Dec. 29, 2006
 | | Barry Zito |
Zito's Giants deal worth about $18M per year
Barry Zito and the Giants reached a preliminary agreement on the largest pitcher contract in baseball history, a $126 million, seven-year deal. Zito joins the Giants three weeks after the club came to terms on a new $16 million, one-year contract with slugger Barry Bonds for a 15th season.
A source familiar with Zito's contract told ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick that the agreement includes an $18 million option for 2014 with a $7 million buyout that could increase the value to $137 million. The option would become guaranteed if Zito pitches 200 innings in 2013, 400 combined over 2012 and 2013 or 600 combined from 2011-13. Zito also has a full no-trade clause.
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Dec. 22, 2006
Mets raising price of sought after box seats
The New York Mets are raising the price of box seats closest to the Shea Stadium field by up to $12 next season and are increasing the best tickets available for individual games by as much as $7.
The Metro Club Gold seats, the ones nearest the dugouts, will range from $108-$72, the Mets said Friday, up from $96-60 last season. The Mets have five prices depending on the opponent: platinum, gold, silver, bronze and value.
That's a bargain compared to the prices for similar seats at Yankee Stadium, where the best box seats near the dugouts will cost $150 next year, up from $110. For both teams, those seats are usually available only as part of season-ticket plans.
In addition, both teams have specialty seats -- the Yankees in an area lining the field and the Mets in rows behind home plate -- that run higher.
For the Mets, inner loge boxes range from $82-$52 (up from $75-$45), inner field boxes from $77-$47 ($70-40), outfield field and loge boxes and all mezzanine boxes from $54-$36 ($32-50), loge reserved from $48-$30 ($45-$27), mezzanine reserved and upper box from $35-$21 ($33-$19) and upper reserved and loge and mezzanine back rows from $25-$5 ($22-$5).
In addition, the Mets will have several discount plans. For 36 of their 81 home games, 20,000 seats per game will be available in $9 or $5 value packs. The Mets also have a holiday promotion ongoing in which tickets for five games can be bought for a total of $37.
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Dec. 13, 2006
Giles to the Big Apple?
The Atlanta Braves' decision to not offer Marcus Giles a contract by Tuesday's midnight deadline and make him a free agent opened a potentially intriguing door for the New York Mets.
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Randolph would love to have Zito
Mets manager Willie Randolph would love to see Barry Zito pitching for his team next season.
"I like what we have, but Barry's one of the best pitchers in the game, and if the organization sees fit that we can fit him into our budget, then we'd love to have him," Randolph said Wednesday at the Mets' annual holiday party.
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Dec. 12, 2006
Zambrano let go by Mets
The New York Mets didn't offer pitcher Victor Zambrano a contract by Tuesday night's deadline, making the injured pitcher a free agent. The Mets planned to continue negotiations with Zambrano, a right-hander acquired from Tampa Bay on July 30, 2004, for Scott Kazmir. By not offering a contract, the Mets can get around baseball's rule that says they must offer at least $2.4 million -- 80 percent of his salary this year.
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Dec. 11, 2006
Mets to play Orioles in Hall of Fame game
The New York Mets will play the Baltimore Orioles in next year's Hall of Fame game on May 21, a rematch of the 1969 World Series.
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SNY adds Mazzilli as Mets studio analyst
Lee Mazzilli, replaced as a bench coach for the New York Yankees, will move across town to become the lead studio analyst for the New York Mets on SportsNet New York.
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Angels and Oliver agree to a deal
Reliever Darren Oliver and the Los Angeles Angels agreed Monday to a one-year contract worth $1.75 million with a club option for a second season. Oliver appeared in 45 games for the New York Mets last season, going 4-1 with a 3.44 ERA. The 36-year-old left-hander walked 21 and struck out 60 in 81 innings.
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Dec. 9, 2006
Mets' Reyes prohibited from winter ball
The New York Mets prohibited Jose Reyes from playing winter ball, not wanting to take any chances with the health of their star shortstop.
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Dec. 6, 2006
Brian Bannister |
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Ambiorix Burgos |
Mets acquire K.C. reliever
The first trade at baseball's winter meetings was far from a blockbuster.
In a swap of promising young pitchers, the New York Mets acquired hard-throwing reliever
Ambiorix Burgos from the Kansas City Royals for starter Brian Bannister.
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Hojo now a MLB coach
The Mets hired former All-Star 3B Howard Johnson as their new first base coach.
Sandy Alomar Sr. moves from first base to third to replace Manny Acta, the Washington Nationals' new manager. Johnson spent the past two seasons as the hitting coach for the Mets' Triple-A affiliate. I wonder if he speaks spanish? Will Hojo bring his corked bat?
Bernazard gets raise and title
In the front office, the Mets promoted Tony Bernazard to vice president of development, Sandy Johnson to vice president of scouting and Ramon Pena to special assistant to the general manager. "It's just going to be more defined, their roles," Minaya said.
Milledge for bullshit pitcher?
The Mets and Oakland were talking about the possibility of New York shipping outfielder Lastings Milledge to the Athletics in a deal for starter Rich Harden or Joe Blanton.
Dec. 5, 2006
| | Barry Zito |
Still pursuing Zito
The Mets are still pursuing lefty Barry Zito, the top starter on the free-agent market. But another player they sought got away when infielder Julio Lugo and the Boston Red Sox reached a preliminary agreement on a $36 million, four-year contract Tuesday.
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Randolph Bummed
Willie Randolph was disappointed that he finished second to ex-Florida skipper Joe Girardi in NL Manager of the Year voting. The Mets led the league with 97 wins, while the young Marlins went 78-84. "From an organization, team standpoint, yeah, it was disappointing because I thought we were the best. I thought we deserved that," Randolph said. "I'm just totally dumbfounded on how it works obviously."
Dec. 1, 2006
Tom Glavine |
Mets give Glavine 1-year, $10.5M contract
Tom Glavine is staying with the Mets, agreeing Friday to a $10.5 million, one-year contract and opting against a possible return to Atlanta. Glavine went 15-7 with a 3.82 ERA in 32 starts last season, his fourth with the Mets. He allowed three earned runs or fewer in 26 starts. In the playoffs, Glavine was 2-1 with a 1.59 ERA, allowing three runs in 17 innings. His 14 postseason wins ties him for second on the all-time list with Andy Pettitte. John Smoltz of Atlanta is the leader with 15. Glavine spent his first 16 seasons with the Braves and has a career record of 290-191 with a 3.46 ERA in 635 starts. He has 55 complete games and 24 shutouts.
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