Mets close to Newhan

Ed Price and Don Burke at North Jersey, writes about the Mets and David Newhan:

The Mets are close to reaching an agreement last night with David Newhan, according to a National League official who did not want to be named because the deal has not been announced. The utility player, who can play either the outfield or the infield, spent the past three seasons with the Baltimore Orioles who did not tender him a contract.

Newhan, 33, was apparently ready to pass up an offer from the Chicago Cubs to sign with the NL East champs. The Mets bolstered their bench with the additions of infielder Damion Easley and Ben Johnson earlier in the off-season.

"He plays the game the way you want everybody to play it," the official said of Newhan, who is the son of Ross Newhan, the Los Angeles Times baseball columnist and a member of the writers' wing of the Hall of Fame.

Newhan batted .252 with four homers and 18 RBI in 39 games last season when he missed most of the year due to a broken left fibula. He had his best year in 2004 when he hit .311 in 95 games for Baltimore.