All-Star closer Francisco Rodriguez returned to New York Mets camp on Monday after being hampered by conjunctivitis for more than two weeks.

Rodriguez had been told to stay away from the team until the pink eye cleared, but the contagious infection took longer than expected to improve. He was sick when he reported to New York’s spring facility, but it went undiagnosed until just before full-squad workouts began Feb. 25.

The right-hander said he went to the doctor on Friday and was cleared to return Monday, although he still is infected. He continues to take eye drops and isn’t allowed to wear contacts yet.

“It feels much better,” Rodriguez said. “It’s still a little uncomfortable, but it’s good to be around. I was cleared to be around the guys, so it’s fine.”

While away from the team, Rodriguez was limited to playing catch with his brother, Edward, in the driveway of the closer’s home. But Rodriguez is not worried about his progress. He said he probably only needs one bullpen session before pitching in a game, and is looking forward to getting back into a regular routine.

Rodriguez last stepped on a mound about a week ago when he emerged from hiding for a light bullpen session.

Click here to read the full article – By Associated Press of ESPN.com

Alex Rodriguez says he is “at ease, no matter what” with his relationship with a Canadian sports doctor embroiled in a cross-border drug smuggling investigation involving human growth hormone and another drug.

Rodriguez told reporters Tuesday at the Yankees spring training complex that he still does not know when he will be interviewed by federal authorities. The slugger said last week he was “aware” of the investigation and plans to cooperate with the government.

When asked if he is choosing not to talk or has been told not to speak, Rodriguez laughed and says he “thinks the latter.”

Click here to read the full article – By Associated Press of ESPN.com

After missing most of the 2009 season with persistent leg injuries, New York Mets shortstop Jose Reyes is ready and raring to go for 2010.

Reyes, who appeared in only 36 games last season, showed off the progress he’s made in regaining his health on Monday, running sprints at a Long Island athletic training facility and pronouncing himself ready for spring training. He said he’s been running at full speed without pain for several weeks and feels great.

“I’ll be ready in 2010. Be there, it’s going to be a show,” he said, according to the New York Post. “I can do everything I did before on the field … I can’t wait to hit a triple.”

Reyes was hampered last season by what was at first believed to be tendinitis in his right calf, which forced him out of a game against the Atlanta Braves in May. The injury was later diagnosed as a torn right hamstring tendon.

Click here to read the full article – By of ESPN.com

The New York Mets have acquired outfielder Gary Matthews Jr. in a trade with the Los Angeles Angels, a baseball source confirmed to ESPN.com on Friday.

Matthews will combine with Angel Pagan to hold down center field while Carlos Beltran recovers from offseason knee surgery.

It’s believed the Angels will pay most of the two years and $23 million remaining on Matthews’ contract with the Angels.

SI.com was first to report the completion of the trade.

It’s not immediately known who the Angels will receive in return for Matthews, but a source told ESPN.com that it will be a low-salaried pitcher off the major league roster.

Matthews, 35, is a .258 hitter in 11 big league seasons. His best year came in 2006, when he hit .313 with 19 homers and 79 RBIs for the Texas Rangers.

Click here to read the full article – By Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com

Carlos Beltran had surgery on his troublesome right knee Wednesday and the All-Star center fielder will miss the start of the season. His decision to have the operation also sparked a dispute about whether he had received permission from the team, and perhaps whether the surgery was needed at all.

The New York Mets said Beltran is expected to resume baseball activities in 12 weeks, a timetable that likely would keep him out for most of April — and maybe longer.

New York’s first official workout for pitchers and catchers is a little more than five weeks away, on Feb. 20. The Mets open the season April 5 against Florida.

“The doctor said eight weeks, possibly, and a window to 12 weeks to resume baseball activities. With elite athletes, the timetable is sometimes shorter than the original prognosis,” Beltran’s agent, Scott Boras said.

Click here to read the full article – By of ESPN.com

Unless he’s told otherwise, Joba Chamberlain anticipates being in the Yankees’ starting rotation in 2010.

Sure, he knows there’s never any guarantees. At least as a member of the World Series champions, Chamberlain has a shorter off-season – meaning less time to consider the winter what-ifs.

He’s already been receiving text messages and calls about the Hot Stove League.

“[It's] not so much the rumors part of things [I pay attention to], just kind of the way things are going to shape up, what’s going to happen and just the overall feel of [it],” Chamberlain said Tuesday afternoon.


Click here to read the full article – By PETE CALDERA of northjersey.com

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I believe Wally Backman will end up managing at Citi Field eventually, and when it happens it will be a very good day for the Mets. But for the moment he is no more a threat to Jerry Manuel’s job than Jay Horwitz, PR man to the stars.

There is some history between Backman and Manuel that dates back to their days together in the White Sox organization a decade ago, and it seems fairly clear they weren’t trusting allies. Depending on who you talk to, it was either because Manuel saw Backman, then an acclaimed minor-league manager, as a threat to his job, or their personalities merely clashed.

Either way it’s irrelevant, at least for now.

The Mets did the right thing in bringing Backman back to the organization after all these years, giving him a chance to make everyone forget the off-field indiscretions that got him fired as Diamondbacks manager before he ever signed the contract.

Click here to read the full article – By John Harper of NY Daily News

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