Rays/MLB

Mets continue to secure future with Wright deal

By TIMES WIRES
Published August 7, 2006

NEW YORK - David Wright became the latest Mets youngster to get a long-term contract, signing a $55-million, six-year extension Sunday.

Wright joins Jose Reyes, who signed a $23.25-million, four-year extension Thursday.

"It's been an exciting week for us," general manager Omar Minaya said. "To reach agreements with both Jose and David means the left side of our infield is secure for the next several years. At the age of 23, David Wright has developed into one of the most complete players in the National League."

Wright is hitting .308 with 22 homers, 82 RBIs, 11 steals, a .383 on-base percentage and a .545 slugging percentage. The NL's All-Star starter at third base, Wright finished second in the Home Run Derby and became the 14th player to hit a homer in his first All-Star at-bat.

"I have wanted to be a lifelong Met, and this is the first step in that direction," said Wright, a Mets fan since childhood. "It's a special feeling to be drafted by my favorite team. To know I'm going to be a Met for the next six or seven years is going to be special."

CUBS: Kerry Wood has reached the latest stop in his injury-prone career: the bullpen. The right-hander is hoping pitching in relief for the rest of the season will help him avoid another shoulder operation and allow him to return to full strength by spring training. "I need to pitch, get some innings in and be healthy," Wood told the Chicago Sun-Times. "Probably the best way for me to do that is to limit the innings and the pitches until I can be comfortable to make 30 starts and throw 110 pitches every fifth day."

DODGERS: Second baseman Jeff Kent is expected to return from the 15-day disabled list tonight. Kent lobbied manager Grady Little to be activated Saturday, but Little opted to play it safe because it was Kent's premature comeback three weeks ago that aggravated his left oblique injury and landed him on the DL.

INDIANS: The team's closer situation remains in limbo, with the Fausto Carmona experiment on hold after he blew his only three save attempts and failed to protect a tie in the ninth inning of another game. "We still haven't finalized anything," manager Eric Wedge said. "I think what we're going to do in general is let Fausto take a step back, catch his breath and use him in a role where he would pitch in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings."

NATIONALS: Right-hander Livan Hernandez is staying put after the club failed to work out a trade with the team that claimed him off waivers, ESPN.com reported. Hernandez was claimed on waivers Tuesday, then withdrawn, according to the Web site. By baseball rules he cannot be traded the rest of the season.

RANGERS: Right-hander Kip Wells flew to Texas to have his sore shoulder examined and will miss his scheduled start tonight at Oakland.

[Last modified August 7, 2006, 02:11:22]