Infield to the future

The New York Mets have signed two of their brightest young stars and the entire left side of their infield to long-term contracts this week meaning that David Wright and Jose Reyes will be together at Shea (and the New Ballpark) until at least 2010. Keeping both players in Blue and Orange is a big step towards creating a winner for the long haul.

On Thursday it was announced that speedy leadoff hitter Jose Reyes had signed a 4-year $23.25 million contract keeping him in Flushing until at least 2010, most likely 2011 with the club option. Reyes, 23, has been in the Mets organisation since 1999 when he signed a non-drafted free agent contract and made his Major League debut June 10th, 2003 at Texas. Reyes would have arbitration eligible at the end of the year therefore the Mets saw it as a good time to lock up the All-Star shortstop long-term and Reyes had made it clear he wanted to remain in New York. As Reyes continues to develop many new fans will be able to see his great talent as he plays in a Mets uniform for the foreseeable future.

With a little less Major League experience, David Wright was signed three days after Reyes was locked up. Wright, who grew up watching the Mets' Triple-A affiliate Norfolk Tides and has been a lifelong Met fan, made his debut on July 21st 2004 at Montreal and got his first hit in the next game. He signed a 6-year $55 million contract keeping at the Mets' hot corner until 2013 with a club option for that year that the team has every intention of exercising. David has become the poster boy for the New Mets and is a core player in Omar Minaya's future plans for the club. He was also a starting All-Star this year and came second in the Century 21 Home Run Derby. David said of the contract: "I've always wanted to be a lifelong New York Met, and this is the first step in that direction."

As soon as we had locked up Reyes I was beginning to think Wright wouldn't be far behind and Minaya proved me right. Having both in Mets colours for the foreseeable future is great news and sends a message to everyone, fans to competitors, that 2006 is only the beginning of success for the organisation.

Omar's hand is forced

With quite a slow build up to the deadline where it seemed as if the Mets would go for a Major League starter with experience and in the early hours rumours floating of deals for Roy Oswalt and Jason Schmidt the day turned out very different as the 4PM non-waiver trade deadline passed.

At 1am yesterday morning Duaner Sanchez was riding a taxi in Miami when it was struck by a drunk driver. Details were not quickly known and therefore rumours about starting pitching deals swirled but as Omar Minaya found out the extent of the injury (separated shoulder) to one of the best pitchers in his bullpen it meant he had to go out and find someone to fill the set-up role.

Before the 4PM deadline the Mets Opening Day right fielder was headed to Pittsburgh for a reliever they could have re-signed this offseason and a left-handed starter with potential that hasn't come good in the Majors yet. Xavier Nady was shipped from the best team in the National League to the worst while Roberto Hernandez was back in the role he filled with the Mets last season and Oliver Perez headed to Norfolk, Virginia.

Then as the deadline neared ever closer metsblog.com, ESPN and CBS began reporting that Perez had been flipped with Heath Bell to San Diego for stud reliever Scott Linebrick. However as deadline passed and no confirmation came it was clear that the deal had fallen through. Details now say the Padres pulled back because they felt they weren't getting enough.

Overall without getting Linebrick and losing fan favourite Nady for only serviceable pitchers it was quite a bad day for the Mets. They were worse off than they had been when the day began but to be honest this is a deal Omar wouldn't have wanted to make but he was forced into it by the actions of a drunk driver in Miami. If Sanchez hadn't been lost (most likely for the season) then our deadline would have been very different. You cannot control freak accidents and therefore Mets fan will have to live with this deal.

Tonight Mike Pelfrey makes his 4th Major League start facing off against Scott Olsen and the young Marlins, who according to sources entered the Soriano sweepstakes late in the day but ultimately Alfonso stayed in Washington.

A start to reMaineber

A quick flip-flop in the rotation ended up with John Maine's first NL win, a complete game 4-hit shutout. Maine was in control all night throwing 98 pitches, 67 for strikes. With the help of Cliff Floyd's leaping catch in the fifth to rob Chris Burke and Carlos Beltran's outfield assist to throw out Munson at home, Maine kept the Astros off the board. Willie Randolph had swapped El Duque and Maine in the rotation due to the possibility of rain (the start of the game was delayed 54 minutes by rain) and it couldn't have turned out better.

The Mets offense hit their fifth grand slam in two weeks. This time it was Jose Valentin, his 2nd in two weeks, in the 2nd inning off Taylor Buchholz. Carlos Delgado added a two-run shot in 5th to back Maine's performance.

The Mets improved to 58-38 with the win and lead the NL East by 13 games.

Pedro DL'd, Pelfrey promoted

The Mets have righted themselves after a little scuffle by winning three in a row, albeit against the National League's lowliest team, the Pittsburgh Pirates. With a 4-game weekend series (including a Saturday day-night doubleheader) upon them the Mets made some roster moves.

Jose Lima (0-3, 8.79 ERA) has been recalled and will start tonight. Lima Time has not had success with the Mets and I was surprised he hadn't been released. However by having him start it means Darren Oliver doesn't have to and can be used for mop-up duty while not destroying the bullpen. Lima will face off against Dontrelle Willis (5-7, 3.96 ERA) who has improved since we last saw him in April.

For Saturday with the move to put Pedro Martinez and his ailing hip on the DL, retroactive to the date of his start on June 29 meaning his eligible to come off the first game after the All-Star Break, the Mets will start John Maine (0-2, 5.40) and prized prospect Mike Pelfrey (0-0,-.--) for a doubleheader. Pelfrey was the 9th overall selection in the 2005 First Year Player Draft. He was dominant in Single-A and has won his last four starts at Double-A Binghamton. Omar Minaya made clear that Pelfrey will only make this one start to get his feet wet and test his mettle before going back to the Minors. Even so this is an exciting time for Mets fan who have already been able to see Lastings Milledge at the big league level and will now get to see the best pitching the farm has to offer. The Marlins will sent Ricky Nolasco (6-5, 3.97) and Josh Johnson (7-4, 2.34) to the mound. Also part of this move was to recall reliever Henry Owens from Binghamton. The Mets had tried to call up Heath Bell but since Bell was with the Mets on the retroactive date that Pedro Martinez's DL stint was set to he was quickly sent back and Owens brought up. Owens has been a dominant closer for Binghamton recording 51 strikeouts in 25 innings allowing only eight hits and eight walks while recording 11 saves.

Tom Glavine (11-2, 3.43) will start Sunday's game in search of his major league leading 12th win. He will be opposed by Scott Olsen (6-4, 4.17).

The Mets improved their record to 51-34 by taking three of four from the Pirates. With the Phillies loss their magic number to clinch stands at 66.