Benjamin Grimm

In the last couple of years I've seen each of the Sean Connery Bond movies, mostly for the first time. I did see some of the Roger Moore films when they were in theaters. I know I saw The Spy Who Loved Me, and maybe Moonraker, but I haven't seen any of the films that came out since then.

I'm not as convinced as I might have been a week ago, but I still think Dickey will be traded.

I just voted for Doctor No, the only one that I really liked. EDIT: I liked Goldfinger too, so I added that one.

Details about the contract, from Jayson Stark at ESPN: The Mets will defer $15.5 million of the $138 million in David Wright's new eight-year extension, according to sources familiar with the details of the contract. However, the deferred dollars were reduced significantly from the amount the club initially wished to defer. The Mets will defer $3 million of Wright's $11 million salary in 2013, then $2.5 million annually from 2014 through 2018. Because of the deferrals, the total deal is valued at $134,015,678 by the Major League Baseball Players Association, sources said. The team originally pressed for a greater percentage of deferred money, a demand that nearly caused discussions to unravel, according to a baseball official who was consulted on the negotiations. However, subsequent negotiations succeeded in reducing the deferred money to a level that was amenable to both sides. Wright's contract calls for him to earn $11 million next year, $20 million in each of the following five seasons, then $15 million in 2019 and $12 million in 2020. The contract also includes numerous award bonuses. Wright would earn an additional $500,000 if he wins the MVP award, $1 million if he wins it a second time, and $1.5 million if he wins it a third time during the life of the deal. He would receive an additional $200,000 for any season in which he finishes second through fifth in the voting. He also would collect $100,000 for making the All-Star team, another $100,000 if he receives the most All-Star votes in the league and $100,000 apiece if he wins a Sporting News, Baseball America or Associated Press player of the year award. The contract calls for $100,000 bonuses if Wright wins the Gold Glove, Silver Slugger or Hank Aaron Award. It also contains postseason MVP provisions. Wright will donate $1.38 million over the life of the contract to a charity designated by the Mets.

I find myself hoping that Texas makes an irresistible offer.

Maybe they can combine the two: Change the rule so that the DH is only used in games played on the moon.

Andy Martino wrote: Sources: Texas expressed willingness to Mets to move Olt for Dickey. BUT I'm told it will take more than just Olt for Mets to move Dickey. Jon Heyman wrote: at least #bluejays along w/ #rangers involved in RA Dickey talks. toronto thought unlikely to trade D'Arnaud. gose maybe

Some have said that this might mean Olt for Dickey.

Ashie didn't get the news either.

Yeah, but how great would it be to have Dee and Lee join Gee on the Mets? I saw some speculation that the Mets would get Gordon and Lee as part of a three-way deal, where they'd flip the them to some other team for that one "difference maker". I suppose it's one of very many possibilities.

I just looked up Mike Olt. He's played the great majority of his games at third base, but he has appeared in a few games at first base and right field.

More from Andy Martino. It seems like one of the Mets better options is Texas, and the player they'd get is a... third baseman? Andy Martino wrote: If the current stalemate between the Mets and R.A. Dickey leads to divorce, the Texas Rangers are one of the strongest candidates to land the Cy Young Award-winner in a trade. Toronto, Baltimore and the Dodgers are also real possibilities, according to major league executives with direct knowledge of the process; the Yankees, who have also shown interest in the pitcher, are not. In an extremely fluid situation, the Mets were said to like Toronto catching prospect Travis D�Arnaud, and Texas third baseman Mike Olt as major pieces in potential deals. The Mets met on Monday with Toronto brass, but talks stalled and appeared dead. Then, Sandy Alderson and Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos resumed discussions on Wednesday, although they still had no deal. "Alex would rather move (catcher J.P.) Arencibia than D'Arnaud, but that could change," said a person briefed on Toronto's thinking. A different major league executive said that Texas would be willing to part with Olt in the right deal, especially if the Rangers are unable to sign free agent starter Zack Greinke. As for Baltimore, a league source said that they liked Dickey, but were not close to finding a match in a trade. All through the week, the rival executives maintained that the Mets� asking price for Dickey was extremely high. "It should be," said one Mets person. "He won the Cy Young." Kansas City, which balked earlier this week at the notion of trading top outfield prospect Wil Myers for Dickey, left the meetings "definitely not in on Dickey," according to a National League executive briefed on the situation. Additionally, a Mets source told the Daily News on Thursday that the Yankees and Nationals were early suitors for Dickey at the winter meetings. "Washington liked Dickey a lot, and so did the Yankees," the source said, while stressing that talks did not progress, and a deal with either club would not happen. After general manager Sandy Alderson determined that he did not want to trade Dickey to a National League East rival, the Nats signed starter Dan Haren. The Yankees, who attempted last winter to trade for Jon Niese, did not have prospects that fit the Mets' needs, and talks stalled. Despite all of those trade discussions, the Mets are far from ruling out keeping Dickey on a contract extension. The winter meetings ended with the sides far apart on the dollar value of a two-year deal, and the Mets' current offer was well below Dickey's initial asking price of approximately two years, $26 million, plus the pre-existing $5 million club option. The Mets will not meet that price, according to sources. Before leaving Nashville, Alderson indicated that he did not receive an offer for a trade worth making. "We haven't made a trade," the GM said. "You can read into that what you like." "Things are moving forward on two tracks," he added. "While we are waiting for a better trade offer, we are still exploring bringing R.A. back." Alderson reiterated what chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon has said several times, that the Mets were open to retaining Dickey for next year without signing him to an extension. "I don't think its necessarily the optimum result, but it's a possible result," Alderson said. "If that's the one that ultimately transpires, then we'll be happy with that."

