Paulino, Baxter out at deadline
December, 13, 2011
12/13/11
12:23
AM ET
By
Adam Rubin | ESPNNewYork.com
Getty Images
Mike Nickeas (left) is the beneficiary of Ronny Paulino (right) being cut loose Monday.
The decision signals the Mets likely are prepared to use righty-hitting Mike Nickeas as the backup at catcher to lefty-hitting Josh Thole, which results in roughly a $1 million savings. Paulino earned $1.35 million last season.
The Mets also have signed Lucas May and Vinny Rottino, who is a part-time catcher, to minor league contracts so far this offseason to provide depth.
The Mets did tender contracts to arbitration-eligible Mike Pelfrey and Manny Acosta as well as newly acquired center fielder Andres Torres and right-handed reliever Ramon Ramirez.
Paulino, 30, hit .268 with two homers and 19 RBIs and had a .312 on-base percentage in 248 plate appearances in 2011.
With Paulino and Baxter's departures, the Mets' 40-man roster is at 38. Relievers Frank Francisco and Jon Rauch have yet to be officially added.
Baxter was not yet eligible for arbitration, but the Mets apparently needed the roster spot. The decision would not preclude the organization from re-signing Baxter to a minor league contract.
Adam Rubin
ESPNNewYork.comAdam Rubin has covered the Mets since 2003. He's a graduate of Mepham High School on Long Island and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He joined ESPNNewYork after spending 10 years at the New York Daily News.
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ABOUT THIS BLOG
Adam Rubin
Adam Rubin has covered the Mets since 2003. He's a graduate of Mepham High School on Long Island and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He joined ESPNNewYork after spending 10 years at the New York Daily News.
Andrew Marchand
Andrew Marchand is a senior writer for ESPNNewYork.com. He also regularly contributes to SportsCenter, Baseball Tonight, ESPNews, 1050 ESPN New York and ESPN Radio. He joined ESPN in 2007 after nine years as a sports writer at the New York Post.
Mark Simon
Mark Simon is ESPN Stats & Information's Baseball Research Specialist. He's also one of several Mets historians working at ESPN and a co-host of the Baseball Today podcast. He joined ESPN in 2002 after 6 1/2 years as a sports writer at the Trenton Times.
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| W-L | HM | AW | STK | L10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SDG | 17-30 | 12-16 | 5-14 | L1 | |
| NYM | 25-21 | 13-9 | 12-12 | W1 |
| W-L | HM | AW | STK | L10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SDG | 17-30 | 12-16 | 5-14 | L1 | |
| NYM | 25-21 | 13-9 | 12-12 | W1 |
| W-L | HM | AW | STK | L10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SDG | 17-30 | 12-16 | 5-14 | L1 | |
| NYM | 25-21 | 13-9 | 12-12 | W1 |
TEAM LEADERS
| BA LEADER | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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David Wright
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| OTHER LEADERS | ||||||||||||
| HR | D. Wright | 5 | ||||||||||
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| R | D. Wright | 30 | ||||||||||
| OPS | D. Wright | 1.110 | ||||||||||
| W | R. Dickey | 6 | ||||||||||
| ERA | J. Santana | 3.24 | ||||||||||
| SO | J. Santana | 53 | ||||||||||
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