The Mets have formally signed Kelvim Escobar to a one-year contract.
The team announced the deal yesterday. He was expected to get $1.25 million.
Escobar, an 18-game winner in 2007, missed nearly all of the past two seasons with the Angels because of shoulder trouble. If healthy, the right-hander would likely work out of the bullpen for the Mets, who are looking for setup help for All-Star closer Francisco Rodriguez.
METS, YANKS TARGET DEROSA SET TO SIGN WITH GIANTS
* Oliver Perez, coming off right knee surgery, has been training in Arizona at the Athletes Performance Institute, a high-tech fitness boot camp for pro athletes.
“I want to be healthy because it’s not easy coming from surgery,” said the Mets left-hander in an interview with Noroesta, an online Mexican newspaper. “I have to think positive for 2010.”
Perez was 3-4 with a 6.82 ERA in 14 starts last season.
* Mark DeRosa, the veteran utilityman who was on the Yankees’ radar, reached a preliminary agreement on a two-year deal with the Giants.
DeRosa passed a physical yesterday and a formal announcement is planned for today.
The Giants also were finalizing a deal to bring back infielder Juan Uribe.