Following the Winter Meetings, the Mets made a splash in the off season, signing closer Francisco Rodriguez, and then trading for J.J. Putz. Omar Minaya saw the Mets needed fixing, and was getting it done.
Or so it seemed. Aside from the bullpen, there were still holes in the offense and starting pitching. They are still there.
It might be impossible (too expensive) to fix them all, but the Mets should at least address one of them. Not just “Tim Redding address” them, but big splash, “look out Phillies” address them.
Through rumors, the Mets have been linked to most of the top free agents remaining. So let’s spin the Free Agent Wheel of Fortune, and see what possible scenario’s could play out.
Scenerio A: Sign Oliver Perez or Ben Sheets
Whichever happens, the outcome will be similar. Mets fans know what they’re getting with Perez. In the big games, he’s a stud. In a combine 15 starts against Philadelphia, Atlanta, Florida, and New York, Perez threw over 96 innings, stuck out 94, and had an ERA of 2.04.
On the other hand, Perez also surrended 39 runs in eight starts. Those starts came against Seattle, Houston, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, and Washington. It’s frustrating having Perez on your team.
Other teams know that. So it’s unlikely there is another team that will match the Mets three-year, $30 million offer. While Perez is seeking five-years, $60 million, it’s hard to imagine he’ll get too much more than the Mets initial offer.
Sheets on the other hand, is steadily consistent. Dominant is more like it. But as Oliver Perez is erratic, Sheets is injury prone.
Sheets has averaged 150 innings since 2005. Last year, he pitched 198.1, but was injured just in time for September and the post season.
You’d think after the last two years with Moises Alou, the Mets would learn their lesson. Maybe not. Sheets name has been talked about lately, and the idea is starting to pick up steam. Is it worth the gamble?
Either way, the top pitchers out there won’t come cheap, and nothing will come guaranteed.
Scenerio B: Sign a second tier starting pitcher
The Mets gave their best effort to sign Derek Lowe. However, they didn’t want to give four years to a 36-year old. Now, names like Jon Garland, Randy Wolf, and Freddy Garcia have come up.
They would come cheap, and short term. Any one of them can slide into the four spot behind Johan Santana, Mike Pelfrey, and John Maine — leaving Tim Redding and Jonathan Niese to battle out for the final spot.
That makes the Mets rotation solid, and on the surface, not injury prone. Redding, Garland, or Wolf are good for around 200 innings. Plus, one of those pitchers would leave additional money for an offensive upgrade.
Scenerio C: Cut off the foot to save the leg
Luis Castillo stinks. The Mets and their fans want nothing more than to see him out the door. However, the perfect storm of age, injuries, futile stabs at offense, and a bad contract, he’s impossible to ship anywhere.
If the Mets avoid spending big money on a pitcher, and settle for one of the second tier guys, they could eat most of Castillo’s money and find a team to take a chance on him (hopefully). Then, sign Orlando Hudson in the down market, and poof! You’ve got a #2 hitter who hit over .300 last year.
Scenario D: Seriously upgrade the offense
The Yankees did what they needed to in the offseason, regardless of the price. Now, let’s see the Mets do the same thing. They addressed their biggest hole, now, they should addressed the other one.
Clutch hitting.
Yes, the bullpen blew 27 save opportunities – and if five of those had gone the other way, they’d be the division champion and in the playoffs. But, even with those blown saves, the Mets left a lot of runners on base in the final two weeks. David could have had 150 RBI’s if he consistent produced clutch hits during the course of the season.
It’s be unrealistic to expect Carlos Delgado to reproduce last year’s second half surge, and the Mets should brace for it.
Answer: Manny Ramirez.
It will probably cost three years, and $60 million, but it would complete the Mets lineup. Spend an extra $8-10 million on a pitcher, and the N.L. East is in the bag.
Reyes, Beltran, Wright, Ramirez, Delgado… or some combination of therein of… and the Mets would fill every hole they had last season.
Scenerio E: Lose a turn
Of course, the Mets could handle the rest of the off season like they handled Derek Lowe, in which case the Mets fans won’t have to worry about another September collapse. The division will be lost long before that.
