The one-year deal is reportedly worth $1.5 million, with an additional $1.5 million in potential performance bonuses.

Pudge hit .276 with seven home runs and 35 RBIs in 115 games with the Yankees and Tigers in 2008.

However, La Velle E. Neal III, of the Star Tribune, has not heard that the Twins are interested.

In a post to CBS Sports, Danny Knobler was told Rodriguez could soon sign a new contract.

Lastly, the Sun-Sentinel in South Florida reports the Marlins continue to be concerned with Rodriguez’s demand for playing time.

Rodriguez is hitting .600 with five extra base hits and a .625 OBP in 15 at bats during the World Baseball Classic.

…there continues to be no evidence that pudge is an option for the Mets, who a) do not seem interested in spending additional money at this time, b) who are committed to Brian Schneider as their starting catcher, and b) who have Ramon Castro on the roster…

In a report for MLB.com, Marty Noble profiles Jose Valentin, who he feels is most likely to start the season at Triple-A.

…it’s the right move… valentin can go to Triple-A, and wait and see how the Mets bench shakes out through April and May, while working with the team’s minor leaguers like a coach… then, come mid summer, both sides can re-evaluate…

David Lennon of Newsday writes about Howard Johnson, “Who takes it personally when we lose,” according to David Wright.

…he also votes in American Idol… seriously…

According to Steve Phillips from ESPN.com, “Both Pedro Martinez and Ivan Rodriguez could help major league teams this season.”

Phillips says, having watched Martinez in the WBC, “I believe that his shoulder is healthy.”

Lastly, Phillips talked to Rodriguez and says, “The idea that he would sign a deal only if he were the every-day catcher is false.”

…i agree… from what i can tell, pudge wants a guaranteed contract… not a guaranteed job, in the sense that he must start every day… instead, he just wants to know he has a spot on the roster and guaranteed money coming to him… the question is, how much money…

According to Baumbach, Bernazard said:

“Some of us wished we could have him with us, but the truth is that we have two catchers under contract… It’s not so easy to make a move right now, to make it possible to have him with us.”

…i have no interest in seeing pudge replace Brian Schneider…

…pudge is notorious for struggling to work with young pitchers, because he loves to throw down the fastball over and over and over again… people connected to the Yankees even complained of this, and that was just a few months ago… so, given that he’d be catching Mike Pelfrey, John Maine and Oliver Perez, and maybe Jon Niese, i want schneider, who knows these guys, behind the plate…

…that said, i am torn between pudge and Ramon Castro…

…for all of castro’s injury issues, when he’s healthy, he hits… so much so, that i have fielded endless e-mail over the years yelling how he should be the starting catcher… so, to throw him overboard for pudge, who is 37, seems like a risk to me… of course, pudge will likely hit at least .275 and he’s typically healthy, and it is hard to argue his track record and leadership…

…from what i can gather, there is little chance the Mets sign pudge, unless he’s willing to accept a minor-league deal, which does not seem to be the case just yet… as i said yesterday, if some team were to suddenly want castro, or he got hurt, i bet pudge’s name resurfaces… but, as is, i just don’t see it – given the roster and how the Mets have been treating their payroll…

“If you ask me publicly, I will advocate for Ivan because I know that he can help us,” Carlos Delgado told Newsday. “There was representation from the Mets here. Not only the players, but the managers, too.”

According to the report, Mets assistant general manager Tony Bernazard was in attendance for Rodriguez’s most recent game.

Last week, Rodriguez told the Associated Press he believes he is a great fit for the Mets, while adding he will accept any role, as long as it is on a guaranteed contract.

Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com believes the Mets are intrigued by Rodriguez, but would be unwilling to name him their starting catcher, and may need to trade Ramon Castro before entertaining such a signing.

Rodriguez, regarding the Mets, specifically, is quoted as saying:

“I think that’s a great fit, that team, having me there.  Working with a young pitching staff, that could be great for the team.  Hopefully the Mets can do whatever they need to do to have a spot for me.  That would be a great place to be.  If it happens, I’ll be happy.”

Yesterday, Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com said Rodriguez is looking for a major-league job that will allow him to catch at least five days per week.

However, Rodriguez told the Associated Press he is willing to accept any role, as long as it is on a guaranteed contract.

Rosenthal believes the Mets are intrigued by Rodriguez, but would be unwilling to name him their starting catcher.

Rosenthal believes the Mets are intrigued by Rodriguez, but would be unwilling to name him their No. 1 catcher.

Rodriguez will play for Puerto Rico in the WBC, alongside Carlos Delgado and Carlos Beltran.

Yesterday, David Lennon of Newsday wrote, “If Rodriguez has a strong showing, the Mets’ pursuit could heat up quickly.”

Rosenthal also gives insight in to other teams interested in Rodriguez.

Lennon says the team is still concerned about Ramon Castro’s durability, and see Rodriguez as a better right-handed compliment to Brian Schneider.

Castro hit .245 with a .312 OBP in 52 games for the Mets last season, while spending two trips on the disabled list – he has not played in more than 52 games in a season since 2005.

Castro will be a free agent at the end of next season.

Meanwhile, Rodriguez will play for Puerto Rico in the WBC, alongside Carlos Delgado and Carlos Beltran.

According to Lennon, “If Rodriguez has a strong showing, the Mets’ pursuit could heat up quickly.”

In mid-February, Rodriguez told the Associated Press he might soon sign with the Marlins, Astros or Mets.

The next day, Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post said the Mets are not interested Rodriguez, and weren’t talking to him about a contract, according to a high-ranking team source.

Speaking of the WBC, check out Chris Guy’s preview for Mets Minor League Blog, where he looks at Mets players in the tournament, including 24–year-old 3B Shawn Bowman.

Yesterday, the Associated Press said Rodriguez might soon sign with the Marlins, Astros or Mets.

Last week, an anonymous source in El Nuevo Dia said Rodriguez prefers the Mets to the Astros, while the Marlins were never mentioned.

Last week,  El Nuevo Dia cited an anonymous source who said Rodriguez prefers the Mets to the Astros, though the Marlins were never mentioned.

“I’m in great shape,” Rodriguez is quoted as saying by MLB.com.  “Whoever gets me, it’s going to be a lot like hitting the lotto.  I’m back in the shape I was in 2004.  I’m at 195 to 200 [pounds], and I’m ready to go.”

J.M. Franklin sent in an e-mail asking:

“I think that by keeping three catchers the Mets are essentially hurting their own bullpen.  If they only carried two catchers the bullpen would be able to have one more roster spot and that would help lighten the load by be able to give time off to different members of the bullpen because their would always be an extra arm out there.”

That could be right.  It depends on who they see as their right-handed bat off the bench, which is missing right now from the roster.  The way I see it, they have room for one more pitcher and one more bench player.

The only way I see them carrying three catchers is if they commit to using Ramon Castro as a right-handed pinch hitter, while carrying a back-up catcher, like Robinson Cancel or Rodriguez.  This to me would be smart, but on so many occasions they had this opportunity last season and didn’t do it, so there is nothing to lead me to believe this year will be different.  Plus, the talk has been, if Rodriguez is signed, it’s because they traded Castro, but the team seems very comfortable with Cancel, so I’m not even sure there is an urgency to acquire Pudge, despite his interest.