Mets Hot Stove: Close to Baez Deal?

Shaking off the holiday cobwebs, we keep hearing that something is imminent with Danys Baez, Seo will pitch for Korea in the Classic, and John from MetsDaily.com has another great interview, this one with Marty Noble.

Newsday: Still trying to get Baez and Dump Matsui
Ken Davidoff is reporting that the Mets are still in pursuit of Devil Rays closer Danys Baez, trying to forge a deal that doesn't include the versatile Aaron Heilman. Davidoff cites two officials familiar with the talks that the deal is "considerably closer to completion" than a possible Ramirez deal. I certainly hope so. According to Davidoff:

It's believed such a package would center around righthander Jae Seo, and the Devil Rays also have interest in second baseman Kaz Matsui, whom they could convert to shortstop and then trade their incumbent at the position, Julio Lugo.

While the Mets have told clubs they'd provide $5 million of the $8 million Matsui is owed in 2006, Tampa Bay might take a flyer on the 30-year-old if the Mets throw in an additional $500,000, thereby making Matsui a $2.5-million shortstop, according to an official from a major-league club.

Davidoff points out that the Mets refusal to include Heilman in a deal indicates that the Mets see Heilman having a role with the team in 2006. Although Heilman has asked to be traded rather than pitch out of the bullpen, Davidoff rightly notes that Heilman has no recourse to force such as decision.

What bothers me a little here is the thought of giving up a promising pitcher like Seo just to rent Baez for one season. He's in his walk year, and has been on record stating that he wants to close, and will look for that opportunity after the 2006 season.

Bergen Record: More Baez
Steve Popper and Bob Klapisch report that something might get done this week between the Mets and Rays for Danys Baez, and that some of the Mets' motivation involves keeping him away from Atlanta.

Mets.com: Seo will pitch for Korea in World Baseball Classic
Marty Noble reports that Jae Seo will pitch for the Korean national team in this spring's WBC. He won't be alone among Mets and former Mets players in representing their country this spring:

Seo is the seventh Mets player to agree to play. David Wright and Billy Wagner made themselves available to the United States team. The others include Pedro Martinez (Dominican Republic) if his troublesome toe allows him to pitch, Carlos Beltran and Carlos Delgado (Puerto Rico), and Victor Zambrano (Venezuela). Two former Mets, Mike Piazza and Mike DiFelice, have agreed to play for Italy, and a third former Met, Miguel Cairo, has agreed to play for Venezuela.

Of course, it remains to be seen if Seo will still be a Met come the springtime.

MetsDaily.com: Marty Noble Interview
At MetsDaily.com, John Strubel offers a really solid audio interview with Mets MLB.com beat writer Marty Noble. Instead of hammering at all of the tired trade rumors that we've all beaten to death, John and Noble had a really interesting discussion about how Noble grew up worshiping Mickey Mantle, than got to know him as a real person. Marty also tells John that Joe Torre and Keith Hernandez taught him the most about baseball over the years. Great stuff, John.

Mets Daily also begins their previews of National League teams with a look at the Phillies.