Mets sign Chad Bradford
New York, Dec. 29, 2005 -   The Mets today signed 31-year old right-handed relief pitcher Chad Bradford to a one-year Major League contract.

The right-handed specialist Bradford pitched in 31 games for Boston in 2005 with a 3.86 ERA.

The Mets, intent on improving their bullpen, have imported a veteran, right-handed reliever with postseason experience who is familiar with pitching coach Rick Peterson.

They signed 31-year-old free agent Chad Bradford to a one-year, $1.4 million Major League contract Wednesday.

Bradford is a situational right-handed pitcher with a sidearm, almost submarine delivery, reminiscent, in Mets history, of Jeff Innis. He has averaged less than an inning per appearance in eight seasons in the big leagues and has made 10 postseason appearances.

Right-handed hitters have a .225 average against Bradford. He has allowed 10 home runs in 834 at-bats against right-handed batters in his career, an average of one home run per 83.4 at-bats.  

Mets sign outfielder Endy Chavez
New York, Dec. 23, 2005 -   The New York Mets today signed free agent outfielder Endy Chavez to a major league contract. Chavez, 27, was in the Mets minor league system from 1996 until he was selected by Kansas City in the 2000 Rule V Draft. He split last season between Washington and Philadelphia.

"Chavez is an athletic player with excellent defensive skills in all three outfield positions," said Mets General Manager Omar Minaya. "He gives us another outfield option as we approach spring training."

Endy hit .222 (2-9) with one double and one RBI with the Nationals in 2005 before he was acquired by the Phillies on May 14th for outfielder Marlon Byrd. He batted .215 (23-107) with three doubles, three triples and 10 RBI in 91 contests for the Phillies. Endy began the season with New Orleans (AAA) of the Pacific Coast League, batting .253 (22-87) with four doubles, one home run and four RBI. Chavez was recalled by Washington on May 3rd before being optioned back to New Orleans on May 10th.

The 5-10, 159-pounder led Philadelphia with 11 pinch-hits and was the only player in the majors to collect two pinch-hit triples. Chavez also hit .381 (8-21) against lefthanded pitching in 2005.

Endy batted .251 (121-483) with 66 runs scored, 25 doubles, five triples, five home runs, 47 RBI and 18 stolen bases in 141 games in 2003 with Montreal.

He played in 132 games in 2004 with the Expos, hitting .277 (139-502) with 20 doubles, six triples, five home runs, 34 RBI and 32 stolen bases.

In 436 major league games with the Royals, Expos, Nationals and Phillies, he has a .259 (338-1,303) batting mark with 59 doubles, 19 triples, 11 home runs, 106 RBI and 55 stolen bases.

Chavez has a younger brother, Ender, who plays in the Nationals organization.  

Hershiser 'excited' for Hall ballot consideration
New York, Dec. 23, 2005 -   From suspect to success, Orel Hershiser defied the odds in his rise to the Majors. Once there, "Bulldog" worked to become one of the top pitchers of his generation. His finest season came in '88, leading the Dodgers to the World Series title. 

Lyons keeps the faith after Katrina
New York, Dec. 22, 2005 -   Hurricane Katrina tore through Barry Lyons' life and property fourth months ago. The lost baseball mementos are the least of it. 

Jefferies on Hall ballot for first time
New York, Dec. 22, 2005 -   The weight of expectation fell hard on Gregg Jefferies, partly because of his brilliant Minor League career and partly because the Mets brought him to the Major Leagues when only his bat was ready for the challenge. A skilled offensive player with speed and the ability to drive pitches to all fields, Jefferies never conquered the defensive part of the game.

His one-dimensional game was an obstacle from the outset of his Major League career. He never developed into the player the Mets envisioned until 1993, when, under the tutelage of Joe Torre, he played first base and became a productive top-of-the-order player with the Cardinals, batting .335 with 141 runs, 138 RBIs, 58 stolen bases, 51 doubles and 28 home runs in two seasons.

Now, with a resume that includes only one full season of exceptional production, Jefferies appears on the Hall of Fame ballot for the first time. He hardly is assured of a second appearance.

Jefferies was a thick-legged but nonetheless fleet-footed kid from Northern California who had an abiding appreciation for Ty Cobb, Elvis Presley and the Doors. His father was influential in his baseball development.

His assignment to the Major League Mets late in the 1988 season -- he had a six at-bat cup of coffee the previous September -- became a clubhouse issue and prompted significant resentment among veteran players.

The resentment lingered and was a factor in the Mets' decision to trade him in December 1991. General manager Al Harazin believed Jefferies wouldn't reach his potential with the Mets and included him in a trade with the Royals for Bret Saberhagen.  

Mets release Ishii, sign three pitchers
New York, Dec. 20, 2005 -   Kaz Ishii, the pitcher the Mets hoped would improve its rotation in 2005, was released Monday. The club signed three pitchers to Minor League contracts -- left-handed reliever Pedro Feliciano and right-handed reliever Jose Parra, each of who pitched for the Mets in 2004, and 35-year-old veteran Darren Oliver. 

