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Posted By	Discussion Topic: Mets Offseason Rumor Mill Thread
hammersavage	posted on 01-31-2002 @ 4:22 PM
Psychopath Registered: Oct. 00	With the rumor mill coming to a close, the Mets add a little depth to their bench. Mets add depth with Valentin Former BoSox star invited to spring training January 30, 2002 Former Red Sox infielder John Valentin agreed to terms on a minor league contract with the Mets Wednesday. NEW YORK -- One month after adding Mo Vaughn to their club's roster via a trade with the Anaheim Angels, the New York Mets have brought another former Boston Red Sox star to Shea Stadium, agreeing to terms Wednesday on a minor league contract with infielder John Valentin and inviting him to their spring training camp in Port St. Lucie, Florida. Valentin, who will be 35 by Opening Day, will compete with new acquisition Lou Collier to take over an infield bench position vacated by last week's trade of pinch-hitter Lenny Harris to Milwaukee Brewers in the three-way deal that brought New York outfielder Jeromy Burnitz. "I'm prepared to do what this team needs me to do," Valentin said last night. "Obviously, if they need me to be a super sub, that's what I need to be. If someone gets hurt and they need me to play every day, that's what I can do." A native of Homdel, New Jersey, Valentin has totaled a career average of .281 over a ten-year major league career spent entirely with the Red Sox. Knee and heel injuries have kept the infielder sidelined for much of the past two seasons, as Valentin has only appeared in thirty games since the opening of the 2000 season. Valentin batted .200 (12-60) with one home run and five RBI while being limited to just twenty games for Boston last season, not appearing for the Red Sox after June 26. He underwent surgery on his ailing right heel in September. "We have watched John work out and he's healthy," Mets general manager Steve Phillips stated in a press release. "He is a righthanded bat who adds another dimension to our bench." After a successful college career at Seton Hall University from 1986-88 where he was a teammate of Mo Vaughn, Valentin made his major league debut in 1992 for the Red Sox. Valentin had his finest all-around season in 1995, batting .298 with 27 home runs and 102 RBI, and in 1996 posted a .306 batting average while leading the American League in doubles with 47. Valentin joins the Mets after playing an ironic role in the development of last week's three way trade between the Mets, Colorado Rockies and Milwaukee Brewers. Prior to the deal, Valentin spent three days under the close observation of Rockies officials, being scouted as a possible option for their third base position after the departure of Jeff Cirillo. When Colorado sent Valentin home a day early from their tryout camp, the Rockies instead turned their attention solely on infielder Todd Zeile, prompting the three-way deal that sent Zeile, outfielder Benny Agbayani and cash to the Rockies. Valentin can earn up to $1 million under the terms of his contract with New York, which guarantees him $550,000 if he can make the team out of spring training. After that, Valentin can earn up to $450,000 in performance incentives. The Mets have also granted the infielder a clause in which he can request his outright release during spring training should it become apparent he will not make the team. NOTES: The Mets named Juan Lopez, 49, as a coach to serve with their major league club. Lopez has been a coach in the Mets' system since 1996 and has served as the Mets' minor league Latin American coordinator for the past three years. While not serving as a uniformed coach, Lopez will assist in pre-game batting practice and coordinate advance scouting and computer reports… New York also signed catcher Jimmy Gonzalez as a six-year minor league free agent and invited him to spring training as a non-roster player. Gonzalez hit .177 with 6 home runs and 19 RBI in 58 games last year for Ottawa (AAA) of the International League in the Montreal Expos' system. Salad Tosser Left Fielder, Center Fielder, and First Baseman **Official Painter of Billboards** "Opie and Anthony: The thinking mans Beavis and Butthead" -Playboy
PeterDragon	posted on 01-31-2002 @ 8:32 PM
O&A Board Regular Registered: Jan. 01	Phillips also said it is unlikely he will sign Lofton. Lets hope so. Met's don't need a guy who built his career on speed who can't run anymore.
hammersavage	posted on 02-01-2002 @ 3:00 PM
Psychopath Registered: Oct. 00	Chen may be on the block... Bruce Chen, pitcher, New York Mets The New York Post reports that the Mets may be shopping pitcher Bruce Chen, who appears to have lost his grip on the #5 starter's spot after New York signed Pedro Astacio as a free agent and added Jeff D'Amico in the three-way trade with the Milwaukee Brewers and Colorado Rockies. The San Diego Padres showed interest in Chen earlier this offseason, mentioning his name in trade discussions alongside outfielders Benny Agbayani and Jay Payton in the Mets' exploration of a situation in which they could have acquired outfielder Bubba Trammell. After being acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies on July 28 along with minor league pitcher Adam Walker, Chen went 3-2 with a 4.68 earned run average in 11 starts for the Mets. It was the second consecutive year being dealt at the trade deadline for Chen, who was shipped off by the Atlanta Braves in 2000 for pitcher Andy Ashby. New York's interest in centerfielder Kenny Lofton seems to show that the Mets still haven't removed Payton from their trading showcase either. Salad Tosser Left Fielder, Center Fielder, and First Baseman **Official Painter of Billboards** "Opie and Anthony: The thinking mans Beavis and Butthead" -Playboy
PeterDragon	posted on 02-02-2002 @ 9:30 PM
O&A Board Regular Registered: Jan. 01	Lofton signed with ChiSox friday, so he is off the table. (thank god). Phillips is supposedly still pursuing pitching (what ever that means), but when asked about David Cone, he said the following: "I don't want to be forced into a position of trading Grant Roberts or Bruce Chen and not get value back for what they really should bring in the market." I don't know if that means they have confidence in Chen, or they just want to keep his value high.

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