Author Archives: Ted Berg

SNY Mets analyst Bob Ojeda will be taking questions during the third inning of tonight’s game against the Nationals. To chat with Bob, click here.

Mike Piazza is in Port St. Lucie to coach the Italian National Team in an exhibition game against a team of Mets prospects today:

A very relaxed Piazza spoke to reporters for about 10 minutes outside the Mets’ Minor League complex. He said:

• He enjoys coaching the Italian National Team, as it is a way for him to stay around the game without committing to a full-time job. He joked that his wife likes it because it gets him out of the house, and said he will travel to Panama with the team for the next World Cup.
• He feels bad about what the Wilpons are going through and is “in their corner.” He stressed that they treated him well when he played there, and said he believes that when all is said and done, they will be OK.
• He did not know that Bobby Valentine was involved in a potential ownership group for the Mets. “That’s funny,” he said.
• He has thought about getting into ownership, though not necessarily of the Mets. Piazza thinks being a part-owner of a team would be another good way for him to stay involved in baseball without being “full-time on the field or full-time in the board room.” He smiled and said he “could not confirm or deny” if he had been in contact with anyone about forming an ownership group. “But it doesn’t cost anything to talk,” he added.

According to Dave Gershman of SPANdemonium, and confirmed by MLBTradeRumors, the Mets have reached an agreement with former Marlins lefty Taylor Tankersley on a Minor League deal with an invitation to Spring Training.

Tankersley missed all of 2009 with an elbow injury that ultimately required surgery. He returned in late May of 2010 but struggled, posting a 7.50 ERA in 12 innings over 27 appearances.

In 2006 and 2007, Tankersley totaled 116 appearances out of the Marlins’ bullpen with a 3.46 ERA. Across his career, he has held lefties to a .223 batting average with a .313 on-base percentage and .372 slugging.

When he came back last season, he brought with him an incredible mustache.

According to Jon Heyman of SI.com, Hisanori Takahashi has signed a two year deal with the Angels.

Original Post, 3:14 pm:

According to David Waldstein of the New York Times, the Angels and Hisanori Takahashi are close to agreeing on a multi-year deal. He writes:

According to The Los Angeles Times, the Angels are interested in the free-agent closer Rafael Soriano with the intention of moving Fernando Rodney back to a setup role. If any part of that plan fails, Takahashi can provide help in either role, and can also start.

Takahashi will undergo a physical in California this week. No word on the terms or length of the contract.

According to a team press release, the Mets have added pitchers Josh Stinson and Armando Rodriguez and infielders Zach Lutz and Jordany Valdespin to their 40-man roster.

The deadline for teams to add players to the 40-man roster to protect them from the Rule 5 draft is 11:59 p.m. ET tonight.

Lutz ranked No. 27 on Toby Hyde’s Top 41 Mets prospects for 2010. Valdespin was No. 33.

Carlos Beltran will be holding a conference call with reporters today at 1 p.m. ET to discuss the opening of the Carlos Beltran Baseball Academy and his preparations for the 2011 season. I will be on the call and live-blogging it here.

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The Mets are holding a conference call at 3:30 p.m. ET to introduce Paul DePodesta, their new Vice President of Player Development and Amateur Scouting. I’ll be on the call and live blogging it here.

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