Julio Franco came closer to reaching his goal of playing until age 50 on Friday when he signed a two-year deal with the New York Mets. Franco, 47, was not offered salary arbitration by the Atlanta Braves. The veteran of 22 Major League seasons batted .275 along with nine homers and 42 RBI during the 2005 campaign with Atlanta. The veteran first baseman has hit for a career batting average of .299 and has smacked 2,521 hits in 8,422 at-bats. Breaking Down The Deal Franco will provide the Mets with a solid veteran to mentor the younger players ? especially Jose Reyes, David Wright, and even Carlos Beltran. The 47-year-old veteran can still get the job done with the bat and is solid in the field. He will likely see most of his playing time as a pinch hitter. My Grade: [B+] ? This was a move I called for long before the Winter Meetings started. I think Julio Franco is a great fit at Shea. Although his best years are behind him, he is still capable of providing some pop off the bench and playing solid defense. His value in the clubhouse will definitely serve as an asset to the Mets organization. A subtle, but solid move by New York.