In a report for MLB.com, Carrie Muskat reports that the Chicago Cubs and Carlos Zambrano have agreed on a one-year, $12.4 million contract Tuesday.
Muskat provides further details of the agreement:
“The new deal includes an awards package that offers bonuses if Zambrano
finishes in the top five in Cy Young voting, or wins the Most Valuable
Player Award in [...]

At his blog for the Bergen Record, Steve Popper writes about 18–year-old OF Fernando Martinez, who took batting practice today at Tradition Field, in front of Fred Wilpon, Omar Minaya and others.
According to Popper, Martinez will likely begin the year in Double-A, while Carlos Gomez will likely begin the year at Triple-A.
…most people seem to [...]

Mets 2B Jose Valentin will give up his jersey number, 18, to OF Moises Alou, who has worn 18 during most of his career.
Valentin will wear No. 22, which couples the No. 2 he wore with the Dodgers with the No. 2 he wore with the White Sox.
…by the way, in case you are wondering, valentin reported [...]

At the sports blog for the New York Post, Mike Vaccoro lists Carlos Beltran as the most talented man to ever wear a Mets uniform, followed by Darryl Strawberry, Tom Seaver, Dwight Gooden, Jose Reyes, Nolan Ryan, Mike Piazza, Cleon Jones, David Wright and Keith Hernandez.
Regarding Reyes, Vaccaro writes…
“Again, this isn’t resume, this is talent.  And before [...]

At his blog for Newsday, David Lennon notes that Ruben Sierra arrived to camp today wearing white shoes, white pants, a white shirt, a white hat, and gold chains around his neck.
According to Lennon, “Sierra has almost zero chance of making this club, but for one day at least, he gets the Best Dressed award.”
…nice catch [...]

Lastings Milledge has sought out Julio Franco, who started acting as Milledge’s mentor towards the end of last season, according to John Delcos at his blog for the Journal News, as well as Steve Popper at his blog for the Bergen Record.
At MLB.com, Marty Noble notes that the Mets briefly considered bringing in Frank Robinson [...]

Talking with SNY’s Kevin Burkhardt from Tradition Field yesterday, Mets C Paul Lo Duca had the following to say regarding…
Oliver Perez…
“He’s an electric pitcher that plays off emotions, I think New York is t he best thing for him.  He likes to dance a little on the mound, and do his thing, and a lot [...]

In an article for MLB.com, Marty Noble discusses how optimistic the Mets are regarding 22-year-old RHP prospect Joe Smith.
On Duaner Sanchez’s replacements last season, Noble writes:
“Before general manager Omar Minaya repaired the damage - first
with Roberto Hernandez and later with Guillermo Mota - he gave Smith
more than a passing thought.”

“I have no problem with bringing [...]

An article in Sports Illustrated today summarizes the rise and fall of former Mets SS Rey Ordonez, and what he is doing to extend his career with the Seattle Mariners.
SI writes:
“Once heralded as the “second coming” of Ozzie Smith by the Hall of
Fame shortstop himself, Ordonez is trying to make a last-place team as
a non-roster [...]

If you’ve yet to do so, be sure and vote in this week’s MetsBlog Fan Confidence Rating by using the poll to the left…
…thanks…

Last night, the MVN Big League Baseball Report talked with Anthony De Rosa, of Hot Foot and MetsBlog.com, about the Mets and the coming season.
The interview can be heard at 360 The Pitch, or by searching Big League Baseball Report on iTunes.

Talking from Tradition Field yesterday, Mets OF Lastings Milledge told reporters…
“People who really paid attention to my career and really know me as a player, they know what I can do.  I’m anxious to do good, don’t get me wrong, but I’m not anxious to show people what I’ve got because everybody knows what I [...]

In the New York Post, Mark Hale quotes Carlos Beltran as saying that winning an MVP award is something that’s important to him.
…beltran has impressed me with the way he verbally and physically puts the team first, so i take no issue with him saying he intends to win an mvp…there is nothing wrong with [...]

In Newsday, David Lennon writes that Willie Randolph was impressed watching Chan Ho Park throw curveballs during yesterday’s bullpen session.

In Newsday, Mark Herrmann compares the Carlos Beltran Era in Queens to the Randy Johnson Era in the Bronx, which began on the same day in January 11, 2005.
After a rough first season with the Mets, which began with him proclaiming the birth of the ‘new Mets,’ Beltran finished among the top vote getters for the National League MVP [...]