It seems like we're in an era when almost all catchers suck. That means that the goal is to get the guy who sucks a bit less than the other guys.

His tenure with the Mets will be somewhat shorter than David Wright's.

Andy Martino, in this morning's Daily News, says that the Mets are "sitting on at least one acceptable deal" for Dickey. No further details.

Valadius isn't the only one who didn't get the news. On Monday's Mets Hot Stove, both Kevin Burkhardt and Terry Collins mentioned that Zack Wheeler will likely start the season in Buffalo.

I'd love to know what those brutally honest questions were, as well as the answers.

Since there may be as many as three outfield positions to fill, I figure this topic should see quite a bit of discussion. Let's start it off with this: Adam Rubin wrote: A team insider said piecing together two righty-hitting outfielders from the free-agent market is doable, although the dwindling list includes few names: Scott Hairston, Cody Ross, Jeff Baker, Austin Kearns, Reed Johnson and Matt Diaz among them. The Mets insider added there are trades available for the Mets to accept that would yield similar talent.

That, is horrendous.

The cap is okay. I'm not sure what I think about the white border; I think I'd like it better if it was more subtle.

And it would be deadly on the back-end. Isn't Reyes due to get $22 million in 2017?

Farmer Ted wrote: Schaefer? For real in a press release? Sadly, no.

Mets press release wrote: The New York Mets today announced that they have agreed to terms with David Wright on a new contract through 2020. Wright will be in Nashville, Tenn. at Baseball's Winter Meetings for an 11:00 a.m. (CT) / Noon (ET) press conference tomorrow which will be carried live on SNY and Mets.com. "I'd like to thank Fred Wilpon, Saul Katz and Jeff Wilpon for their commitment to me since I was drafted," said Wright. "I've grown up in this organization and made life-long friendships with teammates, uniform personnel and front office staff. I'm grateful for the opportunity to finish what I've started and help bring the Mets and our fans a World Series title." Wright, who will turn 30 on December 20, became the Mets all-time leader in hits, runs scored, walks and RBI in 2012. He was already the club leader in doubles, total bases and game-winning RBI. "We're thrilled for the organization and our fans that David will be a Met for many years to come," said Mets COO Jeff Wilpon. "As great a player as David's been with us on the field - one of the greatest and most popular Mets ever - he's been equally outstanding in the community." Wright was named to his sixth All-Star team in 2012. He is a two-time Louisville Silver Slugger Award winner (2007-2008) and has won two Rawlings Gold Gloves (2007-2008). He has won the Schaefer Mets Player of the Year award in six of the last eight seasons. "We said signing David to a contract that would keep him in a Mets uniform was our top offseason priority," said Mets General Manager Sandy Alderson. "Today is a historic day for the franchise and an important step in securing a winning future for this team and our fans." Over his nine-year career with the Mets, Wright owns a .301 batting average with 790 runs scored, 322 doubles, 19 triples, 204 home runs, 818 RBI and 166 stolen bases in 1,262 games. His 204 home runs rank third in team history behind Darryl Strawberry (252) and Mike Piazza (220). "I think it's a great statement that David wanted to stay with the organization that drafted him," said Mets Manager Terry Collins. "David is the leader of this team in the clubhouse, on the field and in the community." Wright hit .306 (178-581) with 91 runs scored, 41 doubles, 21 home runs, 93 RBI and a .391 on-base percentage last season.

Don't forget Jaerock Lee.

I'm guessing that Deacon White is dead at the present time?