The Mets Mack Attack - 1-19-9

MLB – NY Mets:

The Mets have signed Casey Fossum to a minor league deal. Fossum, 31, was 3-1 with a 5.66 ERA for the Tigers in 2008.

Former 1999 first round pick of the Boston Red Sox's, Casey Fossum is reported to have signed a minor league deal with the Mets. So there's the invite LOOGY that most of us were expecting. Fossum had a tremendous collegiate career but never lived up to expectations in professional ball. He has a lifetime ERA of 5.47 with a record of 40-53. He spent his first three years with the Red Sox and then a year with the D-Backs before spending another three years with the Rays. When the Rays released him in 2007 I completed this post, he went on to bounce from the Padres, to Pittsburgh and finally Tigers. Omar had said he would look for guys like Darren Oliver who resurrected his career as an invitee and it appears that's what he's looking for in Fossum...

http://metsfever.blogspot.com/2009/01/mets-ink-fossum-to-minor-league-deal.html

Six Mets players, including Jeremy Reed, the outfielder the club obtained in the J.J. Putz trade last month, have filed for salary arbitration. The club faces possible hearings with Ryan Church, Pedro Feliciano, John Maine, Angel Pagan and Duaner Sanchez, as well. But chances are most of the six will settle and avoid hearings, as is the case with most clubs.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090115&content_id=3746314&vkey=news_nym&fext=.jsp&c_id=nym&partnerId=rss_nym

7-23-01 – Baseball America’s Top Baseball Prospects:
Batters: #6 Jason Phillips
Pitchers - #2 Casey Fossum

http://www.crackerjackbaseball.com/arc/news/html/teams/team_15_top_prospects.html

AAA – Buffalo:

Mets right-hander Nelson Figueroa (Mets) didn't surrender a hit over nine innings for the Cardenales. He fanned 10 and allowed a hit and a walk over nine-plus frames en route to the victory. Entering the 10th inning with a 1-0 lead, Figueroa gave up a single to center field to Zulia's Alberto Callaspo (Royals). The right-hander went 4-7 with a 4.43 ERA and struck out 97 in 20 appearances with Triple-A New Orleans and was 3-3 with a 4.57 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 16 appearances with the Mets during the 2008 campaign.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090118&content_id=3749091&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

Mets farm director Adam Wogan, speaking at a luncheon in Buffalo on Friday, projected the roster for the Mets' new Triple-A club - with the caveat that anything can happen in spring training. The potential roster would be highlighted by prospects Fernando Martinez, Jon Niese and Bobby Parnell and should also include minor-league free agent Casey Fossum. Fossum, who turned 31 on Jan. 6, went 3-1 with a 5.66 ERA in 31 releif appearances for Detroit last season and at least gives the Mets lefthanded insurance, since Pedro Feliciano is the lone southpaw at the major-league level.

Other projected Buffalo Bisons: RHP Nelson Figueroa - LHP Adam Bostick - RHP Eddie Kunz - RHP Carlos Muniz - C Robinson Cancel - C Rene Rivera - C Omir Santos - 1B/OF Nick Evans - 1B Michel Abreu - IF Andy Green - OF Jesus Feliciano - OF Jason Cooper - OF Caleb Stewart


Alumni:

OF Prentice Redman and If Chris Woodward was invited to the Seattle Mariners' ST camp…

General Baseball News:

Remaining Free Agents:

