Seo Back in 38, Looper to 40

Photos from the Met Caravan in New York this week revealed potential number-switching for 2004. Jae Seo arrived at Grand Central wearing No. 38 and Braden Looper in No. 40. This represents a bit of a switch — Seo actually made his Met/MLB debut in No. 38 back in 2002 but that number was subsequently issued to Pat Strange, who wore it last year as well as Seo took No. 40.

Looper in the meantime appeared earlier this month at the Met Minicamp in No. 46, but perhaps due to our warnings below, thought better of it. (Thanks to Phillip for the tip!)

Zeile Returning; Karim Filling

The Mets are expected to announce one-year contracts for infielder Todd Zeile and outfielder Karim Garcia in the next few days. The left-handed hitting Garcia has failed to nail down a regular job with several clubs so far and so fits right in to the Mets’ right-field situation. His presence seems to suggest a righty-swinging platoon partner is on the way. Garcia wore No. 28 for the Yankees last year but is unlikely to want to remind us or himself of that in Queens.

Zeile, whom the Mets strenuously disposed of just two years ago will re-join the team as a reserve and pinch-hitter, roles Met fans who recall 2001 are reasonably sure he’s ready for. It will be interesting to see whether Zeile resurfaces in his old Met No. 9 jersey (currently belonging to Ty Wigginton) or takes the available No. 27 he wore most frequently in his career. Zeile by the way would become the 28th player in team history to re-join the Mets after playing MLB elsewhere.

Vald en Route?

Few would have guessed that Vlad Guererro would still be looking for work when January arrived, much less in Flushing, but here we are. Jim Duke’s courageous procrastination on the right-field front and the rotten baseball economy has allowed the Mets to make an offer to the superstar free agent, whose customary No. 27 is available provided the Mets don’t do an even nuttier thing and invite Mike Glavine back to camp. Go Duke!

(Updated Jan. 11): Hey, Vlad! BOOOOOOOO!!!!!

Sooper

The Mets have come to an agreement with former Marlins bullpenner Braden Looper, pending a physical and his willingness to surrender his traditional uniform number. Looper wore No. 41 for the Marlins, which ain’t for sale in Flushing, but that’s not all he’ll need to change: Until now, he’s always been a Met-killer. Update Jan. 6: Looper met the press today wearing the dreaded No. 46.

Ka-Blammeron

44Once again, Jim Duquette got his man, overcoming heavy competition and filling a gaping hole in center field by signing Mike Cameron to a 3-year deal. Cameron is likely to suit up in No. 44 for the Mets, digits most recently belonging to the mercifully retired Jay Bell, as well as former Met center fielders Jay Payton, Ryan Thompson and John Cangelosi.

All Sevens: The Matsui Situation

(updated) Kazuo Matsui met the press this afternoon and tried on his jersey — in a surprise, No. 25. That shirt was most recently worn by coach Don Baylor, who took it from Scott Strickland over last offseason.

Rumors persist that Kazuo Matsui will take Jose Reyes’ position on the field. Will he also take the shirt off his back? Matsui, the Seibu Lions shortstop who this offseason became the object of Fred Wilpon’s questionable intrigue, has said in interviews that he’d prefer to sign with a team on which he could wear his customary No. 7 jersey. That number, of course, was issued to Reyes way back in spring training of 2002 and was reserved until his big-league arrival last summer. Considering the bend-over-backwardsness and drama with which the Mets have pursued Matsui thus far, the guess here is that the Japanese free agent winds up not only with Reyes’ hard-won position but his digit as well. But here’s a suggestion for the marketing department: Leave Reyes in 7, and give Matsui 77. The Made-For-Photo-Ops middle-infield would be complete.

Switchblade

Researching 1975, we recently came across the Met debut of lefty reliever Tom Hall. “The Blade” was acquired from the Reds in an early-season trade and joined the Mets in St. Louis on April 16 where he pitched two innings of scoreless relief while wearing road uniform No. 42 (Ron Hodges, for whom the Mets had likely been carrying the 42 jersey, was doing a minor-league tour then). When the Mets returned home two days later, Hall was issued No. 19, which he wore for the rest of his year-plus Met tenure.

Hot Stove is Lit

After officially naming Jim Duquette the team’s GM the Duke’s first order of new business was to name Rick Peterson, late of the Athletics, as the Mets new pitching coach. Peterson wrore No. 46 last year in Oakland, but that’s no guarantee of his digits here.

Talks begin this week on players the Mets may acquire. Among those romantically linked to the Mets thus far include centerfielder Mike Cameron (No. 44 on your Mariners’ scorecard); closers Billy Koch of the White Sox (44) and Keith Foulke of Oakland (29); and from Japan, infielders Kazuo Matsui and Tadahito Iguchi (both of whom wear No. 7). Stay tuned (or logged in, or whatever) throughout the Hot Stove season: More updates as they come!