Pedro still bothered by balky toe
New York, Dec. 20, 2005 -   The large toe on the right foot of Pedro Martinez had caused pain -- usually identified, euphemistically, by the Mets as discomfort -- for months. Now it is causing concern as well. Martinez was quoted Monday as expressing concern because the toe has prevented him from beginning his throwing program.

As recently as last week, general manager Omar Minaya said he was aware of new no development involving the condition of the Mets' primary starting pitcher. During the Winter Meetings, Minaya expressed no concern about Martinez but said the condition of the pitcher's toe was being monitored and that trainer Ray Ramirez, who had also visited Martinez in the Dominican, was in regular contact with the hurler.  

Humber on the road to recovery
New York, Dec. 19, 2005 -   Mets pitching prospect Phil Humber, a former first-round draft pick is soft tossing again, just five months after undergoing Tommy John surgery. 

Benson plays Santa at Mets' holiday party
New York, Dec. 14, 2005 -  

Anna Benson cooking things up with Santa Claus.

Outfitted with a thick white beard, golden glasses and a jolly, protruding belly, Kris Benson filled the shoes of Santa Claus during the Mets' annual holiday party Wednesday.

Outfitted with a thick white beard, golden glasses and a jolly, protruding belly, Benson filled the shoes of Santa Claus during the Mets' annual holiday party Wednesday at Shea Stadium, greeting 110 students from every borough of New York City.

The third Santa Claus in as many years, following John Franco and Mike Cameron, Benson settled in with Mrs. Claus -- his wife, Anna -- and met with the children for more than an hour, signing some autographs but mostly fielding gift requests.

Anna generated more controversy by attending the New York Mets Christmas party wearing a low-cut Santa-style red dress; she continued generating additional controversy with her statement that Mets general manager Omar Minaya was "putting together an all-Latino team."

But Anna Benson - actress, model, television and tabloid personality, mother of three and former stripper - has created enough of a stir with her calculated outrageousness that she could be a factor in the Mets' recent attempts to trade Kris, who was a competent, and perhaps overpaid, starting pitcher in 2005 and who has two years left on his contract.  

Mets sign infielder Julio Franco
New York, Dec. 9, 2005 -   The New York Mets today signed free agent infielder Julio Franco to a two-year contract. Franco, who turned 47 on August 23, will enter his 29th professional season in 2006. He is the oldest player in the majors. Julio hit .275 (64-233) with 30 runs scored, 12 doubles, one triple, nine home runs and 42 RBI in 108 games last season in Atlanta. He also led the Braves with 14 pinch-hits.

Franco has constructed a .299 (2,521-8,422) batting average, with 394 doubles, 54 triples, 170 home runs and 1,152 RBI in 2,377 games with the Phillies, Indians, Rangers, White Sox, Brewers, Devil Rays and Braves. Julio made his major league debut in 1982 with the Phillies. He has more than 3,800 hits between the majors, minors and his time in Japan, Korea and Mexico. 

Mets looking at bringing Bernie to Shea
New York, Dec. 8, 2005 -   Bernie Williams' future with the Yankees is still an uncertainty, but the Bombers aren't the only New York team with an interest in the five-time All-Star.

The Mets are interested in signing Williams as a backup outfielder, the same role that the Yankees are looking to fill with the 37-year-old. One high-ranking Mets official said that if Williams is willing to accept a contract significantly lower than the $12.3 million he earned in 2005, the club would be interested in bringing him across town from the Bronx to Queens. The Mets would probably offer Williams a one-year deal not worth more than $2 million. 

Marlins deal Lo Duca to Mets
New York, Dec. 4, 2005 -   The Marlins dealt catcher Paul Lo Duca to the Mets for Minor League pitcher Gaby Hernandez, a Miami native, and another prospect.

Reality for Paul Lo Duca began to sink in about two weeks ago, when Josh Beckett's name was first floated around in trade talks. When the Marlins officially traded Beckett, Mike Lowell, Guillermo Mota and Carlos Delgado on Thanksgiving night, Lo Duca figured no veteran with a multi-million contract was safe. Lo Duca's instincts proved accurate.

With the Winter Meetings set to formally begin Monday in Dallas, the Marlins cut ties again with a popular, productive player who no longer fit into their budget. Lo Duca, a three-time All-Star catcher, was dealt to the Mets for Minor League pitcher Gaby Hernandez, a Miami native, and another prospect.

Hernandez, 19, is one of the Mets top pitching prospects. In 2005, the 6-foot-3, 215-pounder was 6-1 with a 2.43 ERA for low Class-A Hagerstown in the South Atlantic League. Hernandez struck out 99 in 92 2/3 innings. He finished up with Class-A Port St. Lucie, going 2-5 with a 5.74 ERA, striking out 32 while walking 10. 

Report: Mets may deal Benson for Julio
New York, Dec. 1, 2005 -   Quoting unnamed sources, the New York Post reported Thursday that the Mets are aiming to acquire righty reliever Jorge Julio from the O's for righty starter Kris Benson. The paper said the deal could be completed at next week's Winter Meetings.