggs, on the other hand, could be a perfect pickup. He was very solid for three straight years in the Cardinals bullpen, and his rough 2013 season severely diminished his value. I can see him returning to form just with a change of scenery. In fact, he did better with Colorado during his brief stint with them last year, as he had a 3.12 ERA in 9 appearances. It's a small sample size, but much better then his 11.05 ERA in 18 appearances for St. Louis earlier in the year.