In an update to Twitter, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com adds that the Mets have also brought Jack Voigt to interview for the team’s first-base coach position.

Voigt is currently the team’s minor-league outfield instructor.

Original Post at 4:55 pm:

According to ‘a source,’ the Mets have interviewed Kevin Morgan to be the team’s first base coach, reports Anthony DiComo of MLB.com.

Morgan has one big-league at bat with the Mets in 1997. Since then he has worked for the team in a variety of front office and minor league positions.

Most recently, he’s been a roving minor-league infield instructor, and helped to coordinate the team’s instructional league and extended Spring Training, while spending time working in camp on infield defense.

Matthew Cerrone: First of all, if the goal is to find someone who knows infield defense, from what I’ve heard, they’re going to be hard pressed to find any one better. That said, I understand the team intends to interview a handful of people to fill this position, and so, though Morgan reads like a good fit, I expect this to drag on a bit.

According to MLB.com, the Indians have until three days after the conclusion of the World Series to pick up OF Grady Sizemore’s $9 million option for 2012.

Sizemore, 29, hit just .224 with a .285 OBP, 10 HR, 32 RBI and zero stolen bases in 268 at-bats this season for the Indians.

He had microfracture surgery on his left knee in June of 2010. He had yet another surgery on his knee earlier this month, which, according to WTAM 100, will require 6 to 8 weeks of recovery. The Indians can pick up his option for 2012 or pay a $500,000 buyout and make him a free agent.

It’s only Oct. 13, and already the the Tigers, Dodgers, Mariners, Yankees, Red Sox and Phillies have been linked to him in rumors. The Indians are saying he’ll be ready for Spring Training; but, even still, it seems very unlikely they’ll pick up his option. He’ll be a free agent, and teams will be interested.

Assuming the Mets non tender Angel Pagan, which is seeming more and more likely every day (though I don’t fully understand why), Sizemore would be worth looking in to. He was one of the most dynamic center fielders in the game just a few years ago. He has missed a ton of time over the last three seasons. However, he is still only 29 years old. I talked to two scouts who watched him this past season, and, though both question his ability to stay healthy for a full season, they also said he showed signs of his old self last year (the thing is, he could never find a good rhythm or get enough playing time to sustain it). There will be plenty of teams with interest in Grady, so I don’t think he can be viewed as ‘a flyer,’ like some people like to toss out there. He’s going to get decent offers, and there will be competition (assuming he hits the market).

“The Pirates have told LHP Paul Maholm they will not pick up his $9.75 million contract option for 2012,” according to the Pittsburgh Tribune.

The 29-year-old Maholm was 6-14 this past season, but with a 3.66 ERA in 26 starts. However, he missed the final six weeks of the season due to a left shoulder strain.

There will be people who see the 6-14 record, but it should be noted that he got very little run support pitching for the Pirates this season. In fact, he had a 2.65 ERA in six starts that left him with nothing but no decisions.

He’s a $9 million pitcher, no question. The thing is, his shoulder is a bit of mystery, especially since it had never been an issue for him before this season. He went on the disabled list mid-summer, he experienced soreness, then met with Dr. Andrews, who said there was no structural damage, yet Maholm never returned. Obviously, this is why the Pirates are unlikely to pick up his option, though I am sure they’ll continue to negotiate with him in hopes of working out a new deal. Or, he can test the market, where he would seem to be a perfect candidate for some one like Sandy Alderson, especially if Chris Capuano signs with a new team.

I’m confused about how Larry Bowa fits in to this bench coach process. There have been reports that say he will interview, others that say he won’t. I’ve heard Terry Collins is interested in him, but that could just be coming from people who know they are friends. Then I’ve heard, despite that, he’s not being considered… yet. I’ve heard Bowa is interested, but might have reservations. And so, if I had to guess, based on all of these differing ‘reports,’ I’d say Collins and the Mets are interested, and Bowa is interested, but the team would prefer to interview Jim Riggleman and Bob Geren first, both whom might be the front runners. Then, only after that process has been exhausted, if there is still a need, maybe they talk with Bowa?

