Zachary Levine reports that the Houston Astros have released Fernando Nieve so he can sign with a Korean baseball team.

Nieve pitched 42 innings for the Mets last season, with a 6.00 ERA and a record of 2-4. He was designated for assignment, then re-signed with the Mets to pitch with Triple-A Buffalo.

He signed a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates this off-season, and didn't make the major league roster.

After he was released by the Pirates he signed a minor league deal with the Houston Astros.

Yesterday, the Astros granted his release so he could sign with the Doosan Bears in South Korea.

We'd like to wish Mookie Wilson a happy 55th birthday and Todd Pratt a happy 43th birthday! Here's a couple videos to honor them on their special day:

"A little roller up along first… BEHIND THE BAG! IT'S GETS THROUGH BUCKNER! IN COMES KNIGHT AND THE METS WIN IT!"

"High fly ball deep to center field, Finley going back at the wall jumping and… IT'S OUTTA HERE! IT'S OUTTA HERE!"

Jon Morosi reports that the Chicago White Sox have signed Lastings Milledge to a minor league deal with an invite to Spring Training. Milledge will be fighting in Spring Training to make the team as the fourth outfielder.

Milledge use to be a top prospect for the Mets, and was traded to the Washington Nationals before the 2008 season for Ryan Church and Brian Schneider.

He spent a season and a half with the Nationals before being traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates where he played up until last season.

This video is great. Watching two ex-Mets who I grew up watching talk about baseball and when they use to play together. Mike Piazza and Al Leiter are both very smart and they know what they are talking about. Unfortunately, the video is only five minutes, I wish it was an hour long.

Piazza always took a bad rap for his catching because he didn't have the strongest arm in the world, but he called a great game and blocked the ball very well. Defensively he was a very underrated catcher.

Piazza and Leiter

Ken Rosenthal reports that free-agent right handed starting pitcher Brian Bannister has signed a one-year deal to play in Japan for the Tokyo Giants. Bannister came up with the Mets in 2006 and then was traded to the Kansas City Royals in the offseason for Ambiorix Burgos. In 2007 Bannister had a solid year going 12-9 with a 3.87 ERA and it looked like the Mets had made a bad trade. However, after that season he posted ERA's of 5.76, 4.73, and 6.34.

I liked Bannister and wasn't a fan of the trade at first and then I saw Burgos throw, and man could he throw hard. Unfortunately, Burgos was arrested for assaulting his girlfriend, killing two women with his car, and kidnapping and poisoning his ex-wife… we all make mistakes.

I hope Bannister can re-find himself in Japan and come back to America one day to pitch for the Mets.