He's free

JJ Putz ('00) was involved in that big three-team trade last year that sent him from Seattle to the New York Mets...an injury-shortened 2009 with the Mets.

There are a pair of new items over the weekend that pertain to the former Rattler. Neither are surprising.

Item #1

As expected, the Mets declined reliever J.J. Putz's $9.1 million option for 2010 on Friday, opting instead to buy out his contract for $1 million. The move makes Putz eligible for free agency, though the Mets can still negotiate a new deal with him.

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After coming to the Mets in a three-team, 12-player trade last winter, Putz was limited to just 29 games because of injuries. His agent, Craig Landis, said Friday that Putz is healthy and playing catch. But $9.1 million would have been a hefty price to pay for a setup man coming off elbow surgery.

The Mets might be interested in re-signing him at a lower price, but Putz's first preference will likely be to sign as a closer somewhere.

Item #2

On the third day of MLB free agency filings, two more players have joined the ranks.

J.J. Putz, who the Mets declined their club option on Friday night, and the Twins Carl Pavano were officially added to the ranks today, it was announced by the MLBPA.

A few sites have chimed in with who they think should sign the former All-Star closer

JJ Putz to Detroit Tigers Makes Too Much Sense Not To Happen

Last off season, JJ Putz was the best move the Tigers didn't make.

If not for an injury to Fernando Perez that killed a three-way deal involving the Rays, JJ Putz may have been hamstringing Detroit in 2009 and not the Mets, and Edwin Jackson may have formed a dominant pitching tandem with Felix Hernandez instead of Justin Verlander.

Putz became a free agent today when New York declined his nine million dollar option. This time around, the Tigers have much less to lose in taking a shot on the Trenton native and former Michigan wolverine.

The Quest For Relief Revisits J.J. Putz

Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski sounds as if he'd prefer a veteran closer for next season. Re-signing Brandon Lyon or Fernando Rodney is a possibility, but the free agent market could end up pricing both of them out of the Tigers' range. (Rodney has already said he's hoping for a three-to-four-year deal.) If that's the case, Detroit will have to look elsewhere, so we're dusting off The Quest For Relief for yet another offseason.

Developing.