The Mets signed Nelson Cruz in 1998 out of the Dominican Republic when he was just 18 years old. He was traded in 2000 by Steve Phillips to the A’s for Jorge Velandia.

So far this week for the Rangers, in the ALCS, Cruz has a walk-off grand slam, he gunned down a key runner at home late in a game, and then he hit an extra-inning, three-run home run to put his team up three games to one.

In a post to Twitter, Gemini Keez asked: “Hey Matt, take me back to 1998. How was Nelson Cruz rated in the Mets farm system?”

Matthew Cerrone: I see a lot of revisionist history going on, as people question why Phillips traded Cruz to the A’s. The thing is, he was signed at 18 and spent the next year and half in instructional leagues; and so he never even had a professional at bat while in the Mets organization. He was so young. In fact, as best I can tell, like most big kids his age, Cruz was labeled as being ‘raw,’ with power potential, but with a very big swing and concerns about his plate discipline. He was traded by Phillips for Jorge Velandia (as the Mets were contending for the post season). Upon getting to the A’s, he played rookie ball the following summer (where he struck out 29 times in 23 games). He didn’t get to Double-A until 2004 – exactly four years after the Mets traded him (and six years after being signed). In 2005, he started showing more discipline at the plate, but was traded to the Brewers, who eventually traded him in 2006 to the Rangers, with whom he spent two more years in the minors. Finally, in 2009, at 29 years old (nearly nine years after leaving the Mets), Cruz became an impactful, every-day player in the big leagues. That is a long and very rare road, on which lots could go right or wrong.

I have to think, even if Phillips didn’t trade Cruz, another GM would have (just like Billy Beane did, and just like the Brewers did). I’m all for holding on to top prospects, but 10 years is a long time to wait on a guy; and, considering two other teams cut bait as well, it’s fair to assume scouting reports on Cruz were inconsistent at best.

Instead of questioning Phillips (who, like every GM, traded away dozens and dozens of players that went on to do nothing), I prefer to simply give credit to Cruz, who, in what is a rare case, clearly worked to be better, while being patient and fighting his way to the big leagues at an age when most minor leaguers are being pushed out of the game.

“Talk surfaced of switching David Wright from third base to left field – although the move, considered to help find a spot for Daniel Murphy’s bat, was squashed almost as soon as it arose,” writes Steve Popper in an article for the Bergen Record.

Matthew Cerrone: If Wright is ever going to switch positions, and that’s a big ‘IF,’ this switch seems to make the most sense (since, it can play to his weakness (his arm) and it’s on the same side of the field he is most used to seeing opposing hitters). I understand the origin of the discussion (given how poor he played in the field this past season), but, this isn’t going to (and shouldn’t happen) any time soon.

By the way, I still expect Wright to be on the Opening Day roster (regardless of what happens with Jose Reyes). Actually, I think (if the team re-signs Jose) there is an even better chance Wright is here in April. The way I understad it, the team might discuss trading Wright next summer (if they’re struggling, plus if there is a market for him). That said, I also think there is just as good a chance they sign him to an extension before having to pick up his option, so to keep him and avoid having him pestered with questions (like Jose) about contracts and free agency.

To read Popper’s report for the Bergen Record, during which he talks with Wright about how Jose Reyes handled pressure and question this season about his pending free agency, and how Wright might handle it in the future, click here.

23-year-old Mets OF prospect Juan Lagares hit .370 in 38 games and 162 at bats for Double-A Binghamton this past season, and is now batting .357 in 14 at bats during the Arizona Fall League.

Toby Hyde: Lagares has played two of his three games in centerfield, and one in right. Also, two extra-base hits and a walk in his first three games is a nice start. He’s a strong athlete with a good arm, who can play all three outfield positions. He certainly looks like a big leaguer. However, to play everyday, he’ll need to walk a little more and add a little power if he’s going to play on a corner.

Also in the AFL, the team’s 20-year-old 3B prospect Jefry Marte is batting .300 in 20 at bats with a double, three walks and five strike outs. Earlier this week, Jonathan Mayo of MiLB.com ranked Marte as the organizations’ 10th-best prospect.

To get more updates about the minor leagues, check out SNY’s Mets Minor League Blog.