Mets Morning News: Mike Piazza would have made a wonderful movie star

Meet the Mets

Are the Mets afraid to take a chance on a high-priced free agent ? Sources say no, unless that free agent is Robinson Cano.

One free agent that the Mets have reportedly expressed interest in is Cincinnati outfielder Shin-Soo Choo. Seeing as how the two sides "haven't talked dollars" yet, we're guessing that a deal isn't imminent.

Joel Sherman mistakenly posted his AAOP entry to the New York Post, and it includes the acquisitions of Norichika Aoki, Andre Ethier, and Jhonny Peralta. From talking with sources, Sherman believes that the Mets will spend a little bit on several players instead of going after one big contract.

A script was apparently written in the early aughts for a movie starring Ben Stiller and Mets hero Mike Piazza! The title of the project? "Go to Hell, Mike Piazza." It's not too late for this to still happen, right?

Another Mets player and potential future movie star Matt Harvey was seen vacationing in Russia on his supermodel girlfriend's Instagram account. The two appear to be having a lovely time.

Around the Majors

The Mets have a lot of young arms in their system, which is a good thing, especially since Ervin Santana and Ricky Nolasco are reportedly asking for an insane amount of money in exchange for their services.

The Rangers wasted no time in locking up 22-year-old lefty starter Martin Perez. The team signed Perez to a four-year deal that includes options through 2020. That's a lot of options.

After watching their once-proud team crumble into mediocrity, the Phillies have decided to start nerding it up with some SABR guys. They don't want to go too fast, though, so they're starting with a temp.

It seems the Dodgers may actually want to offer a contract extension to the manager that led the team out of a midseason abyss and all the way to the NLCS. Back in October it looked like Don Mattingly would be managing 2014 in the final year of his deal, but now the front office is more willing to negotiate.

David Ortiz is not your new mayor of Boston, but if he would have pulled off the upset, he would have given one heck of a speech.

Yesterday at AA

Alex Nelson kicked off his 2008 draft review with New York's first round pick that year, Ike Davis.

Is that bearded guy Brian Wilson a good fit for the Mets in 2014? Chris Strohmaier broke him down in a free agent profile.

Izzy Hechkoff examined which players the Mets might add to their 40-man roster in advance of the Rule 5 Draft. Right now there are 36 players on the 40-man roster, and anybody on it is protected from being chosen in the draft.

Make sure you wish Mets great Edgardo Alfonzo a happy birthday today.