NEW YORK -- With the World Series now complete, nine New York Mets officially became free agents Monday:
Jerry Blevins, LHP
Yoenis Cespedes, OF
Tyler Clippard, RHP
Bartolo Colon, RHP
Kelly Johnson, IF
Daniel Murphy, IF
Eric O'Flaherty, LHP
Bobby Parnell, RHP
Juan Uribe, IF
Blevins may be the most likely from that list to return to the Mets. The Amazin's could use a left-handed specialist in the bullpen, and Blevins should garner a low base salary with incentives because he is returning off a lost season during which he twice fractured his left forearm.
Johnson would appear a candidate to return as well. The Mets' infield next season is projected to be dominated by righty hitters (David Wright, Wilmer Flores, Ruben Tejada and Dilson Herrera), plus lefty-hitting Lucas Duda. So a lefty-hitting backup who can play multiple positions like Johnson would make sense.
Cespedes and Murphy appear likely to sign elsewhere on rich free-agent contracts. Murphy nonetheless is expected to get a $15.8 million qualifying offer, which would net the Mets a draft pick if he departs.
Negotiations with other teams' free agents officially may begin at 12:01 a.m. ET Saturday. The annual GM Meetings open next Monday in Boca Raton, Florida.
