4:54 pm: The Mets are quite confident a deal will be completed with Lyon, tweets Martino.
4:35 pm: The Mets are definitely serious about Lyon, but one Major League source tells Andy Martino of the New York Daily News the reliever is still talking to a few clubs and no deal is done (Twitter link).
3:09 pm: The Mets are closing in on a deal with free agent reliever Brandon Lyon, tweets Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. If a contract is finalized, Lyon would be the third right-handed bullpen piece added this week after the signings of Scott Atchison and LaTroy Hawkins. MLB.com's Anthony DiComo tweets this move will probably complete the Mets' bullpen makeover.
Lyon pitched to a 3.10 ERA, 9.3 K/9, and 3.0 BB/9 in 67 games for the Astros and Blue Jays last year. The 33-year-old, represented by Meister Sports Management, received interest from the Giants this offseason and reportedly was talking with several teams as recently as yesterday. The Blue Jays meanwhile never fully closed the door on Lyon's return despite a full bullpen and limited payroll space.
GM Sandy Alderson has been lukewarm about keeping closer Frank Francisco in that role, so the Mets have been aggressive in trying to improve their bullpen this winter being linked to Jose Valverde, Francisco Rodriguez, and Brian Wilson. The Mets even approached Roy Oswalt about becoming their closer, but to no avail. Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com tweets he doesn't believe the Mets are viewing Lyon as a closer.
