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10/31/2007 4:37 PM ET
Mets pick up option on outfielder Moises Alou; Re-sign Damion Easley
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The New York Mets today announced they have picked up the club's $7.5 million option on outfielder Moises Alou for 2008. In addition, the Mets re-signed free agent infielder Damion Easley to a one-year, $950,000 contract.
"Last year, Moises showed us what type of hitter he was," said Mets General Manager Omar Minaya. "He's coming back on a mission, to help us play a significant part in helping us get back to the postseason.
"Damion Easley is a valuable component to the team, in the infield, the outfielder or off the bench," continued Minaya. "He's completely recovered from his injury and should be ready to go by spring training."
Alou, 41, hit a team-high .341 (112-for-328) with 19 doubles, one triple, 13 home runs, 49 RBI, 27 strikeouts and 30 walks last year. Moises constructed a franchise record 30-game hitting streak from August 23rd-September 26th. The streak was the longest by a player on a New York major league team (including Brooklyn) since Joe DiMaggio's record 56-game hitting streak in 1941. He collected at least one hit in 48 of his final 53 contests with an at-bat.
"I'm angry at what happened last year and our fans deserved better," said Alou. I'm coming back to help us win a championship. From the first day of spring training we have to show people that 2008 will be different."
Moises batted .360 (31-for-86) vs. lefthanded pitching in 2007 and constructed a .353 (77-for-218) batting average after the All-Star break.
Alou also led the team with seven outfield assists.
He moved into 88th place tie with Bobby Bonds on major league baseball's all-time home run list with his 332nd career blast on September 26th vs. Washington (off Mike Bacsik).
Alou has hit .303 (2,117-for-6,998) with 419 doubles, 39 triples, 332 home runs, 1,278 RBI in 1,927 major league games with Pittsburgh, Montreal, Florida, Houston, Chicago, San Francisco and New York.
The 6-3, 229-pounder was placed on the 15-Day Disabled List on May 17th, retroactive to May 12th, with a strained left quad. He was activated on July 27th.
Easley, who turns 38 on November 11th, hit .280 (54-for-193) with six doubles, 10 home runs, 26 RBI, 19 walks and 35 strikeouts last season. Damion's 10 home runs were the most since he cracked 11 home runs in 2001 with Detroit. Five of the 10 blasts either tied the game or gave the Mets the lead.
Damion was placed on the 15-Day Disabled List on August 19th with a Grade 3 sprain of his left ankle which he suffered the night before at Washington while advancing to second base. He did not play again the rest of the year.
"I'm progressing nicely from the injury," said Easley. "I'm building up strength and should be 100 percent by spring training. I'm looking forward to coming back to do my part to take care of unfinished business."
He batted .371 (33-for-89) with six home runs against lefthanders and hit .349 (15-for-43) with runners in scoring position in 2007.
Damion appeared in 39 games (36 starts) at second base, two games (both starts) at first, two games (no starts) at third, three games (all starts) in leftfield and six games (five starts) in rightfield.
Easley registered his second career inside-the-park home run on August 2nd at Milwaukee (off Chris Capuano) and belted a pinch-hit home run in the bottom of the 10th inning on April 24th vs. Colorado (off Brian Fuentes) to send the game into extra innings where the Mets would eventually prevail, 2-1, in 12 innings.
Easley has hit .252 (1,302-for-1,593) with 277 doubles, 25 triples, 157 home runs and 640 RBI in 1,593 major league games with California, Detroit, Tampa Bay, Florida, Arizona and New York.
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