Mets Hot Stove: Kenji Fever

First of all, for those of you that came here for news updates:

Daily News: Jojima

Adam Rubin reports that Kenji Jojima will visit New York once the Japanese catcher has narrowed down the field. Kenji's agent feels that the language barrier won't be an issue.

My take on Jojima, for what it's worth, is that he will probably be using teams like the Mets to jack up his price with the team he really wants to play for, probably the Mariners. I don't think the Mets are that serious about him, either. He's a fallback position.

Also, Rubin tells us that Eduardo Perez's agent has let it be known his client has interest in the Mets for a possible right-handed platoon with Mike Jacobs at first. I like him more than Julio Franco, who is 100 years old and a Brave in my mind. Still, out of all the names mentioned for this spot, I'm still more intrigued by Jeff Conine.

New York Post: More Catchers

Mark Hale, in a story on the Mets' pursuit of Hernandez, Molina and Jojima, cites a "MLB team executive" that the Mets want Hernandez more than the other two, which directly contradicts what Marty Nobel wrote yesterday. Nobel cited people in the Mets' hierarchy that Omar wanted Molina over the other 2.

Newsday: Kenji Again

David Lennon also offers a piece on Kenji Jojima that is quite favorable to the Japanese catcher, both defensively and offensively. Lennon also points out that Jojima will be a bargain to sign compared with Hernandez and Molina.

New York Times: A sad day

Ben Shpigel informs us that the Mets have declined to pick up the options on Felix Heredia and Kaz Ishii. We will all try to pick up the shattered pieces of our lives and move on.