June 2012 - New York Mets Wiretap

Dillon Gee says workouts are going well as he prepares for the 2013 season.

Gee feels looser and more natural when he throws since having a blood clot removed in mid-July from an artery near his pitching shoulder.

"One of the things with my surgery we were hoping for was, by recouping some of the blood flow I had lost, that my recovery would be better and that seems to be the case so far," the Mets pitcher said.

"I'm excited. The doctor said he was surprised I could recover every five days as it was, with the lack of blood and oxygen, so hopefully that will make it that much easier to bounce back after every start. You never know what the future holds, but we have a lot of positive signs going."

The Mets had some interest in acquiring Coco Crisp from the Athletics earlier this offseason.

However, the sense is that Oakland will keep Crisp.

The Mets are looking for relief help, according to a report by Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.

Frank Francisco, the incumbent closer, had minor elbow surgery earlier this month, but he is expected to be ready in time for Spring Training.

The Mets have signed Aaron Laffey to a minor-league contract.

Laffey went 4-6 with a 4.56 ERA in 22 games with the Blue Jays last season, including 16 starts.

R.A. Dickey has bid farewell to the Mets in a column written for the New York Daily News.

"The Mets gave me that chance almost exactly three years ago, and I will always be grateful to them for that. Only God could've written the narrative that has played out in the three years since. That is what I want to focus on, and what I want to hold in my heart," Dickey writes.

"I am not going to lie to you, though. The trade was hard for me at first. This is where my heart was, where I wanted to be, where I lived out a story of redemption and felt that every one of you shared it with me in some form or fashion. I loved pitching for you. I loved your passion, the way you embraced me from the start, and the way you seemed to appreciate the effort I was putting forth. Every time I’d walk off the mound after an outing, I'd look in your faces, the people behind the dugout, and felt as if all your energy and support was pouring right into me — even when I was lousy. It gives me chill bumps thinking about it even now."

R.A. Dickey won the National League Cy Young award and 20 games for the Mets.

However, they did not include him in their 2012 highlight video.

He was traded to the Blue Jays recently after New York couldn't reach an agreement on an extension with the knuckleballer.

The Mets have reached out to Carl Pavano's representatives, according to sources.

New York is looking to restock their rotation after trading R.A. Dickey to Toronto.

Pavano, who turns 37 in January, is coming off an injury-shortened 2012 season with the Twins in which he posted a 6.00 ERA over 11 starts.

David Wright was aware that reigning Cy Young winner R.A. Dickey could be traded when he signed a long-term contract extension with the Mets earlier this offseason.

While Wright knows that the 2013 season might be a difficult one, he is happy with the course the franchise is on.

"Going back to when Sandy [Alderson] came down here and we were having those honest conversations, I was well aware that not only was Sandy looking to better this team now, but that he also wanted to build a solid foundation for the future -- and the not-too-distant future," Wright said.

"I think it was important for us to get a little bit younger. I think it actually kind of works out well for both sides. You have Toronto, obviously, with their situation, and us with our vision. I spoke to R.A. earlier this morning, and he seems to be happy. The players we've gotten back, I've gotten a chance to speak to them. They're excited. And I think it fills needs for both sides."

R.A. Dickey had a strange feeling come over him when Mets general manager Sandy Alderson called him over the weekend to say that the reigning Cy Young winner had 72 hours to negotiate a contract extension with the Blue Jays.

"OK, here we go. I probably am never going to be a Met again," Dickey remembered thinking. "I think I had a wash of just numbness come over me, really."

A day after he was traded to Toronto and finalized a $30 million, three-year contract with the Blue Jays, the knuckleballer talked about his exit from New York after three seasons that revived his career.

"I think it's important for me to grieve leaving New York," he said. "I had a proverbial home there. I had a home among fans. I had a home in an organization. I had a lot of success there, and I think it's important for me to be sad about that for a moment before I move on to the next feeling."

Looking for a right-handed hitting outfielder, the Mets have acquired Collin Cowgill from the Athletics in exchange for prospect Jefry Marte.