The Mets have signed 28-year old righty swinging catcher Rob Johnson to a minor league deal. Johnson played in 67 games for the Padres last year and he was 34 for 179 (.190 avg, .544 OPS) with 9 runs scored, 3 homers, 16 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. He has now played in 228 games in his first five years in the majors and he is 128 of 649 (.197 avg, .573 OPS) with 57 runs scored, 8 homers, 58 RBIs and 6 stolen bases. Johnson will have a good shot to back up Josh Thole in 2012, if he has a big spring training.

The Mets have signed 30-year old lefty reliever Chuck James to a minor league deal. James pitched in 8 games (0 starts) for the Twins last year and he was 0-0 with a 6.10 ERA and a 1.55 WHIP. He has now pitched in 72 games (55 starts) in his first five years in the majors and he is 24-19 with a 4.53 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. James will get a shot to win a job in the Mets’ bullpen next spring.

The Mets have decided not to tender a 2012 contract to 27-year old lefty swinging 1B Mike Baxter, making him a free agent. Baxter played in 22 games for the Mets last year and he was 8 for 34 (.235 avg, .791 OPS) with 6 runs scored, 1 homer and 4 RBIs. He also played in 33 games in A+AAA-ball last year and he was 29 for 116 (.250 avg, .672 OPS) with 11 runs scored, 1 homer, 13 RBIs and 1 stolen base. This isn’t much of a loss for the Mets.

UPDATE: (12/17/2011) - The Mets have re-signed Mike Baxter to a minor league deal.

The Mets have decided not to tender a contract to 30-year old righty swinging catcher Ronny Paulino. Paulino played in 78 games for the Mets last year and he was 61 for 228 (.268 avg, .663 OPS) with 19 runs scored, 2 homers and 19 RBIs. He has now played in 553 games in his first 7 years in the majors and he is 492 for 1,804 (.273 avg, .705 OPS) with 176 runs scored, 33 homers, 211 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. Paulino has been a decent hitter in his career so far, but his defense is pretty awful and that’s the reason the Mets are going to replace him in 2012.

The Mets have signed 28-year old lefty reliever/starter Garrett Olson to a minor league deal. Olson pitched in 4 games (0 starts) for the Pirates last year and he was 1-1 with a 2.08 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP. He has now pitched in 103 games (44 starts) in his first five years in the majors and he is 14-22 with 1 save, a 6.14 ERA and a 1.65 WHIP. Olson will likely get a chance to compete for a job in the Mets’ bullpen this spring.