News: Mets Re-Sign Jose Valentin
The Mets have signed free-agent 2B Jose Valentin to a minor-league contract and invited him to spring training.
Mets GM Omar Minaya, on the return of Valentin…
“Jose is progressing well from his surgery and already is rehabbing for his return. We hope he can bounce back and help us in a variety of ways.”
Valentin, on returning to the Mets…
“The main reason I came back to the Mets is that the team is focused on returning to the postseason and I want to do my part to help us win. My goal is to start playing spring training games by mid-March.”
Valentin had season-ending ACL surgery on his knee in late September, which he initially hurt in April.
He recently told El Nuevo Dia that he still not 100 percent, and may need to begin the year at Triple-A.
The Mets declined Valentin’s $4.3 million option for 2008 during early November.
In addition to Valentin, the Mets will have Damion Easley, Anderson Hernandez, Ruben Gotay, Luis Castillo, Marlon Anderson, Fernando Tatis and Jose Reyes in camp, all of whom have experience playing second base.
…and so, i now challenge them to start an entire team of second basemen during one of their spring training split-squad games, which is fitting since their manager, Willie Randolph, was a second baseman as well…
