Mets may be pursuing Angels' Rivera

Mets may be pursuing Angels’ Rivera

Staff Writer

Dec. 7, 2009 1:12 PM PT

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New York Mets General Manager Omar Minaya has long been a fan of Angel outfielder Juan Rivera. And according to an Internet report Monday, that interest hasn’t waned with the Mets and Angels being said to have exchanged feelers about a deal that would send the 31-year-old Venezuelan back to New York, where he started his big-league career as a Yankee.

If the Angels get serious about the trade that could portend a second, bigger move, such as a deal for Detroit outfielder Curtis Granderson or the signing of free-agent outfielder Jason Bay, who has been the chief target of the Angels this offseason.

Rivera, who is signed for two more years, played in a career-high 138 games last season, hitting .287 with lifetime bests in homers (25) and RBIs (88).

-- Kevin Baxter in Indianapolis

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Kevin Baxter

Kevin Baxter writes about soccer and hockey for the Los Angeles Times. He has covered seven World Cups, four Olympic Games, six World Series and a Super Bowl and has contributed to three Pulitzer Prize-winning series at The Times and Miami Herald. An essay he wrote in fifth grade was voted best in the class. He has a cool dog.