As part of their Offseason Outlook Series, Tim Dierkes at MLB Trade Rumors takes a look at the Mets and their projected payroll commitments for 2010.
Dierkes figures that the Mets currently stand at $110 million on the books, with $35-$40 million coming off of it, which can help to plug the many holes the Mets [...]

RHP David Riske declined his $2.9 million player option with the Royals for 2008 and has declared free agency.
The 31–year-old Riske has made 393 relief appearances during his eight-year career, during which he has a 3.40 ERA while opponents have hit .231 against him. 
He had an ERA below 3.00 last season for the first [...]

MLB will finish the year with just over $6 billion in revenue, “which puts baseball right on the heels of the more than $6 billion in revenue reported by the National Football League in 2006,” reports CNNMoney.com.
According to the report, MLB sales have increased 50 percent from 2004 and have doubled since 2000, while “NFL’s sales [...]

Paul Lo Duca…
…i’m so torn on this…i like lo duca a lot…but, in talking with people connected to the team, i sense ownership and some coaches and players have soured on him, as they feel he was too negative during September, i.e., the team looked to him as an emotional leader, during [...]

At ESPN.com’s Page 2, Jeff Pearlman catches up with Wally Backman, who is still in search of a job coaching in the big leagues.
…hat tip to Toasty Joe for the link…
Backman, as quoted by Pearlman…

“When [Arizona] told me they were taking away the job, it was like a death in the family… All I wanted to [...]

According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, citing ‘club sources,’ Tony La Russa has agreed to a multi-year contract and will continue on as manager of the Cardinals.

In a recent column for FOXSports.com, Ken Rosenthal asks, “If the Yankees make Joe Torre an offer that he deems unacceptable…would the Mets jump in and pursue Torre?”
Rosenthal continues by writing, “While hiring Torre would be an awful thing to do to Randolph, it would be a seminal moment for the Mets in their quest [...]

…by the way, Cot’s Baseball Contracts is the premier blog for information on important off-season dates, as well as every bit of information on player contracts and team payroll…
…it’s the best, jerry…the best…

According to WFAN, Carlos Beltran successfully underwent minor arthroscopic knee surgery on both knees today at New York’s Hospital for Special Surgery.
Beltran is expected to be ready to play in time for spring training.
John Maine also had an MRI on his left hip, which revealed that he does not have a sports hernia.

Mets GM Omar Minaya will be a guest on WFAN’s Mike and the Maddog today at 4:05 pm.
To listen live, go to WFAN.com.