Adam Rubin

  (12:01 PM)

Thanks for joining me. News off the bat. Pedro Feliciano's agent has declined arbitration.

Adam Rubin

  (12:01 PM)

Thanks for joining me. News off the bat. Pedro Feliciano's agent has declined arbitration.

Jason (NJ)

Adam,Please provide the latest update concerning the Feliciano and Chris Young situations.

Adam Rubin

  (12:04 PM)

Because Feliciano has now declined arbitration, the Mets will pick up a draft pick between the first and second rounds if he signs elsewhere -- and given his price tag, I have to believe that will end up happening. It does not restrict the Mets from re-signing him, though. Of course, the Mets really do not have a left-handed reliever at the moment, with Hisanori Takahashi gone as well.

Adam Rubin

  (12:04 PM)

As for Chris Young, Buster Olney reports the sides are closing in on a deal.

Adam Rubin

  (12:05 PM)

You can view a full Pedro Feliciano news story here: http://espn.go.com/blog/new-yorkmets/post/_/id/12563/feliciano

billy (nj)

what is the latest on daniel murphy injury.

Adam Rubin

  (12:06 PM)

Actually have breaking news on that as well. I'm told by a source that Murphy has a pull in his left hamstring, but it's not alarming. And Fernando Martinez was told the knee just needs strengthening -- no impending surgery or anything.

Jason (NJ)

I realize Perez's winter results have been encouraging but what is the take from scouts who have watched him throw?

Adam Rubin

  (12:09 PM)

Just got this from a person familiar with Ollie's winter-ball activity, since obviously velocity is more important than a scoreless-inning streak against Mexican Winter League batters. "Early velocties were 87-89, with an occasional 90 mph, all out of the pen. Starting velocity ... consistent 88 mph, but spikes are higher and more common. They are seeing occasional 91, 92."

Pete (Barnegat NJ)

Do you think the Mets really want to use Murphy at second or do you think they're looking for a long term replacement for second base?

Adam Rubin

  (12:11 PM)

I'm told Murphy is a very viable plan for the 2011 Mets at second base. One person said he's a very important piece for the club.

Victor (Tampa,FL)

Doesn't it make sense for the Mets to go after someone like Brandon Webb with and incentive based deal?.

Adam Rubin

  (12:11 PM)

In essence, that's what the Mets would be doing with Chris Young -- who has had arm issues three straight years.

Mr. Spacely (Astoria)

Any word on who will replace Hojo as hitting coach?

Adam Rubin

  (12:13 PM)

Not yet. Sandy Alderson said he would proceed deliberately with that hire, which may be from outside the organization.

Mark Rak (Yorktown, VA)

Adam,Although he hasn't had the amount of "major" injuries yet, doesn't Fernando Martinez look more and more like Alex Escobar each season? What do the Mets do with him now as he gets older, and probably has no real future with the team?

Adam Rubin

  (12:15 PM)

I will say it's alarming that someone 22 years old has had so many ailments, particularly with his legs. He's averaged less than 80 games a regular season over five professional years. Then again, remember what we were saying about Jose Reyes' propensity for injuries early in his career. Granted, he hasn't completely shaking it. But I'd say he's been a success.

Joey Pett (Long Island)

will Murph or K-Mart continue winterball?

Adam Rubin

  (12:16 PM)

Not right away, if at all. Need to get a pulled hamstring healed -- can't let it linger into spring training and beyond.

Derek Anderson (via mobile)

Adam, you better put your heart and soul into this chat!

Adam Rubin

  (12:17 PM)

Doing three things at once. Was communicating with Melvin Roman, Pedro's agent; getting updates on F-Mart and Murphy and Ollie's velocity. And blogging and tweeting at the same time.

Azeem (Monroe, NJ)

Any chance Mejia cracks the Opening Day rotation?

Adam Rubin

  (12:18 PM)

I'd say uphill battle. Johan Santana won't be ready. So you have Pelfrey, Niese and Dickey 1-2-3. Sounds like they'll sign Chris Young. That leaves one spot for a young person, perhaps. Dillon Gee probably has a leg up, which will allow Jenrry Mejia time to develop, which he was deprived last year. I imagine you see the same thing with Ruben Tejada given time to mature in Triple-A.

Matt (CT)

What's the skinny on the Chris Young situation?

Adam Rubin

  (12:18 PM)

Buster Olney says it's going to happen. I trust his reporting.

Patrick from germany (Frankfurt, Germany)

Any chance Mets prospect Kai Gronauer will start the year in Binghampton after his AFL performance? Greets GermanMetsFan from Twitter

Adam Rubin

  (12:20 PM)

Kai hit .324 in 38 games with high-A St. Lucie at the end of the season. A natural progression would be to open the year with that Florida State League team, then jump to Double-A within a couple of months. But since there's such a lack of catching depth in the Mets' system, I believe that's possible, if not probable.

