Right-hander Kiko Calero, who did not make the team out of spring training despite a 1.95 ERA with the Florida Marlins last season, is being given the choice of whether he wants to report to Buffalo. The Mets won’t force him into playing for the Bisons. Calero would earn $15,000 a month with Buffalo.
– Adam Rubin, ESPNNewYork.com.
Huh. I’m no expert, and I’m sure Kiko Calero’s a nice dude and all, and you probably want to do right by the guy, but the Mets did sign him to a Minor League contract, and he is the reliever in the organization coming off the best 2009 season and they are breaking camp with three relievers who have yet to throw a pitch at the Major League level.
Tedquarters 
Clarify: what does he do if he doesn’t want to report?
I assume he becomes a free agent.
actually the Wilpons are going to offer him the GM job. Mystery solved. You’re welcome.
I’m thinking we must be in some sort of Groundhog Day-esque continuation of April Fool’s day. They’re just having a REALLY good laugh on us.
I don’t even understand. is this any different from normal minor league contracts? I thought a guy could always refuse assignment?
I’m not entirely sure on this, but I believe that rule is for guys with five years of Major League service time signed to Major League deals, not guys signed to Minor League contracts. Rubin’s language sure makes it sound like the Mets have a choice.
What the fudge? Omar can go fudge himself.
I think he already fudged himself, and the rest of us too, I mean look at this team!
I would be incredibly disappointed if we lost Calero for no reason. I really hope the Mets are not bringing him up SOLELY he can strengthen his arm (though it seemed fine to me in ST). If they lose this guy for some stupid reason, be it money or miscommunication or some type of mismanagement…I’d rather not think about it.
isn’t this why we have jenrry mejia? to pitch in middle relief? i’m not even sure kiko calero is a ballplayer’s name
we have Jenrry Meija because Omar and Jerry have no reason to be interested in the teams long-term bests interests because everyone in the world knows they’re on the hot seat.
Why would we want to let the reliever who put up the best numbers last year to actually play for us? Omar’s theory is that if a middle reliever is good one year, he will not be good the next and vice- versa. This is the only theory he has, and he has absolutely zero evidence to back it up. This also explains why Sean Green is still on the team. Let’s all drink the Kool Aid and settle in for a long dirt nap and wake up again in 2011 when there might be hope again.
Why the “Huh???” He’s throwing only 84MPH and cannot throw his pitches. Therefore, he did not make the team. Hopefully he goes to the minors and improves physically so he can contribute like we were hoping…
Well, exactly, Warren. The “huh” in the above post has nothing to do with him not making the team. It’s because the Mets are apparently giving him the option to not go to the Minors, which doesn’t seem to make a whole lot of sense from the surface, considering how good he was last year and how good he’s been in his Major League career and considering how much uncertainty exists in the Mets’ bullpen.