Player Age Status Old Team Rank

Manny Ramirez, LF 36 Free Agent (A) LA Dodgers 3
Adam Dunn, LF 29 Free Agent (A) Arizona 7
Oliver Perez, SP 27 Free Agent (A) NY Mets 10
Orlando Hudson, 2B 31 Free Agent (A) Arizona 12
Bobby Abreu, RF 34 Free Agent (A) NY Yankees 14
Juan Cruz, RP 30 Free Agent (A) Arizona 16
Brandon Lyon, RP 29 Free Agent Arizona 20
Orlando Cabrera, SS 34 Free Agent (A) Chicago Sox 21
Ben Sheets, SP 30 Free Agent (A) Milwaukee 23
Randy Wolf, SP 32 Free Agent (B) Houston 24
Andy Pettitte, SP 36 Free Agent (A) NY Yankees 26
Jim Edmonds, CF 38 Free Agent Chicago Cubs 32
Joe Crede, 3B 30 Free Agent Chicago Sox 34
Jon Garland, SP 29 Free Agent (B) LA Angels 36
Ken Griffey Jr., RF 39 Free Agent (B) Chicago Sox 37
Paul Byrd, SP 38 Free Agent (B) Boston 38
Gregg Zaun, C 37 Free Agent Toronto 39
Braden Looper, SP 34 Free Agent (B) St. Louis 43
Pedro Martinez, SP 37 Free Agent NY Mets 44
Ivan Rodriguez, C 37 Free Agent (B) NY Yankees 46
Jason Varitek, C 36 Free Agent (A) Boston 49
Will Ohman, RP 31 Free Agent Atlanta 51
Eric Hinske, RF 31 Free Agent Tampa Bay 54
Garret Anderson, LF 36 Free Agent (B) LA Angels 55
Frank Thomas, DH 40 Free Agent (B) Oakland 57
Eric Gagne, RP 33 Free Agent (B) Milwaukee 61
Dennys Reyes, RP 31 Free Agent (B) Minnesota 62
Brian Shouse, RP 40 Free Agent (B) Milwaukee 65
Ray Durham, 2B 37 Free Agent Milwaukee 67
Russ Springer, RP 40 Free Agent (A) St. Louis 68
Juan Uribe, 3B 29 Free Agent (B) Chicago Sox 70
Joe Beimel, RP 31 Free Agent (B) LA Dodgers 72
Kenny Rogers, SP 44 Free Agent Detroit 75
Nomar Garciaparra, SS 35 Free Agent LA Dodgers 76
Sean Casey, 1B 34 Free Agent Boston 77
Cliff Floyd, DH 36 Free Agent Tampa Bay 78
Omar Vizquel, SS 41 Free Agent San Francisco 80
Craig Counsell, 3B 38 Free Agent Milwaukee 81
Emil Brown, LF 34 Free Agent Oakland 85
Brad Wilkerson, RF 31 Free Agent Toronto 87
Mark Grudzielanek, 2B 38 Free Agent (B) Kansas City 88
Curt Schilling, SP 42 Free Agent Boston 90
Daryle Ward, 1B 33 Free Agent Chicago Cubs 92
Moises Alou, LF 42 Free Agent (B) NY Mets 97
Luis Ayala, RP 31 Free Agent (B) NY Mets 98
Jacque Jones, LF 33 Free Agent Florida 100
Adam Melhuse, C 36 Free Agent Colorado NR
Alex Cintron, SS 30 Free Agent Baltimore NR
Ambiorix Burgos, RP 24 Free Agent NY Mets NR
Aquilino Lopez, RP 33 Free Agent Detroit NR
Argenis Reyes, 2B 26 Free Agent NY Mets NR
Brad Ausmus, C 39 Free Agent Houston NR
Brendan Donnelly, RP 37 Free Agent Cleveland NR
Charlie Haeger, SP 25 Free Agent San Diego NR
Chuck James, SP 27 Free Agent Atlanta NR
Damion Easley, 2B 39 Free Agent NY Mets NR
Doug Mientkiewicz, 1B 34 Free Agent Pittsburgh NR
Eddie Guardado, RP 38 Free Agent Minnesota NR
Elmer Dessens, SP 38 Free Agent Atlanta NR
Freddy Garcia, SP 32 Free Agent Detroit NR
Gary Bennett, C 36 Free Agent LA Dodgers NR
Henry Blanco, C 37 Free Agent Chicago Cubs NR
Jairo Cuevas, SP 24 Free Agent Kansas City NR
Jamey Wright, RP 34 Free Agent Texas NR
Jason Isringhausen, RP 36 Free Agent (B) St. Louis NR
Jason Jennings, SP 30 Free Agent Texas NR
Javier Valentin, C 33 Free Agent Cincinnati NR
Jay Payton, LF 36 Free Agent Baltimore NR
Jeff Kent, 2B 40 Free Agent (B) LA Dodgers NR
Jeff Salazar, OF 28 Free Agent Arizona NR
John Parrish, SP 31 Free Agent Toronto NR
Jon Lieber, RP 38 Free Agent Chicago Cubs NR
Jonny Gomes, DH 28 Free Agent Tampa Bay NR
Josh Fogg, SP 32 Free Agent Cincinnati NR
Juan Rincon, RP 29 Free Agent Cleveland NR
Julian Tavarez, RP 35 Free Agent Atlanta NR
Keith Foulke, RP 36 Free Agent Oakland NR
Kent Mercker, RP 40 Free Agent Cincinnati NR
Kevin Millar, 1B 37 Free Agent Baltimore NR
Lance Cormier, RP 28 Free Agent Baltimore NR
Livan Hernandez, SP 33 Free Agent Colorado NR
Luis Gonzalez, LF 41 Free Agent (B) Florida NR
Luis Rivas, SS 29 Free Agent Pittsburgh NR
Mario Alvarez, SP 24 Free Agent LA Dodgers NR
Mark Mulder, SP 31 Free Agent St. Louis NR
Mark Sweeney, 1B 39 Free Agent LA Dodgers NR
Matt Wise, RP 33 Free Agent NY Mets NR
Miguel Cairo, 1B 34 Free Agent Seattle NR
Mike Timlin, RP 42 Free Agent Boston NR
Odalis Perez, SP 31 Free Agent Washington NR
Orlando Hernandez, SP 39 Free Agent NY Mets NR
Paul Bako, C 36 Free Agent Cincinnati NR
Paul Lo Duca, C 36 Free Agent (B) Florida NR
Ramon Martinez, 2B 36 Free Agent NY Mets NR
Randy Flores, RP 33 Free Agent St. Louis NR
Ricardo Rincon, RP 38 Free Agent NY Mets NR
Rich Aurilia, 1B 37 Free Agent San Francisco NR
Ron Villone, RP 39 Free Agent St. Louis NR
Rudy Seanez, RP 40 Free Agent Philadelphia NR
Sal Fasano, C 37 Free Agent Cleveland NR
Scott Elarton, SP 32 Free Agent Cleveland NR
Sidney Ponson, SP 32 Free Agent NY Yankees NR
Tom Glavine, SP 42 Free Agent Atlanta NR
Tom Gordon, RP 41 Free Agent Philadelphia NR
Tony Armas, SP 30 Free Agent NY Mets NR
Ty Wigginton, 3B 31 Free Agent Houston NR
Tyler Johnson, RP 27 Free Agent St. Louis NR