Jon (NYC)

Buster is rarely wrong. What could be the explanation for the discrepancy in what's being said about the Chris Young situation?

Adam Rubin

  (12:22 PM)

Perhaps cautiousness by the Mets. You remember they got burned by the Yorvit Torrealba "agreement" getting out before the physical. There's still a grievance pending over that. It could be as simple as with an injury-prone pitcher, they want to do nothing to make themselves liable if there's something they don't like on an MRI.

Harrelson 69 (brooklyn, ny)

Any changes coming to Citi Field for the 2011 season?

Adam Rubin

  (12:23 PM)

Dimension-wise? Sandy Alderson is on record saying there's no intention to alter anything.

Jon (New York)

If the Mets were willing to deal Reyes to SF, what would they look for in return? Also, who would they replace him with?

Adam Rubin

  (12:24 PM)

I just think that's a case of ask for the moon and see what happens. There's always someone who will do a Scott Kazmir-for-Victor Zambrano deal. I don't think he's being actively shopped. And for several reasons it's not the right time, including he would only be under the new team's control for a year, limiting what you could command in return.

Joey Pett (Long Island)

Santana was to throw of the mound today at minicamp, did he how did it go?

Adam Rubin

  (12:25 PM)

I don't think that's correct. Sandy Alderson recently said he would not even pick up a ball until January after undergoing the shoulder surgery. And given they're on the record saying he will not be ready for Opening Day, now seems like a silly time to do something like that.

Adam Rubin

  (12:25 PM)

I don't think that's correct. Sandy Alderson recently said he would not even pick up a ball until January after undergoing the shoulder surgery. And given they're on the record saying he will not be ready for Opening Day, now seems like a silly time to do something like that.

Dylan (Madison, WI)

Do you see any scenario that has Ollie on the OD roster?

Adam Rubin

  (12:26 PM)

In the sense that Pedro Feliciano and Hisanori Takahashi are gone (at least Feliciano is likely gone), and given the velocity readings were better than I thought they'd be, it would seem that at least taking a look in spring training isn't harmful. What good does it do to eat the $12 million now when you can eat the $12 million on March 31 if need be?

Fanfave (NYC)

Why we interested in a guy like Young with so many arm problems?? Didnt we learn our lesson with K.Escobar?

Adam Rubin

  (12:28 PM)

Because if you're not spending a lot of money, an injury-prone pitcher has a low base salary. And they desperately need pitching. Plus, there's the Sandy Alderson and Paul DePodesta attachment from San Diego. And, hey, why not bring in one more Ivy Leaguer. (He was a basketball as well as baseball star at Princeton.) It is a different look, too, if healthy. High fastballs. Complements Pelfrey's downward stuff, Dickey's knuckleball and Niese's lefthanded arsenal.

Brian (NY)

another lost year as a mets fan??

Adam Rubin

  (12:30 PM)

It's going to be an uphill battle, with holes in the starting pitching and bullpen. The offense should be adequate, or better than that. Jason Bay has to have a bounceback year. And Carlos Beltran, even with arthritic knees, will be playing for his next contract. As will Jose Reyes. You can count on David Wright for certain numbers. I have no concerns about the offense. Still, Philly still has the three aces. And Atlanta adds Dan Uggla.

Billy (Panama City, FL)

Is Mookie still on the radar for 1st base coach?

Adam Rubin

  (12:31 PM)

I'm told the coaching staff is fluid, whatever that means. I feel there's a pretty good chance Ken Oberkfell becomes the bench coach.

Joe (Spencerport, NY)

Adam, how in the world are the Mets going to fill the various roster needs (SP, bullpen, backup catcher, possibly 2b) with a relatively small amount of money allocated? Trades? Magic? Alderson's got his hands full.

Adam Rubin

  (12:32 PM)

Not sure. Once Mike Pelfrey, R.A. Dickey and Angel Pagan -- all arbitration-eligible -- get raises, the payroll will be $130 million or so. You need to sign two left-handed relievers, ideally an eighth-inning guy, a backup catcher, and at least one starting pitcher if not more -- Chris Young or otherwise. That seems to me to cost more than $10 million even with unimpressive names. The payroll is going to have to be $140 million-plus without trying.

david (nyc)

are there any other back-end starting pitchers the mets might be able to scoop up?

Adam Rubin

  (12:33 PM)

The list is shrinking. At the risk of a cop-out, you can view the free-agent tracker here: http://espn.go.com/mlb/freeagents

Fred (NYC)

Your chats seem less negative now that the new regime is in place. Are you happy, like most of us, that the mets are being run now to maximize their potential ?

