--LHP Oliver Perez, who had been seeking a four- or five-year contract, agreed to a three-year deal worth $36 million. Perez went 10-7 with a 4.22 ERA for the Mets last season, striking out 180 batters in 194 innings.
--General manager Omar Minaya, while on a scouting trip in the Dominican Republic, visited free agent Pedro Martinez. Martinez, who pitched for the Mets the past four seasons, wants to re-sign with the organization. But with Freddy Garcia signed to a minor-league deal, Tim Redding on board and rookies Jon Niese and Bobby Parnell in the starting-pitching competition, there doesn't appear much room for Martinez, assuming the Mets ultimately re-sign Oliver Perez. --Minor-league 2B Kyle Suire was suspended 50 games by Major League Baseball for testing positive for metabolites of the performance-enhancing drug Stanozolol. Suire hit a combined .289 with nine homers and 36 RBI for rookie-level Kingsport and short-season Brooklyn in 2008.
--OF Bobby Kielty, RHPs Tony Armas Jr., Matt DeSalvo and Kyle Snyder, and LHPs Valerio de los Santos and Jon Switzer signed minor-league contracts and were invited to spring training. The switch-hitting Kielty last appeared in the majors in 2007, when he hit .218 in 87 at-bats for the A's and Red Sox.
--RHP Brad Holt from UNC Wilmington and 1B Ike Davis from Arizona State are expected to be invited to big-league camp. Both 2008 draft picks played for short-season Brooklyn in their professional debuts.
--C Brian Schneider was added to Team USA's provisional roster for the World Baseball Classic, but is still uncertain whether he will be selected for the event. The other catchers on Team USA's provisional roster are Brian McCann, Chris Iannetta and A.J. Pierzynski.
BY THE NUMBERS: 2.6 million -- RHP John Maine's 2009 salary after avoiding arbitration with the Mets. That signing leaves LHP Pedro Feliciano as the lone arbitration-eligible player yet to sign.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "A right-handed hitter such as him is a big bonus for any team. It's rare that you get that type of talent, boom, right in the middle of the lineup. ... And, being right-handed, for us that would be a big bonus." -- Manager Jerry Manuel, when asked if he wanted the Mets to sign Manny Ramirez, which is unlikely.
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