Mets Lose Out on Nakamura!

[jor31]

Mets get Floyd, lose out on Nakamura

By JOSH DUBOW, AP Sports Writer
December 21, 2002

NEW YORK (AP) -- The New York Mets got one of the big bats they'd been seeking and missed out on another.

Cliff Floyd agreed in principle to a $26 million, four-year contract with the Mets on Friday, the latest big move by a team looking to rebound from a last-place finish.
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Later Friday, the Mets said that third baseman Norihiro Nakamura backed out of a deal to come to the major leagues and will remain in Japan instead.

``Despite Mr. Nakamura's decision, today was a productive day for the Mets' organization,'' general manager Steve Phillips said.

Floyd, who declined salary arbitration from the Boston Red Sox on Thursday night, must pass a physical Saturday to make his deal official.

Floyd is the third big free-agent acquisition for the Mets this offseason as they try to bounce back from a 75-86 season. New York finished 26 1/2 games behind Atlanta in the NL East.

The Mets signed left-hander Tom Glavine to a $35 million, three-year deal to be the ace of their staff and lefty Mike Stanton to a $9 million, three-year contract to bolster their bullpen.

But it was the offense that needed the most help. Floyd should provide a a big boost.

He batted .288 with 28 homers, 43 doubles and 79 RBIs last season for Florida, Montreal and Boston. He had a .388 on-base percentage and slugged .533.

He will be a major upgrade over Roger Cedeno or Jeromy Burnitz in one of the corner outfield spots. The Mets probably will try to trade Cedeno or Burnitz. They have discussed deals with Texas and Colorado.

New York was last in the majors in batting average in right field and second-to-last in the NL in both homers and RBIs in left field. That was a big reason they finished 13th in the league in scoring.

Floyd will be a formidable bat in the middle of the lineup, along with Mike Piazza. Floyd struggled with injuries early in his career but has played 295 games in the last two seasons. He is a .284 career hitter with 132 homers and 508 RBIs in 908 games.

Like the Mets' other free-agent acquisitions, Floyd probably would not have signed with the team had manager Bobby Valentine not been replaced by Art Howe.

Both Glavine and Stanton said they would not have come to New York if the volatile Valentine were still in charge of the team. Valentine and Floyd feuded in 2000 over the manager's initial snubbing of Floyd for the NL All-Star team. Floyd later made the team.

The deal with Floyd is the latest big move made by owner Fred Wilpon, who took over sole ownership of the team in August from Nelson Doubleday.

The Mets still need to find a starting third baseman to replace Edgardo Alfonzo and a shortstop to play until rookie phenom Jose Reyes is ready to take over.

After Nakamura's decision to stay with the Kintetsu Buffaloes, the Mets now will turn their attention to free agents Bill Mueller and Jose Hernandez to fill the third-base hole.

``We had an agreement in principle with the player. He changed his mind after successfully completing a physical with us,'' Phillips said. ``We respect his decision to change his mind and wish him nothing but the best of luck in the future.''

Nakamura would have been the second Japanese slugger this week to come to New York. Hideki Matsui agreed to a $21 million, three-year deal with the Yankees on Thursday.

Instead, Nakamura turned down a $7 million, two-year offer from the Mets. He will reportedly receive about $30 million over five years from Kintetsu.

``What matters to me most is the freedom to keep up with my style, not the amount of money,'' Nakamura said Saturday in Japan. ``Kintetsu is the one that fits me best.''

Nakamura hit .294 with 42 homers and 115 RBIs last season in Japan's Pacific League.

Also Friday, the Mets announced that they did not offer contracts to right-handers John Thomson and Doug Nickle, making them free agents.

Wow, now we got to fill the hole at 3B!

[Dxgarnett]

Why don't they give Super Joe a chance to start??

[ziimalan]

because he's utility he can't produce on a constant basis...They need to get one more big bat Then i think they will be set.

[tsq_bone]

Set to finish in third or fourth in the NL East....