Adam Rubin

  (12:35 PM)

I think that's just your perception -- not fact. What has there been to criticize, honestly? You can dislike letting Takahashi go or whatever, but there's an articulated plan and direction. I'm not suggesting this front office is any better than the Red Sox or anyone else. But it's now certainly on par. And once the salaries clear after next season, they'll have financial might as well.

Jon (NYC)

Realistically, given the resources available, is there anything the Mets can do with the pitching staff that would put them in playoff contention?

Adam Rubin

  (12:35 PM)

Well, people get lucky -- or make their luck -- on free agents. You just hope they find another R.A. Dickey or Hisnaori Takahashi and avoid the Ryota Igarashi types.

Victor (Tampa,FL)

Will Aaron Heilman be back in a Mets uniform for 2011

Adam Rubin

  (12:36 PM)

Hey, he wants to be a starting pitcher. And the Mets certainly have room. I imagine it would be a last resort for him, though.

Chris (NYC)

Hi Adam. Can you compare and contrast the mets going after Chris Young vs Brandon Webb. I feel like Webb has a higher ceiling than does Young.

Adam Rubin

  (12:37 PM)

I'm not as well-versed as I'd need to be, but here's a simple view: Both injured a lot. Young fly ball pitcher, which is fine for Citi Field. Webb sinkers, which would be fine when the Mets go to Philadelphia.

Lenny (Brooklyn)

I am prepared to enter 2011 thinking Santana won't throw a pitch. Is this how the Mets front office is viewing the situation? Is there a date johan, the front office, or the medical staff see as a realistic return date?

Adam Rubin

  (12:39 PM)

I think you're being too harsh/pessimistic. I think you can see a lesser Santana, because shoulder surgeries aren't to be taken lightly, as we've seen with John Maine's situation. He won't be available for the start of the season. No one wants to project an actual date. I'm not sure it's projectable anyway.

Mark (Long Island)

Who is going to be the Mets' closer in 2011. Does K-rod survive the entire season? Or could someone like Parnell take over?

Adam Rubin

  (12:40 PM)

Well, K-Rod to start the year and let's see what happens. He may be the closer in 2012, too, if he finishes 55 games and his contract vests for the following season.

Jon (NYC)

Will the Mets look outside the org for a veteran 2B to compete with Murphy? Or do you think they're just going to let him try his hand at it for a year?

Adam Rubin

  (12:41 PM)

I would think they would need to sign a backup middle infielder anyway, if they want Tejada to be in Triple-A developing. So maybe they sign someone inexpensive to compete for the 2B job and otherwise slide into that Alex Cora role.

Victor (Tampa,FL)

So Thole #1 C in the Mets depth chart.

Adam Rubin

  (12:41 PM)

Terry Collins said that's the case. So I suppose the Mets are in the market for a righty-hitting backup who is younger than Henry Blanco.

Joe (Spencerport, NY)

Regarding the 2b situation, the assumption is that Castillo is gone, correct? Trade or flat-out released?

Adam Rubin

  (12:44 PM)

Terry Collins spoke about a competition in spring training. And maybe they can find a bad matching contract, since it's $6 million owed, as opposed to Oliver Perez's $12 million. But I have a hard time believing Castillo will actually be on the roster if Murphy does emerge as the second baseman. After all, he can only play second. He can't be the backup shortstop, etc.

Bill (Boston)

Adam- how does the org view Justin Turner? Very good numbers throughout his minor league career and career-best numbers last year at Buffalo. Logged time at 2B, SS, and 3B. Playing for Obie's winter league team now. maybe most importantly...makes the minimum. Seems like an ideal fit on the bench, right? Rarely hear his name mentioned, though.

Adam Rubin

  (12:45 PM)

I suppose Terry Collins' promotion helps his cause. But his biggest advocate has been Wayne Krivsky. That didn't even get him a deserved September call-up. And Wayne's standing hasn't exactly improved with the regime change. I don't think Turner is a good enough shortstop to be the backup middle infielder, but anything is possible.

Mike Fichera (Syracuse Univ.)

How many draft picks are the Mets looking at assuming they don't sign any FA's this year.

Adam Rubin

  (12:47 PM)

They get their actual first-round pick. I actually forgot where they draft -- maybe 13th or so. Then they will get the one extra pick between the first and second rounds for losing Feliciano, presuming that happens.

Mike (NC)

Sandy said our minor leaguers are basically average. Do you get the feeling that he will be more active in Internation signings to beef up the system?

Adam Rubin

  (12:48 PM)

He has spoken about the international signings and draft to be viewed as one category together. So I think you'll see going over slot if warranted, and the money parceled out based on where it's best allocated any given year.

Adam Rubin

  (12:49 PM)

Anyway, thanks for joining me this week. I'm headed over to the blog now to post some updates you already know by joining me -- on Ollie's velocity and the Murph/F-Mart injury updates.