Mets Morning News: The Bourn Identity, More Twists And Turns Than The Bourne Identity

Meet the Mets

The Mets are putting the full court press on Michael Bourn, enlisting the help of David Wright to seal the deal. Little known fact, Wright was up for Alec Baldwin's role in an off-Broadway production of Glengarry Glen Ross*, because he always be closing.

The Klaw has ranked the Mets minor league system 14th in all of baseball. That seems about the right range to me, top-half, but not top ten.

Also in prospect news, Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com unveiled his Top 20 Mets prospect list for 2013. I have feelings about this list. Strong feelings. I have accepted that I am on an island when it comes to Luis Mateo, but I will not accept the future 7 grade on Rafael Montero's fastball.

Zack Wheeler is ready for his first major league camp, which is good, since I am totally ready to watch Zack Wheeler pitch in major league Spring Training games.

Since it's our rival podcast, I suppose I should go all Skip Bayless and tell you that the Mostly Mets Podcast is terrible, and that if you listen to its triumphant return edition, you're an idiot. But that wouldn't be very nice. So go listen to it, and then listen to Amazin' Audio Volume 6, which drops later today. You don't have a job or anything, right?

Mike Axisa likes what the Mets have done this offseason with the bullpen. He explains further over at FanGraphs. Mets? Bullpen? Like? Those word together...strange

And speaking of the Mets bullpen, Sandy Alderson has thus far refused to name Frank Francisco as the 2013 Mets closer. Probably because he was bad at said job in 2012. But maybe that's just wild speculation on my part.

*Yes, I know Mamet wrote the Baldwin part especially for the movie and the character is not in the original stage play. And yes, I also know I am going to hear about it from Eric for using the Posterisk here.

Yesterday at AA

Rob Castellano brought you the five best pitches from the Mets staff in 2012 and wondered if Jack Leathersich might make a Josh-Edgin-like splash in 2013.

Brock Mahan looked back to the naming of our late, lamented Shea Stadium

And Bryan Grosnick won my heart by referencing The Waste Land while discussing the future roles for Jenrry Mejia and Jeurys Familia

Around MLB

The A's acquired Jed Lowrie in a five-player deal with the Astros that saw Chris Carter (no, the other one) and prospects Brad Peacock and Max Stassi head to Houston. Lowrie showed surprising pop for the 'stros in 2012, but has never played 100 games in a season and has a pretty large platoon split.

The Yankees are trying to keep A-Rod's rehab location a mystery. Oh, I'm sure the New York City media will be totally okay with that.

Max Scherzer and the Tigers avoided arbitration, agreeing to a one-year, 6.725 million dollar deal.

And 2006 Cy Young winner Brandon Webb hung up the spikes yesterday. Webb was dominant when healthy, retiring with a 142 ERA+, but never recovered from his shoulder woes.