OF Granderson officially signs with Mets
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Curtis Granderson is changing teams and leagues.
However, the veteran outfielder isn't changing cities and he is thankful for that.
Granderson officially signed his four-year, $60-million free agent contract with the New York Mets on Tuesday at baseball's Winter Meetings at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort.
He spent the past four season with the New York Yankees.
"The big thing with New York is the community part of it has been amazing with my Grand Kids Foundation being established and getting a chance to grow in New York," Granderson said.
"Doing things with the kids in the community, baseball, and what better place to do that than with the New York Mets. It's absolutely amazing. I'm excited about playing there, continuing to grow there, and continuing to grow the foundation as well."
The Mets are hoping Granderson will hope grow their win total, even though he was limited to 61 games with the Yankees this year because of hand injuries, hitting .229 with seven home runs. He hit 41 homers in 2011 and 43 in 2012.
Granderson, 32, is a .261 career hitter with 217 homers in 10 seasons with the Detroit Tigers (2004-09) and Yankees.
Moving across town will have its challenges. The Mets haven't had a winning season since 2008, haven't been to the postseason since 2006 and play at Citi Field, a ballpark much less conducive to hitting than Yankee Stadium.
Yet, Granderson feels the Mets are the right fit for him.
"It's (one of) 30 ballparks and all of them are different in their own way," Granderson said. "They all have pros and cons no matter what it happens to be. I'm looking forward to getting out there, and one, playing defense, two, hitting the baseball, seeing where it's going to bounce around, getting a chance to run and seeing some great fans come out there."
Granderson is also going to be playing for the team that is clearly considered second fiddle in the New York market, though he disputed that notion.
"A lot of the people I've met in New York have always said true New Yorkers are Mets fans." Granderson said.
