Mets Sign Kiko Calero
Omar Minaya held firm on his minor-league offer to Kiko Calero, and came out the winner in the negotiations.
Calero signed a one-year, minor league contract that will pay him $850,000 plus incentives if he makes the Major League roster.
According to the The New York Times:
Calero was so eager to join the Mets that he was seen walking through the clubhouse before the team had a chance to announce the signing.
As you read a few days ago, I supported an MLB contract for Calero — so for me this is outstanding news and a very smart, low-risk gamble. It is surprising that Calero has been available for this long after a fine comeback season in ’09 — kudos to Minaya for waiting him out.
Next on the docket is Joe Beimel, who would fit right in as a second LOOGY to Pedro Feliciano. It appears that Minaya is sticking to the same strategy of waiting — and several sources report that Beimel is indeed on the Mets’ radar. Hopefully it works out as well — and it might, because every day that goes by is another day lost for a guy like Beimel to make a team. The only risk is that there are at least a handful of teams who could use an extra veteran LOOGY — and one of them could be the Phillies.