The Mets are closing in on a two-year deal with Japanese bullpen import Ryota Igarashi, although they reportedly have competition from the Red Sox.
Igarashi, a 30-year-old right hander who throws in the mid-90s with a forkball and splitter, was in serious talks with the Mets last night. A team source said the club feels a deal “is going to happen” in the next few days.
Igarashi, who has regained his velocity after having Tommy John surgery in 2007, was 3-2 with a 3.19 ERA for the Yakult Swallows last season and would be a strong candidate to be the Mets’ set-up man to closer Frankie Rodriguez.
VAC’S WHACKS: MINAYA RIGHT TO PASS ON PITCHERS
➤ The Mets plan to monitor former Yankee Chien-Ming Wang’s recovery from shoulder surgery and wouldn’t rule out an eventual offer if they are convinced he is healthy, according to a high-ranking team source.
➤ GM Omar Minaya said the Mets remain open to bringing back slugger Carlos Delgado on a one-year contract if Delgado proves he is healthy while playing winter ball in Puerto Rico. Minaya plans to fly to Puerto Rico to watch Delgado later this month.
➤ The Mets were among the teams that scouted hard-throwing Cuban defector Aroldis Chapman’s impressive workout in Houston yesterday, but the Amazin’s don’t expect to land him if he continues to seek as much as $50 million to sign.
➤ Jeff Francoeur, who played the role of Santa Claus at the Mets’ annual Christmas party yesterday at Citi Field, revealed that he had so little tendon left in his right thumb during surgery this off-season that doctors had to transplant a tendon from his forearm to fully repair the damage.
Francoeur, though, said he expects to be fully recovered by the start of spring training.
➤ Jon Niese said he is on schedule with his recovery from hamstring tendon surgery and expects to be full speed by the start of spring training.