R.A. Dickey won’t knuckle under, may sign with Mets

We interrupt the quest to make sense of the impending Brandon Morrow trade to the Blue Jays to bring this update on R.A. Dickey.

The former Mariners pitcher is close to signing a minor league contract with the New York Mets, according to this report.

It’s nice to see that Dickey hasn’t given up trying to make the knuckleball work in the big leagues. It’s been a struggle, from his time with the Mariners in 2008 to his up-and-down venture last year with the Twins. He finished the season at the Triple-A level and went into the offseason not sure he wanted to pitch anymore if it was going to be like this.

Dickey is one of the really good guys I’ve met in the game, and I’ve stayed in touch since he left the Mariners. About a month ago, he told me he was ready to call it a career and spend more time with his family (he and his wife, Anne, have three children ranging in age from 3-6).

“At the end of the year, I wasn’t sure if I should lay it down or not,” he said. “It’s hard on a family. Even though I have a pitch I can throw until I’m 40 year old, do I want to throw it until I’m 40?

“Down in Triple-A, I’m the oldest guy on the team by seven or eight years. I have three children at home. But my wife said, ‘If you’re still passionate about it, keep on doing it. We’ll support you.’”