The Mets already decided to part ways with one left-handed reliever and could be on the verge of seeing another one head out the door.
Pedro Feliciano rejected the team’s offer of arbitration yesterday before last night’s deadline, according to his agent, Melvin Roman, making the 34-year-old a free agent.
Unlike Hisanori Takahashi, whom the Mets can’t resign until May 15, general manager Sandy Alderson can continue to negotiate with Feliciano, who made $2.9 million last season and could look for a multi-year deal.
Because of the Mets’ lack of depth in the bullpen — especially from the left side — the possibility exists of Feliciano returning to Citi Field. Feliciano has been the picture of durability, leading the league in appearances in each of the past three years.
The wear-and-tear on his arm could prevent some teams from offering Feliciano a second year.
If Feliciano opts to go elsewhere, it will leave the Mets without an established left-hander in the bullpen and would give Alderson another hole to fill. Right-handers Sean Green and John Maine must be tendered contracts by tomorrow or let go.
The Mets already are looking for help at the back end of the rotation. They have “interest” in Chris Young, who played for the Padres while Alderson and Mets VP Paul DePodesta were there, but still aren’t close to a deal. Jeff Francis, Kevin Millwood and Jeremy Bonderman could be alternatives on the free agent market.
Vicente Padilla is another long shot, but Alderson said last week he isn’t in a rush to make any moves with the Winter Meetings scheduled to begin in Orlando on Monday.
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Fernando Martinez has mild arthritis in his troublesome right knee, the Mets said yesterday.
The 22-year-old, along with Daniel Murphy and Nick Evans, visited team physician Dr. Struan Coleman on Monday at the Hospital for Special Surgery.
A previous MRI exam showed Martinez’s arthritis, but there was no further injury after the outfielder complained of “stiffness” while playing in the Dominican Republic. He will wear a brace and continue to work on strengthening the knee before resuming baseball activities.
Murphy has a strained left hamstring, unrelated to his knee injury from last year. Evans is rehabbing from a September shoulder injury and is swinging a bat pain-free.
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The Mets re-signed left-hander Mike O’Connor, 30, to a minor league contract with an invite to major league spring training. He had 51 appearances for Triple-A Buffalo last season. . . . The Mets released their spring training schedule and open on Feb. 26 in Port St. Lucie vs. the Braves.